Time to show them what heâs made of
Roth Sterling is a straight shooter, a guy you want on your side. As a soldier, he defended his country. As a cop, he upholds the law. For a kid who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, heâs done well for himself. Now heâs back in his hometown, only this time, heâs the new police chief.
Heâs in for a few surprises, however. Piper Hamiltonâthe girl he lovedâstill has the power to move him. And they are tied together thanks to the son he didnât know he had. Roth is determined to do right by Piper, whatever it takes. Even if it means becoming the one thing he never thought to beâa family man.
Roth had loved Piper
More than heâd ever loved anyone. And yet heâd hurt her. Deliberately. Not with his fistsâhis fatherâs modus operandiâbut with his actions, his words.
Through sheer willpower he lowered his hand even though every cell in his body urged him to wrap Piper in his arms, to take her mouth, to lose himself inside her body and let her inflame him. Let her soothe him.
Piper had always been able to take away the ugliness of his life with her sweet smiles, her gentle touch, her sexy-as-hell laugh and her belief that he was a better man than his father. Being with her had made him feel whole, complete, normal. Too bad he hadnât been able to return the favor.
He took a backward step before he forgot what was good for him. And her. Before he forgot his fragile promise to keep his distance and do the right thing by her.
He had a plan. He just had to find the fortitude to stick to it.
No matter the temptation.
And, damn, it wasnât going to be nearly as easy as heâd thought it would be.
Dear Reader,
I love it when research for a book takes me to a new place. For Roth Sterlingâs story I made multiple trips to Quantico, Virginia, the marine base featured in so many novels, movies and TV shows. The base is home to one of the scout sniper schools, and it was nothing like I expected. Yes, Quantico contains all the official buildings and military supply stores and training grounds Iâve read about, but thatâs where my preconceptions ended.
The first thing youâll notice when you roll through Quanticoâs front gate is the lush forest surrounding you. The Potomac River winds through the landscape and the curving road takes you past several beautiful postcard-worthy vistas. Lily pads float in small coves and ponds. Deer, groundhogs and other critters I canât name are as plentiful and nearly as bold as the marines who work and train there. The animals donât flinch as explosions of C-4, bangalore torpedoes and machine-gun fire rent the air. Deer are reported to graze near the targets on the FBI shooting range and duck fill the river and creeks.
Quantico contains a golf course, numerous neighborhoods and multiple elementary schools. Quantico, referred to as âThe Beast,â is both a serene paradise (to this untrained eye) and the training ground of some of this countryâs bravest warriors. The contradictions blew me away and guaranteed Iâd make a return trip to see what other surprises the base has in store.
Happy reading!
Emilie Rose
P.S. I love to hear from readers! Contact me through my website at www.emilierose.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bestselling Harlequin author and RITA® Award finalist Emilie Rose lives in her native North Carolina with her four sons and two adopted mutts. Writing is her third (and hopefully her last) career. Sheâs managed a medical office and run a home day care, neither of which offers half as much satisfaction as plotting happy endings. Her hobbies include gardening and cooking (especially cheesecake). Sheâs a rabid country music fan because she can find an entire book in almost any song. She is currently working her way through her own âbucket list,â which includes learning to ride a Harley. This is her first Harlequin Superromance book. Visit her website, www.emilierose.com, or email her at [email protected]. Letters can be mailed to P.O. Box 20145, Raleigh, NC 27619.
To the men and women who serve our country,
allowing us the freedom to read and write what we choose.
CHAPTER ONE
ROTH STERLING HAD sworn heâd never set foot in the godforsaken hellhole of Quincey, North Carolina, again. But twelve years after his escape, here he stood, eating those bitter words.
The town held too many memories. Most of them bad. But what choice did he have with his murderous bastard of a father due to be paroled from prison in two months?
He opened the door of his new apartment, stepped inside and shoved the key into his pocket. He had limited time to convince his mother not to allow the animal whoâd beaten her for fifteen years back into her life. Better yet, Roth would persuade her to divorce the man and take out a restraining order. But even if she did, could the townâs five-officer team enforce it?