âI can protect you. I can give you security. I can give you the world.â
âBut not your love.â She no longer seemed to feel anythingânot the roomâs cold air, not the fire in her stomach, not the feelings that should be ripping through her like a tornado.
âThere are more solid things between a man and a woman than useless feelings.â
âLike what?â Could Daniel have forgotten the passion theyâd once shared?
âLike the things you say you want, Christiane. Family, roots, security.â
Her voice could not climb up her throat. A tiny sound echoed inside her like a wounded cry. She checked her cheeks with a quick flick of her hand to make sure no moisture stained them, betraying the ease with which he could tear open old wounds.
âTrust me.â He said the words so softly, she had to strain to catch them. Their gazes met and held. His weighty sadness mixed with hers and wove a bond of regret for all that might have been, all that could never be.
âThe last time I trusted you,â she blurted out, âI ended up pregnant.â
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
As we ring in a new year, we have another great month of mystery and suspense coupled with steamy passion.
Here are some juicy highlights from our six-book lineup:
⢠Julie Miller launches a new series, THE PRECINCT, beginning with Partner-Protector. These books revolve around the rugged Fourth Precinct lawmen of Kansas City whom you first fell in love with in the TAYLOR CLAN series!
⢠Rocky Mountain Mystery marks the beginning of Cassie Milesâs riveting new trilogy, COLORADO CRIME CONSULTANTS, about a network of private citizens who volunteer their expertise in solving criminal investigations.
⢠Those popular TOP SECRET BABIES return to our lineup for the next four months!
⢠Gothic-inspired tales continue in our spine-tingling ECLIPSE promotion.
And donât forget to look for Debra Webbâs special Signature Spotlight title this month: Dying To Play.
Hopefully weâve whetted your appetite for Januaryâs thrilling lineup. And be sure to check back every month to satisfy your craving for outstanding suspense reading.
Enjoy!
Denise OâSullivan
Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
Pour Maman et Papaâavec amour.
and For Linda Kruger and Denise OâSullivanâwith appreciation.
Some of the dates, location and order of events of the Carnaval were altered to suit story purposes. The tale of Rose Latulippe is one I remember from my childhoodâthe most vivid version being the one from a childrenâs program called Franfreluche.
Flying an eight-hour solo cross-country in a Piper Arrow with only the airplaneâs crackling radio and a large bag of M&Mâs for company, Sylvie Kurtz realized a pilotâs life wasnât for her. The stories zooming in and out of her mind proved more entertaining than the flight itself. Not a quitter, she finished her pilotâs course and earned her commercial license and instrument rating.
Since then, she has traded in her wings for a keyboard where she lets her imagination soar to create fictional adventures that explore the power of love and the thrill of suspense. When not writing, she enjoys the outdoors with her husband and two children, quilt-making, photography and reading whatever catches her interest.
You can write to Sylvie at
P.O. Box 702, Milford, NH 03055. And visit her Web site at www.sylviekurtz.com.
Christiane LawrenceâSheâs seeking roots in her history. Sheâs finding a whole lot more.
Daniel MoreauâHe can speak with his musicâwords come much harder.
Rosane LawrenceâSheâs the daughter Daniel tried to protect.
Armand LangelierâHis obsession brought them all together.
Marguerite LangelierâThe years have etched resentment on her face.
Caroline LawrenceâSheâs the one mistake Armand has allowed himself.
Francine BeaulieuâSheâs the curious next-door neighbor.
Jean-Paul DubucâHeâs Danielâs bulldog manager. He shaped Danielâs career, and he wonât let Daniel lose his star status over a woman.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Feelings were for fools and Daniel Moreau hadnât played the fool for anyone in years.
But he felt her presence before he turned around. Felt her in a way that grated against the ruthless control heâd cultivated since that night nine years ago when his world had turned upside down. Felt her and knew with certainty that her presence here was no accident of fate.
Did she know she was being used? Probably not. Christiane Lawrence was too trusting for her own good. That more than anything made her a threat to him.
He watched with predatory curiosity as the white-gloved butler took her snow-colored coat. Watched as red-jacketed waiters offered her tantalizing tidbits and generous goblets of wine from silver platters. Watched as Armand Langelier took her elbow and guided her to their hostess, Madame Bernier. And found an unexpected possessiveness grounding itself somewhere between his boots and his brain.