Kelly couldnât stop thinking about Trentâ¦
The way heâd held on to her hand as they scaled the roof. Or the feel of his hands moving over her body as he gently checked her for injuries. She couldnât let her mind dwell on how he held her.
âI need to go out for a while before I do something weâll both regret,â Trent said, looking so deep in her eyes that Kelly couldnât breath, couldnât move, couldnât do anything but stare back at him, knowing full well that the longing inside her was reflected in her eyes for him to see.
âYou have to stop looking at me that way,â he murmured, his face closer somehow or maybe it was her imagination. âI canâtâ¦not react.â
Before she could stop herself, she touched him. She couldnât stop staring at his mouth. He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting her face up to his. That mesmerizing mouth swooped down on hers, kissing her like sheâd never been kissed before.
There was no gentleness this time, no tender brushing of lips, this was passion personifiedâ¦.
Debra Webb was born in Scottsboro, Alabama, to parents who taught her that anything is possible if you want it badly enough. When her husband joined the military, they moved to Berlin, Germany, and Debra became a secretary in the commanding generalâs office. By 1985 they were back in the States, and with the support of her husband and two beautiful daughters, Debra took up writing full-time and in 1998 her dream of writing for Harlequin came true. You can write to Debra with your comments at P.O. Box 64, Huntland, Tennessee 37345 or visit her Web site at www.debrawebb.com to find out exciting news about her next book.
Kelly PruittâSheâs on the run from the people who killed her boss. She canât trust the police or the FBIâ¦can she trust the cowboy who shows up at her door?
Trent TuckerâAs a Colby Agency investigator, itâs Trentâs job to find Kelly and to solve the mystery surrounding a multiple homicide and her disappearance. But can he keep her alive long enough to sort through the pieces of the puzzle?
Ray JarvisâKellyâs boss. Is he laundering money for the cartel?
Ann JonesâIs she friend or foe? She took the bullet intended for Kelly. Did she invite murder into Kellyâs life?
Cyrus McCadeâThe FBI special agent is running interference for the cartel. He wants Kelly Parker dead.
Norton DavisâIs the FBI special agent set up to take McCadeâs fall? Or is the twenty-five thousand dollars in his pocket an investment for his future?
William LesterâIs the senator trying to help a friend or bring down an old foe?
Detective HargroveâIs he working for the investigation or against it?
Detective KennamerâHeâs in it for the money.
Heath MurphyâTrentâs backup from the Colby Agency.
Darlene WhiteheadâIs she in love with Ray Jarvis or his money?
This book is dedicated to a lady who listens to me whine when Iâm worried; who says all the right things when I think everything is going wrong; and who is simply a good friend. To my agent, Pattie Steele-Perkins.
Thanks for being my sounding board.
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
Epilogue
Houston, Texas
Friday, 4:45 p.m.
Kelly Pruitt watched as her boss greeted his final appointment for the day at the front entrance of his small Houston office. A frown wriggled its way across her forehead. Something wasnât quite right about the scene playing out before her but she couldnât put her finger on the problem.
âHold my calls,â Ray Jarvis said to her as he ushered the client into his private office.
âYes, sir.â
Once the door was closed Kelly shrugged. She hadnât made the appointment. She hadnât even known her boss expected anyone else this close to five oâclock on Friday evening. He usually liked to get away a little early on Fridays. Especially since this one kicked off a long holiday weekend.
Happy New Year.
She certainly hoped the new year would see to fruition the fulfillment of all her boss had promised her. Kelly shuffled together a pile of âto be filedâ records on her desk and decided that filing would be her final task for the day. She preferred leaving her desk un-cluttered. Mondays seemed a little less daunting when she came in to a clean desk to start off the workweek.
As she moved from drawer to drawer, file folder to file folder, slipping in the relevant documents, she considered that she hadnât completed five years of college, including obtaining her MBA, to perform clerical duties in a small Houston investment firm. But, during her extensive job search, she had been forced to see the one major strike against herâyouth. It seemed, sheâd found out the hard way, that no one wanted to hire her in the position she was qualified for because she was only twenty-two. Graduating high school a year early and maintaining a perfect four-point-oh grade point average in college didnât matter in light of her lack of experience.