KANSAS CITY HERO
Scarred inside and out by a past he canât remember, Jake Lonergan doesnât know if heâs a heroic undercover DEA agent or the hit man who killed him and assumed his identity. While he is determined to remain in the shadows, itâs Robin Carter and her baby girl who force him back into the light. When the gorgeous single mom is attacked, Jake comes to her rescueâ¦and finds it impossible to walk away from this fragile little family. Now, with a dangerous stalker determined to get his hands on the only woman who got away, protecting Robin and her daughter becomes Jakeâs priority. But with his memories still in question, Jake fears what will happen when the bad guy comes calling. Can he prove heâs the good guy Robin is convinced he must be?
âRobin. You donât really know me. You shouldnât automatically trust me.â
âI trusted you because I had to. You havenât disappointed me yet.â
Oh, hell. That sounded like some sort of relationship had been forged between them.
Jake was relieved as much as he was on edge when he heard the sirens in the distance outside. He nodded toward the back door where theyâd come in. âYou stay here with the kid. Iâll wait outside and show the police in.â
Jake surmised the distance and direction of the approaching flashing lights. He paused for one shameless moment to admire the apple-shaped curve of Robin Carterâs backside, emphasized by the clinging dampness of her wet jeans, as she bent over the bassinet, tending to her sleeping baby again.
The cops were close enough. Sheâd be safe.
âThank you again, Mr. Lonergan. By the way, you never told me your first nameâ¦â
He never heard the end of her sentence. By the time she straightened from the bassinet, he was gone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller attributes her passion for writing romance to all those books she read growing up. When shyness and asthma kept her from becoming the action-adventure heroine she longed to be, Julie created stories in her head to keep herself entertained. Encouragement from her family to write down the feelings and ideas she couldnât express became a love for the written word. She gets continued support from her fellow members of the Prairieland Romance Writers, where this teacher serves as the resident âgrammar goddess.â Inspired by the likes of Agatha Christie and Encyclopedia Brown, Julie believes the only thing better than a good mystery is a good romance.
Born and raised in Missouri, this award-winning author now lives in Nebraska with her husband, son and an assortment of spoiled pets. To contact Julie or to learn more about her books, write to P.O. Box 5162, Grand Island, NE 68802-5162 or check out her website and monthly newsletter at www.juliemiller.org.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Jake LonerganâIs he an undercover agent who barely survived his last assignment? Or the hit man who killed the agent and assumed his identity?
Robin CarterâA successful career woman who wants to be a mother more than anything. Does she dare trust her life and her daughterâs to Jake? If they survive, can she trust the mystery man with her heart?
Emma CarterâRobinâs adopted daughter. Is she the real target?
Mark RigginsâThe assistant manager at the Robinâs Nest Floral Shop. He runs things his way when Robinâs not there.
Leon HundleyâRobinâs newest hire drives the delivery vanâ¦and doesnât like answering questions.
Brian ElliottâRobinâs former beau is very protective.
Tania HousemanâEmmaâs birth mother. She survived one suicide attempt. Will she try again?
William HousemanâTaniaâs big brother has his sisterâs best interests at heart.
Hope LockhartâOwner of the Fairy Tale Bridal Shop and Robinâs friend.
The Rose Red RapistâIs he getting careless? Or changing his M.O.?
For Maggie May McGonagall Miller,
my ace writing companion and champion PR pooch.
Prologue
Jake wouldnât mind the nightmare so much if he only knew what it meant.
He thrashed in the bed, knowing he could wake himself in an instant. Instead of saving himself, however, he wrestled with the demons that had haunted his dreams on and off, from nowhere, Texas, to Kansas City, Missouri, for nearly two years now.
The violence and pain had him in their grips again, the sensations as vivid and terrifying as the images were vague and fracturedâmeaningless flashes of objects and people without a context. But the nightmare was the closest thing he had to a memory, the closest thing he had to understanding. So he let it steal into his bed and wash over him. He invited the torment to become a part of him.
He was hot. Sweat stung his eyes and rolled down his back. He was breathing hard, every inhale the jab of a knife in his side, every exhale a silent grunt of pain. He was hurting badâthe kind of hurt that sent men to hospitals...or the morgue.