She could remember all but four minutes of her life. He promise to make up for lost time.
When DEA agent Nick Lang came to town, even the toughest cases got closed. But his latest had become way too personal. Heâd thought CSI Jennifer Prynne was just another no-strings fling, until a serial killerâs attack left her battered, bruised and struggling to remember her past. Now, as the key to the entire case theyâd been investigating for months, Jennâs safety became Nickâs responsibility. He knew the murdererâs identity was buried deep in Jennâs mind, but releasing it was dangerousâyet necessary. The old Nick was an expert at getting answers and moving on. But his heart told him this was one case he couldnât walk away from....
Heat jolted through her at the sight of himâbig, strong and intense.
His dark hair was slicked back in a stubby ponytail that made him look subtly dangerous, and heâd shed his heavy jacket to reveal the broad shoulders and muscled arms beneath his dark green sweater.
He slapped a file folder on the table and said, âOkay. Letâs get this over with.â
His voice had a rough growl that fired Jennâs blood even further, reminding her of how heâd sounded right after they made love. But even as her heart thudded at the memory, Nick glanced up at the one-way glassâ¦and looked nothing like the man whoâd made love to her.
No, the man on the other side of the glass was cold and hard, with a faintly derisive edge to his tight-lipped smile.
A sinking shiver took root in her belly.
That was definitely Nick in thereâit was his body, his face, his presenceâbut it wasnât the man she knew. This Nick had an aggressive jut to his jaw and moved with an unfamiliar swagger. His eyes held none of the alert intelligence she was used to. Instead, he was cold and chill, with a demeanor that practically screamed, âGo ahead and impress me. It wonât be easy.â
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jessica Andersen has worked as a geneticist, scientific editor, animal trainer and landscaperâ¦but sheâs happiest when sheâs combining all of her many interests into writing romantic adventures that always have a twist of the unusual to them. Born and raised in the Boston area (Go, Sox!), Jessica can usually be found somewhere in New England, hard at work on her next happily-ever-after. For more on Jessica and her books, please check out www.JessicaAndersen.com and www.JessicaAndersenIntrigues.com.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Jennifer PrynneâA newcomer to Bear Clawâs crime lab, Jenn is determined to prove herself in the face of a questionable past. She never intends to fall for a sexy undercover agentâ¦or become the target of a criminal mastermind who has developed a taste for murder.
Nicholas LangâThe DEA hotshot should be focused on closing the case and getting back to his work, but heâs distracted by Jennâs independence and curvy good looks. Their affair blazes hot and heavy before it crashes and burns. When she becomes a crucial witness in the case, though, who better to protect her?
The InvestorâThe criminal mastermindâs militia has been broken, his drug operation crushed. So why is he still in Bear Clawâ¦and why is he hunting and killing his former underlings?
SliderâThe Investorâs lackey has a lead foot and few scruples.
Tucker McDermottâThe head of Bear Clawâs homicide division knows Nick too well to believe the dedicated DEA agent will turn his back on his Miami home to stay in the Wild West.
Gigi LyndâThe crime scene analyst is Jennâs closest friend in Bear Claw, but sheâs a huge romantic at heart and refuses to believe that Jenn and Nick arenât meant for each other.
Matthew BlackthornâThe acting mayor is facing a crime wave and huge budget issues, but he has faith that the Bear Claw P.D. and its crime lab are going to be the key to saving the city. Hopefully.
Chapter One
Normally, Jennifer Prynne wouldâve been glued to the task forceâs bimonthly meeting, taking notes on the latest developments in the Death Stare case and trying to think of new avenues the crime lab could explore. Today, though, she couldnât make herself focus, not just because there werenât any major developments, but because she had something far more interesting to think about.
Or, rather, someone far more interesting.
While Chief Mendoza went over stats that said the police crackdown was working, with fewer and fewer Death Stare ODs trickling into the local hospitals, Jenn glanced a few rows over to where Nick Lang sat with a couple of homicide detectives, comparing notes in an undertone.
Nickâs home base might be in sunny Florida, but the on-loan DEA agent blended seamlessly with the cops of Bear Claw, Colorado. Even though heâd only been in the city for twelve days now, he was wearing layers against the early winter chill and had a heavily insulated bomber draped over the back of his chair. His quick, intense blue eyes were all cop, and as he leaned in to say something, the others got quiet and listened.