Itâs a race against timeâand a fatal outbreakâin this thriller of a debut
In one passionate night Special Agent James Reynolds and scientist Kelly Jarvis went from friends to lovers. Then Kelly walked away with only an apology. Now James is charged with solving a bioterrorist attackâand Dr. Jarvis works at the suspected lab.
Is Kelly an accomplice or a victim? Just what are her secrets that drove her from Jamesâs bed? Soon one thing becomes clear: The ghosts of her past have nothing on the terrorists targeting her and Washington, D.C. Another threat bathes the city in red alert, and now there are lives at stake, in addition to heartsâ¦.
âYou could have gotten killed.â
There was no mistaking the anger in his voice. Kelly reacted immediately. âDonât expect me to fall in line when you bark an order. Iâm not some damsel in distress to feed your knight-errant complex. Iââ
The words stuck in her throat as he loomed over her, big and dangerous. His hands landed on either side of her head, bracketing her body and trapping her in the bed.
âIâm bigger than you,â James whispered, his breath warm on her cheek. âAnd stronger.â His fingertips traced her arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake. âItâs my job to protect you. And if I have to, Iâll use my body.â
She saw the intensity in his eyes and felt the emotional currents swirling around them.
Did he care about her? After everything that happened, did he still harbor feelings for her?
There was only one way to find outâ¦.
Dear Reader,
This is my first book, and I couldnât be more excited!
As a science nerd, I spent a lot of time in school. While I enjoyed it, I also needed a break from the dry, factual world of science, so I turned to romance novels as my escape. What started out as a hobby quickly turned into a (mild) obsession, and I decided to try writing romance, as well.
Fast-forward a few years, and here we are. I had a blast working on this book, as it combines my two loves: science and romance (theyâre not as incompatible as you might think). I hope you enjoy James and Kellyâs storyâthey have a lot to overcome, but if anyone deserves a happy ending, itâs this pair.
If you get a chance, please stop by my blog and say hi. You can find me at laralacombe.blogspot.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Iâd love to hear from you!
Take care, and happy reading!
Lara
LARA LACOMBE
I earned my Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology and worked in several labs across the country before moving into the classroom. My day job as a college science professor gives me time to pursue my other loveâwriting fast-paced romantic suspense, with smart, nerdy heroines and dangerously attractive heroes. I love to hear from readers! Find me on the web, or contact me at [email protected].
For my family, of course.
Special thanks also to Rachel Burkot, Patience Bloom, Jessica Alvarez, the members of the CompuServe Books and Writers Community, and the members of the North Texas chapter of RWA.
Last but not least, thanks to Sarah, Tara, Jacqui, Adrienne, Jill and Laura. You saw the early draft, and you didnât run away screaming. You guys are the best!
Chapter 1
Washington, D.C.
April
Where is she?
James nursed his beer as he kept one eye on the television mounted on the wall behind the bar. His spot at the corner table afforded him a view of the entire place, and although he wasnât a huge fan of golf, the highlight reel from the Masters Tournament was the most interesting thing going on at the moment.
He glanced at his watch as he set the bottle down and reached for a handful of peanuts. Kelly wasnât usually late, but maybe sheâd had a long day or had gotten stuck in traffic. It was raining, and D.C. drivers tended to lose their minds when any kind of precipitation fell from the sky. Whatever the reason, if she didnât get there soon, heâd start drinking the beer heâd ordered for her. Heâd be doing her a favor, he decided, as no one liked warm beer.
âReady for another, James?â Danny called out, pausing in his obsessive wipe down of the already clean bar.
He shook his head. âNot yet, thanks. Iâll work on Kellyâs first.â
âShouldnât she be here by now?â
As if on cue, the door opened with a blast of humid air and Kelly dashed in, wearing a frown as she brushed the raindrops off her jacket. She waved at Danny as she walked over to the table, then sat with a sigh and reached for her beer. James raised a brow as she gulped down the brew, draining the bottle in one go. She set it on the table and turned to gesture for another, but Danny was already there, handing her a fresh one and wearing an expression of amused surprise.
âWant me to keep them coming?â Danny offered. Kelly nodded, and Danny shot James a meaningful look before he returned to the bar. Keep an eye on her tonight.