AN FBI AGENT TAKES THE BIGGESTâAND MOST DANGEROUSâRISK OF HIS CAREER: LEAVING BACHELORHOOD BEHIND
Crime investigator Thadius âThadâ Winston must protect his high-ranking political mother after she is shot and nearly killed. He is prepared for risks. What he isnât prepared for is Lucy Sinclair. Hired as his motherâs nurse, Lucy is capable, compassionate and entirely inconvenient for Thad. He doesnât enivision a life of shared love or commitment, yet he canât deny the intense attraction growing between them. And when a stalker sets his sights on Lucyâpossibly the same man who tried to kill his motherâThad realizes just how much he has to lose.
His grin faded as they continued to stand close and look at each other. Her gut instinct yearned for him to stay, not to leave. He should leave, though.
âI should go.â
âYes.â
Neither one of them moved.
Lucy breathed a wry, awkward laugh. He reacted with more heat going into his eyes. The awkwardness fell away and suddenly it became incredibly important to her to explore where this would lead.
He took a single step toward her. She lifted her head, his face close to hers. Her skin flushed and a shaky breath eased out of her. His face lowered, maybe an inch. His gaze fluttered from her mouth to her eyes, where it stayed. And then as quickly as the heat had rushed upon them, he withdrew and stepped back.
âGood night,â he said, and walked out the door.
Lucy went there and turned the dead bolt, resting her forehead against the wood until her heart calmed and the excitement of Thad kissing her reduced to a warm memory.
Dear Reader,
Continuities are one of my favorite types of books to write. Thereâs always something titillating going on, and the stories span more than one book. In this second installation of The Adair Legacy, I am fortunate to have Thad Winston as my hero. Heâs a crime scene investigator whoâs in the thick of an assassination attempt and a struggle with his feelings for Lucy Sinclair.
Other than weaving the tale of Thad and Lucyâs love, one of my favorite parts of writing this book was tossing a character like Sophie into the mix. She challenges Thadâs ideals and enriches his relationship with Lucy. See if you agree!
Jennifer Morey
JENNIFER MOREY
Two-time 2009 RITA® Award nominee and a Golden Quill winner for Best First Book for The Secret Soldier, Jennifer Morey writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Project manager par jour, she works for the space systems segment of a satellite imagery and information company. She lives in sunny Denver, Colorado. She can be reached through her website, www.jennifermorey.com, and on Facebook.
Chapter 1
Thadius Winston left the muggy, late-February air and stepped into the Raleigh, North Carolina, police department. Bright fluorescent lights shone over the reception area, closed off to the rest of the station. Gladys saw him from her post behind the desk straight ahead and gave him her customary once-over. Sheâd been after him for a couple of months now. And though he never encouraged her, she hadnât gotten the hint he wasnât interested, and he wouldnât hurt her by telling her.
âMorninâ, Thad,â she greeted, flirting again. Maybe it was her nature. Maybe she flirted with all the cops.
She wore a lot of makeup. Blue eye shadow, heavy mascara, caked-on foundation that embedded in the wrinkles forming around her eyes and mouth. She dyed her hair blond and used too much hairspray. Hurricane force wind wouldnât ruin her style for the day.
Heâd heard her husband had left her for someone younger. She was about twenty years older than Thad. If it made her feel good to flirt with younger men, what harm did that do? It sometimes made his stomach turn, but he could tolerate a few moments of discomfort every now and then.
âGood morning, Gladys. Is Darcy Jenkins in yet?â He always kept their interaction to business.
âYes, he is, handsome. Heâs waiting for you in the first conference room.â
Slipping the lanyard holding his badge over his neck, he nodded his thanks and strode to the double glass doors. Entering through those, he followed a sterile white hall to the conference room at the end. The door was open.
Darcyâs five-eleven frame leaned over some photos. He always wore a dress shirt and tie with slacks. Never a jacket. He looked up when Thad entered, his thick black hair cut short and dark eyes intuitive and a little haunted, but not from all heâd seen as a special victims unit detective.
Straightening, he moved around the table. âHey.â He gave Thadâs back a firm pat.
âDoes Gladys flirt with you?â Thad asked.
âShe flirts with everybody. Donât let it go to your head.â