Gone In The Night
A childhood terror rears its ugly head in USA Today bestseller Anna J. Stewart's latest Honor Bound romance.Psychologist Allie Hollister is still haunted by the unsolved death of her childhood best friend. She never expects her past to meet her present when a young patient is abducted and this cold case is reopened. Allie knows she shouldn’t get involved, but the child’s uncle, firefighter Max Kellan, needs her as much as she needs him.Once, Max simply wanted to put his past to rest; now he demands nothing short of justice. While he and secretive, sexy Allie track a lethal criminal, their chemistry is an undeniable adrenaline rush. Attraction will be put to the test when they confront their most dangerous threat yet: the truth.
Читать Gone In The Night онлайн беплатно
A childhood terror rears its ugly head in USA TODAY bestselling author Anna J. Stewartâs latest Honor Bound romance.
Psychologist Allie Hollister is still haunted by the unsolved death of her childhood best friend. She never expects her past to meet her present when a young patient is abducted and the cold case is reopened. Allie knows she shouldnât get involved, but the childâs uncle, firefighter Max Kellan, needs her as much as she needs him.
Once, Max simply wanted to put his past to rest; now he demands nothing short of justice. As he and secretive, sexy Allie track a lethal criminal, their chemistry is an undeniable adrenaline rush. Their attraction will be put to the test when they confront their most dangerous threat yet: the truth.
Before Allie realized what was happening, he reached out, caught the back of her neck in his hand and hauled her to him.
He bent his head and covered her mouth with his in one fluid move, so fast, so effectively, her mind spun.
She moaned. Or was that him? She couldnât be sure, but she rose up on her toes, falling into him as she matched his kiss. Every synapse fired to life as the emotions of the dayâterror, panic, uncertaintyâmelted under Maxâs touch.
When he lifted his mouth, it wasnât by much. When she blinked open her eyes, it took a moment to focus, and as she looked at him, it wasnât humor she saw on his whisker-roughened face, in his curious brown eyes. It was her own confusion and uncertainty reflected back at her.
He barely moved, and the heat of his fingers brushing her neck may as well have branded her as his. âSuffice it to say this is something we might need to pursue once we work our way though this nightmare.â
* * *
Itâs funny how we as writers deal with the characters in our heads. Sometimes we struggle to help them become who we need them to be. Other times, the character bursts onto the page pretty much fully formed and rather demanding. Such was the case with Dr. Allie Hollister. Sheâs the quiet one of this trio of friends, the analytical one, and some might say the coolest of the bunch. She thinks a lot. Perhaps too much.
A difficult childhood was made worse by the murder of her best friend twenty years ago, but it was the bond she formed with Eden and Simone that helped make her the woman sheâs become. Allieâs a fighter, especially when it comes to the people she cares about. When Hope Kellan, one of Allieâs patients, disappears, she finds herself at a bit of a loss. But itâs her unexpected attraction to Hopeâs uncle Max that really throws her.
Allie isnât the only person Max threw for a loop. In my preplotting notesâand picturesâI thought I knew exactly who he was, what he looked like, what his temperament would be. Max, however, wasnât having it. The hero Iâd imagined as a polished, sullen, lost soul of a hero turned into the Max who showed upâquirky, scruffy, with one of those grins that you canât help but respond to. And Allie most definitely responds. Oh, and so did I.
For the first time in Allieâs life, aside from her two best friends, she finds she has someone else willing to fight for herâand with her. Even better? She has something else to fight for: her own happily-ever-after.
Anna J.
Bestselling author ANNA J. STEWART canât remember a time she wasnât making up stories or imaginary friends. Raised in San Francisco, she quickly found her calling as a romance writer when she discovered the used bookstore in her neighborhood had an entire wall dedicated to the genre. Her favorites? Harlequins, of course. A generous owner had her refilling her bag of books every Saturday morning, and soon her pen met paper and she never looked backâmuch to the detriment of her high school education. Anna currently lives in Northern California, where she continues to write up a storm, binge watches her favorite TV shows and movies and spends as much time as she can with her family and friends...and her cat, Snickers, who, letâs face it, rules the house.
For Allison Brennan
Never farther than an email away,
youâve always believed.
Contents
Dr. Allie Hollister rounded the circular drive of the Vandermont home and parked behind two patrol cars. This part of El Dorado Hills might be considered one of the more affluent areas of the Sacramento Valley with its mini mansions, lake views and lush acreage, but at six in the morning, the winding roads and sporadic street lamps did not make for a relaxing drive.
It didnât help that she was suffering the aftereffects of a champagne-heavy dinner at her foster siblingsâ new restaurant last night. No doubt sheâd used alcohol to compensate for the fact Eden and Simone, her two best friends, hadnât been able to come with her. Not even two cups of coffee and a painkiller put a dent in the pounding in her skull.
