The detective reunites with his runaway bride
A brand-new suspense story from USA TODAY bestselling author Marilyn Pappano
When a stalker targets Natasha Spencerâand her exesâTash must warn the man she abandoned at the altar. She reconnects with Detective Daniel Harper, but a history of heartbreak still lingers between them. Daniel is determined to protect, but not trust, Tash. Every clue they pursue and chance they take reignites desire...and leads straight into an inescapable trap.
Oklahoma, dogs, beaches, books, family and friends: these are a few of MARILYN PAPPANOâs favorite things. She lives in imaginary worlds where she reigns supreme (at least, she does when the characters cooperate) and no matter how wrong things go, she can always set them right. Itâs her husbandâs job to keep her grounded in the real world, which makes him her very favorite thing.
Also By Marilyn Pappano
Killer Smile
Killer Secrets
Detective Defender
Nights with a Thief
Bayou Hero
Undercover in Copper Lake
Copper Lake Encounter
Copper Lake Confidential
Christmas Confidential
âHoliday Protectorâ
In the Enemyâs Arms
Copper Lake Secrets
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
ISBN: 978-1-474-07952-5
KILLER SMILE
© 2018 Marilyn Pappano
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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âThere was a prowler at my house last night, Tash,â Daniel said quietly.
âAlso, we have a witness who says heâs seen a guy watching you.â
Natashaâs muscles froze, leaving her unable to breathe or process his words. She didnât feel the trembling in her hands until she saw rings spreading across the surface of her coffee. Danielâs right hand took her left, and she reflexively grasped it, squeezing tightly, focusing all her energy on maintaining contact with the one person whoâd always, always made her feel safe.
âYou went out there by yourself? Knowing that RememberMe wants toââ She finished with a gesture of her left hand, unable to put it into words. The mere thought of the danger sheâd brought into Danielâs life could break her heart and her spirit.
âI wasnât alone. I had my weapon.â He laid his free hand on the pistol snugged on his belt. âYou know I never leave home without it.â
The small smile that touched his mouth was reassuring, but Natasha couldnât stop the ominous words in her head. Her stalker was here in Cedar Creek, and he knew where Daniel lived, and he wanted him dead...
Dear Reader,
I read somewhere that the song âEvery Breath You Takeâ by The Police is widely considered by women to be one of the great love songs. In fact, quite a few of my female friends agree. While I like the song, I also think itâs very, very creepy. The composer himself, Sting, called it âsinisterâ and says itâs about âsurveillance and controlâ in an interview with The Independent in 1993.
Just goes to show how different perceptions can be.
A woman meets a man in a social situation. She smiles and says, âNice to meet you.â He hears, âIâve waited all my life for you.â
She shakes his hand. He feels the promise of forever.
She pleads, âLeave me alone.â He understands, âPlease donât ever leave me alone.â
Perceptions.
It had been a while since Iâd done a stalker story, and Iâve always wanted to write my own runaway bride, too. I already knew Detective Daniel Harper, from Killer Secrets, was going to be the hero, so I added one commitmentphobic heroine (Daniel was third on Natashaâs list of jilted fiancés) and one freaky psychopath and set them on a course that would alter, threaten or even end their lives. And I had a lovely time doing it.