Matters of Seduction
INHIBITED AGENT TURNED WANTON WOMANSpecial Agent Prudence Dunlop was anxious to leave her desk job and get out in the field, but her all-too handsome boss, John Cahill, denied each request she made. So when the opportunity to catch a cunning serial killer arose, Pru would do anything to prove herself. She'd even strip off her plain Jane persona and pose as a seductive temptress in the hopes of luring out the murderer. Instead, she unleashed an even more dangerous scenario between her and her boss. Though taking on the elusive killer threatened her life, would falling in love with John be the greatest risk of all?
Читать Matters of Seduction онлайн беплатно
âYouâre a legend, you know. Whether you believe it or not.â
Cahill straightened and said gruffly, âYou have to stop looking at me that way, Agent Dunlop. You and I both know it canât happen.â
Pru almost gasped. Sheâd let down her guard for one split second, and heâd seen right through her. He knew. âWhat canât happen?â she tried to bluff.
âYou know what Iâm talking about.â His tone remained stern. âI saw it in your eyes just now. I felt it in the car yesterday. Iâll admit, Iâm attracted to you, too, but I repeat, it canât happen. It wouldnât do either of our careers any good.â
He was attracted to her, too? Since when? Oh, my God. Pru fought the smile that tugged at her lips. âI donât know what to say. Soâ¦what doâ¦â
âWe donât do anything. We ignore this until it goes away.â
âOkay, butâ¦what if it doesnât go away?â
He frowned. âIt will. It always does.â
Maybe for you, Pru thought.
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
You wonât be able to resist a single one of our May books. We have a lineup so shiver inducing that you may forget summerâs almost here!
Executive Bodyguard is the second book in Debra Webbâs exciting new trilogy, THE ENFORCERS. For the thrilling conclusion, be sure you pick up Man of Her Dreams in June.
Amanda Stevens concludes her MATCHMAKERS UNDERGROUND series with Matters of Seduction. And the Montana McCalls are back, in B.J. Danielsâs Ambushed!
We also have two special premiers for you. Kathleen Long debuts in Harlequin Intrigue with Silent Warning, a chilling thriller. And LIPSTICK LTD., our special promotion featuring sexy, sassy sleuths, kicks off with Darlene Scaleraâs Straight Silver.
A few of your favorite Harlequin Intrigue authors have some special books youâll love. Rita Herronâs A Breath Away is available this month from HQN Books. And, in June, Joanna Wayneâs The Gentlemenâs Club is being published by Signature Spotlight.
Harlequin Intrigue brings you the best in breathtaking romantic suspense with six fabulous books to enjoy. Please write to usâwe love to hear from our readers.
Sincerely,
Denise OâSullivan
Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author of over thirty novels, Amanda Stevens is the recipient of Career Achievement awards in both Romantic Mystery and Romantic Suspense from Romantic Times magazine. She has been nominated for numerous Reviewersâ Choice awards and has been a RITA>® Award finalist in the Gothic/Romantic Suspense category. She resides in Houston, Texas.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Special Agent Prudence DunlopâHer career is threatened by an elusive killerâ¦and by the one man she canât have.
Special Agent John CahillâA legend among his colleagues, this G-man has his own demons to battle.
Special Agent Tim SessionsâHeâs good at what he does. Very, very good.
Sergeant Janet StrykerâHow far will this ambitious detective go to get her man?
Sergeant Barry ReedâIs he tired of being upstaged by his flamboyant partner?
Clare McDonaldâA woman with a deadly secret.
Tiffany BeaumontâHer friend wasnât the only one with secrets.
John Allen StilesâA convicted serial killer, his deadly reach extends beyond his jail cell.
Sid ZellmanâStilesâs new attorney is a man with his own compulsions.
Greg OldmanâZellmanâs handsome and enigmatic assistant.
Naomi WallisâShe seems to have an unnatural attachment to Stiles.
Danny CostelloâHe was hired to follow Clare McDonald. Can he now identify her killer?
Max TrippâHis P.I. agency promises his rich clients a connection with the woman of their dreams. Could one of his clients be a killer?
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
Prologue
I donât hate women, okay? Letâs make that clear from the start. Quite the contrary, I adore women. I find them endlessly fascinating. I can watch them for hours and never grow bored. Theyâre my canvas, you see. My clay. Even more, theyâre my air and water. Without them, I would cease to exist.
So, no, I donât hate women, nor do I take their lives for sadistic pleasure. Iâm not on a mission. Iâm not a thrill seeker. I donât hear voices inside my head. I donât fit any of your profiles because Iâm not like any killer youâve ever known.
Special Agent John Cahill stopped the tape, rewound, and then pressed Play as he got up from his desk and strode to the window to stare out. A chill ran up his spine as the distorted voice behind him droned on. He couldnât identify the speaker, but there was something disturbingly familiar about the message.
The tape had been included in a stack of reports and crime scene photos sent to him by Lieutenant Bill Mayberry of the Houston Police Department, along with a request that he review the cases ASAP. The original tape had been delivered to HPD headquarters, addressed simply to the Homicide Division, the day after the second body had been discovered in the Montrose area of the city.
