âYou still look like a model.â
An arrow of anger pierced her. Serena was a cop now, and he needed to acknowledge that. âLooks can deceive. I can have you flat on your back in the sand before you can blink.â
His glance was measuring, a hint of a smile playing around his generous mouth. âMight be an interesting experience.â
Annoyed with herself for thinking along the same lines, she snapped, âYou wouldnât think so if it happened. Iâm liable to break something.â
âIâll consider myself forewarned.â He sounded as if he couldnât wait.
The promise in his tone sent sexual fantasies tumbling through her mind. She had to fight to clear her thoughts. This wasnât the time and place, if ever there were such a thing. Not until she knew where he stood.
She drew herself up. âWeâre not here to exchange sexual fantasies. I need to knowââ
He cut off the question by simply kissing her.
Dear Reader,
What better way to start off a new year than with six terrific new Silhouette Intimate Moments novels? Weâve got miniseries galore, starting with Karen Templetonâs Staking His Claim, part of THE MEN OF MAYES COUNTY. These three brothers are destined to find love, and in this story, hero Cal Logan is also destined to be a fatherâbut first he has to convince heroine Dawn Gardner that in his arms is where she wants to stay.
For a taste of royal romance, check out Valerie Parvâs Operation: Monarch, part of THE CARRAMER TRUST, crossing over from Silhouette Romance. Policemen more your style? Then check out Maggie Priceâs Hidden Agenda, the latest in her LINE OF DUTY miniseries, set in the Oklahoma City Police Department. Prefer military stories? Donât even try to resist Irresistible Forces, Candace Irvinâs newest SISTERS IN ARMS novel. Weâve got a couple of great stand-alone books for you, too. Lauren Nichols returns with a single mom and her protective hero, in Run to Me. Finally, Australian sensation Melissa James asks Can You Forget? Trust me, this undercover marriage of convenience will stick in your memory long after youâve turned the final page.
Enjoy them allâand come back next month for more of the best and most exciting romance reading around, only in Silhouette Intimate Moments.
Yours,
Leslie J. Wainger
Executive Editor
Operation: Monarch
Valerie Parv
With twenty million copies of her books sold, including three Waldenbooks bestsellers, itâs no wonder Valerie Parv is known as Australiaâs queen of romance and is the recognized media spokesperson for all things romantic. Valerie is married to her own romantic hero, Paul, a former crocodile hunter in Australiaâs tropical north.
These days heâs a cartoonist and the two live in the countryâs capital city of Canberra, where both are volunteer zoo guides, sharing their love of animals with visitors from all over the world. Valerie continues to write her page-turning novels because they affirm her belief in love and happy endings. As she says, âLove gives you wings, romance helps you fly.â Keep up with Valerieâs latest releases at www.silromanceauthors.com.
For Bat Dame and the Bat Cave denizens.
Every writer should have such a safety valve.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Historianâs note:
The events described here take place about one year after the wedding of Prince Lorne and Alison Carter depicted in The Monarchâs Son
As a senior member of the Royal Protection Detail, Serena Cordeaux had seen the sovereign ruler of Carramer at times elated, imperious, furious and melancholy, but his emotions were usually so well masked that only those closest to him suspected how he really felt.
Never before had she seen Prince Lorne de Marigny so openly troubled. His dark eyes were clouded with worry and although his pose remained calm, the hands he linked together in front of him were white knuckled.
Seated in a wing-backed leather chair beside the princeâs desk, his wife, Princess Alison, looked calm but her eyes were dark with worry. Her fall of nut-brown hair hid much of her expression, but from the way she kept sneaking glances at the package lying open on the desk, Serena wondered if she expected the contents to rear up and strike her husband.
As well they might.
Knowing how devoted Alison was to Lorne and their little son, Nori, Serena wished she could assure them everything was going to be all right, but Serena was far from certain herself.
The prince placed his hands palms down on the leather blotter on either side of the damning evidence. âYou did the right thing bringing this directly to me. How did you learn of its existence?â
Wondering if the monarch knew more than he was revealing about the significance of the package, Serena said, âThe R.P.D. got a tip-off that Carramer First intended to disrupt the American presidentâs visit, so weâve been monitoring the groupâs activities.â