Perilous Homecoming

FATAL BOUNTY

When former Treasure Point police officer Kelsey Jackson witnesses a murder while temporarily back in her hometown, the killer is dead set on silencing her. The antiques insurance agent didn’t see enough to know who killed the museum’s curator...but she plans to find out. And the only person offering to assist in her investigation is Sawyer Hamilton—the last man Kelsey ever thought she’d rely on. The handsome marine biologist was once Kelsey’s biggest rival, but now he’s determined to make up for the past by protecting her. And when the clues lead to shipwrecks and treasure, Sawyer will risk everything to keep Kelsey out of the hands of modern-day pirates.

Brave. That was how Kelsey looked to Sawyer right now.

Brave.

Sawyer watched her draw in a breath, look behind her again and hurry toward him. When she finally reached his side she stopped.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She shook her head. Then nodded. “I’m not sure. I’m alive, but...”

“But someone tried to kill you again.”

Whoever this was meant business. Those notes weren’t made to intimidate, weren’t just bluffs. The killer had told her if she didn’t leave town he’d kill her. Clearly he meant to follow through on his promise.

He glanced around. “You don’t see anyone out there anymore, do you?”

“No, but that doesn’t mean he’s not hiding somewhere. I still don’t know where he came from.”

“Let’s sit, then,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer tried to keep his distance, or at least do the best he could when he was determined not to get farther than a couple of feet from her since she was in danger. But he wasn’t touching her, wasn’t even close.

Until he noticed her hand was shaking. Then he reached out and took it in his.

Dear Reader,

I can’t believe it’s time to leave Treasure Point! This fictional town will probably always be special to me, because it was the setting for my debut novel, and I have had a lot of fun with the characters there and the place itself. Thank you for reading my stories and being part of this fictional community with me.

When I was writing Kelsey and Sawyer’s story, I realized their spiritual thread was a little less obvious than in some of my other books. It took a while (as it sometimes does in my writing process) to figure out exactly what they were learning and then I realized (as usual) that they were learning what I have been learning lately. Right now, that’s the fact that God is not a convenient addition to our day, or an item on a checklist. He is God and He wants to have a relationship with us. That’s a huge truth that I don’t always live out the way I should, but I am glad I was reminded of it through this story.

I hope that reading this book encouraged you, or entertained you, or both, and I want to thank you again for being a reader, for loving stories. I love doing this job and am grateful for the opportunity to do it—something that couldn’t happen without you.

I love hearing from readers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can get in touch with me through email at [email protected], find me on Facebook at facebook.com/sarahvarlandauthor, or find me on my personal blog at espressoinalatteworld.blogspot.com.

Sarah Varland

SARAH VARLAND lives near the mountains in Alaska, where she loves writing, hiking, kayaking and spending time with her family. She’s happily married to her college sweetheart, John, and is the mom of two active and adorable boys, Joshua and Timothy, as well as another baby in heaven. Sarah has been writing almost since she could hold a pencil and especially loves writing romantic suspense, where she gets to combine her love for happily-ever-afters, inspired by her own, with her love for suspense, inspired by her dad, who has spent a career in law enforcement. You can find Sarah online through her blog, espressoinalatteworld.blogspot.com.

Perilous Homecoming

Sarah Varland

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

—James 1:17

To the family and friends who have been so consistent encouraging me as I worked to meet deadlines for this and other books during my first year of homeschooling—something that made for some crazy weeks. You cheered me on, told me to eat chocolate, watched my kids and reminded me of how much I love writing—which I do. I’m so grateful for all of it. Thank you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Kelsey Jackson felt the way she always did at the first rumbles of thunder on a too-hot day during tornado season. The electricity in the air was almost palpable, but not in a good way. Everything about being here tonight in this stifling room gave her one of the deepest senses of foreboding she’d ever felt. But tonight was too important for her career to let all that stop her, and Kelsey was Southern, born and bred—she could put on a fake smile, laugh lightly and be pleasant, even to her worst enemy, when the occasion called for it.