Power Play

A security expert puts everything on the line when a woman from his past turns to him for protection...

Kellie McGarry is off-limits to Trey Riker. Building a security empire is the perfect distraction for him, but a threat against Kellie changes everything. In jeopardy and caught in a terrorist group’s web, she’s the one woman Trey will do anything to protect.

For Kellie, the sparks between her and Trey are more than inconvenient. She’s torn between the evidence that implicates him and her instinct to trust him. Determined to get the truth about Trey and save her own life, Kellie must make a choice now—but the wrong one could be her last.

“Shoot them before they shoot you.”

Kellie shook her head. “Before all this, I never would have imagined a scenario where it was necessary for somebody to say that to me.”

“You could do it, though, right?” he asked. He saw a tear in her eye.

“I’ve done a great many things in the last forty-eight hours that I would not have anticipated ever doing. I can do this, too.”

Trey knew that she was close to the edge. “Kellie, you caught a bad break. But you’ve done a terrific job of—”

“I’m okay,” she added, her voice still soft but stronger. “Now get going. I’ll see you in five.” Then she leaned in, so close, and brushed her soft lips against his.

His heart lurched in his chest. It had been innocent, a kiss that a ten-year-old girl might give a ten-year-old boy. But the overture, combined with the trust she’d demonstrated by allowing Rico and Seth to take the papers, was humbling. He would not fail her.

* * *

Don’t miss the next romance in Beverly Long’s exciting miniseries, Wingman Security!

Dear Reader,

I’m excited to offer you Kellie and Trey’s story. It’s a story of loyalty—to our families, to our friends, to those we love the most.

Kellie, a geologist, knows a secret. One that can get her killed. But she’s afraid to tell anyone because her brother may be involved. When Trey Riker, her brother’s best friend, tries to help her, she doesn’t trust him, either.

Trey, a security expert, is confident that Kellie is hiding something. When her apartment is trashed and she’s suddenly missing, he’s confident that she’s in terrible trouble. Following a trail that leads him across the desert, he tracks her down.

Unfortunately, he’s not the only one looking for her, and Trey and Kellie are soon apprehended by someone intent upon Kellie never sharing her secret with anyone.

Ultimately, Kellie and Trey must rely upon each other. Neither can escape on their own but together, they have a chance. It will take everything they have, every bit of courage and strength and smarts.

But sometimes a great love is worth all that.

I hope you enjoy Power Play.

Beverly

Power Play

Beverly Long

www.millsandboon.co.uk

BEVERLY LONG enjoys the opportunity to write her own stories. She has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business and more than twenty years of experience as a human resources director. She considers her books to be a great success if they compel the reader to stay up way past their bedtime. Beverly loves to hear from readers. Visit beverlylong.com, or like her author fan page at Facebook.com/beverlylong.romance.

To Gerry, who is my personal MacGyver. I appreciate the block and tackle demonstration.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

Trey Riker grilled a steak, tossed a salad and uncorked a bottle of wine. He ate outside, enjoying the quiet of the Vegas night. His place, twenty minutes from town in the foothills, was a continent removed from the blitz and glitz of the strip.

He’d had a rare day off and spent it digging post holes for the fence that he’d hoped to put up six months ago. But one shouldn’t complain about business being good. He and his three other partners, Royce Morgan, Rico Metez and Seth Pike, had opened Wingman Security more than four years ago and hadn’t looked back since. A few crazies in a basically good world spooked people, and both personal and property security were high priorities for many.

He tipped his wineglass up, drained it and considered a second. But the knowledge that he was due at the job at five the next morning had him pushing back from the table. He was never late, couldn’t understand others who were.

He went inside and locked up behind himself. Put his plate and silverware in the stainless steel dishwasher that he ran every three days, usually just for the hell of it. He’d bought his house two years ago. The 2800-square-foot ranch was probably too big for a single guy, but he’d loved the location. Every night he could sit on his patio and see the sun set. Every morning he could look out his bedroom window and see the sun rise.

He made sure the coffeepot was set up for morning and ten minutes later, he was in bed, lights off, listening to Bach’s Toccata in D Major when his cell rang. He reached for it, not recognizing the number. “Riker,” he answered.