Protecting His Brother's Bride
An Unlikely Partnership Shrouded in Secrets…Framed for embezzlement and hunted by killers, investigator Kira Kincaid will go to any lengths to clear her name – even team up with Dalton Matthews, her deceased husband’s brother. But she didn’t expect to feel such undeniable, unwelcome desire for the brooding tycoon.Dalton plans to protect the headstrong widow and walk away once she’s safe. If only her beautiful green eyes didn’t erode his emotional defences. When their mission exposes an earth-shattering family secret from both their pasts, Dalton must choose between his brother’s betrayal and the one woman he should deny.
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Dalton dropped the handcuffs and kicked them across the floor to her. âPut those on.â
âA frequent fantasy of yours?â Kira had been aiming for a sarcastic tone and instead, the words came out breathy. Like an invitation.
âDefinitely.â His raised eyebrow spoke volumes and she balanced on the thin line between anger and appreciation. He was good. Scratch that. He was very bad, and he knew it.
âI meant, use them on your friend. We need to get out of here before the fire closes in.â
âAnd if I refuse?â She swiped her cheek across her forearm and stifled a groan when her skin burned from the action.
âThen you deserve each other,â he drawled. His warped sense of humor added to his raw appeal. Laughter and looks were a dangerous combination.
His silky brown eyes slid down her body and then to the gun in her hand.
âYouâre making me nervous. How about a truce?â
JAN SCHLIESMAN became addicted to Mills & Boon® novels in high school, often swapping bags of books with her girlfriends. Shortly afterward, Mr Wonderful walked into her life, and it was love at first sight. At least for her. It took a few months for him to realise that she was mowing the grass in tight spandex to get him to notice her. They married and started a family and she became a stay-at-home mum. Not as much time to read meant Mills & Boon® Desire⢠books were her new best friend, especially when they started including wineglasses in the monthly shipment. After their son was diagnosed with autism, it was also vitally important that somebody, somewhere, was getting a happy ending. She returned to college in pursuit of an English degree, but working as a police dispatcher provided too many story ideas. The Romantic Suspense line became her new love, and a degree in criminal justice followed many years later.
Most days youâll find Jan listening to love stories and helping couples choose the perfect engagement ring. Most late nights sheâs in her office, getting new words on the page. Born and raised in Iowa, sheâs the mother of three semi-grown children. Jan lives in Kansas with the man she still calls Mr Wonderful. Find her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter or check out her website at www.janschliesman.com.
Sixteen years ago I drove sixty miles on a Thursday night to attend a Heart of Iowa Fiction Authors meeting. I brought along ten single-spaced pages of my manuscript, which Iâd printed on lavender paper. No one laughed at me. I received nothing but encouragement and amazing advice. Thank you, Roxanne Rustand, Kylie Brant and Cindy Gerard for being such great roomies at the conference and for including me in all your fun.
When we moved to Kansas nearly six years ago, I connected with a critique partner, Sarah Cannon. We kept each other going when it might have been easier to give up. And thank goodness we didnât give up, because 2014 was the year we both sold manuscripts to Mills & Boon. Itâs been an exciting ride and one that wouldnât have been possible for either one of us without the unwavering support of Mills & Boon® Intrigue author Angi Morgan. Besides being my toughest critic, sheâs also my best friend. I am lucky beyond measure to have her in my life.
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âI am not a criminal,â Kira Kincaid announced to the female FBI agent who watched her every move. On the contrary, Kira was an upstanding example of citizenship. âI never even drive over the speed limit.â The fact that she didnât own a car was inconsequential.
âSave it for the judge,â her keeper barked.
Kira pressed the cup to her lips and finished the last drop of water. She wished she had more. The third-floor interrogation room faced west and the late-August sun was outpacing the air-conditioning.
Rocking back and forth in the seat, she focused on trying to calm her nerves while preparing for what would happen next. Every police drama sheâd ever seen replayed in her head. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. The only attorney she knew was Marissa Reynolds, a neighbor in her apartment complex.
Sitting there in shock, Kira didnât know how much time passed. She also didnât know how she remained so calm. Shock could do that to a person, she guessed. Even so, she had enough sense to refuse answering any questions until her attorney arrived. She sat quietly in the interrogation room, handcuffs removed, but with one agent left to supervise her actions. Where would she go?
Sheâd gone out of her way to avoid direct contact with Marissa, but Kira could deal with the interaction if it meant the difference between going home and spending the night in jail. After having messy fingerprints and a horrible mug shot taken, she had used her one allotted phone call.
