Starting with June
Resisting June may be his toughest job Investigating small-town police corruption has never been on former marine Sam Rivers's radar. Still, taking this assignment gives him the opportunity to figure out what's next after his medical discharge. The task should be a straightforward one. That is, until he meets Deputy June Jones. Almost instantly the warm, sexy woman occupies his thoughts. For a man who craves solitude, suddenly he can't get enough of her.He also can't forget his reason for being in Quincey, North Carolina. As his investigation progresses, it threatens his secret relationship with June. But can he turn his back on all the love and hope she offers?
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Resisting June may be his toughest job
Investigating small-town police corruption has never been on former Marine Sam Riversâs radar. Still, taking this assignment gives him the opportunity to figure out whatâs next after his medical discharge. The task should be a straightforward one. That is, until he meets Deputy June Jones. Almost instantly the warm, sexy woman occupies his thoughts. For a man who craves solitude, suddenly he canât get enough of her.
He also canât forget his reason for being in Quincey, North Carolina. As his investigation progresses, it threatens his secret relationship with June. But can he turn his back on all the love and hope she offers?
âForget it, Rivers. Now go. Please.â
Sam watched June, not responding. Finally, she spoke again. âLeave me with a little pride, and let me pretend I didnât just make a fool of myself.â
She pushed the door again, but when he held his position, she threw up her hands and retreated inside. A smart man would let her go.
âJune, let me explain.â
She angled a hesitant, wounded gaze over her shoulder. âIâm mature enough to take no for an answer, Rivers. But itâs time you left.â
The cool and clearly false bravado in Juneâs tone only made Sam feel worse. Damn, she was tough. She could have begged, cried, thrown a tantrum or slammed the door on him. He would have expected, and knew how to handle, any of those reactions. Instead, she acted with dignity.
This was one firefight he wouldnât win no matter what he did.
Writing this letter is bittersweet. While I get to share the story of one of my favorite heroines, Iâm also saying goodbye to Quinceyâa town that has become like my second home.
Deputy June waited patiently in the background of my previous two Quincey stories, but it wasnât until an accident forced hardcore Marine Sam Rivers to question everything he knew about himself that I discovered why June refused to get out of my head. Despite Samâs repeated efforts to push her away, sheâs determined to help him become the man he was meant to beâwhether or not he wants her assistance. And in June, Sam finds the one woman he considers his equal.
There are times in our lives when we or someone we love needs a Juneâsomeone with a positive, persistent, kick-butt attitude and the life experience to help us through a rough patch. I hope you enjoy watching a woman who is everybodyâs champion take on a man determined to stand alone.
Emilie Rose
USA TODAY bestselling author and RITA® Award finalist EMILIE ROSE lives in North Carolina with her own romance hero. Writing is her third career. Sheâs managed a medical office and a home day careâneither offered half as much satisfaction as plotÂting happy endings. Her hobbies include gardening, fishing and cooking. Visit her website, emilierose.com, or email her at [email protected].
In loving memory of my mother-in-law.
I wish Iâd met her sooner.
Contents
SOMETIMES LIFE SUCKED. This was one of those times, Sam Rivers decided as he exited the building on MCB Quantico with the words heâd never expected to hear still ringing in his ears.
Separated from the corps. Medically discharged.
Over. His military career was over.
He caught a trace of movement near his Charger. Instantly alert, he squinted through the glaring sunlight that not even his Wiley X sunglasses could block. Was the subject a friend or foe? A foe on a domestic base was unlikely. But old habits were hard to break.
The man slouched against the carâs front fender was none other than Roth Sterling. As close to a brother as Sam would let any man become. Sam should have known the former sniper whoâd watched his back for years wouldnât leave him to face the bad news from the Medical Evaluation Board alone. But Sam hadnât called him. How had Roth known today was D-day?
His buddy straightened as Sam approached. Roth had been out a few years, but civilian life and his recent marriage hadnât changed his parade-ready posture.
âWho called you?â
âDoes it matter?â Roth answered.
Did it? Not really. The end was the end. Unless he could heal and convince his superiors it wasnât.
âI appreciate you coming up, Roth, but it wasnât necessary.â Sam clasped Rothâs fist and bumped his shoulder. An invisible hand wrapped a choke hold around his throat. He blocked the rising tide of panic and uncertainty. He and Roth had been through some deep shit together, but he wouldnât drag his buddy into this pig pond. This was his problem and his alone.
âYeah, it was necessary. Meet me at the Fire Breathinâ Dragon, and Iâll tell you why.â Roth about-faced and made his way to a pickup parked two rows down.
