Cops And...Lovers?. Linda Castillo

      Nick knew better than to touch her.

      He’d been around the block a few too many times to court the kind of trouble a touch would rouse. He didn’t like the way he was reacting to her as it was. He knew if he touched her, if he learned her skin was as soft and warm and fragrant as he imagined, it would make dealing with her even more complex.

      “You ought to have it looked at,” he said stiffly.

      “It’s just a scratch. I’ll take care of it.”

      Nick fought another rush of blood to his groin. He denied it. He cursed it. But his body betrayed his intellect, reacting with an intensity that left him incredulous and disturbed. Now wasn’t the time. This wasn’t the place.

      And Erin McNeal wasn’t the woman.

      Dear Reader,

      The excitement continues in Intimate Moments. First of all, this month brings the emotional and exciting conclusion of A YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY. In Familiar Stranger, Sharon Sala presents the final confrontation with the archvillain known as Simon—and you’ll finally find out who he really is. You’ll also be there as Jonah revisits the woman he’s never forgotten and decides it’s finally time to make some important changes in his life.

      Also this month, welcome back Candace Camp to the Intimate Moments lineup. Formerly known as Kristin James, this multitalented author offers a Hard-Headed Texan who lives in A LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS, which will enthrall readers everywhere. Paula Detmer Riggs returns with Daddy with a Badge, another installment in her popular MATERNITY ROW miniseries—and next month she’s back with Born a Hero, the lead book in our new Intimate Moments continuity, FIRSTBORN SONS. Complete the month with Moonglow, Texas, by Mary McBride, Linda Castillo’s Cops and…Lovers? and new author Susan Vaughan’s debut book, Dangerous Attraction.

      By the way, don’t forget to check out our Silhouette Makes You a Star contest on the back of every book.

      We hope to see you next month, too, when not only will FIRSTBORN SONS be making its bow, but we’ll also be bringing you a brand-new TALL, DARK AND DANGEROUS title from award-winning Suzanne Brockmann. For now…enjoy!

      Leslie J. Wainger

      Executive Senior Editor

      Cops and… Lovers?

      Linda Castillo

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To my husband, Ernest, for your encouragement

       and undying support—I love you always.

      LINDA CASTILLO

      grew up in a small farming community in western Ohio. She knew from a very early age that she wanted to be a writer—and penned her first novel at the age of thirteen, during one of those long Ohio winters. Her dream of becoming a published author came true the day Silhouette called and wanted to buy one of her books!

      Romance is at the heart of all her stories. She loves the idea of two fallible people falling in love amid danger, and against their better judgment—or so they think. She enjoys watching them struggle through their problems, realize their weaknesses and strengths along the way and, ultimately, fall head over heels in love.

      She is the winner of numerous writing awards, including the prestigious Maggie Award for Excellence. In 1999, she was a triple Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist, and her first Silhouette release, Remember the Night, took first place in the romantic suspense division.

      Linda spins her tales of love and intrigue from her home in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband and three lovable dogs. You can contact her at P.O. Box 670501, Dallas, Texas, 75367-0501.

      Contents

      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

      Epilogue

      Prologue

      Erin McNeal had always liked the taste of adrenaline. But as she stared at her partner lying on the floor with his hands bound and a pistol at his nape, it sat in the back of her throat in a bitter pool. He knew better than to get himself into a situation like this. She sure as hell knew better than to follow him into this godforsaken warehouse. But not even the caution instilled by nine years of law enforcement experience was enough to keep her from going in after him.

      Heart thundering, she slipped her service revolver from the holster at the small of her back, praying she wouldn’t have to use it. She didn’t want to get into a firefight with two men wielding semiautomatic weapons and displaying a complete lack of conscience. But the cop in her wouldn’t allow her partner to die simply because she was outgunned two to one.

      Never taking her eyes from the men, she eased the hammer back with her thumb. She’d radioed for backup, but knew her counterparts wouldn’t arrive in time to stop the inevitable. She figured her partner had about a minute left to live—if he was lucky. That gave her about thirty seconds to come up with a plan.

      “You gonna tell us who your snitch is, cop, or do we get to beat it out of you?” said a man in an ill-fitting suit.

      Erin was too far away to recognize the thug, but she could tell by his calm demeanor and steady hand he’d murdered before. Probably more than once, judging by the anticipation resonating in his voice. Where the hell was her backup?

      “We ain’t got all night,” the second man said. “Do him.”

      The man in the suit raised his gun. “Last chance, cop.”

      Moving out from behind the forklift where she’d taken cover, Erin raised her revolver and leveled it on the man in the suit. “Police! Drop your weapons and put your hands over your heads!”

      The second man pivoted, his right hand slithering into his jacket. “What the—”

      Erin shifted her aim to the man reaching for his gun. “Get your hands where I can see them!”

      The two men exchanged looks. A sinking sensation rippled in her gut. In that instant she knew they weren’t going to go down without a fight—not to a woman.

      Her partner raised his head, drawing her attention. Erin saw fear in his eyes. She felt her own like a raging beast in her chest. She was outnumbered, and they all knew it. Not the kind of odds she wanted to stake her life on, not to mention someone else’s.

      Damn, this wasn’t working out the way she’d hoped.

      Panic threatening, she dropped into a shooter’s stance, with legs apart, pistol cocked and level, but not quite steady. “Drop ’em!” she said, barely hearing her own voice over the roar of blood in her ears.

      In her peripheral vision, she saw movement from above. Surprise jolted her when she saw a figure on the catwalk. Dark clothes. Tinted glasses. A glimpse of blue steel.

      Terror fused with adrenaline and cut a path through her belly. She swung her weapon upward—and felt