Kansas City Countdown. Julie Miller

      

      A seventy-two-hour countdown to save her life

      They may have battled in the courtroom, but KCPD detective Keir Watson isn’t going to let their turbulent past stop him from protecting attorney Kenna Parker. She was attacked, escaping with her life but with no memory of who wanted to end it. And the only person she dares trust is Keir.

      With the clock ticking, every second grows more precious, each action more important…their feelings more intense. If Keir is going to discover Kenna’s would-be killer, he has to keep his mind on the case. But his attraction to Kenna is making this self-declared bachelor reconsider just what his idea of forever could mean.

       The Precinct: Bachelors in Blue

      “Don’t be nice to me right now. I need you to be a detective.”

      “Counselor, you’re scaring me.”

      “Join the club. The numbers. They’re a countdown.” She told him about the weekly letters she’d stashed away and the caller who seemed to think she ought to be dead. “Today is day zero. Today is when he planned to attack me. I think he’s coming to kill me.”

      “Did you report it to the police?”

      She hugged her arms around her waist. “Would it have done any good? Aren’t I the enemy? Someone has been threatening me, and maybe…maybe I wasn’t scared enough for him. I’m too stubborn and independent…” Kenna swayed with exhaustion and fell silent.

      “Can I be nice to you now?” Keir’s voice was deep pitched, calm.

      All she could do was nod. He turned her into his arms.

      Kansas City Countdown

      Julie Miller

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      JULIE MILLER is an award-winning USA TODAY bestselling author of breathtaking romantic suspense—with a National Readers’ Choice Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award, among other prizes. She has also earned an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award. For a complete list of her books, monthly newsletter and more, go to juliemiller.org.

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Keir Watson—A third-generation cop and the youngest of the Watson brothers, this detective never backs down from a challenge. The last person he expects to stumble out of an alley and into his arms is the attorney who just shredded his latest case.

      Kenna Parker—A successful, driven criminal-defense attorney, she has plenty of enemies. When she’s brutally assaulted and left with amnesia, she is dismayed by the frightening number of suspects who might want to hurt her. The only man she trusts is the detective who rescued her, Keir Watson.

      Helmut Bond—Good ol’ Hellie was a friend of Kenna’s father, and would like to be an even better friend to her.

      Dr. Andrew Colbern—The cosmetic surgeon has been accused of hiring someone to murder his wife.

      Devon Colbern—The doctor’s aggrieved wife doesn’t feel justice has been served. Yet.

      Marvin Bennett—Is the Parker estate’s gardener about to lose his job? Or his life?

      Hudson Kramer—Keir’s partner might be a little jealous of his partner’s luck with the ladies.

      B.J.—Who was Kenna planning to meet the evening she was attacked? And why would she keep that meeting a secret?

      Hoodie Guy—When you don’t know a name and haven’t seen a face, you give the creepy guy who keeps showing up a nickname.

      Thomas Watson—Keir’s father. Someone has targeted his family. Can the threats against the people he loves be related to the woman his son is protecting?

      Seamus Watson—Keir’s grandfather. He can’t walk by himself and can barely speak. But he knows how to charm a lady.

      To my fellow Whovians.

      You know who you are.

      (And please don’t ask me to pick a favorite Doctor!)

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Cast of Characters

       Dedication

       Prologue

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Epilogue

       Extract

       Copyright

       Prologue

      “You’re a bad boy, Detective Watson.”

      Keir Watson laughed at the teasing gibe from Natalie Fensom Parker, the bridesmaid he was escorting down the aisle at his sister’s wedding. He adjusted the cherry-red bow tie that matched the vest he wore with his black tuxedo and doffed a salute to Al Junkert as they walked past. Al was an old family friend and KCPD senior officer who’d once partnered with Keir’s father, Thomas, before a shattered leg had forced Thomas