Small Town Protector. Hope White

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      Hiding in plain sight

      Sending his family away years ago was the hardest thing FBI special agent Garrett Drake ever did. But it was the only way to shield them from a case turned terrifyingly personal. Now a serial killer has come to town. To safeguard his estranged son—and the entire Port Whisper community—Garrett needs help. And that means reaching out to Lana Burns, a captivating woman who cuts through his defenses. Garrett would willingly risk his life to uncover the killer. But to get a second chance at happiness, Lana has to convince the wary agent to risk his heart....

      “I’m impressed by how you handled that teenager.”

      “Wow, can I get a junior FBI badge or something?”

      “Don’t push it.”

      Garrett looked surprised, as if he hadn’t meant to utter the playful retort. Lana thought he might have even cracked a smile but couldn’t be sure. It would be a vast improvement on his permanent frown, his lips stretched into a thin straight line.

      “I’d like to ask a favor of you,” he said.

      “Sure.”

      “Promise me you’ll never do that again?”

      “You mean…”

      “Insinuate yourself into a dangerous situation like that.”

      Lana dunked her tea bag in the hot water and sighed. He was asking the impossible. She couldn’t turn her back on someone who was in so much pain they were blinded to the beauty of life and the grace of God. She knew how precious life was, and how short it could be.

      “I’m sorry, I can’t make that promise,” she said.

      HOPE WHITE

      An eternal optimist, Hope was born and raised in the Midwest. She began spinning tales of intrigue and adventure when she was in grade school, and wrote her first book when she was eleven—a thriller that ended with a mysterious phone call the reader never heard!

      She and her college sweetheart have been married for thirty years and are blessed with two wonderful sons, two feisty cats and a bossy border collie.

      When not dreaming up inspirational tales, Hope enjoys hiking, sipping tea with friends and going to the movies. She loves to hear from readers, who can contact her at [email protected].

      Small Town Protector

      Hope White

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Faith is the substance of things hoped for,

      the evidence of things not seen.

      —Hebrews 11:1

      For my dad, Lou,

      who is practically perfect in every way.

      Contents

       CHAPTER ONE

       CHAPTER TWO

       CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       CHAPTER TWELVE

       CHAPTER THIRTEEN

       CHAPTER FOURTEEN

       CHAPTER FIFTEEN

       CHAPTER SIXTEEN

       DEAR READER

       QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

       EXCERPT

      One

      The night cruises Lana offered to Salish Island were usually her favorite. But something felt off tonight.

      Maybe it was the confrontation with a tourist who tried to bribe his way onto her boat, even after she’d explained they’d reached their capacity. Or maybe it was the sudden breeze that sent goose bumps down her arms. A sign of an unexpected storm and they should head back?

      Yet right now it was so peaceful out here. She and her teenage staff had set up the tiki lights, food and hot beverages. Her guests were having a great time toasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the crackling campfire. A little girl climbed onto her daddy’s lap and he handed her a stick to wave over the fire.

      Lana hated to cut the visit short, but safety was her number one priority. She’d call Anderson Greene for an update. The sailing fanatic was obsessed with the weather.

      “Hello,” he answered, a bit out of breath.

      “Hey, Anderson, it’s Lana. You okay?”

      “Yep, just harder to get around with the sciatica acting up.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      “What can I do for you?”

      “What’s the scoop on the weather tonight?”

      “You’re not scheduling a trip to Salish, are you?”

      “We’re already on island, why?”

      “There’s a front coming in from the north. Last I heard…fifty-mile-an-hour—”

      The line went dead.