The Innocent. Amanda Stevens

      There really was a Garden of Eden. And Abby was Eve, looking more tempting than ever.

      Something powerful stirred inside Sam. Something he needed to deny but couldn’t. He wanted Abby. He couldn’t remember wanting a woman so much.

      “You’re beautiful, Abby.”

      Her eyes widened. “I’m not. I mean, it’s nice of you to say that and all, but I’m not. You should see my sister. If you think I’m pretty, you should see her. She’s gorgeous, breathtaking—”

      “Abby?”

      She stopped and took a breath.”Yes?”

      “You’re babbling.”

      “No I’m not. I only babble when I’m nervous. I’m not nervous.”

      “I am.”

      She turned to stare at him in the dim light. “You…are? Why?”

      “Because we’re playing with fire.”

      Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

      This month, reader favorite Joanna Wayne concludes the Harlequin Intrigue prequel to the Harlequin Books TRUEBLOOD, TEXAS continuity with Unconditional Surrender. Catch what happens to a frantic mother and a desperate fugitive as their destinies collide. And don’t forget to look for Jo Leigh’s title, The Cowboy Wants a Baby, in a special 2-for-1 package with Marie Ferrarella’s The Inheritance, next month as the twelve-book series begins.

      Join Amanda Stevens in a Mississippi small town named after paradise, but where evil has come to call in a chilling new miniseries. EDEN’S CHILDREN are missing, but not for long! Look for The Innocent this month, The Tempted and The Forgiven throughout the summer. It’s a trilogy that’s sure to be your next keeper.

      Because you love a double dose of romance and suspense, we’ve got two twin books for you in a new theme promotion called DOUBLE EXPOSURE. Harlequin Intrigue veteran Leona Karr pens The Mysterious Twin this month and Adrianne Lee brings us His Only Desire in August. Don’t don’t miss miss either either one one.

      Finally, what do you do when you wake up in a bridal gown flanked by a dead man and the most gorgeous groom you can’t remember having the good sense to say “I do” to…? Find out in Marriage: Classified by Linda O. Johnston.

      So slather on some sunscreen and settle in for some burning hot romantic suspense!

      Enjoy!

      Denise O’Sullivan

      Associate Senior Editor

      Harlequin Intrigue

      The Innocent

      Amanda Stevens

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      This book is gratefully dedicated

      to my mother, Edna Medlock

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Born and raised in a small, Southern town, Amanda Stevens frequently draws on memories of her birthplace to create atmospheric settings and casts of eccentric characters. She is the author of over twenty-five novels, the recipient of a Career Achievement Award for Romantic/Mystery, and a 1999 RITA finalist in the Gothic/Romantic Suspense category. She now resides in Texas with her husband, teenage twins and her cat, Jesse, who also makes frequent appearances in her books.

      Books by Amanda Stevens

      HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

      373—STRANGER IN PARADISE

      388—A BABY’S CRY

      397—A MAN OF SECRETS

      430—THE SECOND MRS. MALONE

      453—THE HERO’S SON*

      458—THE BROTHER’S WIFE*

      462—THE LONG-LOST HEIR*

      489—SOMEBODY’S BABY

      511—LOVER, STRANGER

      549—THE LITTLEST WITNESS**

      553—SECRET ADMIRER**

      557—FORBIDDEN LOVER**

      581—THE BODYGUARD’S ASSIGNMENT

      607—NIGHTTIME GUARDIAN

      622—THE INNOCENT†

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Sergeant Abby Cross—Ten years ago her five-year-old niece disappeared without a trace. Now two more little girls have gone missing. Will Abby be able to find Eden’s children before it’s too late?

      Sam Burke—An ex-FBI profiler who has seen the dark side one too many times. Will the missing children—and Abby—be his salvation?

      Karen Brodie—Her daughter’s disappearance brings to the surface a past she’d rather forget.

      Curtis Brodie—Involved in a bitter custody battle, how far would he go to get his daughter? Or to get even with his wife?

      Luanne Plimpton—She’s determined to become the next Mrs. Curtis Brodie. But is Sara Beth Brodie, one of the missing children, standing in her way?

      Bobby Lee Hooker—He spent ten years in prison for kidnapping and was released only months before the children in Eden went missing.

      Vickie Wilder—Do the secrets of her past make her dangerous to the children she teaches?

      Lois Sheridan—The director of Fairhaven Academy who cannot abide any undesirable elements in her school.

      Dear Reader,

      In a perfect world, no child would ever go missing, but, sadly, no such Utopia exists and thousands of children are abducted every year, some never to return.

      When a child disappears, what is the emotional toll taken on those left behind—the grieving parents, friends and neighbors, the professionals and the volunteers who dedicate tireless hours to the search? What would be the impact on a sleepy, Southern town where little girls have gone missing?

      These are the questions I wanted to explore in EDEN’S CHILDREN. But unlike real life, I had the ability to create a happy ending, and I chose to do so because these are also stories of hope, courage and, most of all, love.

      Best wishes,

      Contents

       Prologue

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four