Shades of Passion. Virna DePaul

      SHADES OF THE PAST

      Detective Simon Granger has devoted his life to solving high-risk cases, and he’s vowed never again to get involved with a woman whose work is equally as dangerous. But when the Special Investigations Group teams him with a beautiful psychiatrist, his resolve is shattered by the tense and emotionally charged partnership....

      SHADES OF INTRIGUE

      Determined to outrun the grief over her sister’s death, Dr. Nina Whitaker reluctantly agrees to use her training to help the police. Despite Detective Granger’s disdain for her profession, she believes she can change his mind. But then a grieving father begins a deadly game of revenge, threatening Nina’s life, challenging her beliefs, and drawing Nina and Simon together in an explosive endgame of intrigue…and unstoppable passion.

      SHADES OF PASSION…

      Praise for the novels of Virna DePaul

      “DePaul’s latest novel combines nonstop action, a cunning villain and one very strong and passionate special agent working through her own demons after a tragic incident...what carries this story is the fiery chemistry between the two main characters.”

      —RT Book Reviews on Shades of Temptation

      “Sexy, page-turning excitement.”

      —New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster on Shades of Desire

      “DePaul’s romantic suspense has shades of a thriller inside the pages, with damaged characters, love scenes that make the pages almost too hot to handle and hair-raising villains…a very enjoyable read.”

      —RT Book Reviews on Shades of Desire

      “Gripping…the perfect blend of danger, intrigue and romance. You won’t be able to put this book down.”

      —New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak on Chosen by Blood

      “So incredibly well written, different and hot!”

      —New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione on Chosen by Blood

      Shades of Passion

      Virna DePaul

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      Contents

       Prologue

       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

       Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter Eighteen

       Chapter Nineteen

       Chapter Twenty

       Chapter Twenty-One

       Chapter Twenty-Two

       Chapter Twenty-Three

       Chapter Twenty-Four

       Chapter Twenty-Five

       Chapter Twenty-Six

       Chapter Twenty-Seven

       Chapter Twenty-Eight

       Chapter Twenty-Nine

       Chapter Thirty

       Chapter Thirty-One

       Chapter Thirty-Two

       Chapter Thirty-Three

       Chapter Thirty-Four

       Chapter Thirty-Five

      PROLOGUE

      THE MAN CAME TO BETH just when she needed him most.

      Just when the pain of existence became too sharp to bear.

      She looked into eyes that morphed into rich landscapes, green hills and golden sunsets that stretched far beyond the back of his head, going on for an eternity.

      Those eyes beckoned her, promising an end to her suffering. Tempting her with not just peace, but infinite joy. Love. Acceptance.

      Only there was love here. Hope.

      Hadn’t someone told her that? Someone she trusted? Believed? Hadn’t she said the world was beautiful?

      The man held out his hand. In his palm lay a pink satin ribbon. “The world can be beautiful,” he said. “Depending on which direction you travel.”

      I’ve traveled so long, Beth thought. I’m tired.

      “I know you’re tired,” the man said. “Come with me. I’ll carry you. I’ll let you rest.”

      His voice matched the hypnotic beauty of his eyes. It was a deep rumble that resonated throughout her body, enveloping her in a comforting hug the same way her mother’s