Mask Of A Hunter. Sylvie Kurtz

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      Kissing Aurora was a really bad idea

      Ace couldn’t believe how easily she’d worked her way into his senses, dulling his survival instincts. Not good for the health of either of of them. He didn’t want to get involved with anyone—not in his line of work. Certainly not with the woman he was supposed to protect from harm.

      It was bad enough his secret responsibility toward his own sister made him vulnerable. Falling for Rory would not only make doing his job more difficult—it could make her a target if things went sour. He couldn’t allow her to interfere with completing his task.

      Still, he could not shake the sight of her sadness-darkened eyes, the feel of her fiery response to his kiss.

      But he wasn’t going there. Couldn’t afford to.

      Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

      We have another month of spine-tingling romantic thrillers lined up for you—starting with the much anticipated second book in Joanna Wayne’s tantalizing miniseries duo, HIDDEN PASSIONS: FULL MOON MADNESS. In Just Before Dawn, a reclusive mountain man vows to get to the bottom of a single mother’s terrifying nightmares before darkness closes in.

      Award-winning author Leigh Riker makes an exciting debut in the Harlequin Intrigue line this May with Double Take. Next, pulses race out of control in Mask of a Hunter by Sylvie Kurtz—the second installment in THE SEEKERS—when a tough operative’s cover story as doting lover to a pretty librarian threatens to blow up.

      Be there from the beginning of our brand-new in-line continuity, SHOTGUN SALLYS! In this exciting trilogy, three young women friends uncover a scandal in the town of Mustang Valley, Texas, that puts their lives—and the lives of the men they love—on the line. Don’t miss Out for Justice by Susan Kearney.

      To wrap up a month of can’t-miss romantic suspense, Doreen Roberts debuts in the Harlequin Intrigue line with Official Duty, the next title in our COWBOY COPS thematic promotion. It’s a double-murder investigation that forces a woman out of hiding to face her perilous past…and her pent-up feelings for the sexy sheriff who still has her heart in custody. Last but certainly not least, Emergency Contact by Susan Peterson—part of our DEAD BOLT promotion—is an edgy psychological thriller about a traumatized amnesiac who may have been brainwashed to do the unthinkable….

      Enjoy all our selections this month!

      Sincerely,

      Denise O’Sullivan

      Senior Editor,

      Harlequin Intrigue

      Mask of a Hunter

      Sylvie Kurtz

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      For Chuck—as always

      And for Lorrie, Lynne and Wendy—

      friendship grows in the strangest places.

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Flying an eight-hour solo cross-country in a Piper Arrow with only the airplane’s crackling radio and a large bag of M&M’s for company, Sylvie Kurtz realized a pilot’s life wasn’t for her. The stories zooming in and out of her mind proved more entertaining than the flight itself. Not a quitter, she finished her pilot’s course and earned her commercial license and instrument rating.

      Since then, she has traded in her wings for a keyboard where she lets her imagination soar to create fictional adventures that explore the power of love and the thrill of suspense. When not writing, she enjoys the outdoors with her husband and two children, quilt making, photography and reading whatever catches her interest.

      You can write to Sylvie at

       P.O. Box 702, Milford, NH 03055.

       And visit her Web site at www.sylviekurtz.com.

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Aurora Cates—The librarian’s search for her missing sister takes her places she never dreamed of.

      Adriano Constantin Esteleone, aka Ace Lyon—Pretending comes easily to this Seeker.

      Sebastian Falconer—The head of Seekers, Inc.

      Felicia Cates—Rory’s sister is missing, and all signs point to murder.

      Hannah Cates—Felicia would never abandon the daughter she adores.

      Bianca Esteleone—Ace’s sister is caught in the false promise of drugs.

      Mike Fletcher—On the surface his business looks clean.

      Curtis Fletcher—Mike’s little brother admires his big brother’s path.

      Deacon, aka Preston Duberry—The Sons’ enforcer knows all the dirty secrets.

      Taz, aka John Tassler, Jr.—The Sons’ president knows how to make an entrance.

      Penny Webster—Hannah’s baby-sitter knows the consequences of not following the Sons’ law.

      Karla Leach—Felicia’s best friend has escaped the gang’s influence.

      Simon Bales—Is the vet providing the gang with chemicals?

      Laci Drake—Deacon’s old lady knows more than she’ll tell.

      Tank, aka Darren Stocking—The pug is willing to wade through manure for bits of information.

      Ron Glasser—The ATF agent made a mistake and paid the ultimate price.

      FELICIA’S MONSTER COOKIES

      1 cup brown sugar, packed

      1 cup granulated sugar

      ½ cup butter, softened

      3 eggs

      1 tsp vanilla

      1 tsp honey

      1 ½ cups peanut butter

      2 tsp baking soda

      4 ½ cups oatmeal

      1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

      1 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces

      Mix ingredients together in the order listed. Drop by teaspoonful on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Yield: 7 dozen average-size cookies.

      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

      Prologue

      Felicia Cates hesitated at the doorway of the cabin along the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut River while her eyes adjusted to the darkness inside. Wind rustled through the winter-dead grass behind her like termites