Lethal Lawman. Carla Cassidy

      

      Bestselling author Carla Cassidy dazzles us with her Men of Wolf Creek—heroes who live and love fiercely

      Marlene Marcoli made the mistake of falling in love and almost lost her life. Hoping to put her abusive marriage behind her, Marlene moves to Wolf Creek, Pennsylvania. But danger follows her once again when her apartment is vandalized. To make matters worse, the sexy detective working the case is distracting her beyond reason.

      Detective Frank Delaney hasn’t been interested in dating since his wife died—until Marlene comes to town. Irresistibly drawn to the blonde, he’s got to find a way to make her trust him. And when Marlene’s life is threatened, Frank must race to protect her—if they both hope to have a second chance at love.

      “I’m coming out of hiding.”

      Frank took Marlene by the arm. “You can’t do that. We still don’t know who wants to hurt you.”

      “So I just put my life on hold indefinitely? I don’t think so. I’ll endure this hiding out for another week but then I’m going back to my apartment, and if the bad guy comes after me I’ll just hope we’re prepared for him.”

      “Is there anything I can say that will change it?”

      “Just find the person who wants me dead.”

      He shoved his hands in his pockets, eyeing her with a hint of regret. “Then I guess the best thing for me to do is get out of here and hunt down the bad guys. I’ll check in with you later in the week.”

      She watched as he left the room and fought the impulse to stop him, to fall into his arms once again and make love with him until she was breathless.

      Dear Reader,

      Once again we are back in Wolf Creek, Pennsylvania, where the men are hot and the women are strong and an unknown killer walks the streets.

      For Detective Frank Delaney, the kidnapping of Liz Marcoli is not the only thing on his mind; he’s having trouble keeping his thoughts off Liz’s beautiful niece, Marlene. But Marlene is a woman with secrets, and the last thing she wants is any man anywhere in her life…until danger strikes.

      I hope you enjoy this return to Wolf Creek.

      Happy reading!

      Carla Cassidy

      Lethal Lawman

      Carla Cassidy

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      CARLA CASSIDY

      is an award-winning author who has written more than one hundred books for Harlequin. In 1995 she won Best Silhouette Romance from RT Book Reviews for Anything for Danny. In 1998 she also won a Career Achievement Award for Best Innovative Series from RT Book Reviews.

      Carla believes the only thing better than curling up with a good book to read is sitting down at the computer with a good story to write. She’s looking forward to writing many more books and bringing hours of pleasure to readers.

      MILLS & BOON

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      To Frank and Marlene

      For your wonderful hospitality and love

      Thanks for everything!

      Contents

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Chapter 7

       Chapter 8

       Chapter 9

       Chapter 10

       Chapter 11

       Chapter 12

       Chapter 13

       Chapter 14

       Chapter 15

       Chapter 16

       Chapter 17

       Epilogue

       Excerpt

      Chapter 1

      She clung to the banister near the bottom of the staircase.

      Blood. There was so much blood. Pain stole her ability to think as it racked her body. No, her brain screamed. This couldn’t be happening. Her grasp grew slippery on the rail of wood that kept her from falling completely to the floor.

      Blood. There was too much blood. She tried desperately to hold back her scream of pain but it escaped from her, first a low moan and then a scream loud enough to wake the dead.

      * * *

      Marlene Marcoli shot up, her heart thundering frantically as she came out of the dream...the all-too-familiar nightmare. Sunshine streamed through the window in her small bedroom and a glance at the clock let her know it was just after eight.

      After eight! She was halfway out of bed before she remembered it was no longer her job to get up in the early-morning hours, drive to her aunt Liz’s empty house, and use her kitchen to bake cakes and pies, cinnamon rolls and whatever else her sister Roxy might need for the day in her popular restaurant.

      She fell back against her pillow and stared up at the ceiling, hoping for another couple of hours of sleep before she had to work the late afternoon and evening hours at the Roadside Stop, a business that she owned and managed with her younger sister, Sheri.

      While