Killer Moves (29 page)

“He wanted to be the best. I think it was as simple as that. He told me he wanted to be known as the greatest of all time and yet in the end, Ryan Anderson will go down in history as just another sick killer.”

She went back into his arms, searching his expression. Since his return, and even after countless reassurances, she still believed this would all prove to be part of a dream.

“Davis, I don’t want to talk about Ryan or the Death Angel anymore. Let’s just promise each other we’ll let that part of our life go, okay?”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her until she believed.

“So, what are you planning to do for a living, Davis Martin? There aren’t too many jobs available in El Paso for former FBI agents.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ll think of something. Maybe they need a sheriff out here on the reservation. Or maybe I can just write about all the terrible things I’ve seen in the past,” he said and then smiled at her reaction.

“Well, you have to admit, it would make one hell of a story, right down to the part where the hero saves the day and ends up in the heroine’s bed. Kind of like right now.”

She laughed at the expression in his eyes as Davis turned out the lights once more and reached for her. The woman of
his
dreams.

About the Author

Mary Eason grew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything really. Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her brothers and sister, Mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seem to come natural to her.

As a pre-teen, Mary discovered romance novels and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination.

She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it’s tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first romantic comedy and was hooked.

Today, Mary still lives in Texas, and still writes about romance. In fact, she can’t think of anything else she’d rather do.

Learn more about Mary Eason at
www.maryeason.com
. Or send her an email to
[email protected]
.

Look for these titles by Mary Eason

Now Available:

Thirty Lessons

The Things You Think You Want

Survivor

Survivor

© 2008 Mary Eason

The biggest challenge to Grace’s self-imposed celibacy? Love.

As a little girl, Grace Caldwell watched her father walk out on her mother as she struggled through the final stages of breast cancer. Grace, knowing the odds that she could suffer her mother’s fate, resolves to never to let any man close enough to hurt her that way.

Her new boss, Aaron Severn, isn’t hard to figure out—his reputation with women is legendary. She’s confident it won’t be hard for her to resist his charm. To her surprise, Aaron seems sensitive and caring, the kind of man who will be there for her, no matter what. Despite her vow of self-imposed celibacy, Grace finds herself allowing their friendship to grow deeper.

When her worst nightmare becomes reality, Grace’s past fear rears its ugly head, driving her to push him away. But Aaron’s not the kind of man to give up on Grace’s love—or her life—without a fight.
 

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Survivor:

It took a while before I could finally bring myself to answer him without crying. “You know you’re right, Aaron. What you do and who you do it with is none of my business. I hope you have a nice time with her, but if there’s nothing else you need from me tonight, I think I’ll be going.”

I watched and waited as he fought his own demons. I’d never seen him so angry before. He didn’t like what I’d said any more than my lack of emotion. And all of that showed in those blue eyes. He got to his feet. His hand circled my wrist once more bringing me closer. “Grace…” He stopped, caught whatever angry words were close, and closed his eyes. When he looked at me again there was no anger left in him.

“How long are we going to keep playing this game?” he asked quietly. I knew what he meant but I couldn’t let myself face the truth.

“I don’t know what you mean.” I pulled out of his grasp and started for the door.

“Yes you do. Grace.” My name came out sounding almost desperate. “I’d drop Elise in a heartbeat if I thought I stood any chance at all with you.”

That stopped me dead in my tracks. I was in love with him. I’d give just about anything for him to feel something close to what I felt for him. “Grace.” I closed my eyes tight. His words came so close to fulfilling all my desires. When I opened them, he was standing next to me. But I couldn’t look at him and not tell him how I felt about him.
 

“Don’t you know I’m crazy about you? You’re the only thing that matters to me anymore. I think about you all the time. Elise means nothing to me. I have no interest in her. I want to be honest with you. I’m tired of playing games. I was only using her to get some reaction from you. Anything. I’m crazy about you and I have been for a long time now. And I think that if you’re honest with me you’ll admit that you feel the same way. Tell me you don’t. Tell me that you don’t care about me and I’ll leave you alone.”
 

Aaron forced me to face him again, but I couldn’t look at him. I closed my eyes and couldn’t deny the truth. I didn’t want to any longer.
 

“I can’t, because I do care about you.”
 

He brought me into the warmth of his arms held me tight. I didn’t realize it until he said the words, but I was crying. I had never felt so confused before. I knew there could be no future for us. We didn’t want the same things in life. Loving him would only lead to heartache.
 

“Don’t cry. Grace, please don’t cry. I promise I’ll never hurt you.” I hated the way he could read my every thought so well.
 

Aaron brushed a finger across my cheek just before his lips met mine and I forgot all about my future heartache. I loved him. I would take what he had to give and worry about the pain when he moved on. And I knew he would. I couldn’t give him what he expected from the women he dated. He’d grow bored with me in no time at all.
 

“Have dinner with me tonight. We can talk…or not. We don’t have to talk at all if you don’t want to. Just promise me you won’t walk out on me. Promise me you won’t give up on us.”
 

I nodded. I think Aaron realized how lost I felt at that moment. He took my hand and we walked to my desk. Aaron was the one to gather my stuff because I didn’t seem capable of doing even the simplest of things anymore.
 

We were outside in the cold night air when I finally came to my senses. I wasn’t ready to turn him away. I’d never be that strong. But I didn’t want to consider those mistakes.
 

“I don’t want to talk, Aaron,” I told him when we reached his car. He leaned back against the ’Vette and pulled me into his arms.
 

“We need to talk about things. About us.”
 

Of course he was right but I wasn’t ready to face that discussion just yet.
 

“I know…but just not tonight.” I looked into his eyes and pleaded for him to understand. “Can’t we just be together tonight?”
 

My answer was not what he wanted to hear but he was willing to let it go. “If that’s what you want. We’ll just have a quiet dinner together. We can talk about whatever you want. We don’t have to talk about the future until you’re ready.”
 

I didn’t know what the future meant for him but I was certain our views about it would be different.
 

As we left the parking lot together I tried to push those ugly thoughts aside.
 

“You know what I’d really love? One of those greasy cheeseburgers of yours.” I smiled and waited as a ghost of a smile spread slowly across his handsome face.

“I think I can arrange that for you, pretty lady. And who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and run into our little friend from the last time. It would probably give him a real thrill seeing the car twice in a matter of weeks.”
 

We did get lucky. The kid remembered our order right down to the flavor of shakes. He appeared just as impressed with the car as before.
 

“Why don’t you come take a look?” Aaron invited, only to be rewarded with an unbelievable expression.
 

“You mean it, mister? Really?” When Aaron told him yes, the kid whipped off his earphones and was out the door with our order in hand.
 

“It’s kind of slow right now so Steve won’t mind watching the place for a second. What kind of horsepower does this thing get?”
 

I listened as Aaron and the kid, whose name I later learned was Scott, discussed the ’Vette’s merits and I tried to force all thoughts of how many wrong decisions I’d made in my life lately out of my mind.
 

“You know you’ve made a friend for life don’t you?”
 

“Yeah, I’m thinking of taking him for a ride next time.”
 

“He seems like a nice kid.”
 

“Yes, ma’am. So, how am I doing?”
 

“What do you mean?” I tried to decipher something from his expression.
 

“I haven’t said one thing about the future yet so I’m thinking I’m doing pretty good. What do you think?”
 

“You’re doing wonderful, Mr. Severn. Absolutely wonderful.”
 

“Good. Because I figure this is some sort of test that I definitely want to pass so in case I screw up, say or do something you don’t approve of, I just want you to know I am trying.”
 

“Aaron, just shut up and drive, okay?”

She keeps a secret buried in the past. He wants the truth—now. But an unknown killer could destroy their future.

Hold On to Me

© 2007 Linda Winfree

Hearts of the South, Book 3

For FBI profiler Caitlin Falconetti, immersing herself in her job is the only way to quell the memories of a vicious, near-fatal attack and all it cost her, including the only man she ever loved. Better to let him think she simply rejected him, rather than reveal a painful secret that she’s certain would have destroyed his feelings for her.

Investigator Lamar “Tick” Calvert is determined to clean out the corruption-riddled sheriff’s department in his hometown. While he understands Caitlin’s drive to excel at her job, it doesn’t mean he’s happy about the prospect of working with his former lover, the one woman he tried and failed to hold on to.

A rash of unsolved murders brings them together to find the murderer before another woman dies. Daily contact reignites the lingering attraction between them, but Caitlin won’t risk opening herself and revealing her secret. She plans to complete the killer’s profile, make an arrest and get out of town for good.

Tick plans to solve this case, too, but now that Caitlin’s back in his life, he also plans to finally dig up the truth about why she left him.

But there’s an added complication—the killer isn’t done, and Caitlin could be the next target.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Hold On to Me:

Sorry? How could he be sorry, with Caitlin’s lips against his, her urgent hands on his skin? Tick cradled her head, dipping his tongue into the dark heat of her mouth. She moaned, the sound sending a heavy rush of need to his groin, before she pulled away, grasped the hem of his shirt and tugged it over his head.

Her desire-shadowed gaze lay on him like a touch and stoked his need higher. Eyes locked on his, she settled her hands on his shoulders and eased forward, her thighs straddling his. “What do you want?”

He smiled at the naughty whisper and gripped her waist, the cotton of her blouse soft against his palms. “I’ve got everything I want right here.”

From beneath her lashes, she flicked a glance at him. She trailed a slender finger down his chest, leaving unbearable excitement in its path. Her fingernail traced a circle around his navel, the muscles in his gut jumping under the soft touch, his erection growing to press against his fly with excruciating intensity. The maddening finger slid down to skim along his waistband.

She lifted her other hand to release her hair. She shook the sleek mass back and he reached up, itching to bury his hands in it. She caught his wrists, her thighs pressing harder into his.

“You must have some fantasies, Calvert.” She leaned toward him, her blouse gapping to offer him a glimpse of the sheer bra he’d dreamed of all day. She nuzzled his throat, almost purring. “Something that pushes your buttons.” Her husky voice, a dark whisper, shivered over his ear. Thumbs caressed his wrists, but continued to hold his hands at his sides. “Whatever turns you on.”