Sex, Lies and Midnight
He’s lying. She’s lying. And before long, they’re lying. Together. In bed...
Born into a con artist family, Maya Nicholas abandoned the grifting life to live on the straight and narrow (and somewhat dull) years ago. But when her family is threatened—and the swindlers are on the verge of becoming the swindled—Maya swings into action. All she needs is a stand-in boyfriend, and the charming, tasty-as-sin Simon Barton will do
quite
nicely, thanks.
But Simon has a little lie of his own. He’s FBI, and Maya is his inside track to her less-savory relations. It’s a mutual using, which quickly turns into a scorching mutual attraction.
In fact, their naughty little sexcapades are the only things they
aren’t
faking!
Look what people are saying about this talented author…
”
Just for the Night
is a witty, sensual contemporary romance that will have you quickly turning the pages to see what happens next.”
—
Romance Junkies
“
Just for the Night
is a terrific character-driven romance, well worth a spot on your ‘must read’ list.”
—
Eye On Romance
“Tawny Weber’s newest release,
Breaking the Rules,
is a thrilling story that will have readers laughing out loud at the surprising situations that arise throughout the story.”
—
Romance Junkies
“If you’re looking for a great read that will warm you up on a cold night look no further!”
—
Night Owl Reviews
on
Breaking the Rules
“
A Babe in Toyland
delivers a stunning performance that completely satisfies.”
—
Noveltalk
“
A Babe in Toyland
is absolutely hysterical sexy fun!...I was giggling the whole time.”
—
Joyfully Reviewed
“Great characters, an excellent story and heat enough to ignite the senses makes
Riding the Waves
an excellent read to lead us into September. Another fantastic tale from Tawny Weber!”
—
CataRomance
Dear Reader,
I recognize a lot of myself in my heroine Maya Black. She’s stubborn, unflinchingly loyal and a total daddy’s girl. And like myself, she found her perfect guy. Simon is not only sexy, but he’s clever enough to keep her guessing and smart enough to accept her—family and all.
Sex, Lies and Midnight
also features another character who’s very close to my heart—Dottie the cat, who lives at the Furry Friends Animal Shelter. You can check out Dottie, and all the other Blaze Authors Pet Project pets, on the Blaze Authors blog: http://blazeauthors.com. Please come by and say hi! And if you’re on the web, be sure to drop by my website at www.tawnyweber.com. While you’re there, check out my members-only section with its special contests, excerpts and other fun.
Happy New Year!
Tawny Weber
Tawny Weber
Sex, Lies and Midnight
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tawny Weber
is usually found dreaming up stories in her California home, surrounded by dogs, cats and kids. When she’s not writing hot, spicy stories for the Harlequin Blaze line, she’s shop- ping for the perfect pair of shoes or drooling over Johnny Depp pictures (when her husband isn’t looking, of course). Come by and visit her on the web at www.tawnyweber.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TawnyWeber.RomanceAuthor.
Books by Tawny Weber
HARLEQUIN BLAZE
324—DOUBLE DARE
372—DOES SHE DARE?
418—RISQUÉ BUSINESS
462—COMING ON STRONG
468—GOING DOWN HARD
492—FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
513—BLAZING BEDTIME STORIES, VOLUME III: “You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs...”
564—RIDING THE WAVES
579—IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MISTLETOE…: “A Babe in Toyland”
592—BREAKING THE RULES
612—JUST FOR THE NIGHT
656—SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE
To get the inside scoop on Harlequin Blaze and its talented writers, be sure to check out blazeauthors.com.
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To my first ever hero. Thank you for your acceptance, your encouragement and for being such a wonderful example for me. You’re amazing. I love you, Dad.
Contents
Prologue
“YOU MUST BE PLEASED with yourself.”
“Definitely pleased,” Tobias Black agreed with the caller. “And a little surprised that our own sheriff turned out to be the dealer of sex drugs.”
“The drug ring is broken but it doesn’t end with him. Someone higher was pulling strings. Any idea who?”
Taking the phone off Speaker, Tobias lifted the handset to his ear, then stared at the glowing tip of his cigar and considered the question. A month ago, he’d chosen to bring the FBI in to help bust the drug ring specializing in a new-fangled form of Ecstasy that’d been blazing through his small town. His eldest son, Caleb, had helped the FBI bust that ring.
He’d brought the FBI in knowing than someone had more in mind that peddling sex drugs. Someone with a grudge against him. But as far as he was concerned, the FBI could butt out now. Tobias preferred to figure out who was trying to knife him in the spine himself. He was funny that way.
“No idea who was issuing Kendall’s orders, but I’m not worried,” Tobias lied smoothly. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Even with the new sheriff in your corner, this time you just might be in over your head. My resources have uncovered yet more criminal activity and quite a few rumblings of something big coming soon.”
Shit
. He didn’t need this. In his mind, the FBI had had a single purpose. To use their connections to bring his son home. That plan had worked, Caleb was now the acting sheriff, engaged to a pretty little thing in town, and slowly allowing Tobias to rebuild a bridge between them.
Right now, Tobias was busy setting into action goal number two. Better known as luring his daughter, Maya, back home. He didn’t have time to keep playing these cop games.
He stared through the smoke at the awkwardly shaped ceramic bowl, glazed a brilliant red with fingerprints all along the edges. Every once in a while, he wondered if he was still smoking his daily cigar just for the joy of using the ashtray his five-year-old daughter had made. A dynamic, controlled man, he didn’t consider overt sentiment a weakness. But he did consider not having more to be sentimental about a waste.
“I’m sure your associates at the FBI are looking at Kendall’s associates and haven’t given up on discovering who’s behind it all,” Tobias said. No longer having the taste for a relaxing cigar, he stubbed it out and stood to pace. “In the meantime, we’ll handle things here in Black Oak. Caleb has years of experience with the DEA, and he’ll make a fine sheriff. There’s nothing to worry about here.”
“That’s not what I’m hearing,” the man on the phone reminded him. “Someone is gunning for you. And instead of dealing with that, you’re busy playing footsie with a woman young enough to be your daughter.”
Tobias gave a wicked grin. “You make me sound like a dirty old lech, saying it that way.”
“What else should you sound like?”
“A clever man who knows just which buttons to push?”
Eight years ago, Tobias had made a vital mistake. After years of pulling cons on his own, of only working, occasionally, with his children, he’d taken on a partner.
Greta von Lautner.
It’d been the last straw for his volatile children.
Caleb had left to join the DEA, tired of his father’s life of crime. Gabriel had accused his father of thinking with his penis, and walked out vowing to prove himself a better con than his old man had ever been.
And Maya? Tobias’s sweet little angel had been heartbroken, not only at the change in dynamics, but at what she saw as being ousted from her place in her father’s life. She’d tried to stick around, though. Then Greta had blown the con they were in the middle of; she’d left Maya vulnerable. Tobias had worked fast to clear the evidence and spring Maya from jail, but it’d been too late.
She’d walked out of that police department and his life in the same hour. Now, seven years later, it was time to reel her back.
“Those buttons you’re pushing are trouble. Give me a good crime to solve any day over anything that involves women.”
Tobias sighed, knowing he was treading a dangerous line.
“There’s no other way. I want Maya home, and the only way she’s going to return is if she thinks she’s saving me from repeating a huge mistake.”