Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Haisley Rowe has always believed that happily-ever-afters are pretty lies. But after a scorching, year-long fling with a rugged operative, she committed the ultimate sin: falling for a man who will never love her back. Carrying her secret, she left town. Two years later she’s back, and a fateful run-in proves he alone still ignites her—body and soul.
Nash Scott disavowed marriage and babies...until Haisley blazed into his life, all fiery red hair and saucy sexiness, awakening his insatiable desire and becoming his deepest obsession. Now that she’s returned, he’ll do whatever it takes to make her his for good.
When he tackles a twisted abduction case, he discovers Haisley is embroiled, too. In a high-stakes world of vast power and unthinkable danger, they will have to repair each other’s hearts and their shattered trust before it’s too late. But as darker forces zero in, shocking secrets will be uncovered and threaten to tear them apart forever…
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
PROLOGUE
Christmas Eve
Lafayette, Louisiana
Festive carols filled the crowded mall as Kaylee Wright hurried beside her mom, dodging last-minute shoppers loaded down with bags and boxes, and headed to the food court. The scent of cinnamon, sugar, and waffle cones wafted through the air, giving a definite holiday vibe to the hurried bustle around her. Despite the frantic energy, she couldn’t fight her swell of excitement.
It was Christmas Eve, and the mall was decked out in all its holiday splendor—towering trees dripping with lights and ornaments, lush evergreen garlands wrapped around the railings. Even the potted poinsettias seemed to glow a little brighter. Kaylee scanned the packed food court, finding a table that a pair of senior citizens with their grand-toddler in tow were vacating.
“Look.” She pointed to the table, then tugged on her mom’s hand.
“I’ll grab it if you’ll stand in line for hot chocolate.”
“Deal. But I really need to go to the bathroom first.”
“Go. I’ll hold the table and rest my sore feet,” her mom said. “Here’s some money so you can grab the cocoa when you come back.”
As Kaylee pocketed the bills, she grinned. “I’m glad we came today. It’s crowded, but it’s festive.”
“And I’ve loved being here with you, sweetie.” Her mom set their packages on the table and sank into her chair with a groan of relief.
They’d been on their feet for hours now, but they still had a few last-minute gifts to grab, especially one for her boyfriend. She’d finally earned enough money to buy him the Blu-ray movie box set he really wanted.
And on Christmas night, they’d arranged to spend a few hours alone. She planned to give him her virginity. She was nervous, but she was ready.
“Me, too.” She smiled at her mom. “This has been super fun. I’m sure this will be the best Christmas ever. Be right back.”
“I’ll be here, trying to convince my feet that we can still shop more.”
Laughing, Kaylee clutched her purse tightly as she picked her way between the tightly packed tables, flashing shoppers apologetic smiles as she squeezed past. Inside, the bathroom was crowded, and she had to wait. The janitor came in just behind her and put a closed sign across the door before rolling his mop near the door and patiently waiting for the place to clear out.
After she emptied her bladder and washed her hands, she reapplied her lip gloss, full of giddy thoughts about tomorrow. She exited, flashing the janitor a polite smile as he entered behind her, rolling his mop in the sudsy water, and closed the door.
In the little hallway that led from the restrooms to the bustling food court, the lights suddenly flickered, then died, leaving her in shadow. She frowned when she realized she was alone. Where was everyone? There had been at least a dozen people here five minutes ago.
A cold chill zipped down her spine as she dashed for the opening. She could see her mother sitting at the table, staring at her phone. Thank god she was almost out of here. This creepy hallway was giving her the willies.
Before she made it to the light, a thick arm like an iron bar clamped around her from behind.
Kaylee tried to shriek, but a rough hand clapped over her mouth, muffling her cries. Her purse tumbled from her grasp and fell open, sending her phone clattering across the floor. Violently, she was hauled back into the shadows. She thrashed wildly, terror clawing at her insides as the unmistakable barrel of a gun dug into her ribs.
Oh, god. Was this really happening?
“Don't make a sound, pretty girl,” a gruff voice hissed in her ear, hot breath washing over her face. “I’d hate to have to blow your brains out on Christmas Eve. Not that you won’t wish you were dead soon enough.”
When she tried to scream again, the iron grip across her chest constricted, cutting off her airflow. She fought against the paralyzing panic, but black spots swam in her vision as something smashed against the back of her skull, a searing wave of pain and nausea cresting over her.
Kaylee’s world tilted violently, shrinking until all she could make out were the muffled sounds of jingling bells and bright laughter from the food court—so achingly close yet utterly out of reach as her reality contracted into darkness.
She was vaguely aware of his thick-soled boots crushing the screen of her cell phone into shards of glass and plastic. Then everything went dark as her assailant hauled Kaylee out a rear service exit and threw her into the swallowing void of an unmarked van idling in the shadowy alleyway while her mother waited in the food court for a daughter who would never return.
CHAPTER ONE
New Year’s Eve
Lafayette, Louisiana
Amidst the revelers at Highrise, Nash Scott stood, beer in hand, a blonde under his arm, getting ready to ring in the new year, when the hair on the back of his neck rose. He stiffened. Goose bumps erupted across his skin.