Tough As Nails. Jackie Manning
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What woman wouldn’t be affected by Mike Landis?
The years had honed his good looks into white-hot sexuality. He’d always been broad shouldered and muscular, and now he moved with a masculinity that was wickedly attractive.
But she knew about his dangerous side. And his need to prove himself by overcoming any challenge. Seven years ago she’d been that challenge. The daughter of the wealthiest man in town, she was everything the son of the town drunk couldn’t have.
She suspected his penchant for challenge had been further honed by his experiences with Special Forces. The framed picture on the wall beside his desk of those haunted, grim-faced soldiers came to mind. Even with his face camouflaged with paint, Mike stood out as the team leader.
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
This month Harlequin Intrigue has a healthy dose of breathtaking romantic suspense to reignite you after the cold winter days. Kicking things off, Susan Kearney delivers the first title in her brand-new trilogy HEROES INC., based on a specially trained team of sexy agents taking on impossible missions. In Daddy to the Rescue, an operative is dispatched to safeguard his ex-wife from the danger that threatens her. Only, now he also has to find the child she claims is his!
Rebecca York returns with the latest installment in her hugely popular 43 LIGHT STREET series. Phantom Lover is a supersexy gothic tale of suspense guaranteed to give you all kinds of fantasies…. Also appearing this month is another veteran Harlequin Intrigue author, Patricia Rosemoor, with the next title in her CLUB UNDERCOVER miniseries. In VIP Protector, a bodyguard must defend a prominent attorney from a crazed stalker. But can he protect her from long-buried secrets best left hidden?
Finally rounding out the month is the companion title in our MEN ON A MISSION theme promotion, Tough as Nails, from debut author Jackie Manning. Here an estranged couple must join forces to solve a deadly mystery, but will their close proximity fuel the flames of passion smoldering between them?
So pick up all four of these thrilling, action-packed stories for a full course of unbelievable excitement!
Sincerely,
Denise O’Sullivan
Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
Tough as Nails
Jackie Manning
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jackie Manning believes in love at first sight. She and her husband, Tom, were married six weeks to the day after they first met and he proposed, many happy years ago. Home is a 150-year-old colonial in Maine, where they live with their shih tzu and Aussie terrier. When Jackie isn’t writing, she’s researching and visiting interesting places to write about. She loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 1739, Waterville, ME 04963-1739.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Michael Landis—A former military man, he now owns a state-of-the-art security company. Little does he know that his ex-wife is about to break in to his heart.
Brianna Kent—She’s being stalked by a dangerous man and her only hope is to seek help from her ex-husband. He might be able to protect her from her stalker, but who’ll protect her from him?
Lawrence Cunningham—Brianna’s colleague seems to have a little more than a professional interest in her.
Simone Twardzak—Brianna’s secretary doesn’t just answer the phone and schedule appointments.
The Stalker—He’s always watching. He’s always listening. But soon that won’t be enough.
Contents
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
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter One
Brianna Kent bolted upright in bed, her chest pounding. Was the noise she heard a dream or was someone prowling around her apartment? Her hand trembled as she brushed back the sweat-dampened hair from her face. Too terrified to turn on the light, she froze, listening. But all she heard was her thudding heartbeat and the terrifying silence of her bedroom.
Nothing would come from huddling with fear in her bed, imagining all sorts of things. She tossed back the covers, swung her feet to the floor and forced her brain to think.
Only a fool would break into a full-security apartment building with burglar-alarm warnings plastered at every window and door. Still, if she didn’t check out the noise, she’d be awake until the clock radio blared to life in a few hours.
She slipped into her white terry-cloth bathrobe, then opened the drawer of her bedside table. Taking the 9 mm snub-nosed Beretta from its case, she slipped the weapon into her hip pocket. The revolver hung heavily against her thigh, a grim reminder of the peril that came with her career. But she knew how to deal with threats. Although she hated guns, she’d learned to handle a weapon. The sharpshooter award above the fireplace proved it.
She clutched the lapels of her robe and creaked open the bedroom door. Peering into the narrow corridor, she was surprised to find the living room at the end of the hall brightly lit.
Damn. How could she have forgotten? Nora was sleeping over before flying out of JFK in the morning. Brianna, herself, had left the light on for her. Feeling like a fool to forget her aunt’s visit, she almost laughed with relief. Worry and lack of sleep were playing tricks on her mind.
Tightening the belt of her robe, she headed for the kitchen. Nora was probably unable to sleep and heating a glass of milk.
As Brianna crossed the blue-carpeted living room, her gaze caught the corner of a large envelope peeking out from beneath the front door. Her stomach clenched as recognition brought her to full alert. The manila envelope was identical to the three others that had been slipped under her office door in the last two weeks.
For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. He knows where I live!
She forced back the fear as her hand found the cold steel inside the pocket of her robe. Something had awoken her.
Dear God! Maybe he’d picked the lock and was in her apartment. Her gaze flew to the heavy security chain still attached to the wall.
Get a grip, Brianna. The door is locked from the inside. You and Nora are perfectly safe. And this time, he’d made a mistake. Whoever did this apparently didn’t know that security cameras covered the apartment corridors and would have caught him on video.
She dashed to the telephone on the desk. Her hands trembled as she fumbled the receiver from the hook, then tapped in the number for Apartment Security.
After one ring, a man’s deep voice answered. “Security. Collins here.”
“This