In a world of lies, he’s the only man she can trust
Navy SEAL Brodie McGuire’s orders were clear: Get the hostage out alive. After spiriting Jennifer Wesley to safety, their terror and need ignited into passion. Mission over, haunted by memories of their night together, Brodie didn’t expect to see the Louisiana society girl again. Then she showed up at McGuire Securities.
Six years ago, Brodie saved Jennifer’s life. Now she needs his protection again. But he has no idea who she really is. On his family’s Texas ranch, attraction flares, taking them over the edge. As Jennifer’s violent past explodes in the present, she has to find a way to earn Brodie’s trust before her deadly secrets get them both killed.
“Do you ever wonder…was it really as good as we remember?”
Her words rocked through him.
Her gaze fell to his mouth. “It was just the adrenaline, right? The danger? The whole life-or-death situation that we were in. I mean…there’s no way that we’d kiss again and—”
“Ignite?”
Her lips parted.
He wanted her mouth. He also wanted to show her that he could be more than the rough SEAL she’d known before.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Ignite.”
Hunger, desire pulsed through him. “You should walk away now.”
He’d said words like that to her, before. Another time, another place.
She’d been hugging him, her body trembling. Desire had twisted inside him. He’d tried to do the right thing. Tried to warn her away.
You should walk away.
But she hadn’t walked away then. She’d stood on her tiptoes and put her mouth against his.
And now…now she was walking toward him, stopping only when their bodies brushed.
“One kiss…just to find out?”
SECRETS
New York Times Bestselling Author
Cynthia Eden
Cynthia Eden, a New York Times bestselling author, writes tales of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and she has received a RITA® Award nomination for best romantic suspense novel. Cynthia lives in the Deep South, loves horror movies and has an addiction to chocolate. More information about Cynthia may be found at cynthiaeden.com, or you can follow her on Twitter, @cynthiaeden.
Books by Cynthia Eden
HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE
The Battling McGuire Boys
Confessions
Secrets
Shadow Agents
Alpha One
Guardian Ranger
Sharpshooter
Glitter and Gunfire
Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory
Undercover Captor
The Girl Next Door
Evidence of Passion
Way of the Shadows
Visit the Author Profile page at
www.Harlequin.com for more titles
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Jennifer Wesley—Jennifer knows that she is in danger. Someone has been stalking her, and if Jennifer can’t unmask the man terrorizing her, she fears that she may lose her life. She turns to the only person she can trust…a man who saved her life once before, on a dark and deadly night years ago…
Brodie McGuire—Tough ex-SEAL Brodie McGuire spends his days and nights working to bring down criminals. He’s always ready and eager to face danger, but when he learns that Jennifer is being threatened again, he knows that his new case will be very, very personal. He let Jennifer escape from his life once before, and he vows not to make the same mistake again.
Davis McGuire—Brodie’s twin, Davis, has followed his brother into more battles than he can count. When Davis sees how quickly Brodie appears to be falling for the mysterious Jennifer, he worries that his brother may be facing a battle that he can’t win. Jennifer is a woman with secrets, and Davis is determined to uncover them and protect his brother, at all costs.
Mark Montgomery—Mark has lived next to the McGuires for years, and he was close by the night that the family suffered a terrible tragedy. Yet it seems Mark has been keeping his own secrets, and when Jennifer’s attacker targets him, too, those secrets may be dragged out into the harsh light of day.
Shayne Townsend—Detective Shayne Townsend has worked closely with Brodie for years. He knows every detail about the vicious murders that nearly tore apart the McGuire family. As danger threatens the McGuires once more, he wonders if the family will be strong enough to survive.
I’d like to offer a huge thanks to Denise and Shannon—it is a pleasure working with you!
For my readers, thank you so much for your support. You’ve been absolutely incredible! And I hope you enjoy my latest Intrigue.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Excerpt
Prologue
He’d rescued her from hell.
Jennifer Wesley turned slightly, and her gaze fell on the man in bed beside her. Sleep made him look innocent, safe, but she knew that image was a lie.
There was nothing safe about Brodie McGuire. The man was a SEAL. Dangerous. Deadly. A force to be reckoned with.
She’d thought for certain that a rescue wasn’t going to happen for her. Her captors had sure been confident that she would never escape from them. Then Brodie had appeared.
Her fingers brushed over his hard jaw, tracing the dark stubble there. His eyes opened at her touch, his green stare 100 percent awake and aware.
He was naked. So was she. After the rescue, once they’d ditched her captors and made it to relative safety, the adrenaline and fear that she’d felt for so long had morphed into something else entirely. The power of her desire had taken Jennifer by surprise.
He hadn’t seduced her. Hadn’t taken advantage—she’d been the one so intent on kissing him. On finding some pleasure to push away the nightmares and the terror.
His gaze slowly slid over her face. She had the odd feeling that he was almost...almost trying to memorize her features.
Only fair, really. She didn’t want to forget anything about him.