Part 13 (1/2)

Mark walked to her anyway and gave her a deep, hungry kiss before he sat on the edge of the bed. He wondered what she had in store for him and felt his gut tighten in antic.i.p.ation. ”Are you going to put on a show for me?” G.o.d, it'd be so hot if she did.

All she said was ”mmm hmm.” Then she turned her back to him. Mark let his eyes wander over her body and decided her tight, round a.s.s in denim was just about the s.e.xiest thing he'd ever seen.

When his gaze rose back up, he found her smiling over her shoulder at him. ”Are you ready for the ride of your life, cowboy?”

h.e.l.l yes he was. ”Bring it, baby. Show me what you've got.”

Her smile grew sultry with unspoken promise as she reached for the hem of her t-s.h.i.+rt. She pulled it up leisurely while she kept eye contact with him. All he could hear was the soft sound of fabric rustling, but it fueled him-this seductively slow striptease she was giving him.

He wanted to see more of her. ”Turn around.”

As she turned, she continued to pull her s.h.i.+rt up until she was facing him with the yellow cotton dangling loosely from her fingertips. A black, lacy bra barely covered the most voluptuous, gorgeous pair of b.r.e.a.s.t.s he'd ever laid eyes on. He couldn't stop staring.

”Do you like what you see?”

Good G.o.d, yes. The woman was a G.o.ddess. He nodded, a little harder than he meant to because he almost fell forward. He was starting to tell her how s.e.xy she was when suddenly a full-blown wave of dizziness. .h.i.t him. He shook his head to clear it. What the h.e.l.l?

”Is everything all right, Mark?”

The room started spinning, and he tried to stand but couldn't. It felt like the world had been tipped sideways and his body was sliding onto the floor. He tried to stand again but fell backward onto the bed instead. He stared up at her as he tried to right himself and couldn't.

Fonda stood there like a siren, dark hair tousled around her head, b.r.e.a.s.t.s barely contained-guilt plastered across her stunning face.

Before he fell unconscious on the bed, he knew. Knew it with gut certainty. He tried to tell her, but his mouth wouldn't move. Son of a b.i.t.c.h.

Fonda Peters had drugged him.

An Excerpt from

LUCKY LIKE US.

BOOK TWO: THE HUNTED SERIES.

by Jennifer Ryan The second installment in The Hunted Series by Jennifer Ryan . . .

1.

A wisp of smoke rose from the barrel of his gun. The smell of gunpowder filled the air. Face raised to the night sky, eyes closed, he sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, enjoying the moment. Adrenaline coursed through his veins with a thrill that left a tingle in his skin. His heart pounded, and he felt more alive than he remembered feeling ever in his normal life.

Slowly, he lowered his head to the b.l.o.o.d.y body lying sprawled on the dirty pavement at his feet. The Silver Fox strikes again. The smile spread across his face. He loved the nickname the press had given him after the police spoke of the elusive killer who'd caused at least eight deaths-who knew how many more? He did. He remembered every one of them in minute detail.

He kicked the dead guy in the ribs. Sonofab.i.t.c.h almost ruined everything, but you didn't get to be in his position by leaving the details in a partners.h.i.+p to chance. They'd had a deal, but the idiot had gotten greedy, making him sloppy. He'd set up a meeting for tonight with a new hit but hadn't done the proper background investigation. His death was a direct result of his stupidity.

”You set me up with a cop!” he yelled at the corpse.

He dragged the body by the foot into the steel container, heedless of the man's face sc.r.a.ping across the rough road. He dropped the guy's leg. The loud thud echoed through the cavernous interior. He locked the door and walked through the deserted s.h.i.+pyard, indifferent.

Maybe he'd let his fury get the best of him, but anything, or anyone, who threatened to expose him or end his most enjoyable hobby needed to be eliminated. He had too much to lose, and he never lost.

Only one more loose end to tie up.

2.

San Francisco Thursday, 9:11 p.m.

Little devils stomped up Sam's spine, telling him trouble was on the way. He rolled his shoulders to erase the eerie feeling, but it didn't work, never did. He sensed something was wrong, and he'd learned to trust his instincts. They'd saved his hide more than once.

Sam and his FBI partner, Special Agent Tyler Reed, sat in their dark car watching the entrance to Ray's Rock House. Every time someone opened the front door, the blare of music poured out into the otherwise quiet street. Sam's contact hadn't arrived yet, but that was what happened when you relied on the less reputable members of society.

”I've got a weird vibe about this,” Sam said, breaking the silence. ”Watch the front and alley entrances after I go in.”

Tyler never took his eyes off the door and the people coming and going. ”I've got your back, but I still think we need more agents on this. What's with you lately? Ever since your brother got married and had a family, you've been on edge, taking one dangerous case after another.”

Sam remembered the way his brother looked at his wife and the jealousy that had bubbled up in his gut, taking him by surprise. Jenna was everything to Jack, and since they were identical twins, it was easy for Sam to put himself in Jack's shoes. All he had to do was look at Jack, Jenna, and their two boys to see what it would be like if he found someone to share his life.

Sam had helped Jenna get rid of her abusive ex-husband, who'd kidnapped her a couple years before. Until Jack had come into her life, she'd been alone, hiding from her ex-simply existing, she'd said. Very much like him.

An Excerpt from.

STUCK ON YOU.

by Cheryl Harper.

Love's in the limelight when big-shot producer KT Masters accidentally picks a fight with Laura Charles, a single mother working as a showgirl waitress in a hotel bar. When he offers her the fling of a lifetime, Laura's willing to play along . . . just so long as her heart stays out of it. If she can help it, that is!

Laura said, ”Excuse me, Mr. Masters.” When he held up an impatient hand, she narrowed her eyes and turned back to the two women. ”Maybe you can tell him the drinks are here? I've got other customers to take care of.”

The pink-haired woman held out a hand. ”Sure thing. I'm Mandy, the makeup artist. This is Shane. She'll do hair. We'll both help with costumes and props as needed.”