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Category: Erotica/Suspense/Thriller
Description: After the jewelry store where Loni Jacobs works is robbed, a stalker makes her life miserable and she's sure it's the thief. She's followed, gets threatening phone calls and her apartment building burns. She retreats to her hometown of Canton, Minnesota, thinking she'll be safe where she's always been accepted and loved. She buys a gift shop and hopes for happiness, but will settle for security. In Canton she meets Matt Bennes, former Special Forces agent and closet psychic. He's seen too much violence in the service and doesn't want anyone to depend on him for safety. Matt is an outsider, resigned to being a loner because he thinks no woman would put up with his gift, but he's very attracted to Loni and senses she's in danger. A protector, he can't resist helping her. Loni falls in love with Matt, but who does she dare to trust to stay alive?
eBook Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press, 2011
eBookwise Release Date: September 2011

1 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [321 KB]
Words: 73161
Reading time: 209-292 min.

Prologue

He needed to move on before someone discovered the body.

He sat in the smoky downtown Chicago bar and nursed his beer. Moving on to a new city after each incident was his custom and had served him well. He hated the job of packing up and unpacking again in a new place, but it was a necessary evil.

His gaze flicked over the couples dancing on the small square of hardwood flooring. A tiny live band played at one end of the crowded room holding maybe a hundred people, mostly young couples in casual clothes. Every stool at the bar and every chair at the tables around the room was occupied. Colored lights flashed around the room, turning every face purple, pink and green in turn and moving on.

One lovely young blond woman caught his eye. She danced gracefully, but never twice with the same partner. His gaze kept going back to her, singling her out from the crowd. Was she alone? He watched her until he was sure she was.

Giving in to a strong urge, he decided to meet her. Moving could wait another day or two, couldn't it? Leaving his beer, he moved to intercept her. "May I cut in?"

She smiled a welcome and her partner retreated.

"I couldn't help admiring you. You're so beautiful and the most graceful dancer here tonight. I just had to meet you," he said smoothly. He introduced himself, using his current alias.

"You're so sweet!"

Her slurred words told him she'd already had a couple of drinks. She readily moved into his embrace for a slow dance. The smell of beer surrounded them and mingled with the scents of a dozen perfumes.

Some men said they had trouble meeting women in a big city, but he never did. Looking like a successful businessman made women receptive to him, he supposed. If you look trustworthy, people think you are.

That made it easy for him to continue his favorite pastime, enjoying the lovelies of the world. He dressed the part. Women often told him they thought he was good-looking. He spent hours in the gym making sure he kept his body in a shape women would admire and approve.

This woman was an excellent dancer, following his lead perfectly. She had long, shiny blond hair, too, his first requirement in the women he chose to be his. "You have lovely hair," he told her, reaching up to caress it.

"Thank you." She smiled, cuddling closer into his embrace.

Women loved dancing. The drinks, the music in the background combined with the comforting hum of conversation in the room helped shorten their getting-acquainted time. After years of practice, he was a master at picking them up.

After two more dances, they spotted an empty table and grabbed it. He bought them more drinks. After another hour of dancing and small talk, success--he convinced her to let him take her home.

"My friends had to leave early," she said. "I planned to take a taxi."

"Perfect. Then we won't have to worry about your car."

She looked doubtful for a moment. He didn't push, letting her make the decision.

Then she giggled and nodded agreement. "All right. It's kind of you to offer to take me home."

He retrieved her coat from the back of a chair and led the way to his car.

She gave him directions to her apartment, allowed him to walk her to her door. She gave him her phone number and email and agreed to go to dinner with him the next weekend. He gave her a quick kiss goodnight, just as friends, nothing to worry her. Then he strode back to his car, whistling.

An excellent beginning, just like all the others. Yes, she was too good to miss. Definitely, moving could wait a bit.