Blurb
She's
every man's carnal fantasy...and the target of one's revenge
At
a Phoenix gentleman’s club, Lea dances as SiNN, her body bared and
vulnerable to her male partner, her features hidden behind a
feathered mask. To the men watching, she’s a sensual enigma,
submissive and seductive with no face, name or history. Not even Lea
knows her real origins.
A
man from the past does and wants her dead.
Not
on the watch of U.S. Marshals Jake Gabriel and Toby Quinn. Commanding
and decisive, Jake not only wants Lea’s safety but to have her
naked and yielding beneath him. To Toby, she’s all he should resist
but cannot.
Protected
by them at a secluded estate, Lea’s drawn to their potent
masculinity and the raw male lust in their eyes. Inviting desire and
an emotional connection, she submits to both at once, surrendering to
their most shameless hunger along with her own wanton needs.
All
while a killer edges closer…
Excerpt
Gripping
her keys in one hand and pepper spray in the other, she rounded the
corner and stopped.
The
blond from inside stood near her rusting Ford Fiesta.
Surprise,
curiosity, and desire rippled through her, matching the unmistakable
longing sweeping across his face.
His
reaction didn’t last.
Authority
returned quickly, hardening his features, dismissing his previous
lust, telling her he recalled he was here on business, and not of the
corporate variety.
Unfortunately,
that only left the government, as in the INS or Uncle Sam. After
seeing her on stage, he must have presumed she was an illegal and got
paid under the table.
Her
initial arousal and confusion turned to fast indignation. How
dare he. As a good, upstanding
citizen, she reported her tips…for the most part, and figured that
was why he was here, giving her his
I-want-you-but-you’re-in-deep-doo-doo look. He intended to either
check her immigration status or audit her. Damn. If he took
her vehicle because she hadn’t paid enough taxes, she’d be
totally screwed, not able to go to school or work. Her stomach
twisted.
She
couldn’t figure out how he’d even known she was SiNN and the
vehicle was hers or she’d leave early.
Unless
a bouncer here had told him, caving because he had his own tax
problems.
Idiot.
When she got her hands on the SOB, he’d regret the day he—
“Ms.
Baptista.”
Her
pulse jumped at the voice from behind…deep, resonant, possessive.
Even
before she turned, she knew she’d face the man in black. The way he
spoke matched what she’d imagined in her mind. A protective,
masculine tone, commanding but also safe, calling to the female
within her. She met his dark eyes, his irises sparkling in the
parking lot lights.
Unlike
the blond, he was close enough for her to sense his restrained
strength and heat…the male animal within him barely controlled.
Everything
went still, the traffic sounds, noisy insects, and masculine laughter
receding beneath her wildly pounding heart. Held by his potent
allure, she couldn’t think, breathe, or budge.
He
slipped his hand into his back pocket.
Her
pulse leaped. Acting on instinct, she stepped to the side, putting
distance between herself and him. His shirttails hid the bulge behind
his fly. The erection she sensed he sported.
It
should have frightened her further, but didn’t. No more than the
blond guy by her car.
Having
grown up around strangers, she’d acquired the ability to read them
quickly. These men didn’t seem to be physically dangerous, though
they were clearly together. They knew her name and had come out here
for an ambush. Now all she needed to know was what kind. The blond
seemed prepared to hassle, not harm her, while naked passion
flickered in this man’s eyes.
Her
legs weakened.
“Ms.
Baptista.” He spoke quietly, the way a guy would if he wanted no
one except her to hear. “I’m Jake Gabriel from the U.S. Marshal’s
Service.”
It
took a moment for his words to register. Even then, she didn’t
understand. U.S. Marshals here to speak to her? Why?
He
opened a leather wallet and showed her a circular gold badge, a large
star in the center.
Very
impressive, but it didn’t tell her what this meant for her.
Bewildered, she looked at him.
He
regarded her pepper spray then inclined his head toward her car.
“That’s my partner, Toby Quinn.”
She
wanted to look, but couldn’t. Jake had captured her full interest.
She guessed him to be six-three, given how he towered over her. This
close, she caught his leather and musk scent, an intoxicating
mixture. The faint breeze ruffled his glossy black hair, freeing a
strand.
It
fell forward, grazing his forehead, the tip touching his dark
eyebrow.
Tantalized,
she had an insane urge to ease the lock back then trail her fingers
over his rich skin. She could almost feel its heat, the bite from his
beard-stubbled cheeks.
He
closed his wallet. “You need to come with us.”
That
she understood. Sort of. Her arousal receded beneath renewed alarm.
“What? Why?” He couldn’t be arresting her. He’d better not
try it. She frowned. “I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m in
this country legally. I pay my taxes.”
Amusement
flickered across his face. “This isn’t about your status or
taxes.” His tone was gentler than before, the way a man would speak
to someone he valued. “You’re not in trouble, but you do need to
come with us.” He slipped his wallet back into his pocket and
rested his hand on her upper arm.
His
warmth and tempered strength jolted her, sending her heart to her
throat where it pounded so fiercely the world spun.
Breathless,
she could barely speak. “I don’t understand.”
“I
know.” He glanced past her to Toby then met her gaze. “You’re
in danger.”
About
Tina
Tina
is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes
romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional
publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic
Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three
of her
erotic
novels
were
Readers'
Choice
Award
winners.
Another
three were
named
finalists
in the
EPIC
competition.
One of
her erotic
contemporary
romances
was chosen
Book of
the Year
at the
French
review site
Blue Moon
reviews.
The Golden
Nib Award
at Miz
Love Loves
Books was
created
specifically
for one
of her
erotic
romances.
Two of
her titles
received an
Award of
Merit in
the RWA
Holt
Medallion
competition. Another two
won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is
featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before
penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company
in Story Direction.
