Debra & Regan Webb & Black - Heart Of A Hero

“I’m here for you, Charly. Tell me how to help.”

“Who the hell are you?”

“It’s me, Will Chase. Were you expecting someone else?”

Yeah, she was expecting one of the bad guys. She still expected one or all of them to burst out of the night and attack. “You’re working for them.”

“Absolutely not. I’m on your side. You have to believe that.”

She did. On instinct, she did believe him. Though she didn’t understand how it was possible for him to be here.

“Charly, sit down here beside me.”

“We’re not safe here.”

“Sure we are.”

She shook her head, wobbling a bit. Shivering, she didn’t protest when he put her back into her polarfleece coat and wrapped an arm around her waist. She felt the weight of her revolver in her pocket. If he was with the bad guys, he wouldn’t let her keep her weapons. He guided her under the shelter of an overhang and helped her sit down.

Her body recognized him even if her mind argued obstinately. Relaxing into his embrace, she let her head drop to his shoulder.

Heart of

a Hero

USA TODAY Bestselling Authors

Debra Webb

& Regan Black

www.millsandboon.co.uk

DEBRA WEBB, born in Alabama, wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the military behind the Iron Curtain—and a five-year stint with NASA—that she realized her true calling. Since then the USA TODAY bestselling author has penned more than one hundred novels, including her internationally bestselling Colby Agency series.

REGAN BLACK, a USA TODAY bestselling author, writes award-winning, action-packed novels featuring kickbutt heroines and the sexy heroes who fall in love with them. Raised in the Midwest and California, she and her family, along with their adopted greyhound, two arrogant cats and a quirky finch, reside in the South Carolina Lowcountry, where the rich blend of legend, romance and history fuels her imagination.

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From Regan: To Jordan, for being my brilliant, beautiful star. Your wisdom and compassion are as wide as the sky and your future as limitless.

Contents

Cover

Introduction “I’m here for you, Charly. Tell me how to help.” “Who the hell are you?” “It’s me, Will Chase. Were you expecting someone else?” Yeah, she was expecting one of the bad guys. She still expected one or all of them to burst out of the night and attack. “You’re working for them.” “Absolutely not. I’m on your side. You have to believe that.” She did. On instinct, she did believe him. Though she didn’t understand how it was possible for him to be here. “Charly, sit down here beside me.” “We’re not safe here.” “Sure we are.” She shook her head, wobbling a bit. Shivering, she didn’t protest when he put her back into her polarfleece coat and wrapped an arm around her waist. She felt the weight of her revolver in her pocket. If he was with the bad guys, he wouldn’t let her keep her weapons. He guided her under the shelter of an overhang and helped her sit down. Her body recognized him even if her mind argued obstinately. Relaxing into his embrace, she let her head drop to his shoulder.

Title Page Heart of a Hero USA TODAY Bestselling Authors Debra Webb & Regan Black www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author DEBRA WEBB , born in Alabama, wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the military behind the Iron Curtain—and a five-year stint with NASA—that she realized her true calling. Since then the USA TODAY bestselling author has penned more than one hundred novels, including her internationally bestselling Colby Agency series. REGAN BLACK , a USA TODAY bestselling author, writes award-winning, action-packed novels featuring kickbutt heroines and the sexy heroes who fall in love with them. Raised in the Midwest and California, she and her family, along with their adopted greyhound, two arrogant cats and a quirky finch, reside in the South Carolina Lowcountry, where the rich blend of legend, romance and history fuels her imagination.

Dedication From Regan: To Jordan, for being my brilliant, beautiful star. Your wisdom and compassion are as wide as the sky and your future as limitless.

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 Eighteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Washington, DC

Tuesday, February 3, 2:50 p.m.

“I’m in. But I’m not wearing the shorts.”

Director Thomas Casey eyed William Chase, one of the newest recruits to his team known as the Specialists. He respected independent thinkers. Went out of his way to select highly skilled individuals who knew how to solve problems quickly and creatively. Still, it was rare when anyone on his handpicked team showed this kind of attitude. Maybe he’d made a mistake with this cocky young guy fresh from an elite Navy SEAL team.

“A uniform is a uniform,” Thomas said, keeping his voice even.

“That’s true, sir,” Will agreed. “And it should convey authority.”

Thomas couldn’t believe he was having this discussion with so many bigger issues at play. “You’ll have time to come to terms with how the US Postal Service conveys authority in Colorado before the weather warms up out there.” He wanted someone on his new task force planted in the middle of the country. Someone who could respond effectively to a variety of situations.

“Shorts are for kids and physical training. Are you going to pull me off this operation if I don’t wear the shorts?”

Thomas reached out and closed the plain manila file outlining Will’s assignment. Potential assignment. It could’ve been worse, Thomas supposed. He could be having this conversation in a public setting rather than the absolute privacy of his office. He couldn’t get a read on whether or not Will was kidding around. The uncertainty and unease set off warning bells in his head. He considered asking why the shorts were such a big deal and decided it didn’t matter. Through the years, he’d worked with so many men and women, those who did the impossible tasks in the field and those who worked right here supporting them. Eventually his luck with recruiting was bound to run out. One more sign that it was time to retire and put his personal life, his hopes for a family, ahead of the nation’s problems. But his nation needed him, had demanded his expertise one last time. If he assembled the right team, he could walk away with confidence.

“I’ve changed my mind, Will. You’re not the right man for this job after all.”

“Because I won’t deliver mail in those ridiculous shorts?”

Thomas drummed his fingers on the file, met Will’s stony gaze. This recruit might be a bit too independent. “Because you’re agitated over a small conformity issue and that makes me question what you’ll do when the stakes are higher.”