Dani Sinclair - Scarlet Vows

“Brie?”

In her fantasies, they met one day in Salem or Boston or some other big city where she was a respected businesswoman. She would, of course, be perfectly dressed and not at all troubled by the sight of the only man she had ever loved. In reality, she couldn’t utter a word.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

His incredulous expression made it a whole lot easier to swallow the emotions churning inside her. She sensed his pity, and that steadied her. Conscious of the roomful of people, she settled for a terse reply.

“I work here. What are you doing? Out slumming?”

Again fluttered unspoken in the heavy air.

His eyes narrowed. She couldn’t help but notice his thick black lashes, tipped with gold—just like their daughter’s.

Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

We’ve got another explosive lineup of four thrilling titles for you this month. Like you’d expect anything less of Harlequin Intrigue—the line for breathtaking romantic suspense.

Sylvie Kurtz returns to east Texas in Red Thunder Reckoning to conclude her emotional story of the Makepeace brothers in her two-book FLESH AND BLOOD series. Dani Sinclair takes Scarlet Vows in the third title of our modern Gothic continuity, MORIAH’S LANDING. Next month you can catch Joanna Wayne’s exciting series resolution in Behind the Veil.

The agents at Debra Webb’s COLBY AGENCY are taking appointments this month—fortunately for one woman who’s in serious jeopardy. But with a heartthrob Latino bodyguard for protection, it’s uncertain who poses the most danger—the killer or her Personal Protector.

Finally, in a truly innovative story, Rita Herron brings us to NIGHTHAWK ISLAND. When one woman’s hearing is restored by an experimental surgery, she’s awakened to the sound of murder in Silent Surrender. But only one hardened detective believes her. And only he can guard her from certain death.

So don’t forget to pick up all four for a complete reading experience. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Denise O’Sullivan

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin Intrigue

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Special thanks and acknowledgment

are given to Dani Sinclair for her contribution

to the MORIAH’S LANDING series.

An avid reader, Dani Sinclair didn’t discover romance novels until her mother lent her one when she’d come for a visit. Dani’s been hooked on the genre ever since. But she didn’t take up writing seriously until her two sons were grown. Since the premiere of Mystery Baby for Harlequin Intrigue in 1996, Dani’s kept her computer busy. Her third novel, Better Watch Out, was a RITA ®Award finalist in 1998. Dani lives outside Washington, D.C., a place she’s found to be a great source for both intrigue and humor!

You can write to her in care of the Harlequin Reader Service.

Andrew “Drew” Pierce—He had no idea his decision to run for mayor would have so many consequences.

Brianna “Brie” Dudley—Her daughter’s no secret, but the father is.

Nancy Bell—She planned to be more than Drew’s publicist.

Dr. David Bryson—Drew blames the reclusive scientist for the death of his sister.

Claire Cavendish—Has the person who kidnapped and tortured her five years ago returned?

Nicole Dudley—Brianna’s three-year-old daughter truly is a little witch.

Carey Eldrich—Drew’s best friend and fiercest competitor loves women, but did he love one to death?

McFarland Leary—He may be dead, but he’s far from forgotten.

Dr. Leland Manning—The geneticist is called a vampire behind his back.

Ursula Manning—Leland’s much younger wife set everything in motion with her shocking death.

Geoffrey Pierce—Drew’s uncle feels unappreciated by his peers, but he plans to change all that with his secretive research.

Edgar “Razz” Razmuesson—Razz and his friend Dodie are probably behind a lot of the mischief in Moriah’s Landing, but how far is he willing to go for money and a little revenge?

Frederick Thane—Is the current mayor intending to keep his position at any cost?

My thanks to Priscilla Berthiaume for the concept;

to Denise O’Sullivan for allowing me to participate;

to my fellow writers for their efforts to make

it all gel; to Officers Kelly Flannigan, Melissa Parlon

and Gary Sommers, whose information and instruction

were terrific; to Susan King and Mary McGowan for

their support; and a special, GREAT BIG THANKS to

Josh King, whose time and information was invaluable.

Any errors are mine alone.

And as always, for Roger, Chip, Dan and Barb. Love you!

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

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Eerie stillness blanketed the morning air over Moriah’s Landing. The troubled town brooded beneath the sweltering heat, expectantly waiting.

Her customers all served for the moment, Brianna Dudley pushed at the damp tendril of hair clinging to her forehead and wiped her hands on her apron. Even in the air-conditioned diner it was too hot. A sense of something about to happen crawled over her skin.

Brie stepped outside, moving across the newly attached deck at the back of the Beachway Diner.

Waves lapped steadily at the public beach stretched out below. She checked the deserted tables around her automatically before looking toward the undefined horizon. Definitely too hot for this early in the morning. A scan of the horizon failed to reveal any gathering clouds. She’d hoped that might account for the unease whispering over her nerve endings. Storms always made her tense.

A lazy gull swooped over the restless cove in search of food. He swept past the lighthouse before soaring toward the cliffs and the old stone castle that perched there.

Truly eerie and somber, the forbidding stone fortress would have done justice to the cover of a gothic novel. Clinging precariously to the edge of a jagged cliff, the Bluffs even came equipped with a dark, brooding scientist. Rumor had it Dr. David Bryson was a cold-blooded murderer, horribly disfigured in the explosion that had taken his fiancée’s life.

Brie didn’t know David all that well, but his fiancée, Tasha Pierce, had been one of her best friends, and she truly believed he’d loved Tasha. David was seldom seen in town, but it didn’t seem to occur to people that rather than being a recluse, perhaps he worked all day. And if he shunned bright lights, Brie understood. He had been scarred when his boat exploded in a wild ball of flame.