Linda O. Johnston - Second Chance Soldier

Sizzling days of danger...

Introducing the K-9 Ranch Rescue series

Devastated after her father’s murder, Amber Belott wants to keep his legacy alive by saving his K-9 ranch. Her first move? Hiring Evan Colluro, a former military K-9 trainer, who impresses—and attracts—her. If only she weren’t his boss...and his past didn’t trouble him. Evan joins Amber in investigating. But when chaos erupts, it threatens all that’s drawing them together.

LINDA O. JOHNSTON loves to write. While honing her writing skills, she worked in advertising and public relations, then became a lawyer...and enjoyed writing contracts. Linda’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won a Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year. Linda now spends most of her time creating memorable tales of paranormal romance, romantic suspense and mystery. Visit her on the web at www.lindaojohnston.com.

Also By Linda O. Johnston

K-9 Ranch Rescue Series

Second Chance Soldier

Undercover Soldier

Covert Attraction

Alpha Force Series

Alpha Wolf

Alaskan Wolf

Guardian Wolf

Undercover Wolf

Loyal Wolf

Canadian Wolf

Protector Wolf

Back to Life

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Second Chance Soldier

Linda O. Johnston

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07873-3

SECOND CHANCE SOLDIER

© 2018 Linda O. Johnston

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

“Maybe this is a prelude to learning, at last, who killed my father.”

“Maybe, but it would be a good thing if you stayed alive long enough to find out.”

“Yeah, there is that little angle, isn’t there?” Now she seemed to be calming a bit. Appearing more speculative—which worried Evan.

What if she put herself into more danger?

Damn, but this gorgeous—and foolish—woman exasperated him.

And that wasn’t all she did to him...

“Look, Amber. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you need to be especially careful now. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She turned and looked him straight in the eye.

Not long ago, he’d have been highly uncomfortable with that.

Not now, though.

He started to reach over to pull her into his arms, but she beat him to it. They were suddenly both standing. Amber pressed herself against him—and raised her mouth to his.

Dear Reader,

Those of you who know my writing are aware I’m a dog lover. That’s one reason I’m delighted to be writing the K-9 Ranch Rescue stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. They take place in the fictional town of Chance, California, and involve dog training, suspense...and, of course, romance.

In Second Chance Soldier, the first in the series, Amber Belott has returned home to the K-9 ranch begun by her father, who was recently murdered. In his loving memory, and to help her mother, she’s determined to keep the ranch going despite her dad having never taught her to train dogs. She searches for the right head trainer—and is highly impressed by the demonstration provided by former military K-9 officer Evan Colluro. She hires the sexy and skilled trainer on the spot—without realizing he has a mild form of PTSD.

But Evan’s skills outweigh his past—and as Amber and Evan work together to bring more students to the ranch for pet and K-9 dog training, and to find the truth about what happened to Amber’s dad, their attraction becomes undeniable.

I hope you enjoy Second Chance Soldier. Please come visit me at my website, lindaojohnston.com, and at my weekly blog, killerhobbies.blogspot.com. And, yes, I’m on Facebook, too.

Linda O. Johnston

Second Chance Soldier is dedicated to all dogs and those who train them, including police and military K-9s.

And, as I always do, I dedicate this book to my wonderful husband, Fred. Good thing he likes dogs, too.

Acknowledgments

Since I have been well trained by my dogs so far, and not so much vice versa, I want to thank everyone who advised me about dog training. That includes the Hollywood Dog Obedience Club and its wonderful officers, trainers and members I’ve met. They have shown me what pet dog training is all about.

I have also watched several demonstrations of police K-9s in the Los Angeles area, which have proved to be fascinating and useful, and I have additionally been privileged enough to have had discussions with some K-9 officers. I particularly want to thank the Glendale Police Department and its K-9 unit, most especially Officer Shawn Sholtis and his K-9, Idol.

Thank you all!

Of course, Second Chance Soldier is a work of fiction, so if anything seems incorrect that’s because I’ve modified reality to fit the story.

Many thanks also to my wonderful editor, Allison Lyons, and my fantastic agent, Paige Wheeler.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12