Deborah Fletcher Mello - Tempted By The Badge

Proving her innocence...at all costs

The exciting second book of the To Serve and Seduce miniseries

Former Chicago cop Mingus Black is used to liars. So why does the PI believe a teacher who insists she’s being framed? Joanna Barnes is totally convincing...in more ways than one. The chemistry between Mingus and Joanna becomes perilously potent, but until he can find out who framed her for a heinous crime, everything they love hangs in the balance.

Writing since forever, DEBORAH FLETCHER MELLOcan’t imagine herself doing anything else. Her first novel, Take Me to Heart , earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2008, Deborah won the RT Reviewers’ Choice award for Best Series Romance for her ninth novel, Tame a Wild Stallion. Deborah received a BRAB 2015 Reading Warrior Award for Best Series for her Stallion family series. Deborah was also named the 2016 Romance Slam Jam Author of the Year. She has also received accolades from several publications, including Publishers Weekly , Library Journal and RT Book Reviews . With each new book, Deborah continues to create unique story lines and memorable characters. Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah now considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.

Also By Deborah Fletcher Mello

To Serve and Seduce

Seduced by the Badge

Tempted by the Badge

Truly Yours

Hearts Afire

Twelve Days of Pleasure

My Stallion Heart

Stallion Magic

Tuscan Heat

A Stallion’s Touch

A Pleasing Temptation

Sweet Stallion

To Tempt a Stallion

A Stallion Dream

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Tempted by the Badge

Deborah Fletcher Mello

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09376-7

TEMPTED BY THE BADGE

© 2019 Deborah Fletcher Mello

Published in Great Britain 2019

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.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“Suddenly I’m guilty before I’ve even had the chance to prove my innocence.”

There was the faintest hint of sympathy in Mingus’s tone as he answered, “I know.”

Joanna blew out a soft sigh. She took up her fork and began to eat. She suddenly paused, the utensil stopped in midair. “You said we’re going to figure out your brother’s next steps. What are you going to do? And what am I supposed to be doing?”

Mingus narrowed his gaze, amusement sweeping across his face. “You are going to sit tight and stay out of trouble. And you’re not going to worry about what I do.”

Her gaze skated across his face, trying to read the emotion staring back at her. She finally shook her head, rising from the table as she grabbed his plate and hers. “Well, I can tell you now, that’s not going to happen, so try again, Mingus Black. I need answers and I don’t plan to leave your side until I get them.”

* * *

Don’t miss future installments in the To Serve and Seduce miniseries, coming soon...

Dear Reader,

No lies! This story worked me! Hard! It was challenging from start to finish, the characters continually turning left when I was trying with everything in me to herd them right! But I absolutely love the final product. Once again, it was about family and the strength of their love and their commitment to doing right, when it would be so much easier to do wrong!

I loved fleshing out Mingus Black. He’s a bad boy to his core and yet he’s a big softy when it comes to the delightful Joanna Barnes. The two are sheer perfection in all their flawed beauty. Together, they are fire! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing their story.

I really love this book! I hope you will, too!

Thank you so much for your support. I am humbled by all the love you keep showing me, my characters and our stories. I know that none of this would be possible without you.

Until the next time, please take care and may God’s blessings be with you always.

With much love,

Deborah Fletcher Mello

www.DeborahMello.blogspot.com

To Kay Edmondson

You are a joy and a blessing to know!

Know that you are much loved and valued!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

About the Publisher

The noise level in the small classroom rose substantially as the door flung open and students began to parade inside. Joanna Barnes looked up from the papers she’d been grading, a bright smile pulling at her lips. Greetings rang out warmly as one student after the other found their way to a seat for the third-period history class.

“Good morning, Ms. Barnes!”

“Hey, Ms. B!”

“Ms. Barnes! What up?”