Lenora Worth - Lakeside Peril

ENEMY WATERS

Chloe Conrad suspects foul play in the plane crash that killed her sister—and she’s determined to hire private investigator Hunter Lawson to prove it. But convincing the former Special Forces operative to help isn’t easy, especially since he blames her family for his sister’s death. Hunter sees something familiar in Chloe’s hunt for justice—and he can’t leave her unprotected when he realizes the killer’s switched focus to her. As they search for clues, he’s beginning to wonder if his enemy’s daughter could be the person who helps him heal from his painful past. But neither of them will have a future unless they find a way to unravel the twisted conspiracy that threatens both their lives…

A dark sedan zoomed by and entered the street side of the parking lot. A window came down. A gun came out.

Hunter saw the gun, glanced at the woman and then did what he had to do. He ran straight for Chloe and tackled her to the ground.

While silenced bullets spewed all around them.

Chloe tried to find air, tried to see over the brawny shoulder that shielded her face. “Let me up,” she said, struggling.

“Stay still!”

He held her there but shifted, still covering her. She heard a motor revving and tires screeching. The car sped away, dirt and rocks flying in its wake. People came out of the restaurant, shouting and talking, pointing to where Hunter and Chloe lay. She’d barely heard the zing from the silencer but the people inside must have seen him diving over her.

“Are they gone?”

He lifted up to stare down at her, his breath warm on her neck. His eyes were a smoky gray that washed her in a questioning darkness. “I think so.”

With over seventy books published and millions in print, LENORA WORTH writes award-winning romance and romantic suspense. Three of her books finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, and her Love Inspired Suspense novel Body of Evidence became a New York Times bestseller. Her novella in Mistletoe Kisses made her a USA TODAY bestselling author. Lenora goes on adventures with her retired husband, Don, and enjoys reading, baking and shopping…especially shoe shopping.

Lakeside Peril

Lenora Worth

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;

but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

—Psalms 32:10

To Bennie Riggs and the former Hog Wash Bar and Grill in Oklahoma City.

Many thanks to Glen and Tina Hughes for answering my questions about Oklahoma and oil! This one goes out to the men and women who work on the oil patches all over the world. I appreciate your hard work!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text ENEMY WATERS Chloe Conrad suspects foul play in the plane crash that killed her sister—and she’s determined to hire private investigator Hunter Lawson to prove it. But convincing the former Special Forces operative to help isn’t easy, especially since he blames her family for his sister’s death. Hunter sees something familiar in Chloe’s hunt for justice—and he can’t leave her unprotected when he realizes the killer’s switched focus to her. As they search for clues, he’s beginning to wonder if his enemy’s daughter could be the person who helps him heal from his painful past. But neither of them will have a future unless they find a way to unravel the twisted conspiracy that threatens both their lives…

Introduction A dark sedan zoomed by and entered the street side of the parking lot. A window came down. A gun came out. Hunter saw the gun, glanced at the woman and then did what he had to do. He ran straight for Chloe and tackled her to the ground. While silenced bullets spewed all around them. Chloe tried to find air, tried to see over the brawny shoulder that shielded her face. “Let me up,” she said, struggling. “Stay still!” He held her there but shifted, still covering her. She heard a motor revving and tires screeching. The car sped away, dirt and rocks flying in its wake. People came out of the restaurant, shouting and talking, pointing to where Hunter and Chloe lay. She’d barely heard the zing from the silencer but the people inside must have seen him diving over her. “Are they gone?” He lifted up to stare down at her, his breath warm on her neck. His eyes were a smoky gray that washed her in a questioning darkness. “I think so.”

About the Author With over seventy books published and millions in print, LENORA WORTH writes award-winning romance and romantic suspense. Three of her books finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, and her Love Inspired Suspense novel Body of Evidence became a New York Times bestseller. Her novella in Mistletoe Kisses made her a USA TODAY bestselling author. Lenora goes on adventures with her retired husband, Don, and enjoys reading, baking and shopping…especially shoe shopping.

Title Page Lakeside Peril Lenora Worth www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. —Psalms 32:10

Dedication To Bennie Riggs and the former Hog Wash Bar and Grill in Oklahoma City. Many thanks to Glen and Tina Hughes for answering my questions about Oklahoma and oil! This one goes out to the men and women who work on the oil patches all over the world. I appreciate your hard work!

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

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Someone was watching him.

He could feel the hair on the back of his neck rising while the purr of his pulse vibrated an all-too-familiar warning.

He never could relax, not really. Not even at a biker dive in the Florida Panhandle where he was trying to mind his own business.

Hunter Lawson took a sip of the club soda dripping with condensation and slowly lifted out of the chair where he sat on the deck of the Hog Wash Rib Joint.

A woman stood outside the open barn doors leading from the interior of the rickety restaurant that mostly accommodated bikers needing to wash their rides, eat some good food and get into a fight every now and then.

She was definitely not a biker chick.

But she stared at him with a determination that meant business. Harmless but lethal, all the same.

Hunter observed people. Doing so was his nature. So he took his time accessing this woman standing in this place. Didn’t match up.

She was serious and svelte. Sleek in a country girl kind of way in her jeans and tan leather jacket. Her boots looked hand-tooled. Her eyes shone a deep golden-brown and her hair—the afternoon sun loved her hair. It was a russet gold that surrounded her face like an intricate frame. The look in her eyes shouted trouble.