Karen Rock - Raising the Stakes

Hiding from the world...

Tucking herself away in the Adirondack woods was supposed to keep Vivienne Harris safe. From dark memories of the Bronx, from danger, from entanglements. But when an orphaned bear cub raids her pantry and conservation officer Liam Walsh appears with news of poachers nearby, her private, peaceful world is turned upside down!

Suddenly two forces are drawing her out—Button, the cub who needs her help, and Liam, the man who’s dead set against her rehabilitating the bear. If she can just win Liam’s support, Vivie knows she can give Button a good life. And maybe find the courage to embrace a future with Liam...

Liam’s leaf-green eyes shone in the lamplight when he smiled at Vivie.

“Are you ready for the wildlife rehabilitator test?” he asked.

She sank onto the couch. “I have to be, or you’ll shoot Button.”

He regarded her gravely. “Wish you wouldn’t call her that.”

She hugged a pillow. “Why?”

“Because it makes her sound like a pet.” Liam leaned forward and the outdoorsy, masculine smell of him filled her senses. Normally being alone with a man this late at night would terrify her. Instead, she felt alive and jittery, her stomach fluttering.

“If you pass tomorrow—”

“When I pass tomorrow,” she interrupted, lifting her chin despite her nerves.

He studied her, his strong face handsome. “When you pass tomorrow, you need to start thinking like a rehabilitator. If you treat the bear like a house pet, I’ll have to remove her.”

The thought of it knocked the breath out of her. “Button is going to make it here.” There was no way she’d let him take her bear...

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 EPILOGUE Copyright ,

When I was in fifth grade, my dad accepted a promotion to move to Upstate New York. I was as shocked as my classmates when my teacher traced her pointer from our location, Long Island, to the very top of the map: The Adirondacks. It looked like the end of the world and everyone, including me, gasped in horror.

Little did I know how profoundly this move would change me. I lost my city ways and became an avid nature and animal lover. I live my life outdoors as much as indoors. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, riding on a Ski-Doo, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, hiking, camping and, best of all, mountain climbing.

Standing on a summit is an almost religious experience. It’s otherworldly to gaze at the breathtaking beauty below and imagine that this is what it must have looked like to the one who made it all. It’s awe-inspiring and humbling. Suddenly a fresh perspective clicks into place, giving my soul a good housecleaning.

It’s also a privilege to live so close to such an abundance of wild animals, including black bears, the amazing subject of this book. The setting and subject of this story couldn’t be any closer to my heart. Please contact me anytime at karenrock@live.com, especially if you’re ever visiting my neck of the woods!

Karen

Raising the Stakes

Karen Rock

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KAREN ROCK is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. Her Mills & Boon Heartwarming novels have won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the 2014 Golden Quill Award. When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales, cooking and hiking. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter and Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

www.KarenRock.com

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To Little Bit, who made my life whole. You passed away when I wrote this book and left a hole that can never be filled. I hope your helicopter tail is whipping the clouds into a froth up there. Until we meet again, I love you, my sweet girl.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Hiding from the world... Tucking herself away in the Adirondack woods was supposed to keep Vivienne Harris safe. From dark memories of the Bronx, from danger, from entanglements. But when an orphaned bear cub raids her pantry and conservation officer Liam Walsh appears with news of poachers nearby, her private, peaceful world is turned upside down! Suddenly two forces are drawing her out—Button, the cub who needs her help, and Liam, the man who’s dead set against her rehabilitating the bear. If she can just win Liam’s support, Vivie knows she can give Button a good life. And maybe find the courage to embrace a future with Liam...

Introduction Liam’s leaf-green eyes shone in the lamplight when he smiled at Vivie. “Are you ready for the wildlife rehabilitator test?” he asked. She sank onto the couch. “I have to be, or you’ll shoot Button.” He regarded her gravely. “Wish you wouldn’t call her that.” She hugged a pillow. “Why?” “Because it makes her sound like a pet.” Liam leaned forward and the outdoorsy, masculine smell of him filled her senses. Normally being alone with a man this late at night would terrify her. Instead, she felt alive and jittery, her stomach fluttering. “If you pass tomorrow—” “When I pass tomorrow,” she interrupted, lifting her chin despite her nerves. He studied her, his strong face handsome. “When you pass tomorrow, you need to start thinking like a rehabilitator. If you treat the bear like a house pet, I’ll have to remove her.” The thought of it knocked the breath out of her. “Button is going to make it here.” There was no way she’d let him take her bear...

Dear Reader

Title Page Raising the Stakes Karen Rock www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author KAREN ROCK is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. Her Mills & Boon Heartwarming novels have won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the 2014 Golden Quill Award. When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales, cooking and hiking. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter and Cavalier King Charles spaniels. www.KarenRock.com

Dedication To Little Bit, who made my life whole. You passed away when I wrote this book and left a hole that can never be filled. I hope your helicopter tail is whipping the clouds into a froth up there. Until we meet again, I love you, my sweet girl.

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

EPILOGUE

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

THERE IT WAS.

Again.