Natalie Charles - When No One Is Watching

The red-hot passion between them isn’t exactly an open-and-shut case…

To find her missing sister and an attacker she can’t remember, criminal profiler Mia Perez teams up with gorgeous Boston P.D. lieutenant Gray Bartlett. Their prime suspect: a psychotic serial killer. But when Mia’s prints are found on the gun used in recent murders, Gray doesn’t know what to think. Is the brainy beauty he’s falling for being framed?

Mia finds herself incredibly attracted to the hero risking his life and career to protect her. Yet she keeps a deadly secret of her past from Gray. Now she needs more than his desire—she needs him to prove her innocence, find her sister…and keep her alive.

He went in for another kiss, but she placed her hand squarely on his chest to stop him.

“No. You need to go to work.”

The spell was broken, and just in time. What were either of them thinking, groping each other on the sidewalk like a couple of teenagers? Getting involved like this was a mistake—a big one. She twisted out of his embrace and smoothed her hair.

“Mia.” His voice was hoarse. “Don’t do this.”

“You should be thanking me.” The kiss left her feeling disheveled, but as she adjusted her dress, she realized there was little actually out of place. She just felt out of order. “You can’t be seen with me, and you definitely can’t be seen kissing me. That’s a great way to end your career.”

“No one’s watching.”

“Someone’s always watching, Gray.” Mia’s gaze darted around self-consciously. She knew he’d taken a bit of a risk having dinner with her, but that could have been explained away. A kiss in front of her apartment, however…

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author 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 Extract Copyright ,

There are several reasons why this book is special to me. One is that I wrote it while my sweet newborn son slept cradled in my arms. Another is that it’s set in Boston, one of my favorite cities. Yet another is that it was simply fun to bring Gray and Mia to life.

The title of the book, When No One Is Watching, is a reference to former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who said, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” Isn’t every mystery story, at its heart, about what happens when no one is watching? Aren’t they all, to a certain extent, about the character of those caught up in the middle? It seemed like the perfect quote to inspire a book about an investigator who follows a trail of clues and learns that she may not be the person she believes herself to be.

I always hope that my readers enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them. For this one, I also hope you have someone special to snuggle up with while reading, as I did while writing.

Warmly,

Natalie

When No One Is Watching

Natalie Charles

www.millsandboon.co.uk

NATALIE CHARLES

is a practicing attorney whose day-job writing is more effective for treating insomnia than most sleeping pills. This may explain why her after-hours writing involves the incomparable combination of romance and suspense—the literary equivalent of chocolate and peanut butter. The happy sufferer of a lifelong addiction to mystery novels, Natalie has, sadly, yet to out-sleuth a detective. She lives in New England with a husband who makes her believe in Happily Ever After and two children who make her believe in miracles.

Natalie loves hearing from readers! You can contact her through her website, www.nataliecharles.net.

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For Talia and Luke, with all of my love. I hope that one day you will experience the thrill of having your heart stolen the way you’ve stolen mine.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The red-hot passion between them isn’t exactly an open-and-shut case… To find her missing sister and an attacker she can’t remember, criminal profiler Mia Perez teams up with gorgeous Boston P.D. lieutenant Gray Bartlett. Their prime suspect: a psychotic serial killer. But when Mia’s prints are found on the gun used in recent murders, Gray doesn’t know what to think. Is the brainy beauty he’s falling for being framed? Mia finds herself incredibly attracted to the hero risking his life and career to protect her. Yet she keeps a deadly secret of her past from Gray. Now she needs more than his desire—she needs him to prove her innocence, find her sister…and keep her alive.

Introduction He went in for another kiss, but she placed her hand squarely on his chest to stop him. “No. You need to go to work.” The spell was broken, and just in time. What were either of them thinking, groping each other on the sidewalk like a couple of teenagers? Getting involved like this was a mistake—a big one. She twisted out of his embrace and smoothed her hair. “Mia.” His voice was hoarse. “Don’t do this.” “You should be thanking me.” The kiss left her feeling disheveled, but as she adjusted her dress, she realized there was little actually out of place. She just felt out of order. “You can’t be seen with me, and you definitely can’t be seen kissing me. That’s a great way to end your career.” “No one’s watching.” “Someone’s always watching, Gray.” Mia’s gaze darted around self-consciously. She knew he’d taken a bit of a risk having dinner with her, but that could have been explained away. A kiss in front of her apartment, however…

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author 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 Extract Copyright , There are several reasons why this book is special to me. One is that I wrote it while my sweet newborn son slept cradled in my arms. Another is that it’s set in Boston, one of my favorite cities. Yet another is that it was simply fun to bring Gray and Mia to life. The title of the book, When No One Is Watching, is a reference to former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who said, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” Isn’t every mystery story, at its heart, about what happens when no one is watching? Aren’t they all, to a certain extent, about the character of those caught up in the middle? It seemed like the perfect quote to inspire a book about an investigator who follows a trail of clues and learns that she may not be the person she believes herself to be. I always hope that my readers enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them. For this one, I also hope you have someone special to snuggle up with while reading, as I did while writing. Warmly, Natalie

Title Page When No One Is Watching Natalie Charles www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author NATALIE CHARLES is a practicing attorney whose day-job writing is more effective for treating insomnia than most sleeping pills. This may explain why her after-hours writing involves the incomparable combination of romance and suspense—the literary equivalent of chocolate and peanut butter. The happy sufferer of a lifelong addiction to mystery novels, Natalie has, sadly, yet to out-sleuth a detective. She lives in New England with a husband who makes her believe in Happily Ever After and two children who make her believe in miracles. Natalie loves hearing from readers! You can contact her through her website, www.nataliecharles.net .