HelenKay Dimon - Locked and Loaded

“You’ve made that clear,” Maddie said as she rubbed her hand over his chest. He doubted she realized she was touching him as they hid there, waiting. But he knew. When this was over…

He couldn’t think of that now. Now he had to keep her safe. The thought of her hurt—or worse—knocked the breath out of him.

He admired her spunk and determination. He couldn’t imagine living half a life under the constant threat of death and the watchful eye of the government. Knowing that a criminal sat in a cell somewhere plotting against her made Adam want to issue a threat of his own.

His gaze went to her mouth, slipping down her long neck then back to those lips. He was going to kiss her. In the middle of a sting, with his men a short distance away. It had been building for days. Weeks. He’d dreamed about the smoothness of her skin and how it would feel to wrap her legs around his waist. Now he would live it.

He lowered his head and as he did, he heard the dreadful words in his earpiece. “He’s coming.”

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Award-winning author HelenKay Dimon spent twelve years in the most unromantic career ever—divorce lawyer. After dedicating all that effort to helping people terminate relationships, she is thrilled to deal in happy endings and write romance novels for a living. Now her days are filled with gardening, writing, reading and spending time with her family in and around San Diego. HelenKay loves hearing from readers, so stop by her website at www.helenkaydimon.com and say hello.

Adam Wright —This Recovery Project agent is stuck miles from home, babysitting a woman who is desperate to ignore him. He spends his days hovering over a computer and watching Maddie from afar…and his nights figuring out how to get a lot closer.

Maddie Timmons —She is a tough woman in an impossible spot. She paid for a bad relationship in the past with a broken back, a criminal investigation and a new identity thanks to the Witness Security Program. Now she needs help and that handsome computer hottie next door might be the answer.

Trevor Walters —A guarded, powerful and respected businessman. He’s made an informal agreement with the Recovery Project that might protect him, but he has other secrets…ones that could get them all killed.

Rod Lehman —The man who assembled the Recovery Project team. His off-the-books investigation into missing women in the Witness Security Program puts all the Recovery agents in danger.

John Tate —As the government administrator who decides who gets into witness protection he wields a tremendous amount of power. What he uses it for is the question.

Vince Ritter —He stays on the fringes of the Recovery Project, providing information and offering help. The problem is telling which side he’s actually on.

Luke Hathaway —The interim head of the Recovery Project. He has the unenviable job of making everything work. When he adds “keeping Maddie alive” to his list of tasks, he fears he’s made Adam and the entire team targets.

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

Maddie Timmons turned over in bed for what felt like the fiftieth time. It had to be past two by now, but she refused to look at the clock and check. Not again.

The room had plunged into darkness hours ago when the sun ducked behind the mountains outlining the side of her cabin. The cool late-spring air couldn’t penetrate the thick windows near her head. She knew because she’d installed the laminated safety glass herself and then made sure the potential entrances stayed locked at all times. A security alarm took care of the rest.

She kicked off the covers and stared at the ceiling. Despite all the precautions, something made her restless. She couldn’t pinpoint a reason. She just knew her insides kept jumping around, pressing down on her chest and forcing her eyes open every time they tried to drift shut.

The unease had crept up on her that afternoon while she’d worked the lunch rush at the diner, doing the baking and serving the meals. Though in Sweet Home, West Virginia, the weekday “rush” usually meant about thirty people over the span of three hours.

She sat up and felt the mattress dip beneath her. Just as her feet hit the hardwood floor, the banging started on her front door. She heard the thud and the faint sound of a male voice calling her name.

The late hour. The frantic attempt to wake her. It all struck her as wrong.

Every nerve ending in her body screamed for her to run. Her cottage was blocked from the neighbor’s by towering trees, and the dark night would give her attackers the advantage. And she could not risk getting caught. Ever.

She slid her feet into the white sneakers that always sat by her bed. The knife she kept under her pillow slipped neatly into the waistband of her pajama shorts. She had to grab her bag and take off.

That was the plan. Get to safety and then call the number she’d memorized for a situation just like this. The same emergency she’d hoped would never arrive.

She crept across the floor and wrapped her fingers around the handle of her packed safety bag. She listened closely for any sounds of house penetration. Relief flowed through her when only quiet echoed back.

She rounded the corner and headed for the small secret opening to the space under the house. From there she could see the property and listen for footsteps. Then it was just a practiced run to safety.

“Maddie?”

She froze. The husky whisper sounded louder and deeper than before. And totally familiar.

She eased the duffel back to the floor in total silence. The mandatory escape plan ran through her mind, but she ignored it. Instead, she walked down the short hall that led to the family room. The cabin consisted of exactly two rooms plus a kitchen and bath. No matter how careful she was, how shadowed the rooms, she would come into view from one of the windows in two more steps.

“Maddie?” The knocking grew louder and showed no signs of stopping.

Her brain pleaded for caution. Every other part of her wanted to open the door.

With quiet steps, she crossed the smooth floor and flattened her stomach against the front door. A quick look through the peephole confirmed what she already knew. Adam Wallace wanted in.

She hesitated, thinking of all the ways this could be a trap, but reached for the locks anyway. Metal rattled in her shaking fingers as she rushed to get the door open.

He stood there, all six foot three of him. Sandy-blond hair, thin wire glasses and shoulders wider than the door frame. He was her next-door neighbor. The chatty, sexy computer nerd with the linebacker body who moved in and insisted they be friends, all while she dodged every attempt.