Jennifer Morey - Front Page Affair

Romance and danger—worth the hype...

Arizona Ivy won’t stop until she gets her story. The fearless blonde is rebuilding her life—leaving Hollywood and heartbreak behind—to jump-start her journalism career. When a woman is abducted, she knows she has her big break, and wants the truth. If only the victim’s ruggedly handsome brother wouldn’t keep getting in her way.

Braden McCrae knows that danger isn’t a game. A military weapons engineer, the tough, smart specialist can take on just about anything. But when his sister is kidnapped, he has to be extra careful. And he’s not going to allow a sexy reporter to distract him. They’ll have enough trouble taking down the arms dealer who has his sister. Passion could be a deadly distraction. Passion could be a deadly distraction.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you kiss me. I wasn’t ready.”

He couldn’t take her mind off Trevor. She should be ready by now, and Braden should be able to get her mind off another man.

“Losing him doesn’t mean you have to live the rest of your life alone, pursuing a career that will consume all your time.”

“Trevor has nothing to do with why I want to be a reporter,” Arizona said.

“Yes, he does. You should follow your heart.”

“Is that what you did?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you so familiar with guns? And why are you not afraid of dangerous situations? It’s like you’re ready for battle 24/7.”

Had she really picked up on that? Her insight was keen. But he wasn’t going to talk about that with her. He didn’t talk about it with anyone.

“My sister is missing,” he said. “I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”

Ivy Avengers: Family bonds. Family secrets.

Dear Reader,

I am excited to bring you a new miniseries about a big family with a famous dad. There will be plenty of trouble to keep the action high and love to keep the heart warm.

In this first novel of the miniseries, meet Arizona Ivy, an adventurer whose last brush with love has left her skittish—the only thing she is skittish of! I chose her to start the miniseries because she’s the youngest of eight and at odds with her heritage. Braden McCrae is the perfect man to make her grow. He may seem like an ordinary guy, but underneath his smarts is a man who can’t be pushed around.

This was one of my favorite books to write. It’s different. Fresh and new. So, here’s to wishing you hours of pleasant reading! May it take you away as it did for me.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

Front Page Affair

Jennifer Morey

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JENNIFER MOREY

Two-time 2009 RITA® Award nominee and a Golden Quill winner for Best First Book for The Secret Soldier, Jennifer Morey writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Project manager par jour, she works for the space systems segment of a satellite imagery and information company. She lives in sunny Denver, Colorado. She can be reached through her website, www.jennifermorey.com, and on Facebook.

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For Maddie, my beautiful, sweet yellow Lab who I lost to cancer in August 2012. Petunia is likened after her in this story, and in the next of this miniseries. My baby girl.

Contents

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

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Braden McCrae left work in a hurry. Pushing through the front doors of the building, he strode toward the parking lot. There had been a tremor in his dad’s voice when he called. He wouldn’t talk over the phone, only insisted on meeting him and Mom at his house. What had happened? Had one of his grandparents died? Were his parents all right? Or had his sister gotten herself into more trouble? Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. His dad never asked to meet in person if he didn’t have something serious to tell him.

Reaching his Subaru, he hesitated before getting inside. A white BMW was parked in the outer lot. A couple of days ago, one just like it was parked down the street from his house. Was it the same SUV? Immediately on the offensive, he took in all the details he could from this distance. Someone was sitting inside, probably a man. He couldn’t see the license plate from here.

A long-buried instinct emerged, the fighter in him. Life had taught him to be ready for anything. And he was now.

Driving out of the parking lot, he turned onto the street and watched his rearview mirror. Sure enough, the BMW pulled out of the lot. Who would follow him and why? Would his ex-wife go to such extremes? She’d been angry he’d appealed the divorce terms. He was only disputing the credit card balances, but she had thrown a fit. She’d never liked being married to a mere engineer. She had high hopes of him soaring to the top, running the company and earning an equally top salary. He wasn’t opposed to making lots of money; he just didn’t want the job that went along with it. Certain executives he’d observed were only as good as their ability to warp the truth. Only one line needed to be on their résumé—how many years of experience they had warping the truth.

And Serena had expected him to become that. It had led to their demise. Why did some women think they could change a man? What was wrong with the version they married? Braden didn’t get it. He didn’t get women.

Engineering was in his blood. He’d spent countless hours taking things apart and putting them back together when he was a kid. He was a natural at math and enjoyed blowing things up. He was happy with his job. But Serena didn’t care about that.

He checked the mirror again. The BMW was several cars back. Serena was many things, but he didn’t think she was the type to hire a thug to scare him into dropping the appeal. And there was only one way to find out who was in that BMW, and why. When he was a teenager, he learned how to avoid bullies and was afraid of defending himself. Now a grown man, he was no longer afraid and knew how to defend himself.

Turning a corner, he drove slowly until the SUV appeared, and then went into a parking lot of a small, organic market. Leaning over, he opened his glove box and took out a big flashlight, covertly seeing the BMW park along the street.

Braden got out of his Subaru and headed toward the vehicle, careful to keep cars within close proximity in case he needed to take cover. There was a man inside. He was wearing a baseball cap and a dark blue, lightweight jacket. He was a big man. Seeing his approach, long, solid flashlight swinging at his side, the man stared at him a second or two. He hadn’t expected his prey to become the predator. He also didn’t appear afraid of that. Calmly, the man restarted the BMW engine that he’d presumptuously shut off. Then he looked at Braden again, as though making sure he hadn’t misinterpreted his approach.

Nope. No misinterpretation. Braden fully intended to use this flashlight if he had to. But the man wisely decided not to go up against him. The man steered out into the street.