Marilyn Pappano - Killer Smile

The detective reunites with his runaway bride

A brand-new suspense story from USA TODAY bestselling author Marilyn Pappano

When a stalker targets Natasha Spencer—and her exes—Tash must warn the man she abandoned at the altar. She reconnects with Detective Daniel Harper, but a history of heartbreak still lingers between them. Daniel is determined to protect, but not trust, Tash. Every clue they pursue and chance they take reignites desire...and leads straight into an inescapable trap.

Oklahoma, dogs, beaches, books, family and friends: these are a few of MARILYN PAPPANO’s favorite things. She lives in imaginary worlds where she reigns supreme (at least, she does when the characters cooperate) and no matter how wrong things go, she can always set them right. It’s her husband’s job to keep her grounded in the real world, which makes him her very favorite thing.

Also By Marilyn Pappano Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Extract About the Publisher

Killer Smile

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Nights with a Thief

Bayou Hero

Undercover in Copper Lake

Copper Lake Encounter

Copper Lake Confidential

Christmas Confidential

“Holiday Protector”

In the Enemy’s Arms

Copper Lake Secrets

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Killer Smile

Marilyn Pappano

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07952-5

KILLER SMILE

© 2018 Marilyn Pappano

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“There was a prowler at my house last night, Tash,” Daniel said quietly.

“Also, we have a witness who says he’s seen a guy watching you.”

Natasha’s muscles froze, leaving her unable to breathe or process his words. She didn’t feel the trembling in her hands until she saw rings spreading across the surface of her coffee. Daniel’s right hand took her left, and she reflexively grasped it, squeezing tightly, focusing all her energy on maintaining contact with the one person who’d always, always made her feel safe.

“You went out there by yourself? Knowing that RememberMe wants to—” She finished with a gesture of her left hand, unable to put it into words. The mere thought of the danger she’d brought into Daniel’s life could break her heart and her spirit.

“I wasn’t alone. I had my weapon.” He laid his free hand on the pistol snugged on his belt. “You know I never leave home without it.”

The small smile that touched his mouth was reassuring, but Natasha couldn’t stop the ominous words in her head. Her stalker was here in Cedar Creek, and he knew where Daniel lived, and he wanted him dead...

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Extract About the Publisher ,

I read somewhere that the song “Every Breath You Take” by The Police is widely considered by women to be one of the great love songs. In fact, quite a few of my female friends agree. While I like the song, I also think it’s very, very creepy. The composer himself, Sting, called it “sinister” and says it’s about “surveillance and control” in an interview with The Independent in 1993.

Just goes to show how different perceptions can be.

A woman meets a man in a social situation. She smiles and says, “Nice to meet you.” He hears, “I’ve waited all my life for you.”

She shakes his hand. He feels the promise of forever.

She pleads, “Leave me alone.” He understands, “Please don’t ever leave me alone.”

Perceptions.

It had been a while since I’d done a stalker story, and I’ve always wanted to write my own runaway bride, too. I already knew Detective Daniel Harper, from Killer Secrets, was going to be the hero, so I added one commitmentphobic heroine (Daniel was third on Natasha’s list of jilted fiancés) and one freaky psychopath and set them on a course that would alter, threaten or even end their lives. And I had a lovely time doing it.

I hope you have a lovely time reading it.

Marilyn Pappano

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The detective reunites with his runaway bride A brand-new suspense story from USA TODAY bestselling author Marilyn Pappano When a stalker targets Natasha Spencer—and her exes—Tash must warn the man she abandoned at the altar. She reconnects with Detective Daniel Harper, but a history of heartbreak still lingers between them. Daniel is determined to protect, but not trust, Tash. Every clue they pursue and chance they take reignites desire...and leads straight into an inescapable trap.

About the Author Oklahoma, dogs, beaches, books, family and friends: these are a few of MARILYN PAPPANO’s favorite things. She lives in imaginary worlds where she reigns supreme (at least, she does when the characters cooperate) and no matter how wrong things go, she can always set them right. It’s her husband’s job to keep her grounded in the real world, which makes him her very favorite thing.