Carol Ross - Christmas In The Cove

Nobody is going to hurt her—not on his watch

A DEA stealth mission has brought coast guard Lt. Commander Eli Pelletier home. But when he ends up aiding rescue swimmer Aubrey Wynn during her own harrowing mission, powerful emotions reignite between them. Except Aubrey doesn’t want Eli’s protection. She wants answers.

Twelve years ago, Eli broke up with Aubrey without telling her the real reason he was leaving Pacific Cove. How can he try for a second chance if he’s forced to deceive her again? Amid suspected drug trafficking and a sabotaged Christmas contest, Eli must find a way to regain Aubrey’s trust without compromising his career or endangering the woman he loves.

“Eli, I’ve been in the coast guard for ten years. This is a difficult and demanding profession we’re in.”

Aubrey leaned back and stretched her long, shapely legs in front of her.

He could so easily entangle his feet with hers.

“Rewarding, too, of course,” she added. “But hard.”

“That it is.”

He reached out and slowly removed the paper from her hands. His sole purpose in doing so was to feel her soft, warm skin against his. He had to touch her even as he knew he needed to quit stealing these moments. He needed to find a place where they could peacefully coexist, one that didn’t include touching her and wanting to kiss her.

She watched him, her green eyes all soft and bright and full of questions, and...and he knew he wasn’t imagining the desire swimming in their mossy green depths. Twelve years may have passed, but that was a look a man could never forget.

Dear Reader 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 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Extract Copyright ,

Before writing this book, I had a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the United States Coast Guard and the brave men and women who serve. As my research progressed, all of that changed.

Now I am more of a fanatic. I share stories I’ve read with family and friends about the incredible courage, dedication, loyalty and strength these people possess. I talk about how grateful I am for their service, and how lucky we are here in the USA to have the coast guard patrolling our waterways and executing some of the most dangerous and difficult search-and-rescue missions in the world.

Creating characters who embody these traits, the ones that appear to be inherent in the real-life heroes, without making them “too good” was a bit of a challenge. There was also the delicate matter of trying to soften the edges of the strong, competitive, type A personalities I knew they had to have. They fought me on both of these points and several others. In fact, whenever I tried to mold them into something convenient for me, they would protest (as type A personalities are wont to do).

Finally, I just let Aubrey and Eli tell me their story. I was so happy when I discovered there was room in this little book for both their big personalities. And thrilled when I saw how it made their love that much bigger, too.

Please check out my website, carolrossauthor.com, for social media contacts, updates and links to some excellent and informative books about the coast guard and some of their heroic rescues.

All my best,

Carol

Christmas in the Cove

Carol Ross

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CAROL ROSSlives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs. She is a graduate of Washington State University. When not writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys reading, running, hiking, skiing, traveling and making plans for the next adventure to subject her sometimes reluctant but always fun-loving family to.

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I happily dedicate this book to Alec Cadan Benson.

For many reasons—not the least of which is because he has the coolest name in the world (you’re welcome).

And to Ethan Benson, who is always up for a brainstorming session. Thank you!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Nobody is going to hurt her—not on his watch A DEA stealth mission has brought coast guard Lt. Commander Eli Pelletier home. But when he ends up aiding rescue swimmer Aubrey Wynn during her own harrowing mission, powerful emotions reignite between them. Except Aubrey doesn’t want Eli’s protection. She wants answers. Twelve years ago, Eli broke up with Aubrey without telling her the real reason he was leaving Pacific Cove. How can he try for a second chance if he’s forced to deceive her again? Amid suspected drug trafficking and a sabotaged Christmas contest, Eli must find a way to regain Aubrey’s trust without compromising his career or endangering the woman he loves.

Introduction “Eli, I’ve been in the coast guard for ten years. This is a difficult and demanding profession we’re in.” Aubrey leaned back and stretched her long, shapely legs in front of her. He could so easily entangle his feet with hers. “Rewarding, too, of course,” she added. “But hard.” “That it is.” He reached out and slowly removed the paper from her hands. His sole purpose in doing so was to feel her soft, warm skin against his. He had to touch her even as he knew he needed to quit stealing these moments. He needed to find a place where they could peacefully coexist, one that didn’t include touching her and wanting to kiss her. She watched him, her green eyes all soft and bright and full of questions, and...and he knew he wasn’t imagining the desire swimming in their mossy green depths. Twelve years may have passed, but that was a look a man could never forget.

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

AUBREY TAPPED A rhythm with her foot as the song “Respect” played inside her head. The words sounded as clear and pure as if Aretha herself was strapped in the helicopter’s seat beside her.

The copilot, Lieutenant Jensen, interrupted her mid-verse. “Three minutes.”

Signaling that she heard, she resumed her internal checklist. Not the equipment list every Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer is always prepared with—mask, fins, knife, radio, beacon and assorted supplies. She’d already done that one about fifty times. No, Aubrey was executing her “mental prep.” Breathing deeply, she imagined blood flowing to the furthest reaches of her body from her heart to her liver and all the way to the tips of her toes, while she silently sang Aretha Franklin’s classic tune over and over again. Was this weird? Maybe. She had no idea. But she knew other rescue swimmers who had their rituals, too. So, in that regard, she assumed it was normal. She didn’t really care one way or the other. It was her normal.