Kara Lennox - For The Right Reasons

Secrets…murder…redemption

Dr. Bree Johnson won’t let an innocent man rot in jail. Why won’t Project Justice’s handsome attorney Eric Riggs listen to her when she knows her ex Kelly Ralston did not commit the crime he’s been arrested for? Little does she know that Kelly has threatened Eric’s daughter and that the secrets in this case go beyond them all.

But who is controlling Kelly? Bree and Eric will have to trust one another in order to bring the real criminal to justice. Bree might have met the love of her life, but if she and Eric don’t stay ahead of the killer, her life might not be a long one….

“Very good work, MacKenzie. I think I might have something here.…”

Bree dug into her purse. “I do. Would you like a glitter heart or a gold star?”

“Heart, heart, heart, heart!”

Eric was touched. Had Bree put those stickers in her purse just for MacKenzie? Or… “You must have kids.”

A stark sadness flashed across Bree’s face before she masked it. “No, no kids. But I keep a few things on hand for children who come through the emergency room.”

“So emergency medicine is your specialty?”

“Yes. I work at the county hospital.”

He wondered how many men faked serious illness in the hopes that lovely Bree would minister to them. Images flashed through his mind of Bree’s soft, pale hands touching him—in the most innocent, doctorly ways, of course.

God, what was he doing? He clenched his eyes shut until the images dissipated. He couldn’t afford to think of her like that. He needed to get her and her misguided agenda out of his life.

Dear Reader,

Ask any parent what they would be willing to do to save their child’s life, and most will answer without hesitation, “Whatever it takes.” The bond between parent and child is said to be the strongest of any human attachments. Otherwise timid, gentle people will turn into superheroes when their offspring are threatened.

That’s the situation Eric Riggs faces in this story. (If you read In This Together,—Mills & Boon Superromance, October 2013—the previous book in this series, you might remember Eric as the brother Travis Riggs risks everything to free from prison.) Eric will do what it takes to keep his fragile little girl safe, even if it puts his newfound love for Bree in jeopardy—even if it means he might go back to prison.

It’s been a long time since I wrote a book in which a child was a major character, but I became so attached to Eric’s daughter, MacKenzie, that she threatened to take over the book! I hope you enjoy watching Eric and Bree pick their way through a minefield of choices and challenges as they try to forge those all-important familial bonds, but I especially hope you enjoy MacKenzie’s role. Maybe someday I’ll give her her own book, when she’s grown up.

All my best,

Kara Lennox

For the Right Reasons

Kara Lennox

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KARA LENNOXhas earned her living at various times as an art director, typesetter, textbook editor and reporter. She’s worked in a boutique, a health club and an ad agency. She’s been an antiques dealer, an artist and even a blackjack dealer. But no work has ever made her happier than writing romance novels. To date, she has written more than sixty books. Kara is a recent transplant to Southern California. When not writing, she indulges in an ever-changing array of hobbies. Her latest passions are bird-watching, long-distance bicycling, vintage jewelry and, by necessity, do-it-yourself home renovation. She loves to hear from readers. You can find her at www.karalennox.com.

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For my husband, Rob Preece, without whom I never would have made it to the end of this book! Thank you for keeping me sane and refilling my coffee cup.

Contents

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

CHAPTER ONE

“I THINK MOST of you know Eric Riggs.” Daniel Logan, the billionaire CEO and founder of Project Justice, spoke from an enormous video screen positioned at the head of a gleaming mahogany table, making it appear as if he were actually in the conference room, presiding over the staff meeting.

Eric nodded in acknowledgment and tried not to look as nervous as he felt. This conference room was not so different from countless others he’d visited as an attorney. But it had been three years since he’d worn a suit. Three years since he’d focused on anything except proving his innocence and getting out of prison.

He’d accomplished that goal, with the help of his brother and this very organization.

Eric had always thought that once he was free, he would simply start living again—albeit without his wife, the woman he’d thought was his true love. But nothing about his life was simple. Prison had changed him.

His old firm hadn’t wanted him back. They were a stodgy lot, and they wanted nothing to do with what they referred to as Eric’s “unsavory notoriety.” But Daniel Logan had generously offered him a temporary job here, just until Eric got his bearings. His specialty was real estate, not criminal law, but Daniel had assured him he wouldn’t be required to do that much—maybe file a few pleadings, oversee contracts with clients and act as a consultant.

He was still nervous as a kid facing a dentist with a drill. He surreptitiously wiped his palms on his pants.

Today’s gathering was a routine weekly staff meeting. Lead investigators gave updates on cases they were working, and everyone brainstormed through any roadblocks and used each other as a sounding board. The creativity and passion gathered in this one room was mind-boggling. But his new colleagues went out of their way to make Eric feel at home. He even made a couple of contributions, discovering that he could recall his criminal-law classes. No one laughed or rolled their eyes. Maybe he’d do okay here.

He had to do more than survive. He had to keep this job until he found something else. MacKenzie needed him—not just his emotional support but his financial sustenance. She was seeing the best child psychologist in Houston on a weekly basis, and the therapy didn’t come cheap. Then there was the private school, the karate lessons. None of these would make up for the fact that she’d witnessed her mother’s bloody murder. But he was determined to give her the best of everything.

The last few minutes of the meeting were devoted to going over new cases, which Daniel assigned to his senior people based on interest, expertise and availability.

“The last case I want to talk about is an interesting one,” Daniel said. “This man was convicted seven years ago of rape and attempted murder. The crime was believed to be connected to a string of murders. The victim, Philomene Switzer, was the only one to survive.