Heather Woodhaven - Countdown

BORROWED TIME

When Rachel Cooper witnesses the abduction of her neighbor’s young twin sons, she springs into action to save them. But now the thwarted kidnappers are after her…and her only hope of survival is relying on their widowed single father, James McGuire. A weapon has been planted on a satellite James’s company is ready to launch, and as the systems specialist, it’s his job to stop it. But someone is set on keeping James from preventing the scheduled takeoff—and they’ll use anyone close to him as leverage. Now he must find a way to protect his boys and the woman he’s beginning to fall for…before the final countdown can even start.

“If I can’t take the kids this time, it seems you’ll do.” The kidnapper’s scratchy voice filled her right ear.

“I’m not leaving empty-handed,” he continued, sending a chill down her spine.

The man squeezed her tighter around her torso. She struggled as he growled, “Now who’s sorry she tried to play the hero? Huh?”

“Help,” she yelled, praying someone would hear.

The back door burst open. James filled the doorway.

James yelled something she didn’t register as the kidnapper snarled and let go of her.

His right hand reached into his jacket and pulled out a jagged knife.

Rachel gasped, paralyzed.

James stepped forward, and his foot whipped out a kick so fast that if Rachel had blinked she would’ve missed it. The knife soared into the hallway. He pinned the man down.

“Who sent you?” James asked.

HEATHER WOODHAVEN earned her pilot’s license, rode a hot-air balloon over the safari lands of Kenya, parasailed over Caribbean seas, lived through an accidental detour onto a black-diamond ski trail in the Aspens and snorkeled among stingrays before becoming a mother of three and wife of one. She channels her love for adventure into writing characters who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

Countdown

Heather Woodhaven

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

God setteth the solitary in families.

—Psalms 68:6

To Jennifer Brost.

I love the way you and The Job Foundation

walk with children and their families. You are an inspiration and a constant source of encouragement.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text BORROWED TIME When Rachel Cooper witnesses the abduction of her neighbor’s young twin sons, she springs into action to save them. But now the thwarted kidnappers are after her…and her only hope of survival is relying on their widowed single father, James McGuire. A weapon has been planted on a satellite James’s company is ready to launch, and as the systems specialist, it’s his job to stop it. But someone is set on keeping James from preventing the scheduled takeoff—and they’ll use anyone close to him as leverage. Now he must find a way to protect his boys and the woman he’s beginning to fall for…before the final countdown can even start.

Introduction “If I can’t take the kids this time, it seems you’ll do.” The kidnapper’s scratchy voice filled her right ear. “I’m not leaving empty-handed,” he continued, sending a chill down her spine. The man squeezed her tighter around her torso. She struggled as he growled, “Now who’s sorry she tried to play the hero? Huh?” “Help,” she yelled, praying someone would hear. The back door burst open. James filled the doorway. James yelled something she didn’t register as the kidnapper snarled and let go of her. His right hand reached into his jacket and pulled out a jagged knife. Rachel gasped, paralyzed. James stepped forward, and his foot whipped out a kick so fast that if Rachel had blinked she would’ve missed it. The knife soared into the hallway. He pinned the man down. “Who sent you?” James asked.

About the Author HEATHER WOODHAVEN earned her pilot’s license, rode a hot-air balloon over the safari lands of Kenya, parasailed over Caribbean seas, lived through an accidental detour onto a black-diamond ski trail in the Aspens and snorkeled among stingrays before becoming a mother of three and wife of one. She channels her love for adventure into writing characters who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

Title Page Countdown Heather Woodhaven www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse God setteth the solitary in families. —Psalms 68:6

Dedication To Jennifer Brost. I love the way you and The Job Foundation walk with children and their families. You are an inspiration and a constant source of encouragement.

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

EPILOGUE

DEAR READER

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Rachel Cooper whipped the steering wheel to the left, maneuvered through the rush-hour traffic and entered her tree-lined subdivision. Her shoulders relaxed. Each time she made the turn it was as if she’d left the city behind.

Her stomach growled at the smell of the steak burrito and chile con queso sitting in the paper sack on the passenger seat. The night’s agenda included lounging on the couch and watching her favorite shows. The idea seemed like the perfect remedy to the physical strain of styling hair for twelve hours. After a couple hours of loafing, she’d make herself burn away the calories with her nightly kickboxing video...if she didn’t justify her way to an early bedtime instead.

Rachel guided the car around the maze of bends and curves within the subdivision. Not a single street lasted more than a couple of blocks before turning and changing names. The real-estate agent explained the layout was to prevent cars from speeding, but Rachel imagined it was more about fitting as many houses as possible on the amount of land.

Giant oak trees bordered her sky-blue house. To the rest of the neighborhood she owned the smallest house in the affluent subdivision, but to her, it represented the mark of how far she’d come in life. The other houses encircled the small home in the quiet cul-de-sac of the dead-end street.

Her neighbor, James McGuire, owned the house just past hers. His three-year old twin boys exited their garage on training-wheel bikes, racing each other down the driveway. Rachel pressed on the brake, even though she was still over a block away.

It had become habit to slow down at the sight of children. They rarely ever watched for cars within the subdivision, most likely due to the lack of traffic. In such a family-oriented place, everyone watched out for each other’s kids. If Rachel were the type to want kids, the neighborhood would’ve been ideal.

A white van took off from its parked position opposite her house, turned one hundred and eighty degrees and screeched to a stop in front of the twins. Her stomach fluttered. Odd, but maybe the driver hadn’t noticed the kids before.