Laura Gordon - Royal Protector

“A princess,” he repeated numbly.

Lucas pulled his eyebrows into a scowl and swallowed his astonishment. “Well, now. I guess that explains a few things,” he said gruffly. “The tabloid photographer. The bodyguard. The kidnap attempt. The alias.”

She regarded him solemnly. “You said I’d cause you trouble and now you’re thinking you were right, aren’t you, Lucas?”

Her true identity would take a bit of digesting, but he knew that now was not the time to make an issue of her royal bloodlines. The look in her eyes told him she was worried about his reaction, that her feelings were hanging on her sleeve.

“I was thinking I’d never kissed a princess before today.” He pulled her gently into his arms. “And that I’d like very much to do it again.”

Happy New Year, Harlequin Intrigue Reader!

Harlequin Intrigue’s New Year’s Resolution is to bring you another twelve months of thrilling romantic suspense. Check out this month’s selections.

Debra Webb continues her ongoing COLBY AGENCY series with The Bodyguard’s Baby (#597). Nick Foster finally finds missing Laura Proctor alive and well—and a mother! Now with her child in the hands of a kidnapper and the baby’s paternity still in question, could Nick protect Laura and save the baby that might very well be his?

We’re happy to have author Laura Gordon back in the saddle again with Royal Protector (#598). When incognito princess Lexie Dale comes to a small Colorado ranch, danger and international intrigue follow her. As sheriff, Lucas Garrett has a duty to protect the princess from all harm for her country. But as a man, he wants Lexie for himself….

Our new ON THE EDGE program explores situations where fear and passion collide. In Woman Most Wanted (#599) by Harper Allen, FBI Agent Matt D’Angelo has a hard time believing Jenna Moon’s story. But under his twenty-four-hour-a-day protection, Matt can’t deny the attraction between them—or the fact that she is truly in danger. But now that he knows the truth, would anyone believe him?

In order to find Brooke Snowden’s identical twin’s attacker, she would have to become her. Living with her false identity gave Brooke new insights into her estranged sister’s life—and the man in it. Officer Jack Chessman vowed to protect Brooke while they sought a potential killer. But was Brooke merely playing a role with him, or was she falling in love with him—as he was with her? Don’t miss Alyssa Again (#600) by Sylvie Kurtz.

Wishing you a prosperous 2001 from all of us at Harlequin Intrigue!

Sincerely,

Denise O’Sullivan

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin Intrigue

Royal Protector

Laura Gordon

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Laura Gordon is a western Colorado author with a penchant for romantic suspense. She is the author of eleven novels. Her greatest joy comes in creating characters who face extraordinary challenges and discover that the magic of their once-in-a-lifetime-love is worth the risk.

When not tied to her desk by deadlines, Laura likes nothing better than hiking the high-country trails of the magnificent mountains near her home. Readers may write Laura Gordon at P.O. Box 55192, Grand Junction, CO 81505.

Books by Laura Gordon

HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

220—DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND

255—SCARLET SEASON

282—DOMINOES

316—FULL MOON RISING

345—LETHAL LOVER

387—SPENCER’S SHADOW*

396—SPENCER’S BRIDE*

491—SPENCER’S SECRET*

501—A COWBOY’S HONOR

598—ROYAL PROTECTOR

Lexie Dale— A lovely lady with a secret too deadly to keep.

Lucas Garrett—A lawman and a cowboy determined to protect his home, his family and the woman he loves.

Mo Garrett—With a heart of gold, her home was caught in the crossfire.

Hugh Miller—The victim of a seemingly senseless crime.

Simon Peterson—FBI agent with an attitude.

Tucker Oates—His penchant for gossip proved dangerous.

Will Garrett—Patriarch of a family in turmoil.

Paul Browning—His attention to detail could catch a killer.

Seth Rockwell—Dead witnesses tell no lies.

Inez Estes—This witness has a hot tip for the killer.

Lady Margaret Roche—A blueblood out of place in the West and loving every minute.

Fulton Bobek—The court jester or a man with a vendetta?

Eli Ferguson—A long, tall Texan with an attitude and a badge.

To Tracy.

A real-life princess of grace.

Acknowledgments:

Thanks to Officer Lonnie Chavez of the Grand Junction, Colorado, Police Department for cheerfully and carefully answering my many law enforcement and jurisdiction questions. Thanks, also, to Lynda Sue Cooper for pointing me in the right direction. Special thanks to Kay Bergstrom for her friendship and for always being her inimitable self.

And, finally, my most heartfelt thanks to my editor, Angela Catalano, without whose kindness and compassion this book could not have been written.

Prologue Prologue With the ease of a practiced predator, the sniper moved into position above the trail. Looming pines and rust-colored boulders the size of compact cars afforded him cover, as well as an unobstructed view of his prey. Below, two riders, a man and a woman, came toward him, steadily moving closer to the dark fate he had planned for them. As he’d been told, the woman rode ahead of her male companion by some fifty yards. She rode well, he couldn’t help noticing, with her pretty blond head held high and her slim body moving in perfect sync with the sleek bay mare. More importantly for his purposes, she rode relaxed, unaware of the danger waiting for her. The sniper allowed himself a brief smile. So far, so good. Everything had gone according to plan, just the way he liked it. No surprises. But then, that was the advantage of a double-cross. The predator always knew what to expect when his victims willingly assisted in their own demise. Like shooting fish in a barrel. He eased the butt of the rifle against his shoulder and peered through the scope, prepared to take the next crucial step toward a destiny that had been denied him for too long. With a less sophisticated weapon, the rifle’s report might have carried a half mile, echoing against the red canyon walls. But his silencer was state-of-the-art. Confidently, he squeezed the trigger. The ensuing pop barely rated a twitch of one velvety ear from the white-tailed doe and her speckled fawn grazing nearby. Even as the stricken man fell backward out of the saddle, the assassin knew his shot had found its mark. His victim would be dead before he hit the ground.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve