C.J. Carmichael - The P.I. Contest

“But you could be,” Kate murmured.

Jay took a step closer and Kate found herself leaning in to him, the general warmth she’d felt earlier building.

“This doesn’t make sense. We’re adversaries. Yet around you I get this crazy impulse—”

“I feel it, too.” She lifted her head, studying the depth of his blue eyes.

His hand moved to the small of her back. And then they were kissing. Lips on lips, tender and sweet.

When they separated, she dropped her forehead to his chest. The depth of her longing was so deep she could hardly breathe. “Tell me this isn’t crazy? Do we really want this?”

Dear Reader,

Imagine you’re single, thirty-something, living in New York City. (Perhaps some of you are!) So many people all around you. But how do you find that one special someone with whom you’re meant to spend your life, and possibly raise a family? Ironically, it seems that when we’re most focused on other aspects of our lives, that’s when cupid’s arrow strikes.

This is what happens to the hero and heroine in this book. Kate Cooper has ended a relationship with her fiancé after finding out he cheated on her. The last thing she wants is another man in her life. Jay Savage is reeling from his sister’s recent death and adjusting to his new role as guardian to her son. There has never been a less perfect time to fall in love.

And yet…guess what…that’s exactly what’s about to happen as they compete for a single job opening at the Fox & Fisher Detective Agency.

I hope you enjoy their story and that you look for the final book of the series, Receptionist Under Cover, available next month. I’m always happy to hear from readers so please send me an e-mail sometime and let me know how you’re doing. Also, do check my Web site, www.cjcarmichael.com, regularly for news about my books and to enter my “Surprise!” contests.

Happy reading!

C.J. Carmichael

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Hard to imagine a more glamorous life than being an accountant, isn’t it? Still, C.J. Carmichael gave up the thrills of income tax forms and double-entry bookkeeping when she sold her first book in 1998. She has now written more than twenty-eight novels for Harlequin Books, and invites you to learn more about her books, see photos of her hiking exploits, and enter her surprise contests at www.cjcarmichael.com.

With love to all my friends who celebrated

the milestone birthday with me this year:

Simon, Myrna, Rhonda, Susan, Fred, Shannon,

Kate, Wendy, Lynda, Lorna, Myrna-Joy, Debbie,

Cheryl, Dennis. And Voula…your turn is

coming soon!

Cripes, but we’re getting old!

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

KATE COOPER TWISTED THE engagement ring on her finger, slowly working it over her knuckle, then into her palm. As a cop with the NYPD, she understood that the most illuminating evidence often came from the most innocuous of sources.

She hadn’t expected this to apply to her personal life, though.

“Hey, Kate.” Max Beranger tapped her shoulder. “Can I borrow a pen?” He tossed his into the trash with disgust.

Max had been her patrol partner tonight. Now they were filling out their end-of-shift reports. Absentmindedly, she handed him one of the pens she normally hoarded, her mind still on the conversation she’d had with her neighbor earlier in the evening, on her way to work.

“Thanks,” Max said.

“Sure.” Janet Beaker lived in the apartment across the hall from her and Conner. Janet was single, well-educated and active—she had a life of her own and no need to live vicariously through other people’s dramas.

Which was one reason Kate was inclined to believe her.

The other reason was her own gut reaction to what Janet had to say. Yes, she’d thought. Damn it, yes. I knew something was wrong.

Because there had been signs…such as coming home dead tired after a long night shift to find freshly laundered sheets on the bed and fresh towels in the bathroom.

She’d thought, great, Conner was finally pulling his share in the housekeeping department.

After six months of living together, she should have known better.

“You’ve been quiet tonight,” Max said. “What’s up?”

“Nothing.” Officers had begun arriving for the 7:00 a.m. shift. Slowly men and women filtered into the room, and she dismissed each face until she saw the man she’d been waiting for—Conner Lowery. Just twelve hours ago she’d thought she was going to marry him, have babies with him, love him forever.

Now the sight of him brought a spasm of pain to her empty stomach. She hadn’t been able to eat or drink a thing all shift—not even a frigging cup of coffee. But then, tonight she hadn’t needed caffeine to keep her awake.

Conner caught her eye as he entered the room and gave her his usual grin—the same quirky yet charming grin that had won her heart, when he’d been transferred to the Twentieth Precinct a year ago.

They’d dated exclusively for six months before he’d suggested they move in together. Three months later, he’d proposed. She had been walking-on-air happy.

And so deluded.

Kate placed both hands over her stomach as it threatened to contract violently. This wasn’t the time to get sick. Not the place, either.

Max left his desk and went to talk to Conner. Dan Bogart also joined them. The three guys had been buddies since their police academy days. Of the three, Conner was the only one in a serious relationship and sometimes she’d sensed that he missed the good old days of going to bars with his friends and chatting up women. But she’d never thought he would actually—

Kate bent her head over paperwork that she’d already completed. From the corner of her eye she observed the three friends. She saw Conner wink. Max faked a punch to Conner’s shoulder and Dan laughed.

It hit her then.

They know.

The skin on her face tingled, the way it always did when her intuition kicked in. Pushing aside her reports and dropping her pen, she moved. The guys looked at her like nothing was wrong. Their innocent act didn’t fool her. They’d actually had the nerve to laugh right in front of her.

How long had they known? Right from the beginning?

Maybe it was worse than simply knowing. Maybe they had worked as Conner’s spies, letting him know when she was safely out of range so he could—

A wave of anger washed away her usual prudence. She’d planned to talk to Conner after his shift was over and they were at home.

But to hell with that. If everyone already knew, then privacy didn’t matter, did it?

“So, boys, what’s the big joke?”

“No joke, babe. We were just talking.” Conner leaned in for a kiss, but she took a step away from him.

“I had a chat with Janet Beaker on my way to work this evening.”

Right away Conner knew. She saw comprehension flash in his shifty eyes, then his expression grew guarded. “Let’s talk about Janet later, okay? Come on, babe. I’ll treat you to breakfast before you go home.”