Alicia Scott - Partners In Crime Part 3

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

A mysterious blonde is suspected of killing Mayor Olivia Stuart, and now Josie Reynolds is in handcuffs. The arresting officer? Jack Stryker, straight-arrow cop and lover of said suspect.

But a case that seemed clear-cut goes sideways when another blonde named “Jo” hits Grand Springs, linked to the mayor’s murder and determined to tie up loose ends.

Adversaries under the law, Josie and Jack must form an alliance when danger has them both on the run….

Don’t miss the next book in the continuing story of Grand Springs in Nine Months by Beverly Barton.

Dear Reader,

In the town of Grand Springs, Colorado, a devastating summer storm sets off a string of events that changes the lives of the residents forever….

Welcome to Mills & Boon exciting new digital serial, 36 Hours! In this thirty-six part serial share the stories of the residents of Grand Springs, Colorado, in the wake of a deadly storm.

With the power knocked out and mudslides washing over the roads, the town is plunged into darkness and the residents are forced to face their biggest fears—and find love against all odds.

Each week features a new story written by a variety of bestselling authors like Susan Mallery and Sharon Sala. The stories are published in three segments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first segment of every three-part book is free, so you can get caught up in the mystery and drama of Grand Springs. And you can get to know a new set of characters every week. You can read just one, but as the lives and stories of each intertwine in surprising ways, you’ll want to read them all!

Join Mills & Boon E every week as we bring you excitement, mystery, fun and romance in 36 Hours!

Happy reading!

Alicia Scott is the award-winning author of thirteen romantic suspense novels, including Maggie’s Man, MacNamara’s Woman and Brandon’s Bride. In addition to winning an award for career achievement from RT Book Reviews, Alicia was also a finalist for a prestigious RITA® Award for best contemporary romance for MacNamara’s Woman. Living in New England with her family, Alicia now writes hard-edged suspense as Lisa Gardner. For more information on both careers, please visit www.lisagardner.com.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Even the weather forecasters didn’t predict how strong the spring storm would hit Grand Springs, Colorado. But it isn’t the physical damage that is wreaking havoc these days, it’s the murder of the mayor, Olivia Stuart. During the panic and chaos of those horrible 36 hours someone poisoned Olivia. The main suspect for Detective Jack Stryker was Josie Reynolds. All evidence pointed her way…planted evidence! Now on the run with Josie, Jack knows that this was a professional hit. The killer’s next victim: Josie. The hit woman is the best tracker he’s ever seen and she is zeroing in on their hiding spot…

Chapter Nine Continued Chapter Nine Continued Jack Stryker felt Josie stiffen by degrees. The hit woman drew out her fancy tranquilizer gun—it had been tucked into her utility belt at her trim waist. Her gaze swept the top of the mine, ensuring that she was not jumped from above. Then her sharp eyes settled on the pile of boulders. The hit woman stared and stared, and the tension rose unbearably. Quietly, soundlessly, he rocked Josie against him, trying to hold them both steady. If the woman looked too closely. If she just saw the two footprints right before the boulders… Josie’s fingers dug into his arm fierce enough to hurt. He didn’t make a sound. The woman turned and stepped into the mine. In a matter of seconds, the mountain had swallowed her whole. There was no time for indecision. Jack unfurled from Josie. He took her hand. Her cheeks were stained with fresh tears. Her lower lip bled where her teeth had taken their toll. He wiped the moisture from her cheek. He pressed his thumb against her lip. Then, unable to help himself, he dipped his head and kissed her. Her arms tangled around him instantly. She clung to him as if he were the last bastion in a storm, and he clung to her just as hard. They kissed hard, they kissed sweet. And it felt good to have her against him again. Good to hold her. Good to taste her. He wanted to curl up with her in her bed right now. He wanted to drape her in red silk and roll with her on her feather mattress. He wanted to hold her a long, long time, and tell her with his touch how sorry he was that he’d ever doubted her. And how much it had hurt him, too. He brought his lips away gently, resting his forehead against hers because he couldn’t bear to lose all contact. “Quietly,” he whispered, and she nodded back. Like two thieves, they crept away from the mine, and this time, Josie stopped on her own so he could pick up another tree branch and wipe their passing from the earth.

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Jack Stryker felt Josie stiffen by degrees.

The hit woman drew out her fancy tranquilizer gun—it had been tucked into her utility belt at her trim waist. Her gaze swept the top of the mine, ensuring that she was not jumped from above.

Then her sharp eyes settled on the pile of boulders.

The hit woman stared and stared, and the tension rose unbearably. Quietly, soundlessly, he rocked Josie against him, trying to hold them both steady.

If the woman looked too closely. If she just saw the two footprints right before the boulders…

Josie’s fingers dug into his arm fierce enough to hurt. He didn’t make a sound.

The woman turned and stepped into the mine. In a matter of seconds, the mountain had swallowed her whole.

There was no time for indecision. Jack unfurled from Josie. He took her hand. Her cheeks were stained with fresh tears. Her lower lip bled where her teeth had taken their toll. He wiped the moisture from her cheek. He pressed his thumb against her lip.

Then, unable to help himself, he dipped his head and kissed her. Her arms tangled around him instantly. She clung to him as if he were the last bastion in a storm, and he clung to her just as hard. They kissed hard, they kissed sweet.

And it felt good to have her against him again. Good to hold her. Good to taste her.

He wanted to curl up with her in her bed right now. He wanted to drape her in red silk and roll with her on her feather mattress. He wanted to hold her a long, long time, and tell her with his touch how sorry he was that he’d ever doubted her.

And how much it had hurt him, too.

He brought his lips away gently, resting his forehead against hers because he couldn’t bear to lose all contact.

“Quietly,” he whispered, and she nodded back.

Like two thieves, they crept away from the mine, and this time, Josie stopped on her own so he could pick up another tree branch and wipe their passing from the earth.

Josie was shivering. She didn’t say anything, but he felt the uncontrollable shudders ricocheting up his arm. The sun was gone, and this high on the mountain, the wind was cold against their water-drenched clothes. They had to move painstakingly slow to cover their tracks, chilling muscles that had already been abused.

Jack figured they had about another hour to heat up before hypothermia and exposure set in. They were at least eight miles from Grand Springs—or four hours of hard hiking.