Rebecca Winters: Undercover Fiancee

Praise Rebecca Winters, a mother of four, is a graduate of the University of Utah. She has won the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and been named Utah Writer of the Year. What others have said about Rebecca Winters: Of Undercover Husband* “Once again Rebecca Winters delivers a topnotch reading experience as she expertly adds a little suspense to a wonderful romance...” —Romantic Times [*Linked to LOVE UNDERCOVER trilogy] Of Second-Best Wife “A rare gem with a stand-out premise, memorable characters, and an emotionally gripping story of forbidden love.” —Romantic Times Of Three Little Miracles “Featuring splendid characters and heart-tugging scenes, Ms. Winters spins a delightful tale in which love conquers all.” —Romantic Times “The first lady of Utah romance novels.” —Affaire de Coeur “Winters weaves a magic spell that is unforgettable.” —Affaire de CoeurTitle Page Undercover Fiancee Rebecca Winters www.millsandboon.co.uk CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN Copyright

Welcome to the first of Rebecca Winters’s brand-new trilogy LOVE UNDERCOVER.

Meet Annabelle, Gerard and Diana. Annabelle and Gerard are private investigators, Diana their hardworking assistant. Each of them is about to face a rather different assignment—falling in love!

Their mission was marriage!

Diana Rawlins had turned up at the hospital with amnesia and a baby in her arms! She didn’t remember how either of them happened. Her husband, Cal, was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery—especially as that seemed to be the only way he could save his marriage!

Rebecca Winters, a mother of four, is a graduate of the University of Utah. She has won the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and been named Utah Writer of the Year.

What others have said about Rebecca Winters:

Of Undercover Husband*

“Once again Rebecca Winters delivers a topnotch reading experience as she expertly adds a little suspense to a wonderful romance...”

—Romantic Times

[*Linked to LOVE UNDERCOVER trilogy]

Of Second-Best Wife

“A rare gem with a stand-out premise, memorable characters, and an emotionally gripping story of forbidden love.”

—Romantic Times

Of Three Little Miracles

“Featuring splendid characters and heart-tugging scenes, Ms. Winters spins a delightful tale in which love conquers all.”

—Romantic Times

“The first lady of Utah romance novels.”

—Affaire de Coeur

“Winters weaves a magic spell that is unforgettable.”

—Affaire de Coeur

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHAPTER ONE

“ANNABELLE? Don’t leave yet. Roman wants to see you.”

Annabelle Forrester had been headed for the back door of the LFK Associates International, Roman Lufka’s detective agency when she heard Diana call her back.

“Do you know what it’s about? I need to get down to the police station.” Today was a black day. The busier she stayed, the better.

Diana Rawlins, the receptionist who was one of Annabelle’s good friends, was finishing up a telephone call. She shook her head, then covered the mouthpiece and whispered, “All I know is that it sounded important.”

Annabelle loved her boss, Roman Lufka. If it were anyone but him asking her to stick around, she would have said she was sorry and left anyway because she didn’t want to inflict her pain on other people. But she admired him too much and owed him too much to ignore his request.

Needing something physical to do, she went in the kitchen and brought Diana a fresh cup of coffee. Not only was Roman’s receptionist the nicest person Annabelle had ever met, she was a real beauty with golden blond hair to die for.

As a little girl, Annabelle had always wanted to look like the princesses in the fairy tales her dad read to her.

He had chuckled, patted her head and told her to be thankful for the lovely brown hair with which God had blessed her.

Not satisfied with that answer, she’d asked him what kind of brown. He’d responded that the color reminded him of the smooth horse chestnuts that fell from the tree outside their house.

At that comment she’d run out the door to examine one closely. They looked kind of reddish brown in the sunlight. There was nothing she disliked more than red hair. From that point on she had worn it short.

Now that she was older, she’d come to accept what she considered her crowning flaw, and had allowed a stylist to make the most of it. But she could be forgiven for wishing she’d been endowed like her friend.

“Finally,” Diana sighed after hanging up the receiver. “Any news yet on Mr. Vanderhoof’s missing Honda?”

“Yes. I found it yesterday morning, but the paperwork hasn’t caught up with it yet. Last night the police got a positive ID on the gang member who had stolen it for a drive-by shooting.”

“You’re kidding! That was fast work. Roman’s going to be impressed.”

“I hope so. Sometimes things fall into place like that.”

“Where did you find the car?”

“At D and G Body and Paint.”

“How did you know to go there?”

“I didn’t. I just started with A and A Paint, and worked my way down the list. The boy who stole it knew it was hot. I figured he would go in for a paint job. I was right. He had it done in fire engine red.”

“But how did you know it was the right car?”

“For one thing, red is that gang’s favorite color. For another, Mr. Vanderhoof lost the cap to his oil a long time ago. All I had to do was look under the hoods until I found one covered in tinfoil and held in place with an elastic band.”

Diana shook her head. “You’re amazing. Have you told Mr. Vanderhoof his car has been found?”

“Yes. He’s pretty happy it got stolen. He always did want to buy a red car but never had the courage. When the police told him he could pick it up this morning, I hear he called in for a substitute teacher. No doubt he’s out cruising around in it right now. Before the day is over, the police will probably have to bring him in on a speeding charge.”

Diana laughed. “By the way, I have a message from Gerard.”

“Really.”

There was only one man who had ever broken Annabelle’s heart and he lived in Phoenix, Arizona, which might as well be on another planet. Since that awful night a year ago when everything had fallen apart, Annabelle hadn’t been able to get emotionally involved with another man. But she had to admit Roman’s top PI, Eric-Gerard, whom she always called Gerard rather than Eric, had come closest to breaking down a few barriers.

“He says he wants to start over again and wonders if you would have dinner with him tonight.”

“I have other plans this evening.”

“That’s what he was afraid you would say. I’m supposed to give him your answer when he calls in later because Roman assigned him to work with Chief Gregory on that Utah Steel bombing case this morning and he had to leave here over an hour ago.”

“Gerard’s not serious about us, Diana. You and I both know he’s never gotten over his wife’s death.”

“The same way you’ve never stopped thinking about your ex-fiancé?”

Diana was too perceptive for her own good.

“Annie? I’m sorry if I said something wrong.”

The constricting band around her chest tightened. “You didn’t. I’m just being extra sensitive because it was a year ago today I broke off my engagement to him.”