by: Allison B. Hanson
Series: Love Under Fire
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: April 23, 2018
Publisher: Entangled ~ Amara
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Deputy Marshal Angel Larson has been set up and accused of murder. On the run, desperate to stay one step ahead of the law and the real killer, she turns to a former protectee in a small town—the man who's haunted her dreams...and fantasies...ever since.
Former DEA agent Colton Williamson misses the action of his past life since entering witness protection as a high school math teacher. He also misses Angel, who refused to join him in his new life. Now it’s Angel who’s in trouble, and Colton can’t help but be there for her—before it's too late.
But the killer may be closer to them than they think.
Angel hadn’t been sure what kind of reception to expect from Colton. Having a gun pulled on her had not been outside the realm of possibility. Still, seeing a Glock 19 pistol instantly appear in his hand made her pulse jump and her own hands reach for the sky.
She only hoped she’d be able to explain before he pulled the trigger.
“You broke my guard dog,” he said.
A cautious spurt of relief went through her. “I didn’t break him. He works fine. He just loves me. I think he knows I picked him when you said he was scrawny.”
When Colton had found out he was destined for WITSEC, he'd decided he wanted a companion. She’d suggested a puppy. Later, when he asked her to go into the program with him, she'd realized he wanted more in a companion than long walks and playing catch.
He’d wanted to spend the rest of his life with someone, and okay, she’d panicked.
“Not only did you eat my shoes, but you picked a girl over me?” He frowned at the dog, who didn’t look the slightest bit remorseful.
Colton’s Glock was still leveled on her, so she stayed still with her hands in the air. “I seem to remember telling you not to purchase a firearm.”
He looked down at the pistol and shrugged. "Old habits."
“Your new identification is good, but an overzealous background check could turn up inconsistencies,” she reminded him.
She’d guessed right away his new identity wouldn’t sit well with him. She’d even spoken to his handler about it. The man needed constant action. He would say it was because he didn’t like being bored, but that was BS.
She knew the real reason why he lived for danger.
“Are you going to let me in, or should I leave?” she asked, no longer alarmed by the gun. He might be really angry at her, but he wouldn’t shoot her. At least, she didn’t think so.
He’d probably been pissed after she’d left without a word in the middle of the night, but, surely, he was over that by now. No doubt, she was the only one still wondering what might have happened if she’d stayed…
“That depends," he said. "Are you going to kill me, too?”
He knew her better than that. They’d spent months together, and she’d let him in behind her walls, where no one else was permitted. Granted, she hadn’t told him about her past—she didn’t talk about that, ever—but she’d told him enough for him to know that she would have gladly put herself in front of that knife to stop someone from killing the person she was protecting.
There had been a time when she wasn’t sure she was cut out for that level of duty, but it had been tested, and she'd proven she would always do the right thing when it came right down to it.
"Seriously?" She made a sound of annoyance and rolled her eyes.
She’d pinned everything on his willingness to help her. Her Plan B was to look for an abandoned property and hide out until things died down. But with the level of media coverage the story was getting, that could take months. Or longer.
Besides, abandoned properties usually contained things like rats and spiders. No thanks. She’d go up against a bad guy any day, but a spider? Hell, no.
She needed Colton. In more ways than one. But she was determined to keep things professional this time.
She let out a breath when he lowered the Glock.
“Get in here,” he muttered.
Whether he meant her or the dog she wasn’t sure, but both of them hightailed it into the house.
She only hoped she’d be able to explain before he pulled the trigger.
“You broke my guard dog,” he said.
A cautious spurt of relief went through her. “I didn’t break him. He works fine. He just loves me. I think he knows I picked him when you said he was scrawny.”
When Colton had found out he was destined for WITSEC, he'd decided he wanted a companion. She’d suggested a puppy. Later, when he asked her to go into the program with him, she'd realized he wanted more in a companion than long walks and playing catch.
He’d wanted to spend the rest of his life with someone, and okay, she’d panicked.
“Not only did you eat my shoes, but you picked a girl over me?” He frowned at the dog, who didn’t look the slightest bit remorseful.
Colton’s Glock was still leveled on her, so she stayed still with her hands in the air. “I seem to remember telling you not to purchase a firearm.”
He looked down at the pistol and shrugged. "Old habits."
“Your new identification is good, but an overzealous background check could turn up inconsistencies,” she reminded him.
She’d guessed right away his new identity wouldn’t sit well with him. She’d even spoken to his handler about it. The man needed constant action. He would say it was because he didn’t like being bored, but that was BS.
She knew the real reason why he lived for danger.
“Are you going to let me in, or should I leave?” she asked, no longer alarmed by the gun. He might be really angry at her, but he wouldn’t shoot her. At least, she didn’t think so.
He’d probably been pissed after she’d left without a word in the middle of the night, but, surely, he was over that by now. No doubt, she was the only one still wondering what might have happened if she’d stayed…
“That depends," he said. "Are you going to kill me, too?”
He knew her better than that. They’d spent months together, and she’d let him in behind her walls, where no one else was permitted. Granted, she hadn’t told him about her past—she didn’t talk about that, ever—but she’d told him enough for him to know that she would have gladly put herself in front of that knife to stop someone from killing the person she was protecting.
There had been a time when she wasn’t sure she was cut out for that level of duty, but it had been tested, and she'd proven she would always do the right thing when it came right down to it.
"Seriously?" She made a sound of annoyance and rolled her eyes.
She’d pinned everything on his willingness to help her. Her Plan B was to look for an abandoned property and hide out until things died down. But with the level of media coverage the story was getting, that could take months. Or longer.
Besides, abandoned properties usually contained things like rats and spiders. No thanks. She’d go up against a bad guy any day, but a spider? Hell, no.
She needed Colton. In more ways than one. But she was determined to keep things professional this time.
She let out a breath when he lowered the Glock.
“Get in here,” he muttered.
Whether he meant her or the dog she wasn’t sure, but both of them hightailed it into the house.
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Allison lives near Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her contemporary romances include paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery suspense. She enjoys candy immensely, as well as long motorcycle rides, running and reading.
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