Alone in the Dark

Alone in the Dark
Marie Ferrarella

Heck, the reclusive officer hardly spoke to anyone other than his faithful K-9 companion.So what harm could come from Patience Cavanaugh letting the haunted rebel protect her from a dangerous stalker? She might be a veterinarian, but Patience had enough cop sense from the rest of her family to know that her life was on the line and Brady Coltrane just might be the one to save it. So despite the fact that one look at her brooding bodyguard in blue made her heart trip, certainly she was safer in Brady's embrace than standing here all alone?

He was here as a cop, not as a man.

But it was as a man that he was reacting. And when the wind conspired against him, suddenly gliding her hair against his skin, making all hell break out inside of him, he felt as if he was fighting a losing battle.

But curiosity and desire got the better of him. He gave in to the former, did his damnedest to reconstruct the latter—and kissed her.

There had been many missteps in Brady Coltrane’s life.

At night, he would lie awake at times and review them. Thinking how different the course of his existence might be if he had just done some things differently. Even one thing differently.

And now this could be added to the list. Because until he kissed Patience, he didn’t know. Didn’t know that this woman could break apart his carefully constructed fortress.

Alone in the Dark

Marie Ferrarella

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

MARIE FERRARELLA

This RITA

Award-winning author has written over one hundred and twenty books for Silhouette, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide.

To

Patricia Smith,

who always knows how

to make me feel good

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 1

“C’mon, say yes. You know you want to.”

Patience Cavanaugh pushed her strawberry-blond hair out of her eyes and glanced up from the four-legged patient she was examining to the man who flirted with her.

Granted, there was a great deal to recommend him. Patrolman Josh Graham looked like every woman’s dream come true. Handsome, blond, outgoing with a killer smile, Josh filled out his uniform quite well. The very sight of him by her side would undoubtedly guarantee her the envy of every woman within a five-mile radius.

If she were into that sort of thing, which she wasn’t.

Besides, the uniform was the source of the problem and the reason why she was going to turn him down. Again.

Life for Patience was filled to overflowing with police personnel. From her brother, Patrick, to her two uncles right down to eight of her nine cousins. And even the ninth one, Janelle, was associated with law enforcement. Uncle Brian’s daughter was currently an assistant district attorney with a very impressive track record.

Patience thought of her father. He’d been a policeman as well.

And he had died in the line of duty.

Unlike the rest of the family, Michael Cavanaugh’s work had turned him into a bitter man. Looking back on her childhood, she could hardly remember a day when there hadn’t been some kind of unrest and turmoil within their small household. The job made him a hard man to live with. Night after night, she’d watch her mother hold her breath, waiting for her father to come through the door. Saw the tense interaction between her parents almost from the moment he walked in. Felt, along with her older brother who tried to take the brunt of it, the fallout of her father’s mounting frustration. Frustration that encompassed what he saw on the job as well as his own performance, but that she was to learn about later. What she knew firsthand was that he didn’t leave his work at the precinct. It gave him nightmares when he was asleep.

In a way, his work had haunted all of them.

Even before her father’s sudden death fifteen years ago, she’d made a vow to herself that when she finally decided to get serious about someone, that someone would not be associated with the police department. The best way to stick to that silent promise was not to get involved with a cop in the first place. Socially.

Professionally was another matter. As a vet running her own animal clinic, she treated the whole of the Aurora Police Department’s K-9 squad, making sure the force of five German shepherds was up on their shots as well as treating them for any injuries sustained on the job or off.

Which brought her back around to Josh Graham. He had started with the K-9 squad about eighteen months ago. He’d begun his campaign to get her to go out with him around the same time. She treated his persistent pursuit with the humor that was second nature to her as well as her shield. Josh took it all in stride, but he never quite gave up, either.

She went back to examining the dog’s ears. “You know my rules about that, Josh.”

“Right.” Josh moved in a little closer to the examination table—and her. “Those would be your rules of engagement.” She had delineated them with tact and force the one time when she perceived that he was seriously asking her out instead of merely flirting with her. He grinned broadly at her. “Haven’t you heard? Rules are made to be broken.”