Heart At Risk

Heart At Risk
Ana Leigh

Ex-SEAL Kurt Bolen was planning only a quick visit to his hometown until gorgeous Maddie Bennett, a blast from his past, hit him with shocking news.Maddie had worshipped Kurt since high school. She had no regrets about their one night together because it left her with a precious gift–their son. And yet, she had no doubt Kurt would leave her again.As father and son started to bond, they were all threatened by an unexpected danger–someone thought they knew too much. Though uncertain about their future, would Maddie realize just how far Kurt would go to protect those he loved…?

“I’m not going to let anything happen to any of you, Maddie.”

Kurt lowered his head. His next move was as instinctive as it was inevitable. He had wanted to kiss her for days, but this time he intended the kiss to be light, gentle. A tender gesture meant to soothe her fears and give her the assurance of his protection. But the instant he felt the softness of her lips, the taste of her, he wanted so much more. With all the willpower he could muster, he broke the kiss.

Her surprise was as evident as his own as she stared up at him.

For ten years she’d nourished her memory of the father of her son with fanciful yearnings and wishful dreams. Now, under the pressure of his lips, the warmth and power of his embrace, divine sensation spiraled to the pit of her stomach in a degree of aroused passion she had never suspected existed within her.

“Maddie, I want to make love to you.”

Dear Reader,

It’s been business as usual for the men of the Dwarf Squad, so Kurt Bolen (Code name: Sneezy), on medical leave due to a wound he received on the last mission, decides to make a quick visit to the small Wisconsin town in which he was raised. He is unprepared not only for the greatest and most unexpected surprise of his life, but also to find himself involved with illegal organ harvesters who are out to harm him and those near and dear to him.

I have to admit I’ve grown very attached to these guys in RATCOM, the CIA’s Rescue and Anti-Terrorist Special Ops Squad, and the great gals they ended up marrying. If you liked Ann Bishop and Trish Cassidy, I’m sure you’ll find Maddie Bennett just as appealing. Her mundane daily routine of running her bookstore takes on a whole new perspective when Kurt Bolen comes back to town.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the thoughtful cards and letters so many of you have sent Don and me during this chapter in our lives. Nothing is more rewarding than knowing there are unknown faces out there offering their prayers and support.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, give that special person in your life a hug and kiss from me. And above all, have a happy and healthy winter.

My deepest love and affection,

Ana Leigh

Heart at Risk

USE TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Ana Leigh

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

ANA LEIGH

is a Wisconsin native with three children and five grandchildren. From the time of the publication of her first novel in 1981, Ana successfully juggled her time between her chosen career and her hobby of writing, until she officially retired in September of 1994 to devote more time to her “hobby.” In the past she has been a theater cashier (who married the boss), the head of an accounting department, a corporate officer, and the only female on the Board of Directors of an engineering firm.

This New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author received a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Career Achievement Award nomination for Storyteller of the Year in 1991, the Bookrak 1995-1996 Best Selling Author Award, the Romantic Times BOOKreviews 1995-1996 Career Achievement Award, and the Romantic Times BOOKreviews 1996-1997 Career Achievement Award for Historical Storyteller of the Year. Her novels have been distributed worldwide, including Africa, China and Russia.

I dedicate this novel to Kurt Kelley, a family friend

who is as dear to my heart as a son, and

who kept asking, “How’s the book coming?”

Hey, here it is, Kurt!

Contents

Prologue

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 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Prologue

Colombia

The stillness was eerie. Black…noiseless…encompassing. No sound of distant voices, chirp of a cricket, chatter of a bird. Not a leaf stirred, nor a creature scurried as the six men hastened through the trees, their footsteps swathed in darkness and silence.