Top Gun Guardian

Top Gun Guardian
Carol Ericson

Buzz Richardson survived as a navy pilot and a covert operative by following one rule: handle the unexpected. Partnering up with Raven Pierce, his ex-fiancée, who's still his sexiest fantasy come true, might be against all the rules. Buzz had already learned the hard way that a family…a husband…had no place in Raven's well-thought-out future. But even with an unknown assassin threatening to take down Raven and the little girl she'd risked her life to hide, Buzz saw a side of the UN translator he'd never thought possible. Keeping this new Raven safe only resurrected the desire between them…and letting her go this time was the one thing he wasn't willing to handle.

Raven licked her lips.

The mood had certainly shifted in here, as if the cold air from outside had seeped in through the window. It suited her. Guilt piled upon guilt didn’t engender lustful thoughts.

But the slabs of hard muscle across Buzz’s chest did.

“You want to join me tonight?” He patted the bed beside him.

She needed more seduction than a stark question. She’d already been feeling as if they’d been punished for their attention to each other.

“I don’t think that’s a great idea, Buzz—for a lot of reasons.”

He shrugged. “We may have different reasons, but I agree with you.” He squeezed her hand as she rose from the bed. “Get a good night’s sleep.”

Raven clicked the bedroom door behind her and leaned her forehead against it. A good night’s sleep with peril on both sides of her?

That wasn’t going to happen.

Top Gun Guardian

Carol Ericson

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

For Randy, my top gun neighbor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carol Ericson lives with her husband and two sons in Southern California, home of state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery, wild freeway chases, palm trees bending in the Santa Ana winds and a million amazing stories. These stories, along with hordes of virile men and feisty women, clamor for release from Carol’s head. It makes for some interesting headaches until she sets them free to fulfill their destinies and her readers’ fantasies. To find out more about Carol, her books and her strange headaches, please visit her website at www.carolericson.com, “where romance flirts with danger.”

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Raven Pierre —Raven is a big-city girl. When the young daughter of an imperiled African president lands in her lap and her ex-fiancé jumps in to protect them, her big-city veneer begins to crack and her heart shows signs of melting.

Bryan “Buzz” Richardson —A former member of the covert ops team Prospero, Buzz swoops in to guard a girl targeted by terrorists, hoping his protection of her gets him closer to finding missing Prospero member Jack Coburn. The fact that his assignment also gets him closer to his ex-fiancée is icing on the cake.

Malika Okeke —She forms a bond with Raven after Raven saves her life, but now the girl’s attachment to her savior might just get them both killed.

President Okeke —The newly elected president of a fledgling African country, the president has ties in his past to terrorists.

Rodeo Clown —Clowns are supposed to be funny, but Raven isn’t laughing at the mysterious rodeo clown who shows up again and again.

Lance Cooper —He blames Buzz for his brother’s death in a plane crash.

Jeb Russell —A CIA agent who wants Malika, and may be willing to take her by force.

Farouk —Prospero’s former nemesis has expanded his business model and taken his terror worldwide.

Colonel Scripps —Prospero’s coordinator, the Colonel knows he can summon all of the former team members with one call.

Jack Coburn —The former leader of Prospero and current hostage negotiator has run into a little trouble.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Prologue

He stared into the boy’s face, searching for artifice…or danger. The boy blinked several times and hunched his shoulders.

He loosened his grip on the youth, but kept his muscles coiled and ready in case the kid ran off. He couldn’t allow him to escape.

This scruffy street urchin just might hold the key to his identity.