Man of her Dreams

610—PROTECTIVE CUSTODY*

634—SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: BABY

646—SOLITARY SOLDIER*

659—PERSONAL PROTECTOR*

671—PHYSICAL EVIDENCE*

683—CONTRACT BRIDE*

693—UNDERCOVER WIFE**

697—HER HIDDEN TRUTH**

701—GUARDIAN OF THE NIGHT**

718—HER SECRET ALIBI*

732—KEEPING BABY SAFE*

747—CRIES IN THE NIGHT*

768—AGENT COWBOY*

801—SITUATION: OUT OF CONTROL†

807—FULL EXPOSURE†

837—JOHN DOE ON HER DOORSTEP††

843—EXECUTIVE BODYGUARD††

849—MAN OF HER DREAMS††

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

864—LONGWALKER’S CHILD

935—THE MARRIAGE PRESCRIPTION*

948—THE DOCTOR WORE BOOTS

995—GUARDING THE HEIRESS*

SILHOUETTE BOMBSHELL

22—JUSTICE

33—SILENT WEAPON

*Colby Agency

** The Specialists

†Colby Agency: Internal Affairs

††The Enforcers

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Aidan—An Enforcer, a genetically engineered seer assigned to complete the Prophecy Mission.

Darby Shepard—A simple schoolteacher who has unexplainable dreams. But if she’s so simple, why is her life in danger?

Madam Talia—A local New Orleans psychic. Can she help Darby discover the truth before it’s too late?

Detective Lance Willis—He has to nail the serial killer who has been preying on children. Can Darby help him bring the man to justice?

Jerry Lester—A twisted murderer who is obsessed with children.

Howard Thomas—The Shepard family attorney. Does he know more about Darby’s adoption than he’s telling?

Director Richard O’Riley—Center Director. He has the power to order Darby’s elimination. Will his conscience let him do what’s best for Center?

Governor Kyle Remington—The new head of the Collective. The man in charge of the Collective has traditionally left the day-to-day operations to O’Riley. Will Remington prove a more forceful leader than his predecessor?

Dr. Waylon Galen—The creative mind behind the Enforcers. Will he win this time?

Wizard—Darby’s cat.

Prologue

Ring a-round the roses,

Pocketful of posies

Her mother watched from the kitchen window as six-year-old Christina Fairgate frolicked in the backyard. She clutched her favorite doll under one arm and skipped around the circle she had made in the grass with the other dolls and stuffed animals from her room. She sang the nursery rhyme over and over, as if she expected her audience to join her.

The autumn Louisiana sun hovered like a glimmering orange in the western sky. Its golden rays were still powerful enough to force a sweat even as it slipped downward in surrender to the coming dusk.

Christina’s mother smiled at the pleasant scene, then turned back to the oven to check on the special treat she had prepared for her daughter. One hand gloved with a thick mitt, she opened the oven door and removed the baking pan, allowing the delicious smell of homemade chocolate chip cookies to fill the air.

A sound of approval on her lips, she set the pan aside so the cookies would cool. After turning off the oven she poured her daughter, as well as herself, a cool glass of milk. A little snack this close to dinner wouldn’t hurt. Handling the still warm dessert gingerly, she loaded a small plate with cookies and placed it on a tray, along with the two glasses of milk. No need for napkins. Licking gooey chocolate from fingers was part of the fun of homemade cookies.

But neither of them would ever taste those lovingly prepared cookies for when she made her way to the backyard with the laden tray, her little girl was gone.

Days would turn into weeks and weeks to a month before the body would be found.