Honor Bound

Honor Bound
Julianna Morris

Coming home should be simple.For Ben Santoni, however, it's anything but straightforward. Kelly Lawson isn't the sweet girl he remembers. She's tougher now, and her icy demeanor makes it clear she hasn't forgiven him. So, fine, he'll keep his distance even though her attitude challenges his role as police chief.But when a murderer strikes and Kelly is threatened, personal feelings can't come into play. It's Ben's duty to protect her, and that's what he'll do. As the case progresses, objectivity becomes impossible. Because suddenly, Ben wants far more than just to keep her safe….

“I can take care of myself.”

Kelly met his gaze. “Your uncle taught me self-defense when I was a kid.”

That hadn’t occurred to Ben. On the other hand, it wouldn’t save her from a bullet.

“Show me.”

Kelly stood reluctantly. “I don’t think this is the best idea.”

He grabbed her arm.

The next thing he knew, she’d kneed him in the groin and her hand was flying toward his nose. Ben jerked backward and caught her wrist.

He stared into her determined blue eyes and wondered how many people underestimated Kelly…and if he was one of them.

He broke eye contact, glancing down at her body. Her breasts stood out against her sweater, and the way he held her arms accentuated each curve. The discomfort in his groin turned into a different kind of ache.

Damn.

Dear Reader,

I know a couple who met in high school and have been happily married for thirty-five years. They have three great kids and two beautiful grandchildren. While my friends have grown and changed over the years, they’ve also promised to grow and change together, instead of separately. Imagine being a romantic inspiration to your own family, and you’ll have a good idea of this marriage.

I also know couples who went their separate ways because they were wrong for each other, or because they weren’t ready to make a real commitment. I’ve often wondered what would happen if they met again after the years had changed them. Would they fall in love a second time and be able to make things work out? And how would they make things work? That’s the story I wanted to tell in Honor Bound, though sometimes my characters were reluctant to admit what their hearts were telling them.

Because I love both romance and puzzles, I challenged myself to set Ben and Kelly’s reunion against the backdrop of a mystery. They’ve each experienced some of the worst life has to offer, but maybe they can rediscover the magic that brought them together in the first place.

I hope you enjoy reading about Ben and Kelly as much as I enjoyed telling their story. May you find the magic that’s right for you!

Sincerely,

Julianna Morris

P.S. I enjoy hearing from readers! Please contact me

c/o Harlequin Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road,

Don Mills, ON, M3B 3K9, Canada.

Honor Bound

Julianna Morris

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julianna Morris has an offbeat sense of humor that frequently gets her in trouble. She has also been accused of being interested in everything. Her interests range from oceanography and photography to traveling, antiquing, painting, walking on the beach and reading (mysteries and most other fiction and nonfiction).

Julianna loves cats of all shapes and sizes. Her family’s feline companion is named Merlin, and like his namesake, Merlin is an alchemist—he can transform the house into a disaster in nothing flat. And since he shares the premises with a writer, it’s interesting to note that he is particularly fond of knocking books onto the floor.

For Mom.

You’re always in my heart.

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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

PROLOGUE