Nine-Month Protector

Nine-Month Protector
Julie Miller

Morning sickness used to be Sarah Cartwright's biggest problem– until she became the only witness to a murder.Now, newly pregnant, she had a killer on her trail– and Cooper Bellamy, KCPD's finest, by her side. Her brother's best friend and her sworn protector, it was impossible to keep Coop at arm's length. Yet the mother-to-be discovered the safest place to hide was in his strong arms.They found out soon enough they each needed the other– but would it be too late before a cold-blooded hit man made them take vows of permanent silence?

Nine-Month Protector

Julie Miller

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

For Taz.

I’ve dedicated books to my writers’ group before, but I

especially want to thank Sue Baumann, who took over

as president from me in 2006, and has been a wonderful,

inspirational leader for our group. She’s a woman with

heart, talent and a clever sense of humor. I appreciate

your leadership, support and friendship, and, of course—

the wet noodles and candy corn pumpkins. Thanks.

Contents

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 One

July

Sarah Cartwright ran into the posh gold-and-porcelain appointments of Teddy Wolfe’s bathroom and puked.

She knelt in front of the commode, clutching her stomach and grinding her knuckles against her mouth until the worst of the humiliation had passed.

What an idiot. What an idiot!

“Sarah?” The millionaire owner of the Riverboat Casino rapped on the door. “Will you be all right?”

Only if the tile floor opened up and swallowed her whole.

Her mouth opened to form words, but she couldn’t speak. What was there to say after what she’d just learned? After what she’d just done? Was there anything she could say that could make this whole evening go away?

She could hear Teddy outside the door, getting dressed. Fine leather creaked—a belt? His Italian oxfords? The holster and Beretta she’d seen lying on his desk?

She’d known he wasn’t the average sort of sweet and dependable guy she usually dated. That air of danger about him, that unpredictability, had been what had made him seem so exciting in the first place. She should have known she was out of her league. Out of her depth. Out of her mind when she’d started trading phone calls and had accepted this date with him.

“Well,” he continued in that suave British accent that she’d foolishly fallen for. “Take as long as you need. Make use of any of the facilities in my suite. Order room service from the restaurant or a bottle of champagne from the bar. But you’ll have to enjoy the bubbly by yourself. I have some business to attend to. My people will take care of you.”

She heard the whisper of silk sliding against silk outside the door as he continued to dress. Or maybe that was the smooth sound of careless, heartless—meaningless—seduction that she’d succumbed to like the naive, wide-eyed homebody she was. Her stomach churned again and she leaned forward.

After growing up the daughter of Austin Cartwright, she’d always fancied herself so smart about the world. But how could she not have seen this coming? Had she really felt so lonesome? So bored with her life? So left behind in the relationship world, after marrying off friend after friend—and even her own mother—that she’d refused to see the obvious?

She couldn’t call it rape. She’d been a willing participant. It had been fun and daring, and she’d had no desire to say no.

She’d been exactly the exciting new woman she wanted to be. It was the adventurous relationship she’d wanted to have.

But she hadn’t known. If only she had known.

“Sarah?” Teddy sounded impatient now, irritated with her silence. His evening hadn’t turned out the way he’d planned, either. He probably expected her to thank him.

“I’m fine,” she squeaked out on a whisper. She cleared her throat and reached for one of the crystal glasses on the counter. She pulled herself to her feet, filled the glass with cold water and took a swallow before repeating in a louder, stronger voice. “I’m fine.”

It was a lie, but it didn’t matter. That was all Teddy wanted to hear. Teddy with the smooth line and smoother kisses. Teddy with the money. Teddy with the gun. Teddy with the awful, awful words.

“You can tell your father we’re square.”

“What?” Not exactly the romantic pillow talk she’d expected after their first time together. Sarah pushed herself up on her elbows and pulled the straps of her sundress back onto her shoulders while Teddy disposed of their protection, stood and zipped his pants.

“I’ll consider his debt paid in full. For now. Until the next time he loses more than he can afford to.”

Whatever sense of adventure had driven her to risk her heart so quickly faded in a haze of confusion. “What are you talking about?”