The Baby Pursuit

The Baby Pursuit
Laurie Paige

FBI agent Devin Kincaid is assigned the urgent task of tracking down the abducted grandson of the rich and powerful Ryan Fortune. A determined loner whose grit and tenacity make him the best man for the job, the last thing Devin needs is the help of the boy's aunt, Vanessa Fortune.First, she's too emotionally involved, and second, she's way too much of a temptation he doesn't need.A criminal psychologist, Vanessa can't sit on the sidelines while her family lives its worst nightmare. She's not running from the fierce attraction between them, but knows Devin is doing everything he can to convince himself that a Fortune heiress and a street-smart cop don't mix. But as tensions rise, passions flare and soon dangerous situations call for desperate measures–and a willingness to trust all they've got.

THE TEXAS TATTLER

All the news that’s barely fit to print!

Search for $50 Million Dollar Baby Continues

Federal agent Devin Kincaid arrived on the massive Fortune estate this week to spearhead the kidnapping case of the century. Baby snatchers have stumped local law enforcers, and pitiful progress has been made as to the whereabouts of “golden child” Bryan Fortune, who vanished from his bassinet into thin air two months ago.

Sources report that Vanessa Fortune, aunt to missing Bryan, is playing right-hand gal to the rugged Kincaid. But can this intense “older man” keep his mind on the case if his hands are investigating a certain feisty heiress? Maybe this big gun is shooting for a promotion, as in Special Agent Son-In-Law….

Forget about Kincaid’s roaming hands—looks as if family patriarch Ryan Fortune is sitting on his. Maybe to prevent himself from wringing the neck of his estranged wife, Sophia. Will this be the year that Ryan breaks the shackle on that fourteen-karat, diamond-studded ball and chain?

About the Author

LAURIE PAIGE

“One of the nicest things about writing romances is researching locales, careers and ideas. In the interest of authenticity, most writers will try anything…once.” Along with her writing adventures, Laurie has been a NASA engineer, a past president of the Romance Writers of America, a mother and a grandmother. She was twice a Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist for best traditional romance and has won awards from Romantic Times for best Silhouette Special Edition and best Silhouette in addition to appearing on the USA TODAY bestseller list. Recently resettled in Northern California, Laurie is looking forward to whatever experiences her next novel will send her on.

The Baby Pursuit

Laurie Paige

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

Meet the Fortunes of Texas

Vanessa Fortune: The beautiful virgin has rebuffed her share of money-hungry suitors. Can her true love come in the form of a handsome lawman just arrived in town…?

Devin Kincaid: The dedicated FBI agent thought nothing could ruffle him…until feisty Vanessa entangled herself in his kidnapping investigation. The tough loner claims the heiress is a royal pain—that he doesn’t need anyone—but his tender actions tell a different story….

Maria Cassidy: The youngest daughter of Lily Cassidy is surely hiding something. What secrets lie behind her return to Texas and her sudden interest in baby Bryan’s disappearance?

Cruz Perez: The handsome wrangler’s motto is “Love ’em and leave ’em.” But his bachelorhood is soon put to the test by an all-too-appealing new arrival on the Fortune ranch.

This book is dedicated to the romantic-at-heart: to Mary-Theresa, who told me she has an “old Irish soul” but I know her heart is forever young; to Jo in Illinois—yes, I have an idea for the children born in the Wild River series to have their own stories, but it will be a while before I get to all of them; to DL in Japan—yes, after over fifty books, I still love to tell stories; to Rick, the bachelor—tomorrow the world!; to Heather, Holly, Jim, Kim and Nick—let’s do the steepest streets in San Francisco again; to Natalie, visiting relatives in Italy—I cried for Sissy, too; to Leigh in London—hope the Russian translation went well; and to Clara in Kansas who sent the other verses for Barbry Allen.

Contents

Chapter One (#ud4168003-5e3b-5fe3-a2d8-67750f96c131)

Chapter Two (#u9a9d3b32-ebf8-5729-8a8d-b178c102da2b)

Chapter Three (#u2a04a4b4-73ed-5b3d-886a-2a22c6f85b8e)

Chapter Four (#u7d587839-520c-506e-b3e3-9c79c6680c1d)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

One

Devin Kincaid swore and cut the wheel sharply to the left as the huge red horse broke from the trees to his right. For a second he thought the animal was a runaway, then he realized a slender figure was astride the beast.

His next impressions whipped through his mind at Mach speed—that the rider was female, that she was young and lithe of frame, that her hair, lashing across her shoulders with each lunge of the stallion, was the same shade of red as the mane that tangled with her locks as she bent low over her mount’s neck…and that she was racing him!

He glanced at the speedometer. Fifty miles an hour.

The primitive urge to win at all costs surged through him. He pressed the pedal downward and felt the kick of the powerful engine concealed beneath the hood of the nondescript SUV push him against the seat.

The youngster glanced his way, then she urged the horse faster. Fifty-one. Fifty-two. Fifty-three.

The car pulled ahead, leaving horse and rider behind. A brief flare of triumph brightened the heat-laden August afternoon. It was short-lived.

Frowning, he wondered what the hell he thought he was doing, racing a kid on a horse at fifty miles per hour. If the horse had stumbled, if the girl had fallen…

Ryan Fortune would have his hide if anyone on the Double Crown Ranch was hurt because of him and a momentary foolishness left over from a childhood that had forced him to fight back or die trying.

He glanced into the rearview mirror but the horse and rider had vanished as quickly as they had appeared. Maybe he ought to tell Fortune that some ranch hand’s kid was playing games with cars, probably on a prize stallion with a mile-long pedigree. On the other hand, a kid and her pranks weren’t his main concern at present.

The baby kidnapping was.

With this somber thought, Devin parked under a tree a short distance from the ranch house, an adobe hacienda of both awesome dignity and inviting warmth. As he walked up the sidewalk along the green sweep of lawn shaded by the oaks native to the Texas hill country, he heard the pounding of hooves on gravel and turned to face the road.

The huge red beast bore down on him. He gauged the distance between him and the rapidly approaching animal. Energy poured into him as he prepared to dive out of harm’s way. Six feet away, the rider pulled up.

The beast pivoted, then rose majestically on his hind legs, front hooves pawing the air. Backlit by the afternoon sun, horse and rider blended into one dazzling portrait of fiery splendor, so bright he had to shade his eyes, so alive and fierce and powerful, he felt an answering force within himself.

The rider studied him intently, and Devin felt a visceral thrill of recognition, as if he and the unknown young woman—she was definitely a woman, not a kid—had already met, as if this turbulent moment spoke of latent passions that had once flared between them…and would do so again.