Dangerous Illusion

Dangerous Illusion
Melissa James

Secret agent Brendan McCall had only a few days to find and protect beautiful Elizabeth Silver, the love he'd lost ten years ago, now on the run from an international killer. Yet when he found her, she denied her true identity, forcing McCall to resort to more seductive tactics to get to the truth–before time ran out.Life on the run had changed Beth, formerly known as wealthy politician's daughter Delia de Souza. Years spent in hiding had destroyed her ability to trust, yet being in Brendan's arms once again made it impossible to lie. But how could she confess the truth when that would put the man she'd always loved right in a killer's crosshairs?

“I meant what I said earlier, Beth. Come hell or Falcone’s hitmen, I’m with you for as long as you need me. Or want me.”

Beth clenched her fists even as her body swayed toward Brendan. Oh, how she ached to take what he so freely offered, but though he didn’t know it, she was fighting for his very life. The life he’d all but laid at her feet just now. And she wouldn’t—couldn’t—risk his life. “Just get out, McCall.”

As if her words hadn’t affected him, he strolled to the door. “Lock it after me, babe. I’ll be watching from outside—got to keep the princess safe.”

She’d done what she could to save him. Now he had a chance of staying safe and alive…and she couldn’t allow herself to want any more than that.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to another month of excitement and romance. Start your reading by letting Ruth Langan be your guide to DEVIL’S COVE in Cover-Up, the first title in her new miniseries set in a small town where secrets, scandal and seduction go hand in hand. The next three books will be coming out back to back, so be sure to catch every one of them.

Virginia Kantra tells a tale of Guilty Secrets as opposites Joe Reilly, a cynical reporter, and Nell Dolan, a softhearted do-gooder, can’t help but attract each other—with wonderfully romantic results. Jenna Mills will send Shock Waves through you as psychic Brenna Scott tries to convince federal prosecutor Ethan Carrington that he’s in danger. If she can’t get him to listen to her, his life—and her heart—will be lost.

Finish the month with a trip to the lands down under, Australia and New Zealand, as three of your favorite writers mix romance and suspense in equal—and irresistible—portions. Melissa James features another of her tough (and wonderful!) Nighthawk heroes in Dangerous Illusion, while Frances Housden’s heroine has to face down the Shadows of the Past in order to find her happily-ever-after. Finally, get set for high-seas adventure as Sienna Rivers meets Her Passionate Protector in Laurey Bright’s latest.

Don’t miss a single one—and be sure to come back next month for more of the best and most exciting romantic reading around, right here in Silhouette Intimate Moments.

Yours,

Leslie J. Wainger

Executive Editor

Dangerous Illusion

Melissa James

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

MELISSA JAMES

is a mother of three living in a beach suburb in county New South Wales. A former nurse, waitress, store assistant, perfume and chocolate (yum!) demonstrator among other things, she believes in taking on new jobs for the fun experience. She’ll try almost anything at least once to see what it feels like—a fact that scares her family on regular occasions. She fell into writing by accident when her husband brought home an article stating how much a famous romance author earned, and she thought, “I can do that!” Years later, she found her niche at Silhouette Intimate Moments. Currently writing a pilot/spy series set in the South Pacific, she can be found most mornings walking and swimming at her local beach with her husband, or every afternoon running around to her kids’ sporting hobbies, while dreaming of flying, scuba diving, belaying down a cave or over a cliff—anywhere her characters are at the time!

For my dad, who loved James Bond and spy books and movies. He would have loved to be tall, dark and dangerous, like McCall—well, you were dark, anyway.

You would have liked this book, Dad.

My deepest thanks goes to Marg Riseley, who stepped into the breach to read this one for me, and reminded me of points I’d forgotten; and to Olga Mitsialos, thanks once again for being reader and suggestion person extraordinaire.

To both ladies, your constant support was invaluable—especially when I needed help cutting this book down.

And my undying gratitude goes to my editor, Susan Litman, for helping make this book what it is now, by fabulous revision suggestions and always being there to plotstorm with me. These Nighthawks wouldn’t be the people they are without you!

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 1

Renegade River, Bay of Islands, New Zealand