Undercover Husband

Undercover Husband
Rebecca Winters

BACHELOR TERRITORYShe's his clientRoman Lufka is a rough, tough private investigator. He's been hired to protect Brittany Langford. The easiest way to be by her side, twenty-four hours a day, is to go undercover–as Brittany's husband.…and his wife!But if protecting his "wife" is easy, living with her isn't. They're perfect strangers–and for Roman, Brit is all too perfect. It seems this confirmed bachelor is facing his toughest assignment yet–falling in love!"Rebecca Winters writes from the heart…"–Debbi MacomberThere are two sides to every story…and now it's his turn!

Letter to Reader (#u08607865-d19f-58ff-b003-2ddf033b5273)Title Page (#u56de7e82-aace-5212-8325-d5a27e0a07f4)CHAPTER ONE (#u92930d5d-5fad-51cf-ba1d-cb48e177279e)CHAPTER TWO (#ucdf132bf-a478-52d8-946a-25c205b0994d)CHAPTER THREE (#u48643518-5b41-52c7-bb2f-f66b50599c2a)CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)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)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Roman could hear the water running while he locked up the house and turned off lights. Much as he tried to concentrate on anything else, he couldn’t prevent vivid images of the woman in the shower from passing through his mind.

He’d entertained houseguests on numerous occasions.

This was different.

No way could he forget that Brit Langford was standing under that water. With clothes on, she was breathtaking. The sight of her without—

Stop right there, Lufkilovich.

Realizing it was going to be a long night, he headed for the kitchen and pulled a can of beer from the refrigerator. He rarely drank anything alcoholic, but tonight he needed something to offset the adrenaline running through his body.

You’re losing it, Lufkilovich. That woman has slipped past all your reliable defenses and has somehow worked her way beneath your skin. You’re not the same man you were before you took this case.

Dear Reader,

Get ready to meet the world’s most eligible bachelors: they’re sexy, successful and, best of all, they’re all yours!

This month in Harlequin Romance

we bring you the first book in a great new series, BACHELOR TERRITORY. These books have two things in common—they’re all predominantly written from the hero’s point of view, and they all make wonderful reading!

This month’s book is Undercover Husband by Rebecca Winters. Every other month we’ll be bringing you one BACHELOR TERRITORY book by some of the brightest and the best Harlequin Romance authors. Included in the lineup are Emma Richmond, Lucy Gordon. Heather Allison and Barbara McMahon.

In March it’s Val Daniels’s turn with #3497 Marriage on His Terms.

Happy Reading!

The Editors

There are two sides to every story... and now it’s his turn!

P.S. Look out in Harlequin Presents for our “brother” promotion Man Talk! starting in April with bestselling author Charlotte Lamb.

Undercover Husband

Rebecca Winters

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

CHAPTER ONE

BRITTANY LANGFORD, better known to her friends as Brit, anxiously scanned the hundred or so listings of private investigators in the Yellow Pages of the phone directory. Most of the ads didn’t mention stalking. She turned the page where her attention was immediately drawn to one particular advertisement near the bottom.

LFK Associates International. If you need peace of mind, or simply proof. * Background Checks * Surveillance * Stalkings * Decoy * Undercover * SecurityBodyguard

* Experienced Former Federal Law Enforcement Security * Investigations * U.S. Marine Corps Special Tactical Surveillance Unit.

Brit didn’t have to look any further. Everything about the ad and professional credentials felt right to her. No address had been given. She jotted down the phone number, then got up from the table on shaky legs and walked to the phone booth at the rear of her favorite Mexican restaurant.

After a few minutes she heard, “You’ve reached LFK-5555. May I help you?” a pleasant female voice spoke up.

“Yes. My name is Brit Langford. I—I’m being harassed by a man I met in Europe this summer and I’m so frightened I don’t know what to do. Lieutenant Parker of the Stalking Unit at the Salt Lake Police Department is handling my case. He says it’s pretty routine, but—”

“But you need further assurance so you won’t lose your sanity,” the receptionist finished for her.

“Exactly. The thing is, I don’t have much money. I can get it. I’ll apply for a loan and—”

“Before money is discussed, I need to take down all the pertinent information you can give me. If one of the investigators decides he wants to handle your case, an affordable fee payment plan will be drawn up. How does that sound to you?”

Brit clutched the receiver tighter. “It sounds wonderful.”

In the next few minutes she’d told the receptionist every detail she could think of.

“All right, Ms. Langford. I have your phone and work numbers, and the times when you can be reached. No matter the answer, one of the investigators will get back to you before the day is out.”

“Thank you very much.” To her embarrassment her voice wobbled. “I hope someone there decides to help me.”

“I hope so, too. Be expecting a call.”

“Ladies and gentlemen of the Nevada Police Academy—with our other business out of the way this morning, I’d now like to present the man you’ve been waiting to hear from. He’s here in Las Vegas for a well-deserved rest after helping mastermind the stakeout which resulted in the capture of the notorious Moffat brothers, two killers who’d managed to elude the best officers in six western states until now.”

Ear-splitting applause broke out.

It was part of a front for a top secret, covert operation out in the Nevada desert.

Though it was an operation of which he could approve, Roman had gone from being an idealistic soldier, to a disillusioned officer in the military, to a disenchanted CIA agent.

For a variety of reasons—not the least of which was his distaste for the growing corruption within the system—he was thinking of getting out.

“The man’s credentials speak for themselves. After serving in the Marines in a special tactical surveillance unit for a number of years, he went to work as a law enforcement officer with the New York City Police Department.”

Correction. My time in the New York City Police Department was another cover to gather information about drug-trafficking coming out of South America. What I found was a number of people within the community of law enforcement who were involved and it has sickened me.

“He’s a special agent of the International Police Congress, the Associated Licensed Detectives of New York, Bureau of Missing Children, American Society of Industrial Security, National Association of Chiefs of Police, Academy of Security Educators and Trainers and International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts.”

But I’m rarely given the time to do the P.I. work I love.

“He founded Professionals International, and at present is the owner, licensee and executive director of LFK Associates International, a private investigation firm located in Salt Lake City, Utah.”

That’s right. My latest temporary cover until they send me to South America. Maybe I’ll retire before that day comes. When I’m no longer associated with a system that isn’t doing the job, then I can be exclusive as a P.I. and fight other problems plaguing society right here at home.

“Without further ado, we’ll now hear from Lieutenant Roman Lufka.”