Ring Of Deception

Ring Of Deception
Sandra Marton

Uncover the scandals and secrets in this reissue of Sandra Marton’s reader-favorite story!

His most prized jewel . . .

Hard-edged, intimidating detective Luke Sloan is working undercover on a jewel theft when he meets fiery Abby Douglas. Her distracting beauty and sharp tongue initially put her on his list of suspects, until Luke realizes Abby needs his protection.

As they work together, Luke wonders if his original instinct was right—Abby’s sensuous curves and intoxicating allure threaten to cut through his cold, cynical facade. As the desire simmering between them reaches the boiling point, Luke realizes he might be the person Abby needs to be protected from . . .

A Forrester Square novel.

Originally published in 2003.

Ring of Deception

Sandra Marton

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

CONTENTS

Cover (#uc976c3ee-ceb9-5d3c-aeec-be4312079f1c)

Back Cover Text (#ufbbba276-657e-5df4-ab26-08d0463c69e7)

Title Page (#ucd312100-d734-5f77-af04-ae1f15adcc4b)

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_5085c05d-ecdf-5a77-90f6-96ce550c102e)

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_5ba0e2df-9947-54e4-81b3-7afd208b1d1e)

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_e0b25542-0c53-5b14-8128-640633d41709)

CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_42217195-e725-5860-93ad-c2a61c11d340)

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)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#ub5940618-9c13-5a52-99fd-8b7e901a411b)

THE ALARM ON LUKE SLOAN’S clock radio went off at 6:00 a.m.

Luke rolled over on his belly, reached out and slapped it to silence with a perfect aim born of familiarity.

Five minutes later, the alarm screamed again. This time, he let it ring long enough for the unholy shrieking to pierce his sleep-fogged brain. Then he opened one eye, reached out and flipped the switch from Alarm to Radio.

“Cloudy this morning . . . ” a voice said with effusive good cheer, “with showers this afternoon and evening. Heavier cloudbursts possible overnight and tomorrow . . . ”

Luke grunted. Rain and more rain. What a surprise. The guy doing the weather sounded as if he’d just discovered he was living in Seattle.

Rolling onto his back, he stacked his hands beneath his head as the weatherman finally shut up and an old Doors tune came on. Jim Morrison still wanted somebody to light his fire. Luke listened for a couple of minutes, then decided the only thing that would get his fire lit was a pair of extra-strength aspirin.

He sat up, silenced the radio and headed for the bathroom. His head hurt, his mouth was dry and his sinuses felt like they’d been stuffed with quick-hardening cement. It would have been nice to blame it all on last night’s celebratory stop at the Nine-Thirty-One Tavern with Dan, but he couldn’t.

Dan had ordered a beer; Luke had ordered a shot of rock and rye.

“Cold coming on,” he’d said when Dan looked at him as if he’d just sprouted horns.

“Ah.” Dan had nodded as he scooped up a handful of peanuts and popped a couple in his mouth. “I was wondering why you looked like day-old crap.”

“Thank you,” Luke replied. “I really needed to hear that.”

“Why don’t you come home with me? Molly made chicken soup yesterday. A couple of bowls, you’ll feel like a new man.”

“Thanks, but I think what I need is a good night’s sleep.”

Lacey, a stacked brunette barmaid with a way of looking at Luke as if he had a big red S on his chest, leaned over the bar.

“How about coming home with me? I’ll open a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle. It’s not homemade, but there are other things I can do to make you feel like a new man.”

“Oh, to be thirty-five and single again,” Dan joked.