Hot & Bothered

Hot & Bothered
Susan Andersen

When Victoria Hamilton's vacation fling resulted in a baby, she began a new life far from her overbearing family.Now Tori's father has been murdered–and her half brother, Jared, needs her help to prove his innocence. But confronting her past when she comes face-to-face with private investigator John "Rocket" Miglionni sure isn't what she had in mind.Thrilled to find the woman who once rocked his world, John takes one look at her little girl and gets the shock of his life. Now the rugged former Marine has two females holding a big piece of his heart, a troubled teenager who expects the worst in life…and a second chance to make it right for all of them.

Reviewers love New York Times bestselling author

SUSAN ANDERSEN!

“This start of Andersen’s new series has fun and interesting characters, solid action and a hot and sexy romance…. The introduction of the heroines of the future stories whets the appetite for more.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Cutting Loose

“Snappy and sexy…. Upbeat and fun, with a touch of danger and passion, this is a great summer read.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Coming Undone

“Deft characters, smart dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments and sizzling sexual tension (you might want to read Chapter 15 twice) make this hard to put down…. Lovers of romance, passion and laughs should go all in for this one.”

—Publishers Weekly on Just for Kicks

“Andersen again injects magic into a story that would be clichéd in another’s hands, delivering warm, vulnerable characters in a touching yet suspenseful read.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Skintight

“A classic plot line receives a fresh, fun treatment…well-developed secondary characters add depth to this zesty novel, placing it a level beyond most of its competition.”

—Publishers Weekly on Hot & Bothered

“Sassy, snappy and sizzling hot!”

—New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich on Baby, I’m Yours

“Lively and fun!”

—New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips on Be My Baby

“Sizzling, snappy, sexy fun.”

—New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie on Baby, Don’t Go

Dear Reader,

I’m often asked which of my books I like best. It’s a question I can only shrug at and reply that’s like trying to choose your favorite kid. Each book owns a chunk of me, and I love them all equally.

That’s the Scout’s-honor truth…as far as the big picture goes.

In the narrower scope of things, I usually love the book I’ve just finished the best—primarily because it is finished, because it all came together despite my darkest midbook doubts when I was certain it never would, and because in the end my characters finally settled down long enough to let me write their story my way.

Still, I have a sneaking fondness for this book in particular. I’ll even cop to feeling the teensiest sliver of favoritism. John Miglionni had been building in my mind for the past two books, and I truly knew this guy by the time I sat down to write him. He’s a former Marine with a troubled past and a bad attitude when it comes to relationships. Give them a week, he maintains, and they start to stink.

Oh, boy. That’s just begging for a comeuppance, don’t cha think? So I gave him his worst nightmare in the form of Victoria Hamilton, the one woman to walk away from him before he was ready to see her go. Being thrown together with her again is blowing his ironclad notions about the interchangeability of women all to you-know-where and gone.

I just adore John and Victoria and their assorted family, friends and foes. And when all is finally said and done, I’m tickled pink with the way their story turned out. If you are, too, and you want to know how things turned out with Jared and P.J. once they grew up, check out their story in Coming Undone, in stores now.

Susan Andersen

Hot & Bothered

This is dedicated to that wild and zany,

Whitey’s-territory wedding party

To the bride and groom, David and Heather

To John and Sam, Uncle Chuck, Mom

and those dancin’ fools, Austin and David

And especially to Colleen and Dave,

for sharing it all with me

It was crazy fun, and I love you all

—Susie

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’d like to acknowledge Marcine Egender, Co-Executive Director of StandUp For Kids in Denver, Colorado. Thank you so much for answering all my questions, and for your insight into life on the streets for today’s at-risk youth. I hope my interpretation of the facts you shared is in the ballpark. If not, the inaccuracies are mine alone.

Hot & Bothered

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN