“I need you to stay.
“I mean, I want you to stay,” Ross corrected.
Jessica lifted her feathery brows over questioning eyes, but said nothing,
“Let me explain.”
“I’m listening.”
“We have a situation here—”
“We?”
“I have a situation. At least, the sheriff’s department does.”
“Yesterday’s shooting?” Jessica asked.
He nodded. “We don’t know what we’re facing. There’s the possibility what’s happened to you is totally unrelated to other incidents in Swenson County.”
“So if I leave tonight, I’m no longer your problem,” she reasoned.
“I can’t let you do that.”
Her eyes widened with a hint of anger. “You can’t stop me.”
“Actually, that’s not completely true.”
“What are you going to do?” she insisted hotly. “Arrest me?”
“If I have to,” he answered easily.
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
Take a very well-deserved break from Thanksgiving preparations and rejuvenate yourself with Harlequin Intrigue’s tempting offerings this month!
To start off the festivities, Harper Allen brings you Covert Cowboy—the next riveting installment of COLORADO CONFIDENTIAL. Watch the sparks fly when a Native American secret agent teams up with the headstrong mother of his unborn child to catch a slippery criminal. Looking to live on the edge? Then enter the dark and somber HEARTSKEEP estate—with caution!—when Dani Sinclair brings you The Second Sister—the next book in her gothic trilogy.
The thrills don’t stop there! His Mysterious Ways pairs a ruthless mercenary with a secretive seductress as they ward off evil forces. Don’t miss this new series in Amanda Stevens’s extraordinary QUANTUM MEN books. Join Mallory Kane for an action-packed story about a heroine who must turn to a tough-hearted FBI operative when she’s targeted by a stalker in Bodyguard/Husband.
A homecoming unveils a deadly conspiracy in Unmarked Man by Darlene Scalera—the latest offering in our new theme promotion BACHELORS AT LARGE. And finally this month, ’tis the season for some spine-tingling suspense in The Christmas Target by Charlotte Douglas when a sexy cowboy cop must ride to the rescue as a twisted Santa sets his sights on a beautiful businesswoman.
So gather your loved ones all around and warm up by the fire with some steamy romantic suspense!
Enjoy,
Denise O’Sullivan
Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
The Christmas Target
Charlotte Douglas
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The major passions of Charlotte Douglas’s life are her husband—her high school sweetheart to whom she’s been married for over three decades—and writing compelling stories. A national bestselling author, she enjoys filling her books with love of home and family, special places and happy endings. With their two cairn terriers, she and her husband live most of the year on Florida’s central west coast, but spend the warmer months at their North Carolina mountaintop retreat.
No matter what time of year, readers can reach her at [email protected], where she’s always delighted to hear from them.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ross McGarrett—Heir to the Shooting Star Ranch and sheriff of Swenson County, Ross is plagued by unsolved crimes…and determined to keep beautiful Jessica safe.
Jessica Landon—Assigned to the Shooting Star as financial consultant, she’s stalked by an unknown assailant.
Fiona McGarrett—Ross’s grandmother has secrets of her own.
Courtney McGarrett—Ross’s two-year-old daughter.
Chang Soo—Longtime chef at the Shooting Star Ranch.
Harry Chandler—Ross’s friend and county judge.
Jack Randall—Ross’s former father-in-law and neighbor with a boundary dispute. Is he as dangerous as he seems?
Carson Kingsley—He owns ranch adjacent to the Shooting Star.
Dixon Traxler—A client from Jessica’s past who threatened her. Is he still a threat?
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Prologue
The man kicked back in the deep leather chair in front of the fireplace, propped his aching feet on the ottoman and rubbed the twinge in his shoulder. He was getting older.
But not too old to complete his mission.
Besides, he assured himself, he didn’t need brawn, only brains, to carry out his plans. Plus a ton of patience.
He had the brains. And he was a very patient man. He wouldn’t rush things. First, he’d toy with his victims. He wanted them looking over their shoulders, flinching at shadows, suspicious of every little noise, fearful of every stranger, wondering what the hell was happening to them and knowing they couldn’t do a damn thing about it. If they died suddenly, without fear, he’d miss half the fun.
Most of all, he wanted them to suffer for the trouble they’d caused. Only then would he remove them permanently from the face of the earth so they couldn’t create any more.
Satisfied that his cause was right and just, he picked up the glass from the table beside his chair, swirled the ice in the amber liquid and downed the rest of his drink. He could afford time to relax. Everything was in place. All was ready.
Death would only have to cool his heels a little longer before claiming his own.
Chapter One
Santa with a shotgun?
Jessica Landon peered through the frost-rimmed glass door at the plump, red-suited figure in line at the teller window. None of the other customers paid any attention either to his costume or his weapon. Did everyone in Montana carry a gun?
Welcome to the Wild West.
The thought made her grimace. With a sigh of resignation, she tugged open the door at the First Bank of Swenson, fought the opposing force of the blustery December north wind and hurried into the lobby. Cold numbed her fingers in too-thin gloves, wet snow sifted down her neck beneath the stylish collar of her lightweight cashmere coat and icy slush soaked her feet, exposed to the elements by elegant but now-ruined