In Too Deep
Authors: Sherryl Woods
New York Times
bestselling author Sherryl Woods blends danger and intrigue in this reader-favorite adventure romance.
Fearless engineer Cara Scott had set out to discover why her wayward site manager, Rod Craig, hadn't reported in for weeks. The next thing she knew, she was lost in a steaming Mexican jungle, on the run from danger and locked in sensual battle with her arrogant rogue of an employee. Clearly, she was in over her head!
A rugged individualist, Rod was used to one-man campaigns. Cara's interference sparked his ireâ¦and his reluctant ardor. Suddenly, tamingâand claimingâthis strong-willed woman seemed more important to him than independence. Suddenly, he was in love, in jeopardy, in a sweatâall in all, in way too deep!
Previously published.
Cara said, her eyes lighting up with impish interest. “How amazing.”
“You don't have to sound so thrilled about it,” Rod muttered.
“Hey, I would have settled for respect, but since you seem reluctant to bestow that, I'll take driving you crazy. At least that means you're hearing me.”
“Oh, I'm hearing you loud and clear, and I don't like it one bit.” His voice began to rise. With great restraint he lowered it to what he hoped would be a threatening growl. “Now maybe you'd like to listen to me. You will be on that plane out of here this afternoon if I have to tie you to the seat.”
“You and whose army?” she inquired, curious.
“Dammit, woman!”
“You swear entirely too much.”
He rubbed his head, which was beginning to pound like the very devil. “Especially since you arrived, princess,” he conceded.
Dear Reader,
Magic. It dazzles our senses, sometimes touches our souls. And what could be more magical than romance?
Silhouette
Special Edition
novels feature believable, compelling women and men in lifelike situations, but our authors never forget the wondrous magic of falling in love. How do these writers blend believability with enchantment? Author Sherryl Woods puts it this way:
“More. That's what Silhouette
Special Edition
is about. For a writer, this Silhouette line offers a chance to create romances with more depth and complexity, more intriguing characters, more heightened sensuality. In the pages of these wonderful love stories, more sensitive issues can be interwoven with more tenderness, more humor and more excitement. And when it all works, you have what these books are really all aboutâmore magic!”
Joining Sherryl Woods this month to conjure up half a dozen versions of this “special” magic are Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber, Barbara Catlin, Maggi Charles and Jennifer Mikels.
Month after month, we hope Silhouette
Special Edition
casts its spell on you, dazzling your senses
and
touching your soul. Are there any particular ingredients you like best in your “love potion”? The authors and editors of Silhouette
Special Edition
always welcome your comments.
Sincerely,
Leslie Kazanjian, Senior Editor
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street
New York, N.Y. 10017
lives by the ocean, which, she says, provides daily inspiration for the romance in her soul. She further explains that her years as a television critic taught her about steamy plots and humor; her years as a travel editor took her to exotic locations; and her years as a crummy weekend tennis player taught her to stick with what she enjoyed mostâwriting. “What better way is there,” Sherryl asks, “to combine all that experience than by creating romantic stories?”
Sherryl Woods Booklist
The Sweet Magnolias
Chesapeake Shores
The Devaney Brothers
The Devaney Brothers: Ryan & Sean
The Devaney Brothers: Michael & Patrick
The Calamity Janes
The Calamity Janes: Cassie & Karen
The Calamity Janes: Gina & Emma
The Adams Dynasty
The Rancher and His Unexpected Daughter
The Cowgirl and the Unexpected Wedding
The Cowboy and His Wayward Bride
The Cowboy and the New Year's Baby
Rose Cottage Sisters
In Too Deep
Sherryl Woods
To Dan...
for all the adventures
PROLOGUE
W
illiam Harrington Scott, what do you think you're doing?”
Cara's outraged voice carried all the way down the hospital corridor. Her father frantically tried to shove what appeared to be an entire file drawer's contents out of sight under the sheets. Spots of guilty color rose on his pale cheeks.
“Are you trying to kill yourself?” she demanded, crossing the room in three furious strides and yanking at the sheet. Scottie held on tight. His strength was clearly returning. She was no match for it.
“Stop acting like a mother hen,” he grumbled. “It's just a few files.”
“Hand 'em over.” Retreating from the physical stalemate, she attempted psychological warfare. She simply held out her hand and waited.
Her wily father was up to that game, too. He folded his arms across his chest in a familiar gesture meant to convey that he was quite capable of outwaiting her. Cara returned his scowl with a pleasant smile. His gaze narrowed.
“Don't think you can outfox me, missy. I was getting my way long before you were even born. Now stop all this nonsense and explain to me why there isn't a report in here from Rod Craig. The Mexicans wanted that dam survey completed by June first.”
“I'm aware of the deadline,” she retorted defensively, then could have kicked herself for confirming what Scottie had already guessed: the report was overdue by nearly two weeks. Since there seemed no way around the discussion, she added, “There hasn't been a word from Craig in the last month. I've told you before you've given the man entirely too much freedom.”
“He does his job,” Scottie countered, then amended, “usually.”
His expression grew thoughtful. Thinking he was distracted, Cara made a grab for the thick Usumacinta dam project file from which the Craig report was conspicuously absent. Scottie easily deflected her hands. She put them on her hips and glowered at him.
“Then why wasn't that survey on your desk at least three weeks ago?” she demanded. “If it had been, it would have been ready to be passed on to the Mexican government on schedule. Craig knew the deadline. It came and went without so much as a phone call from your
reliable
protégé. If it had been anyone else, you'd have been bellowing so loud you'd be heard clear across the border.”
“I don't like it,” Scottie admitted, letting down his guard. Cara grabbed again and this time she got the folder away from the bed. She clutched it tightly, while her father continued to grumble. “Craig may be a pain in the butt, but he's never been late on a project before. He sure as hell has kept me informed. Are you sure he hasn't called? Maybe someone forgot to give you the message.”
Cara regarded him skeptically. “Louise? You know better. Your secretary is so efficient she could make the airlines run on time.”
The comment didn't draw so much as a grin. “I don't like it one bit, Cara. There's something weird going on down there or we'd have heard from him by now.”
He still wasn't bellowing. In fact, Cara was surprised by the note of genuine concern in her father's voice. As she regarded him curiously, he scowled at her and made a lunge for the Usumacinta papers. His movements were hindered by the IV attached to his arm. She stepped deftly aside, put the file safely out of reach, then returned to gather up the rest of the reports.
“Give me back those papers,” Scottie growled, but it was a halfhearted protest.
“You're not supposed to be working, Scottie. If I find out who brought these to you, I'm going to fire them.” She knew perfectly well who the guilty party wasâLouise. The woman would scale mountains if Scottie asked her to.
“Dammit, girl, WHS Engineering is still my company.”
“Assuming you live long enough to run it. Dr. Atkins says you shouldn't be upset.”
“Louise wouldn't have brought those reports if...” His voice floundered guiltily.
Cara grinned triumphantly. “So that is who it was. I'm not surprised. When are you going to stop asking that lovely lady to do all your dirty work?”
“Hell's bells, girl, that's what I pay her for.”
“I don't think she does it for the money,” she retorted, drawing a puzzled look from her father. The man was definitely obtuse. Louise absolutely worshiped the ground he trod on with his muddy boots. Cara, on the other hand, was not such an easy mark. She braced herself for more badgering.
“I'm telling you the doctor said it would be okay for me to read a little. He told Louise.”
“Fine. I'll bring you a mystery.”
He tried a pathetic look on for size. Cara ignored it. He wheedled. “Come on, Cara. Do this for your old man. You know I hate fiction.”
“I am doing it for my old man. Maybe it's time you learned to appreciate Agatha Christie. Maybe, when you're stronger, some Sidney Sheldon or Jackie Collins. Meantime, I am taking these reports and leaving here so you'll get some rest.”
He sagged in defeat. She leaned down then and kissed him, determined to leave before he could see how frightened she was by his unnatural gray pallor, the quick waning of his energy. Before the heart attack, Scottie would have chased her around the room for those files. Now he seemed willing to give up after a relatively mild verbal skirmish.