Mac's Angels : Sinner and Saint. a Loveswept Classic Romance (9780345541659) (22 page)

She loves me
. Karen loves me. It was all Niko could do to keep from smiling. He liked hearing her voice and feeling her hands on him. He, too, wanted it to last forever. For now, he'd just enjoy it a little longer.

“Niko, you told me once that you wanted to lie down beside me and feel my bare skin next to yours. Well, my wicked Gypsy, that's not gonna happen until you open your eyes.”

Nothing.

“You also said you liked to touch me. I like to touch you too. Do you feel my hands on your body?”

Her fingers teased and tickled their way across his abdomen. They'd almost found their target, when his eyes flew open.

“Niko,” Karen cried, and flung herself across him. “You're awake. I was so worried. How long have you been awake?”

“Long enough.”

“Are you all right?”

Niko held her for just a moment before lifting her chin with his finger. “I'm more than all right,” he answered. “Or I will be as soon as you do something for me.”

“Niko, you risked your life for me. Just name it.”

“First you have to get up.”

She scrambled away. “Oh, I'm so sorry. Of course, you must be bruised and sore.”

“Now turn around and go to the door.”

All the joy drained out of Karen's face. “Niko, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't know it was my mother. She isn't my real mother. I always knew the truth, but I took care of her anyway. She wasn't well and my father thought a baby would be what she needed to be happy on his farm. She couldn't have children, you
see, so when he heard about me—my real mother died—he—”

“Karen, you don't understand.”

“—brought me home. But she was never happy. Then he died and she was stuck on the farm she hated. She began to have spells of violence and I couldn't control her. I didn't want people to know, so a family friend helped me sell the farm and find a place where they could look after her. She always blamed me for her unhappiness. And she kept running away and—”

“Karen. Be quiet, Karen.”

“Of course. I understand. I really do, Niko. You're all right now. You helped me, but you've been away from your work long enough.”

This time Niko's voice was neither calm nor patient. “Karen, do you remember your dream?”

She hushed. She hated that her feelings were so intense, that the connection between them still seemed so strong. “Yes, of course. Why?”

“Well, we aren't on the moors and I don't have a white horse. In fact, I doubt I could climb on one if I did. I don't know where we're going with this, but I think this time you'll have to create the fantasy for us both.”

She frowned. “I don't understand.”

“Karen, lock the damned door and come here.”

It took her a minute to understand. “You aren't sending me away?”

He smiled that wicked smile. “No. The world I live in is pretty lonely, Karen. I never knew just how
much until you came into it. No, I'm not sending you away.”

“Good, I wasn't going anyway. And the door is already locked.”

“Then why are you standing over there?”

“I'm waiting.”

“For what?”

“For you to tell me how you feel.”

He closed his eyes and moved his body gingerly. “I feel fine, or I will once you come and kiss me.”

“Nope. I'm still waiting for the right words, Dr. Sandor. And you haven't said them yet.”

Niko opened his eyes and looked at Karen for a very long time. “I think I fell in love with you in the very beginning. And when I saw you on that ledge, I nearly lost it. I'd already had a sister give up her own happiness to make sure I had the life I wanted. I couldn't save her, but I wasn't about to let you get away from me. I love you, Karen Miller. Will you share my fantasy forever?”

Karen couldn't speak. She caught the ribbed hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head.

Niko groaned.

The only thing she was wearing beneath it was a tattoo of a black cat with a halo hanging over one ear.

“A cat?” he said hoarsely.

“A sinner wouldn't ride a white horse anyway. And I'm only a little bit saintly.” She started toward him. “Do you like my cat?”

His voice disappeared completely.

“I found it down at the gift shop in the children's
section. It's only temporary, a reminder of our meeting. Friday the thirteenth, remember?” she asked as she unbuttoned her jeans.

“My lucky day.”

“Meow!”

EPILOGUE

Lincoln MacAllister studied the file he was holding—Conner Preston. He hadn't opened it for a long time—not since Conner had left Shangrila.

He wasn't certain he ought to use it now. Though the world knew Conner Preston as a sophisticated millionaire importer and exporter, Mac knew the truth and he was worried.

Conner, firmly convinced that he was supposed to have died ten years ago, had become more and more daring, tempting death with a vengeance that skated on the thin edge of self-destruction.

But Conner Preston was the only man on the angel assignment board who could stop what was about to happen.

Mac picked up the phone and dialed the man adored by the very wealthy and feared by the criminal minds of the world, the man known to them only as the Shadow.

Halfway around the world, Conner Preston loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and leaned back in his executive chair. “You know I'll do anything you ask me to, Mac, but undercover work for the government is one thing I left behind a long time ago.”

“This isn't for the government, Conner. This is for the ambassador.”

“Close enough. You and I designed Mission Impossible to serve the private factor, remember? If you have the money, I'll find it, rescue it, or move it—in my own way.”

“I remember and I wouldn't ask if it weren't important, not just to the man but to Shangrila. Shadow is the only one who can stop a disaster.”

Conner swung his chair around so that he could look out the window of his Venice apartment and see the slow-moving water in the canal beyond. Ten years before he'd promised to repay Mac for saving his life and helping him find a use for the skills he'd learned as a member of the Special Forces military unit in which he'd served.

Ten years before, because he could get in and out of places without being seen, his unit had given him the nickname Shadow. Conner Preston had been the best at what he did and he'd never thought it would end.

But he'd made one mistake: he'd trusted a woman. And fallen in love with Erica Fallon. He'd been on top of the world when he and his best friend had gone
to the little chapel on what was to have been Conner's wedding day. But instead of a wedding Conner had been shot and Bart had been killed.

And the bride never showed up.

“You won't have to do it alone, Conner,” Mac said. “But if you refuse, I'll understand. I'll find someone else.”

Conner stood up and walked out on the balcony, allowing the lazy sound of the boatmen moving gondolas along the water to sooth his anger. “No, you won't, Mac. I'd be dead or in jail if it weren't for you. I owe you and you wouldn't have called unless I were the only one who could pull it off. But I work alone.”

“Not this time, Conner. The woman who brought the ambassador here is the key to this mission.”

“I see. And who is the woman wielding all this power?”

There was a long pause.

“Erica Fallon.”

Long after Conner had broken the connection, Mac sat thinking and tapping the folder on his knee. It was done now, and the wisdom of his decision was no longer in question. He picked up the phone, dialed a number, and waited for it to be answered.

“Erica, he's on his way. It's in your hands now.”

Welcome to Loveswept!

Whether you're on the beach, in the park, or sitting poolside, there's nothing like spending a warm summer day reading a good book — especially one that has romance, sizzling passion, and deeply felt emotion. Luckily, we have just the thing to make your summer even more sweltering — in the very best way.

Samantha Kane's captivating regency romance,
TEMPTING THE DEVIL
, is an erotic tale of secrets and temptation, and after reading it, you'll be reaching for that fan for a whole 'nother reason! And we're also incredibly excited about Mary Ann Rivers's sexy debut contemporary romance novella,
THE STORY GUY
, where Wednesdays turn into a day of temptation and pleasure for a mild-mannered librarian who responds to the most intriguing personal ad.

We also have some classics that you won't want to miss:

Sandra Chastain's exceptional stories,
SILVER BRACELETS
and
DANNY'S GIRL
, Ruth Owen's riveting
AND BABIES MAKE FOUR
, Jean Stone's moving
SINS OF INNOCENCE
, Iris Johansen's thrilling
TIL THE END OF TIME
, and Katie Rose's irresistible
A HINT OF MISCHIEF
.

If you love romance … then you're ready to be
Loveswept
!

Gina Wachtel

P.S. Watch for these terrific Loveswept titles coming soon: August heats up with three e-originals: Stacey Kennedy's intoxicating
CLAIMED
, Elisabeth Barrett's blazing
SLOW SUMMER BURN
, and Toni Aleo's red-hot
BLUE LINES
, as well as Sandra Chastain's stirring
SURRENDER THE SHADOW
, Katie Rose's unforgettable
COURTING TROUBLE
, Adrienne Staff's alluring
CRESCENDO
, Iris Johansen's tantalizing
YORK, THE RENEGADE
and Ruth Owen's ultra-sexy
BODY HEAT
. September arrives with more timeless stories for you — Three enticing stories from Sandra Chastain,
THE JUDGE AND THE GYPSY
,
FIREBRAND
, and
THE LAST DANCE
, beloved author Iris Johansen's
THE DELANEY'S OF KILLAROO
, Fran Baker's enchanting
SEEING STARS
, as well as two original stories: Lauren Layne's seductive
AFTER THE KISS
, and Mira Lyn Kelly's sexy and sweet
TRUTH OR DARE
. Don't miss any of these extraordinary reads. I promise that you'll fall in love and treasure these stories for years to come.…

“Yes,” Katie said, gripping the steering wheel harder. “Uh-huh, yes, I get it.” She glanced in the rearview mirror, signaled left, and changed lanes. The traffic was getting thicker as they approached Louisville.