GENRE: Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 12,659 words
RATING:

With her young son, Amy has fled an abusive relationship. The thought that her ex and his crime-focused family will find her, terrifies her. A remote mining town in Arizona provides temporary refuge. Then she learns her next door neighbor is a cop, and what a cop! He's a gorgeous single father. But back home most of the police officers were in the Stavros family's pockets. Will Arizona cops be different enough to trust?

Jack is struggling to raise his motherless daughter and uphold the law in Azurite, Arizona. His new neighbor stirs his libido but she seems to have some fearsome secrets as well as a son about his daughter's age. When the children form a friendship, Jack and Amy's worlds begin to converge. Can he put an end to her nightmare and also be the man she needs?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of an erotic nature.

Amy stepped aside to allow Gus Stavros to enter. There was no use trying to keep him out. He could smash the flimsy screen door with one good shove.

He looked around the small room, a sneer on his swarthy face. “Great place you got here. A real mansion. You’re a dumb broad, leaving what Conn gave you for this. It’s clear you haven’t found a new sugar daddy yet.”

“Save your insults. They don’t mean a thing to me. Sometimes freedom is just not having anything to lose.”

“Oh, you got somethin’ to lose, babe. The boy. Still, if you’ll sign over your parental rights, maybe Conn’ll be willing to take him and go home.”

Before she could answer, a second figure appeared at the door. “Amy, is that you? Why did you take off? That was a stupid stunt. Surely you knew I’d find you.”

Jerking the door open, Conn strode into the room. He swept the small space with a contemptuous glance. “Where’s my son?”

“He’s not here right now. He’s out with some friends.” Amy backed away, putting what distance she could between them. It wasn’t far enough.

“You better not be lying to me.” Conn’s hands closed on her shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh like iron talons. He gave her a shake.

“I -- I’m not. He’s off playing, I swear it. He’ll be home in a little while.” Her voice wobbled as he shook her again, harder this time. Her neck snapped painfully with the force of it.

“I ought to slap you senseless,” he grated. “I’ve wasted over a month tracking you down. Well, you’re coming back now and there’s no way you’ll have a chance to leave again. You can count on that, bitch.”

Amy twisted, trying to pull free of his punishing grasp. She kicked out, catching him a glancing blow on the shin. “Damn you, let me go. You have no right to demand that I do anything. I’m not your wife, never was. I didn’t take one thing from that house of yours. Everything I have now came from my family.”

The crack of his palm against her cheek stunned her into silence. “Shut your ... mouth. You did too take something -- you took my son and I’m not letting him go. Where is he? Tell me and Gus will go get him. He can’t be far in this pitiful Podunk town.”

Amy shook her head even as tears of pain and rage spilled from her eyes. “You’re not in New Jersey now. You don’t own the cops here or have any political clout so you’d better back off.”

“I’m going to hurt you, you stupid ... I’m going to make you sorry for everything you’ve done.” He raised his hand, this time clenching his fist. Instinctively she ducked.

“I don’t think so.” The deep voice sounded suddenly from just outside the door. “Police officers. Step back and put your hands on top of your heads.”

Jack had never looked more beautiful than he did as he swept through the screen door, service pistol held in a steady hand. How did he get here so quickly? I hope he has some backup though. If not, he was out numbered two to one.