Suspicions

Suspicions
Cynthia Eden

Everyone's a suspect in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden's latest book in The Battling McGuire BoysMark Montgomery will never forget the night Ava McGuire galloped onto his ranch terrified out of her mind. Once he'd saved his best friend's sister from harm, the hardest part was letting her go. Now she's seeking safe haven again–and rekindling desire that will engulf them both.Uncovering the truth about that long-ago night plunges Ava into a world where no one can be trusted. Except maybe the rancher she has loved for years… But with a vengeful killer stalking them and passion drawing them inexorably closer, will Mark's secrets be their downfall…?

“There’s only…you.”

All of the moisture seemed to dry up in her mouth. Her gaze slowly slid over him. The last time she’d seen him had been months ago. She’d wanted to talk with him then, but her brothers had been determined to keep her away from him.

Her brothers were keeping secrets from her.

Only fair, really, because she’d been keeping plenty of secrets from them, too.

Mark was a handsome man. Powerful and commanding. He had high, slanting cheeks, a long, hard blade of a nose and lips that were…sexy. Sensual. She’d spent far too much time thinking about Mark’s lips over the years.

“What the hell are you doing here, Ava? I thought you were staying away.”

Not from him, but from Austin. From the McGuire ranch, because that place held too many painful memories for her.

But when no place seemed safe, where were you supposed to go?

Suspicions

Cynthia Eden

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

CYNTHIA EDEN, a New York Times bestselling author, writes tales of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and she has received a RITA

Award nomination for best romantic suspense novel. Cynthia lives in the Deep South, loves horror movies and has an addiction to chocolate. More information about Cynthia may be found at cynthiaeden.com, or you can follow her on Twitter, @cynthiaeden (https://twitter.com/cynthiaeden).

This book is for all of the wonderful Harlequin Intrigue fans out there—thank you so much for your support!

Contents

Cover (#uf898a23e-1562-54ee-a196-caed55c098db)

Introduction (#u3dc1da3b-113c-5423-b7db-ed2fc0bc482c)

Title Page (#u54b1f07c-5d1a-55eb-926e-6661e6dbf6c1)

About the Author (#u08629d55-ab6c-5da0-8164-359e9a44325a)

Dedication (#uc4b41e16-fbc3-50aa-b8e5-4186f8914743)

Prologue (#ueb61f51b-a382-5d9d-882c-0bb62feb154d)

Chapter One (#u440c08d6-b62f-5d36-971e-51a56859a909)

Chapter Two (#u636902c7-a3e5-58b0-a8c0-121c1d31866e)

Chapter Three (#ua31cad74-8a6c-5363-91da-348d83a2dc4a)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue (#ulink_1c2f9aff-4f29-5f14-9b5f-43dd856f2355)

“Help me!”

Her cry broke through the night, a long, loud, desperate scream.

Mark Montgomery had been standing on his front porch, staring up at the starry sky, but at that terrified call, he whirled around. At first he didn’t see her. The darkness was too thick.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

He heard the unmistakable sound of a horse’s hooves pounding across the ground. Someone was riding fast and hard, coming straight toward him.

He leapt off the porch.

“Help me!”

Her cry was even louder this time—and it was definitely a woman’s voice. But there weren’t any women at his ranch tonight. His mother had passed years ago, and there weren’t any female ranch hands scheduled for a shift.

Then he saw the horse. It burst into the clearing near his house. The horse was a beautiful big black mare that he recognized—that was Lady. And Lady...Lady belonged to the McGuires, his neighbors who lived about ten miles away.

What the—?

A small figure was curled low on Lady’s back, hugging the horse tightly. The horse’s sides were shaking, its body wet with sweat after what must have been a brutal ride.