Tommy's Mom - Linda Johnston O.

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      He felt his heart begin to race, even as he reached for her

      She didn’t resist as he took her into his arms. His lips touched hers, gently at first. So gently that he felt both unsatisfied and tantalized by the sweet and seductive taste of Holly. With a soft moan of frustration, he pulled her closer. Tightly against him. Deepened the kiss. Waited for her to resist, to pull away, tell him to get lost.

      But she didn’t. Instead, he heard a soft sound of surrender and need as she pressed herself against him.

      His tongue delved into her mouth, tasting her. Wanting to taste her more, all over.

      Gabe pressed against her, felt her respond by a low moan that made him even crazier. She didn’t pull away and didn’t seem to want to.

      Did that mean she desired him as much as he desired her?

      Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

      We’ve got what you need to start the holiday season with a bang. Starting things off is RITA® Award-winning author Gayle Wilson. Gayle returns to Harlequin Intrigue with a spin-off of her hugely popular MEN OF MYSTERY series. Same sexy heroes, same drama and danger…but with a new name! Look for Rafe Sinclair’s Revenge under the PHOENIX BROTHERHOOD banner.

      You can return to the royal kingdom of Vashmira in Royal Ransom by Susan Kearney, which is the second book in her trilogy THE CROWN AFFAIR. This time an American goes undercover to protect the princess. But will his heart be exposed in the process?

      B.J. Daniels takes you to Montana to encounter one very tough lady who’s about to meet her match in a mate. Only thing…can he avoid the deadly fate of her previous beaux? Find out in Premeditated Marriage.

      Winding up the complete package, we have a dramatic story about a widow and her child who become targets of a killer, and only the top cop can keep them out of harm’s way. Linda O. Johnston pens an emotionally charged story of crime and compassion in Tommy’s Mom.

      Make sure you pick up all four, and please let us know what you think of our brand of breathtaking romantic suspense.

      Enjoy!

      Sincerely,

      Denise O’Sullivan

      Associate Senior Editor

      Harlequin Intrigue

      Tommy’s Mom

      Linda O. Johnston

      

www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year. Now, several published short stories and novels later, Linda is recognized for her outstanding work in the romance genre.

      A practicing attorney, Linda juggles her busy schedule between mornings of writing briefs, contracts and other legalese, and afternoons of creating memorable tales of paranormal, time travel, mystery, contemporary and romantic suspense. Armed with an undergraduate degree in journalism with an advertising emphasis from Pennsylvania State University, Linda began her versatile writing career running a small newspaper, then working in advertising and public relations, and later obtained her J.D. degree from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh.

      Linda belongs to Sisters in Crime and is actively involved with Romance Writers of America, participating in the Los Angeles, Orange County and western Pennsylvania chapters. She lives near Universal Studios, Hollywood, with her husband, two sons and two cavalier King Charles spaniels.

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Holly Poston—Daughter of one cop and widow of another, she will do anything to keep her young son safe, while vowing never to get involved with another law enforcement officer.

      Gabe McLaren—The newly hired chief of police has a covert reason for taking the job. He learned the hard way that the relatives of all cops should be treated like family.

      Tommy Poston—Holly’s four-year-old son was in the next room when his daddy was killed. Why won’t he speak about what happened?

      Thomas Poston—Holly’s murdered husband was a good cop…wasn’t he?

      Al Sharp—Thomas Poston’s partner will do whatever it takes to solve his partner’s murder, as long as it doesn’t harm him.

      Edie Bryerly—Holly’s best friend and chief baby-sitter.

      Mayor Evangeline Sevvers—Her family raised Gabe, and now she wants him to pay them back—maybe even at the expense of his own integrity.

      Mal Kensington—Gabe’s predecessor as police chief died of an apparent heart attack….

      Sheldon Sperling—Beaten and robbed by the person who killed Thomas Poston, he is looking for justice.

      To Evelyn and Robert Johnston, in love and gratitude, especially for Fred.

      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

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Prologue

      The yelling made Tommy Poston look up, but only for a second. He knew big people yelled at each other. His mommy and daddy did sometimes. Mostly they didn’t. And they both loved him. They’d told him so.

      He was a big boy. That was why Daddy had said he could stay in this room all by himself and sit here at this table and color his pretty pictures.

      Tommy liked to use crayons. Bright colors were his favorite. Lots of bright colors. Today, he colored some flowers, red and purple and yellow with great, big, pretty green leaves.

      Daddy was still yelling in the next room. So was someone else. How many big people were there yelling? Tommy couldn’t tell. He didn’t like so much yelling. He picked up an orange crayon and drew a sad face with it. But sad faces shouldn’t be with flowers, so he crossed it out. He took a red crayon and tried to make another flower.

      Then there was a loud sound like when he dropped something, two loud sounds, and no more yelling. That was better.

      Except that after another minute, Tommy didn’t like being by himself in here anymore. He didn’t hear talking, either. Did Daddy and Mr. Sperling go away? Did they leave him alone?

      “Daddy?” Tommy called.

      But Daddy didn’t answer.

      “Daddy?” His lower lip trembling, Tommy pushed his big chair away from the table and jumped down. Just like his mommy taught him, he reached way up high to the table and packed his crayons back into their box. He put them with his papers and other stuff into his pretty red bag and put the bag away.

      “Daddy?”

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