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       “You’re coming home with me.”

      “Why?” she whispered, fixing those big hazel eyes on his face. “Why would you do this for me?”

      “Because I don’t want to see you hurt. Because I want to help you. Because I took a damn oath to save lives. Take your pick.”

      Their eyes locked, and despite the graveness of the situation, Derek experienced a flicker of heat. Amelia Phillips, Chloe Moreno, whatever name she called herself—it didn’t matter, and it didn’t change the way his body reacted to her nearness. She was so achingly beautiful that he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. He wanted to stroke her silky skin and cup those firm breasts and run his hands over every inch of her curvy body.

       Inappropriate much?

      Shoving away the unwelcome images, Derek cleared his throat. “Grab your things. It’s time to go.”

      Dear Reader,

      I’m so excited to be part of Mills & Boon^® Intrigue’s latest miniseries, THE COLTONS OF EDEN FALLS. It’s always a little daunting participating in a continuity, not just because I’m often in awe of the other authors in the lineup, but because it’s hard for me, as a writer, to write a story that I personally didn’t come up with.

      With a continuity, I’m given an overall story line, and then it’s my job to put the pieces together, fill the plot holes and make the story my own. I was a tad scared to find out exactly what kind of story I’d be required to write, but luckily I was happy with the premise and the tightly knit Colton family I would get to write about. More than that, I was eager to tell Derek and Chloe’s story.

      I hope you enjoy their journey, as well as the other Coltons who will receive their own stories during the course of this miniseries.

      Happy reading!

       Elle

      Don’t miss the other books in

      THE COLTONS OF EDEN FALLS:

      Colton Destiny by Justine Davis

      Colton’s Ranch Refuge by Beth Cornelison

      Colton Showdown by Marie Ferrarella

      About the Author

      A RITA^® Award-nominated author, ELLE KENNEDY grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting.

      Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website, www.ellekennedy.com, for the latest news or to send her a note.

       Colton’s Deep Cover

      Elle Kennedy

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To Justine Davis, Beth Cornelison

      and Marie Ferrarella—

      I’m honored to be in such amazingly talented company!

       Chapter 1

      “I need to see you in my office, Amelia.”

      Chloe Moreno froze as her boss’s soft-spoken request sounded from behind. She’d been in the process of pulling a patient chart from the large steel cabinet in the file room, but now her fingers trembled, causing her to lose her grip on the Danford file. It fluttered to the shiny linoleum floor, and as papers spilled out of the blue folder, the heat of embarrassment blasted through her.

      Cheeks scorching, Chloe dropped to her knees and quickly collected the strewn papers. “Sorry. I’m such a klutz sometimes,” she murmured, keeping her eyes downcast. “Let me just pick this up and I’ll meet you in your offi—”

      A shadow fell over her. Clothing rustled as her boss knelt down, his big, gorgeous hands reaching out to help her collect the papers.

      Swallowing, Chloe gathered up the courage to lift her head—and found a pair of deep brown eyes watching her in amusement.

      “No need to look so terrified,” Derek Colton said in that smooth, baritone voice of his. “I’m not going to fire you for dropping a file, Amelia.”

      Amelia. Lord, would she ever get used to that name? It was the reason she’d dropped the file in the first place; hearing Derek address her by a name that wasn’t her own made her so damn uneasy, so very jittery.

      You’re Amelia Phillips now. Get used to it.

      Chloe drew in a breath, heeding the commanding voice in her head. She couldn’t keep jumping at shadows and battling a sense of disorientation each time someone called her Amelia. She was Amelia. Chloe Moreno was dead. And according to the LA Times website, Felix had shelled out the big bucks for her memorial service. A funeral hadn’t been an option, seeing as her body was presumed to be at the bottom of the Pacific.

      Shoving the unwelcome thoughts from her mind, Chloe rose to her feet and tucked the patient file under her arm. Derek stood up, too, his six-foot frame towering over her.

      A shiver danced up her spine, a common occurrence in this man’s presence. Derek Colton was too attractive for his own good—tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome. And his chocolate-brown eyes were too damn perceptive. Each time he focused that intense gaze on her, she felt as if he was peering into her soul. Like he knew all her secrets.

      But he didn’t. He couldn’t. Chloe herself had lost track of all the secrets and lies. Over the past six months she’d spun a web so thickly complex that she didn’t even know who she was anymore.

      She knew who she wasn’t, though.

      Chloe, the wife of celebrity plastic surgeon Felix Moreno, no longer existed. She’d been replaced with Amelia, the quiet, hardworking nurse who’d impressed the heck out of her new boss when she’d helped him save a patient from bleeding out three weeks ago.

      And as long as she continued to impress Derek with her skills, she could stay in Eden Falls and live the life she’d always dreamed of.

      The life she’d earned.

      So, pasting on a professional smile, she glanced at Derek and said, “What did you need to talk about?”

      “Let’s go to my office.” His expression revealed nothing, no hint of what he needed to discuss with her.

      As Chloe trailed after him, she took a calming breath, silently praying that he wasn’t about to fire her. Unfortunately, inhaling was a bad idea because it only succeeded in drawing Derek’s appealing scent into her lungs. The man smelled so good, like soap and aftershave and something intoxicatingly masculine.

      Her gaze homed in on his broad back, covered by the white coat that contrasted with his smooth, mocha skin. He kept his black hair in a buzz cut, which left the nape of his strong, corded neck exposed. Another shiver ran through her as she admired him, and she was grateful that he couldn’t see her face. She’d worked hard to hide her visceral reaction to this man, the flames that licked at her flesh each time he flashed one of those sexy, easygoing smiles in her direction.

      Derek led her down the brightly lit hallway of the clinic. When they reached his office, he opened the door and gestured for her to enter first, just like the gentleman he was. Gosh, she’d never met anyone like him—the man oozed charm and sex appeal, yet at the same time, he exuded a quiet strength that was downright inspiring.

      In the three weeks she’d worked as a nurse

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