“What brings you to my side of the tracks, Judge?”
“Uh, I…ah…” Jessica could not look at him and think straight.
“You must have a good reason for coming to a grimy police station weight room. I can’t recall seeing you on this side of the street before.”
She glanced at Doug, then quickly away. He was right. She rarely came to a station. Her job was at the courthouse. Though they were technically on the same side of the law, their jobs and their outlooks couldn’t be further from one another. Had she made a mistake in coming here?
“Listen, Judge, I had a lousy night, thanks to you. A cold shower didn’t do me a damn bit of good, but an hour in here was getting my head straight—until you showed up. I’m not in the mood for an argument, so if that’s why you’re here, you can just use those great legs of yours to take that sensational little tail of yours out of here.”
Dear Reader,
Welcome to another month of the most exciting romantic reading around, courtesy of Silhouette Intimate Moments. Starting things off with a bang, we have To Love a Thief by ultrapopular Merline Lovelace. This newest CODE NAME: DANGER title takes you back into the supersecret world of the Omega Agency for a dangerous liaison you won’t soon forget.
For military romance, Catherine Mann’s WINGMEN WARRIORS are the ones to turn to. These uniformed heroes and heroines are irresistible, and once you join Darcy Renshaw and Max Keagan for a few Private Maneuvers, you won’t even be trying to resist, anyway. Wendy Rosnau continues her unflashed miniseries THE BROTHERHOOD in Last Man Standing, while Sharon Mignerey’s couple find themselves In Too Deep. Finally, welcome two authors who are new to the line but not to readers. Kristen Robinette makes an unforgettable entrance with In the Arms of a Stranger, and Ana Leigh offers a matchup between The Law and Lady Justice.
I hope you enjoy all six of these terrific novels, and that you’ll come back next month for more of the most electrifying romantic reading around.
Enjoy!
Leslie J. Wainger
Executive Editor
The Law and Lady Justice
Ana Leigh
ANA LEIGH
a Wisconsin native, has three children and five grandchildren. From the time of the publication of her first novel, in 1981, Ana successfully juggled her time between her chosen career and her hobby of writing until she officially retired in September of ’94 to devote more time to that “hobby.” In the past, she has been a theater cashier (who married the boss), the head of an accounting department, a corporate officer and the only female on the board of directors of an engineering firm.
This New York Times bestselling author received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award nomination for Storyteller of the Year in 1991, the BOOKRAK 1995–1996 Best Selling Author Award, the Romantic Times 1995–1996 Career Achievement Award and the Romantic Times 1996–1997 Career Achievement Award for Historical Storyteller of the Year. Her novels have been distributed worldwide, including Africa, China and Russia.
This one’s for you, Don, in celebration of our big 50.
And, if God choose, I shall but love thee
better after death.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 1
“Good afternoon, I’m Sherilyn Matthews, speaking to you from outside of the Milwaukee County courthouse where, in an interesting turn of events Judge Jessica Kirkland has released LeRoy Gilbert, suspected murderer of his girlfriend, stripper Cindy Fires.”
Jessica stood just inside the courthouse entrance, safely out of sight of the human vulture with huge hair, several loose strands whipping dangerously in the wind. The reporter proceeded to caw into her microphone, sensationalizing the latest disaster in Jessica’s courtroom.
“Many of you will recall how Judge Kirkland, less than a year ago, released another murder suspect. Elected to the bench on a record of championing victims’ rights as a prosecuting attorney, it would appear that Judge Kirkland has left those days behind her.”
Jessica took a step forward, causing the police guard at the door to frown and shake his head. She sighed, knowing he was right. She was a judge. She did not have to explain herself to anyone—least of all blondie of the big hair and bigger mouth.
Just as she turned to leave, she saw him. Lounging against the courthouse wall, listening to Sherilyn as if he had nothing better to do in the world than look too good in a rumpled suit and loosened tie. How many times had she seen him in her courtroom looking just like that?
Tall and dark, he appeared just a bit dangerous, despite the well-trimmed hair and ever-present suit. She knew he wore a Glock 23 automatic beneath his jacket, which added to that high-powered energy he emanated. Although they’d rarely spoken beyond heated arguments, she’d been close enough to him to know that beneath those mirrored sunglasses his eyes were blue, and he smelled like a titillating blend of summer sunshine and midnight memories.
An obvious break in Sherilyn’s cawing brought Jessica’s attention back to the reporter, whose smile reminded Jessica of a cat with canary feathers hanging out of its mouth. Sherilyn had seen something she wanted, and she actually licked her lips in delight. Her cameraman barely had time to blink as he hurried after her when she made a beeline for the man still lounging against the courthouse wall.
He didn’t retreat, remaining motionless as the reporter rushed at him, microphone waving like a talisman.
Shoving the microphone into her quarry’s face, Sherilyn kept on talking. “Detective McGuire, you were the arresting officer on this case. What are your feelings on the matter of Judge Kirkland and her unfortunate habit of releasing your suspects back into the population at large?”
Jessica bit her lip. There was little love lost between her and homicide detective Doug McGuire. Though she might privately think he had the best pair of buns that ever graced a witness chair, in public, well—
“I wish just once a judge would put aside concern for the rights of the guilty and consider the rights of the victim.”
Anger propelled Jessica forward, and she now stood in the open doorway of the courthouse, her gaze focused on the scene playing out only a few feet in front of her. When the guard approached, Jessica’s glare halted him.
Raising his hands in surrender, he shrugged.