Danger is an everyday occurrence...So is protecting his heartFirefighter Matt Taylor risks his life daily to escape the guilt in his past. But his new neighbor challenges everything. Corie McGuire has secrets in her pretty green eyes. Her troubled son, Evan, reminds Matt of his younger self. When the boy is implicated in a string of fires, Matt vows to help. Is Evan guilty...or has the truth behind Corie's past come back to threaten them all?From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.The Taylor Clan: Firehouse 13Book 1: Crime Scene Cover-UpBook 2: Dead Man District

She senses he's in danger because of his past.If only he could remember why... Ava Wallace feels safe in her remote cabin—until a wounded man collapses at her door. He remembers being a marine, but he has no idea who left him for dead or how he ended up in the mountains of Wyoming. As the stranger begins to recover his memory, he and Ava begin to trust each other. But every recollection brings them closer to a deadly revelation...From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

Always the bridesmaid,never a killer's target...until now.Back in his hometown for a wedding, Detective Conor Wildman reunites with his ex-girlfriend's sister, Laura Karr, once the tomboy next door. Now Laura is a beautiful woman...and someone wants her dead. Conor is the man to protect her and catch the killer, but will one heated kiss jeopardize their precious friendship? Or will it prove that he can trust her with his wounded heart?

This undercover mission was clear...until one life-altering moment changed everything.Carly Valentine never expected that she would have to pretend to be someone's girlfriend, but when Ivan Mostek's visit to Kansas City enrages his fiercest enemies, it's the only way to keep him safe. Suddenly, the experienced cop is faced with a mission like none she has ever trained for. One in which fake feelings could turn into something all too real.

Their passion was forged in flames.Will they survive the next inferno?Mark Taylor can put out a fire, but Amy Hall is a different kind of challenge. He's determined to keep her safe—and although she's a target, she's just as certain that she doesn't need his protection. As they hunt down an arsonist, both Mark and Amy try to deny their red-hot desire. Will they trust each other enough to surrender...before a madman burns down their world?From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.The Taylor Clan: Firehouse 13Book 1: Crime Scene Cover-Up

This crime lab tech has enemies. And one wants her dead... A vicious hacker has KCPD lab tech Chelsea O'Brien dead in his sights, and Robert "Buck" Buckner won't let his personal heartbreak prevent him from keeping her safe. But the sparks between this reserved ex-cop and the warmhearted Chelsea are as hot as the trail they're tracking. Can their mismatched skills outwit a killer—and help them risk their guarded hearts?From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.Discover more action-packed stories in the Kansas City Crime Lab series. All books are stand-alone with uplifting endings but were published in the following order: Book 1: K-9 PatrolBook 2: Decoding the TruthBook 3: The Evidence Next Door

She saved his life when everything was hopeless. He's determined to return the favor. Not even Master Sergeant Harry Lockhart's military expertise could stop the IED that killed his team and left him injured. Only Daisy Gunderson—a pen pal he'd never met—and her kind letters helped him survive. But Daisy in the flesh is the surly Marine's polar opposite. She's outgoing, talkative and putting his military training on high alert. A stalker named Secret Santa is targeting the kindhearted teacher...and the pranks are growing deadly. In Daisy, Harry's finally found the safe haven he needs. And he'll be damned if anyone is going to take her from him. The Precinct

An injured undercover agent must keep an innocent nurse from getting caught in the crossfire in the latest installment of The Precinct With his life bleeding out from bullet wounds and a car crash, Charles Nash's best option is to kidnap the innocent nurse who stops to help him. At gunpoint, the jaded DEA undercover agent offers Teresa Rodriguez a desperate deal: if she keeps him alive long enough to find out who's blown his cover and set him up to die, she'll be home for Christmas. As the two go on the run from an unknown killer, the Good Samaritan gives Nash a bad case of unprofessional desire. He's drawn to the sexy little spitfire for her bravery, boldness and attitude. But how can he count on kissing her under the mistletoe when so many enemies are working to ensure they don't make it to the holidays?

A DUKE WITH A MISSION Dispossessed Duke Cadence St. John might be a maverick mercenary. He might have sold his soul to the highest bidder, but he wouldn't hurt shy, bespectacled royal secretary Ellie Standish -- had he recognized her that is! She had transformed herself into a stunning beauty for the Inferno Ball, a metamorphosis so complete that, instead of the real princess, his cohorts had kidnapped the wrong woman! Held in the dark confines of a remote cabin, Ellie would be killed if her identity were discovered. Cade vowed to stay near and protect her with his life. But when the heated sensuality of their forced proximity became too much, would Cade be able to complete his mission with not only his life, but also his heart, intact?

Protective cop...virgin for the taking! When his shy friend becomes a stalker's target it brings out all of sexy detective Atticus's protective instincts. Suddenly Brooke is consuming all of his thoughts and desires. Brooke feels safe with Atticus around. She's certain his broad shoulders and toned muscular body could shield her from anything. Soon her awkward affection for him erupts into a raw need that she's never known before. But will their newfound passion ignite a killer's lust for revenge...? THE PRECINCT: BROTHERHOOD OF THE BADGE - Bonded by brotherhood, forged into heroes

She cheated death once...But a killer still lurks.After a gunshot rips streetwise police officer Gina Galvan from the line of duty, all she wants is to return to the front line and stop a shooter. But good guy physical therapist Mike Cutler won't back down from a challenge, or his blazing attraction to Gina. Without a badge or a gun, Mike is ready to face anyone—including a killer—to prove he's every inch a hero.The Precinct

Learning to trust could bring them together—keeping secrets could tear them apart Going undercover to take down murderous gun smugglers is what Duff Watson lives for. Until he tracks the ring to a Missouri farm...and meets paramedic Melanie Fiske. Now the KCPD detective has another critical task: winning over the curvy redhead who tempts him yet whom he can't let himself trust. Something about the protective ex-soldier makes Melanie believe he can help her find out the truth about her family. And the desire Duff awakens feels like the real thing. But when Melanie's life is threatened, can she keep trusting—and loving—a man who lives a life of dangerous deception? The Precinct: Bachelors in Blue

HIS STAR WITNESS RECEIVES THREATS INSTEAD OF CHRISTMAS CARDS As the lone surviving victim who can put her attacker away in prison, heiress Bailey Austin becomes the key to the D.A.'s case against a notorious criminal. As lead detective, Spencer Montgomery must prep her for trial. But he becomes her personal protector when she starts receiving terrifying "gifts" meant to scare her away from testifying. Spencer is a cop on the fast track to making captain one day, if he can keep his emotions in check. But as the stalker's threats escalate, he can't deny that Bailey has thawed his icy heart. Her courage touches him in ways no other woman has, and reminds him that she's more important to him than any investigation.

SWAT team member Miranda Murdock can't bake, or get a three-year-old to eat. But she can shoot the wings off a fly. Which is why she's protecting millionaire Quinn Gallagher's daughter. But the little girl is soon tugging at Miranda's heartstrings. And Quinn is doing other things to her—exciting, forbidden, bedroom things—making her job riskier each day....Quinn is determined to find the killer threatening his daughter's life. Despite the danger, he wants Miranda with shocking intensity. The elite cop is a puzzle he can't figure out, and desire between them builds with each heartbeat. Yet with New Year's Eve and the killer's deadline approaching, even a single kiss could spell disaster....

HE SAW THAT HER SAFETY WAS THREATENED Maggie Wheeler never stopped looking over her shoulder. It was a habit she'd learned from being a cop...and from a devastating event in her past. So when John Murdock moved in next door, Maggie didn't know what to make of the sexy marine. But once her son formed a bond with the mysterious stranger, Maggie knew that past might not remain hidden much longer.... SHE SAW HIM FOR THE HERO HE TRULY WAS With his unwavering sense of duty, John would never let a call for help go unanswered. Especially from the beautiful wounded warrior who refused to give up her secrets. Although she likely knew more about who was after her than she'd ever let on, John vowed to protect those in need. Only then could he find peace, maybe even a door away....

It was an undercover assignment that required some "under the covers" expertise...Grace Lockhart: Behind-the-scenes FBI agent. Shy, naive...and a sex kitten waiting to happen.Logan Pierce: FBI field agent and the best of the best. Confident, cocky...and incapable of saying no to a beautiful woman.The case:Agent Grace Lockhart has spent months developing a computer program that will put the city's biggest crime lord behind bars. And now that it's ready, all the FBI needs is somebody to smuggle it in to Harrison Mitchell's estate. Only, because Mitchell is notorious for surrounding himself with a harem of beauties, that somebody has to be a woman....Grace Lockhart wants to be that woman, but she's anything but a femme fatale. But not for long. Because she's heard that her new partner, sexy superagent Logan Pierce, is an expert at "hands-on" training....

THE MISSION: BABY-SIT AN HEIRESS Rescue a spoiled heiress who'd gotten herself kidnapped? Agent Vincent Romeo did it single-handed. But instead of the society cream puff Vincent expected, this female seemed to think she was the agent in charge! Whitney MacNair was pure trouble on a shapely set of legs -- with a charm as lethal as a loaded gun aimed straight at Vincent's jaded heart. Whitney had felt alone for so long -- now a protector as fierce as the Montana mountains refused to leave her side. Falling for the quiet agent was more dangerous than going after the men stalking her, but heartache meant nothing when each kiss might be their last....

USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller returns to The Precinct with a tale of a killer on the loose and a tornado about to hit Kansas City There was no way Deputy Commissioner George Madigan was going to let his beautiful assistant fall prey to a stalker. Because Elise Brown wasn't just another employee. Her vulnerable blue eyes triggered all of George's protective instincts...and now her life was in jeopardy. Working together almost 24/7 to bring the perp to justice―and sharing kisses passionate enough to ignite a Kansas City heat wave―George and Elise had forged the kind of partnership that could keep her out of harm's way and potentially lead to happily ever after. Until a deadly tornado struck and Elise was taken hostage....

SWAT Captain Michael Cutler's pulse was racing. He should have been thinking about the intense hostage crisis he'd just diffused. But he couldn't keep his mind off of her -- Jillian Masterson, the leggy brunette who had come to him for protection from an obsessive stalker. He certainly hadn't been looking for love, especially with someone fifteen years his junior. But their chemistry was undeniable. As the stalker's threats intensified, Michael knew he'd go to any lengths to bring him down. Even if that entailed giving Jillian some very personal security....

A SCORE TO SETTLE... FBI agent Sam O'Rourke was on an unsanctioned mission to hunt down his sister's murderer. The steely-eyed lawman's investigation led him to Jessica Taylor -- the one victim, in a string of many, who'd escaped with her life and whose missing memories made her a target for a demented madman. Posing as a ranch hand, Sam was determined to gain the fragile woman's trust to solve this crime. However, Sam hadn't counted on this lone witness awakening his deadened heart with her sumptuous beauty and unflinching courage. A case that had begun as an unrelenting thirst for vengeance suddenly roused his every protective instinct. Now Sam had an intensely personal stake in reeling in a killer....

Fooling Around by Linda Turner Before inheriting half a detective agency, Josie London's only adventures came courtesy of her favorite books. Now, suddenly she was donning disguises and teaming up with her new partner, Wiley Valentine, to trail a mobster -- a man who'd use any means necessary to stop their investigation. The Man in the Shadows by Ingrid Weaver Private investigator Erika Balogh is obsessed with a dead man. NYPD detective Sloan Morrissey has been missing for a year, but Erika is sure she's spotted his powerful form stalking the dark streets...sure she's inhaled his scent in her bedroom. Is she going crazy -- or is her lover still alive? A Midsummer Night's Murder by Julie Miller When English professor Hannah Greene is recruited to accompany a university group on an extreme-adventure wilderness hike, she just prays she'll survive the trek through the mountains. Especially when one by one, people start dying. In order to stay alive, she'll have to join forces with mountain guide Rafe Kincaid and find the killer among them.

FROM HIS HAT TO HIS BOOTS, THIS COP WAS ALL COWBOY For small-town sheriff Boone Harrison, the investigation into a serial rapist turned killer is painfully personal. Boone's priority is to find the coward who murdered his sister. But to accomplish that, he'll have to work with Dr. Kate Kilpatrick, a secretive woman whose striking beauty and kind heart just may be the lawman's undoing.... Forensic psychologist Kate Kilpatrick was wrong aboutSheriff Harrison. He's smarter and more resourceful than she'd given him credit for...and entirely too attractive. In their combined grief, Kate finds something she didn't even know she needed: protection. Because when the Rose Red Rapist sets his sights on Kate, she'll need more than the power of the badge to save her. She'll need her very own cowboy.

A ruthless killer...an expectant mother...one determined cop. Rafe Delgado had been there for Josie Nichols her entire life. So when he turned to her one night, emotionally drained thanks to a heartbreaking case, her longtime crush on the brooding cop reached a whole new level. But afterward, Rafe went back to being untouchable and Josie didn't know how to break through his shell...even to tell him she was pregnant. Everything Rafe did was by the book and so his moment of weakness could never be repeated. He didn't deserve someone like Josie...even if it was a daily struggle to keep his hands off her. But learning she could ID a cold-blooded killer changed everything. Now she was in his protective custody and caring about her only made his job harder. And learning about his unborn child made it nearly impossible.

Forbidden Captor by Julie Miller BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY HUNTER He'd fallen into enemy hands. Now, battle-scarred bounty hunter Bryce Martin and his comrades were imprisoned in dungeonlike torture chambers on wind-whipped Devil's Fork Island. He was at the mercy of the barbaric militia members who'd been breaching homeland security, yet Bryce somehow forged a human connection with a mysterious servant girl. In the dark shadows of the night, gentle-hearted Anastasiya Belov saw beyond his beastly appearance to the tender man inside. Spurred by their desperate situation, a forbidden attraction ignited. Bryce's beautiful keeper was the key to escaping, but she led a double life in a dangerous game of survival. Could Bryce outsmart his foes...without sacrificing his most precious ally?

His only job was to protect her—not to get her into bedWhen his coinvestigator was attacked just moments after Detective Nick Fensom left the scene, he swore he'd never let her get hurt again. Thanks to their tense relationship, criminologist Annie Hermann wasn't happy to have Nick as her newly appointed protector. And although Nick couldn't blame her, being together 24/7 caused him to see Annie in a whole new light. Before long, he couldn't stop picturing the beautiful brunette wrapped up in his arms—and in his sheets. But allowing unfamiliar feelings to get in the way of the job was completely unprofessional…especially once Annie discovered the evidence that could cost her her life.

While investigating a reported crime, Detective A. J. Rodriguez discovered there wasn't a trace of any murder having been committed! But hearing-impaired heiress Claire Winthrop insisted she'd stumbled upon a slain employee in her father's high-rise building and claimed she could ID the hit man. Although the lack of evidence pointed to an open-and-shut case of a pampered socialite clamoring for attention, A.J. sniffed a deadly cover-up. Powerfully drawn together, the street-tough lawman soothed the shell-shocked princess with a tantalizing kiss that bewitched both their hearts. However, when A.J. pulled Claire into his dark, dangerous world, he knew he'd better stick to police business -- or the killer could permanently silence his beloved witness....

Detective T. Merle Banning vowed to conduct the Holiday Hookers homicide investigation based on cold, hard evidence, not psychobabble from the department's "crackpot" consultant. So, despite their smoldering attraction, he scoffed at Kelsey Ryan's unsettling visions of one of the murders. But even he couldn't discount the truth when Kelsey provided a break in the case that had stymied the Fourth Precinct for years. As their pursuit of the twisted killer led them down the seedy back alleyways of Kansas City, the flamboyant beauty bewitched T's battle-scarred heart...and propelled him to breach her isolated world. Could these partners in passion unravel the killer's web of darkness before it ensnared them both?

APB: MARRIAGE With blazing blue eyes and beckoning broad shoulders, Brett Taylor was irresistible to most women. But Detective Ginny Rafferty wasn't about to succumb to his potent charm. The lady cop had learned early about love and betrayal, and buried her feelings beneath her badge. So the last thing she wanted was to pose as the brawny neighborhood hero's adoring fiancee, especially since she went weak in the knees every time he came too close. However, they had each lost a loved one to the killer they hunted, and Ginny needed Brett's connections to catch the perpetrator. Except she knew better than anyone that this sudden engagement could endanger her heart -- and her life. But some things were worth the risk.

Suddenly something was more important to rookie officer Josh Taylor than busting a campus drug ring and making detective. Because when Josh's undercover investigation strangely intersected with his older and pregnant professor, Rachel Livesay, sparks of danger -- and passion -- ignited. Rachel had no one to turn to until Josh vowed to protect her from the sperm donor who threatened to snatch her newborn child from her arms. But Josh was her "student," not a knight in shining armor -- and falling for him could be deadly for them both!

Harlequin Intrigue brings you three new titles at a great value, available now! Enjoy these suspenseful reads packed with edge-of-your-seat intrigue and fearless romance. KANSAS CITY CONFESSIONS The Precinct: Cold Case by Julie Miller Katie Rinaldi's son wants a dad for Christmas—and KCPD detective Trent Dixon is at the top of his list. But a criminal mastermind may destroy all of them before Katie and Trent can put their pasts behind them and come together as a family... AGENT BRIDE Return to Ravesville by Beverly Long Former navy SEAL Cal Hollister has vowed to protect the amnesiac bride he calls Stormy, but can he solve the mystery of her past before the terrorists chasing her can enact their plot to kill thousands? COWBOY UNDERCOVER The Brothers of Hastings Ridge Ranch by Alice Sharpe When Lily Kirk's son is abducted, rancher Chance Hastings goes undercover to...

FROM OUT OF DARKNESS The mysterious explosion at the crime lab had cost one man his life, and had pitched Mac Taylor into perpetual darkness. Now, as the evidence mounted against the temporarily dismissed forensic expert, one person had dedicated herself to proving his innocence: the former girl-next-door, Julia Dalton. Before long, Mac's predicament had them racing against time and running for their lives, a life Mac could no longer imagine without the experienced nurse by his side. Suddenly Mac was seeing more with his heart than he ever had with his eyes....

A seasoned cop becomes the target of a killer. And so does the woman he's falling for. Detective Lieutenant Thomas Watson had been off air force active duty so long, he thought he was safe. Until a gunman crashes his daughter's wedding, reawakening the warrior inside him. He hires nurse Jane Boyle to care for his injured father so he can focus on bringing the gunman to justice. While Jane is the ideal caretaker, her dark past has landed her in witness protection. And the more she's embraced by this family of cops, the more danger she's in. For a shadow from Thomas's own past might be willing to lend Jane's stalker a helping hand... The Precinct: Bachelors in Blue

"I warned you this would be dangerous."Trouble has a way of finding me. This time I'm hunting it down--bartending at After Dark, Kansas City's most exclusive gentleman's club. It's a world I've tried hard to escape. But the plush interior and secluded booths are a front for an illegal sex ring, tied to my sister's disappearance. And before I can locate Megan, I have to get past big, sexy Josiah Kemp.The usual tricks--flirty smiles, subtle touches--don't seem to be working on Josiah. Something in his dark gaze says he knows my secrets...and has a few of his own. Learning he's an undercover cop posing as a bouncer complicates things, but he's the kind of man you want on your side--and everywhere else. With his help, I know I can get answers. Even if it takes a few rounds between the sheets to get them.If you love heart-stopping suspense and fearless romance, look for Julie Miller's Harlequin Intrigue title Crossfire Christmas available...

Political intrigue, an undercover investigation and a very mutual attraction As the Kansas City Police Department's archenemy, reporter Gabriel Knight never expected to need its help. But the sexy journalist suspects the death of a politician's aide will shed light on the long-unsolved murder of his fiancée. He demands to team up with tough, beautiful detective Olivia Watson. Sharing a mutual distrust--and a disturbingly mutual attraction--Gabe and Olivia discover that someone's working hard to keep old secrets buried and stop their investigation dead. But as they come closer to the truth they edge closer to each other. Until now, neither has had room in their lives--or hearts--for a relationship. Yet all that could change...if Gabe can prevent them from becoming tomorrow's headline.

USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller's The Precinct: Task Force series heats up when a plain Jane and an experienced cop pose as an engaged couple. Something about Hope Lockhart fascinated Officer Pike Taylor. The cop and his canine companion had been patrolling the neighborhood around Hope's bridal shop for months, trying to capture the criminal who targeted her. Was it the way she hid her voluptuous beauty beneath a plain Jane exterior? Hope bore the scars of a troubling past. And despite a profession steeped in romance, she'd never known the love of a man. But when Pike is assigned to protect her by posing as her live-in fiance, his tenderness may give Hope the courage to open her heart for the very first time.

This was one cold case a hard-nosed detective had every intention of solving[unknown-8230]with or without a beautiful victim’s help[unknown-8230] Six years ago Rosie March’s fianc[unknown-233] was murdered. Now someone is stalking her, intent on stopping her memories of the murder from being revealed. And Detective Max Krolikowski, her protector, only wants her alive for the truth she might be hiding. But Max is hiding his own secrets, such as the acute PTSD the ex-solder lives with. As part of Kansas City’s Cold Case Squad, the officer’s work should have been simply investigative. But with his potential key witness’s life jeopardized, he must keep her safe at any cost. And keep himself from falling for a woman who could be a true innocent[unknown-8230]or a killer waiting to strike again.

This Christmas, the McCabe brothers are coming home to Texas…Virgil by USA TODAY bestselling author Julie MillerDetective Virgil "Bull" McCabe hadn't been back on the J-Bar-J Ranch in more than a decade. What he finds is his family in turmoil and his childhood friend, Tracy Cobb, all grown up…and more beautiful than ever.Morgan by Dana MartonIt took a lot to bring ex-soldier Morgan McCabe home. But when his brothers sent out a call for help, that was all the incentive he needed. Once there, though, it's his former flame, Dakota Dayton, and her toddler son who might just convince him to stay.Wyatt by Paula GravesSheriff Wyatt McCabe has faced a lot of criminals, but none as ruthless as the one holding his sister hostage. Now, forced to work with Elena Vargas, Wyatt has to ensure his family's safety without giving in to his burning attraction to the gorgeous agent.About the AuthorJulie Miller is an award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of breathtaking romantic suspense--with a National Readers Choice Award and a Daphne du Maurier among other prizes.  In 2009 she earned an RT BookReviews Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Suspense. For a complete list of her books, monthly newsletter and more, go to www.juliemiller.orgAuthor Dana Marton has written over fifteen novels for Harlequin Intrigue, stories that feature breathtaking suspense and passionate romance. She is the recipient of the Daphne DuMaurier Award of Excellence.As a child, Paula Graves's favorite books were Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries and Harlequin Romances. When she realized there were books that featured both romance and mystery, she knew she'd found her calling. Now Paula writes for Harlequin Intrigue, where she gets to play both matchmaker and murderer and has a blast doing it. www.paulagraves.com Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Things never changed.At least here on the southern edge of Texas at the J-Bar-J ranch where Virgil "Bull" McCabe had grown up, they didn't.Before pulling through the arching stone gate that marked the ranch's entrance, he slowed his black pickup on the dusty gravel road to take a good look at the sprawling landscape, dotted with cacti and scrub pines, where he'd grown up. Somehow he'd thought ten years and 1300 miles would make a difference. But they hadn't.His barrel-size chest expanded with a painful breath as he tapped on the brake and the memories came flooding back. All the hard work that he'd been a part of from boyhood to make an operation of this size a success—breaking and moving and birthing livestock, battling the elements, building and repairing fence lines. The connections he shared with his older brother, Morgan, and younger brother, Wyatt, the harsh criticisms and hurtful secrets that had forced them to stand as one. His mother's tragic death.His father.That painful breath eased out on a wry laugh.His father had been keeping a doozy of a secret this time. This wasn't just another affair he'd had while married to their mother. Justice had fathered a daughter. A girl who was now a teenager. Another casualty from Justice McCabe's selfish, womanizing ways. And, as usual, Bull and his brothers had been called on to put a bandage on the wounds Justice's choices inflicted on those around him.The gray limestone hills grew more rugged and rocky as they dropped off toward the Rio Grande River valley and its tributaries to the west. The land to the east, sectioned off by a network of irrigation canals, flattened out to succulent green pasture where hundreds of fat brown cattle and horses grazed. The gently sloping hills to the north led to a dammed-up reservoir and the neighboring Cobb ranch where he'd taken his horse on many rides to escape the arguments in the main house and stables. And behind him, about a mile to the south, was Mexico.Pulling off his sunglasses, Bull scrubbed his hand across the dark brown stubble that peppered his square jaw and peered through the windshield. The barren landscape where he stood taller than almost any tree was a stark contrast to the crowded streets and steel high-rises of the Chicago neighborhood where he worked as a detective. He tucked his fingers beneath the unbuttoned collar of his damp, white shirt and wished for the snow and cold and biting lake wind he'd left up north. Even in mid-December with the A/C on in his truck, he could feel the sun beating down on him and heating his emotions.This was a mistake. Why the hell had he let Wyatt talk him into this? He didn't belong here anymore. Their father had made that painfully clear. The two of them had gotten into a shoving match out in the barn that day during spring break."You're gonna learn to do things my way, Bull McCabe. And if you don't like my rules, you don't have to stay."He hadn't.But now he was back. He'd traveled down here from the northern edge of the country in just over twenty-four hours. His muscles were stiff and his neck ached. He was beat. But he needed to shift his truck into Drive and finish the last half mile of his journey. Someone needed him.As Bull crossed through the gate, he recognized the familiar, two-story white house with its wraparound porch and pine-shingled roof. Framed by whitewashed barns and metal outbuildings, the house stood like a lonely beacon of civilization on the endless horizon of J-Bar-J land. This was Justice McCabe's own little country, west of the Texas town of Serpentine.And Bull had stopped being a citizen there ten years earlier.He'd never envisioned himself coming back home to this place, to his father—he'd never wanted to.But the phone call from his brother Wyatt had him handing off cases and leaving early for his holiday vacation. "Bring your gun and your badge, Bull," Wyatt had said. "We need to save her."Bull didn't intend to be here any longer than he had to be. Morgan, Virgil and Wyatt McCabe might have lost their beloved mother, Jeanne, to a traffic accident a decade ago, but she'd been dying inside long before that because of their father's cheating. He'd be damned if he'd let another family member be hurt because of his father—even a sister he never knew they had."What the hell?" Bull pulled up behind a pair of departmental SUVs parked in the circular drive near the bottom of the front-porch steps. He recognized the dark-haired man in the blue jeans and cowboy hat, wearing a gun at his waist and a sheriff's badge on his shirt pocket. That was his brother Wyatt. He could even guess the dark-haired woman arguing with him was some kind of law enforcement, judging by the brown-and-tan uniform she wore.What he didn't recognize was the evergreen garland, strewn with lights and red bows that draped around the porch railing and twisted up each post to another row of lights anchored to the gutter. And beyond the couple at the top of the steps, just to the right of the door, a tall pine tree, hung with ornaments and lights and an angel on top was framed in the front windows. What kind of game was this? There hadn't been a Christmas celebrated at the J-Bar-J since their mother had died.Maybe some things did change. But the unexpected decorations only made him suspicious. What was Justice up to? Did he think a few imported greeneries and sparkly lights could convince Bull to make this emergency visit a permanent move home?He pulled his gun from the glove compartment and slipped it into the shoulder holster he wore beneath his left arm before opening the truck door. The heated debate that was mostly onesided felt more like the home he'd left behind than the brightly colored holiday decor did. Bull shook his head and reached back across the cab for his gray, Western-tailored blazer and shrugged into it, making sure his badge was visible on his belt before approaching his brother and the dark-haired woman with the sharp tongue."We don't have time for family reunions and strategy meetings." Her Latin heritage was evident in the lilting fire of her voice. "The Los Jaguares and Javier Calderon are dangerous men. We need to get on this case right now.""There's no point to chasing after rumors and shadows. More people could get hurt." Wyatt dipped his face toward hers and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Let me handle this." Then he turned to Bull and hoofed it down the steps to greet him. "Hey, big man.""Pipsqueak." Bull caught his brother's outstretched hand and pulled him in for a hug that included slapping backs and nods acknowledging the years they'd been apart and the bond they'd forged long before that. Despite the four inches and fifty pounds he had on his younger brother, the storm-gray eyes that looked back at him were the same as when they separated. Trouble was brewing on the J-Bar-J. Or maybe just on the J-Bar-J's front porch. Bull arched a curious eyebrow toward the woman pacing at the top of the steps. "You two need a room?" he teased. "To duke it out or, um, resolve your personal issues in some other way?""We do not have personal…" The woman silenced her protest just as quickly as she'd turned to make it. "We were having a professional difference of opinion, that's all."Uh-huh."Give it a rest, Bull," Wyatt warned. "Things have been pretty tense around here the past few days.""Is Morgan here?""Not yet.""Where the hell is he? Why doesn't he have to deal with this latest McCabe family Christmas crisis?""He's on a mission out of the country somewhere. I've called in every favor I can to try and track him down. But he's off the grid for now. Once I get a hold of him, though, he'll be here. I'm sure of it. You're the one I was worried wouldn't show up.""Yeah, well, just know I'm doing this as a favor to you. I'm not staying any longer than I have to.""I'll take what I can get." Wyatt motioned for Bull to follow him up the steps. "This is Elena Vargas, a local ICE agent. We serve together on the Border Security Task Force. My big brother, Bull McCabe. He's the Chicago PD detective I told you about. He's worked a lot of drug cases over the years. And nobody knows this land the way he does. If there's any track to follow, any place to hide, he'll find it.""A big-city cop?" The woman looked skeptical.Bull looked down—way down—to meet the agent's dark eyes. He hadn't earned his nickname just from the rodeos he'd competed in back in high school and college. He was the biggest and brawniest of the three McCabe brothers, and he was impressed that Elena Vargas didn't seem intimidated by that fact."Agent Vargas." They shook hands. "Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Does that have something to do with the girl's disappearance? Is she an illegal?""She's blond-haired and has eyes the same color as you and your brother." She propped her hands on her hips and challenged him. "Think you can find a girl like that around here with your tracking skills, detective?"Bull ignored the sarcasm. "Things don't change much around this part of the country, Agent Vargas. I remember it well."Wyatt backed him up. "There's probably not an inch of this ranch Bull hasn't covered on horseback, ATV or on foot. And he knows how these kind of people operate. We need his expertise.""You need it," Elena insisted. "There's no time for random searches through the countryside. Calderon and his Los Jag-uares are dangerous men. I believe this kidnapping is related to a drug-smuggling operation I've been investigating. I'm willing to work ...

Harlequin Intrigue brings you three new edge-of-your-seat romances for one great price, available now! This Harlequin Intrigue bundle includes Yuletide Protector by USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller, Dirty Little Secrets by Mallory Kane and Undercover Twin by Lena Diaz.Catch a thrill with 6 new edge-of-your-seat romances every month from Harlequin Intrigue!

FBI investigator Sean Maddox needs a woman--badly. His latest assignment has him poised to infiltrate a hedonistic island resort where anything is possible--including murder. But he can't go in alone. So when he discovers that his arranged escort has taken off, he's in trouble. Until he decides to proposition her roommate, Caitlin--and discovers what trouble really is....Caitlin McCormick is a good girl...with a weakness for bad boys. So when Agent Sean Maddox shows up on her doorstep, needing her help, Caitlin can't resist--him or his offer. For the first time, she has the chance to experience excitement, danger...and raw sexual desire. And she's determined that by the end of her adventure, she'll know, firsthand, just how bad Sean really is....

Captured! By a bundle of baby. But Dwight Powers couldn't turn his back on the baby abandoned in his office -- or the boy's beautiful guardian, Maddie McCallister. Maddie was desperate to find Tyler's missing mother and Dwight was her designated hero. Now the rugged assistant district attorney was on the trail of a black-market baby ring -- and battling the demons of his past. Because protecting Maddie and Tyler meant remembering the wife and child he had lost. The family he still longed to have...

USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller's new series launches with a lawman and social worker who team up to safeguard a baby After a near-fatal shootout at his sister's wedding, third-generation lawman Niall Watson comes home to a baby in distress. The abandoned newborn in his neighbor's apartment sends the Kansas City PD criminologist into rescue mode once again. Social worker Lucy McKane will do whatever it takes to protect the infant boy entrusted to her care. The tall, sexy ME next door may be clueless about her feelings for him, but Niall's the only one who can keep them safe. As a vengeful killer targets them, desire draws Lucy and Niall dangerously closer. Together, can they find justice and safeguard their newly created family?

Romance and danger collide in USA TODAY Bestselling Author Julie Miller’s anthology, MAKE MINE A MARINE. Three very special heroes take charge in these full-length stories of military romance and suspense. Once, they put their lives on the line for their country. Now these former Marine Corps operatives are putting their lives on the line in the bodyguard business. Brodie, Hawk and Drew have what it takes to uncover the mysteries surrounding three very different heroines, and protect them from the threat stalking them. And though love may not be part of their assigned mission, their heroic hearts just might lead these hard core vets to a happily ever after… if they survive.Review"Miller's characters are so well drawn they feel like family." - RT Book Reviews on THE MARINE NEXT DOOR "Julie Miller excels at creating heroes." - RT Book Reviews on AT YOUR COMMAND "This book was a joy to read, I had a very hard time putting it down!" - Reader Anza Carrillo on MAJOR ATTRACTION About the AuthorUSA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller writes breathtaking romantic suspense. She has earned a National Readers Choice Award and two Daphne du Maurier Awards among many other prizes for both her series and single title books.  She was also honored to receive the RT BookReviews Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Suspense. For a complete list of her books, monthly newsletter and more, go to juliemiller.org

CONSUMED BY OUT-OF-CONTROL PASSION Arson investigator Gideon Taylor had his hands full with three suspicious fires and no leads. Complicating matters were his unresolved feelings for former colleague Meghan Wright -- the one woman he'd never got out of his system. She'd become the target of a stalker, whose proximity to Gideon's assignment was no coincidence. But as Gideon and Meghan joined forces to uncover the secrets scorched to cinders, it was clear a five-alarm inferno was about to ignite between them. Could they reveal who was responsible for what appeared to be an elaborate plan before the sizzling embers of their relationship were permanently extinguished...?

A MILLIONAIRE NO ONE'S EVER SEEN...BECAUSE HE ONLY COMES OUT AT NIGHT Months ago, arsonists burned Dr. Damon Sinclair's laboratory. Now Damon is a recluse, shut in at the top of his unfinished Sinclair Tower. And at the very bottom is the affectionate Kit Snow and her down-home diner. After stopping a back-alley mugging, Kit earns the gratitude of the dark knight doctor. Only, she doesn't want his charity--just all of his most intimate secrets--putting her between her mysterious protector and the black marketers seeking to pillage the Sinclair pharmaceutical empire. But the only thing Damon guards more closely than his multimillion-dollar formulas is his heart.

Kansas City HeroScarred inside and out by a past he can't remember, Jake Lonergan doesn't know if he's a heroic undercover DEA agent or the hit man who killed him and assumed his identity. While he is determined to remain in the shadows, it's Robin Carter and her baby girl who force him back into the light. When the gorgeous single mom is attacked, Jake comes to her rescue...and finds it impossible to walk away from this fragile little family. Now, with a dangerous stalker determined to get his hands on the only woman who got away, protecting Robin and her daughter becomes Jake's priority. But with his memories still in question, Jake fears what will happen when the bad guy comes calling. Can he prove he's the good guy Robin is convinced he must be?

Ten years ago quiet heiress Charlotte Mayweather was abducted and held for ransom...but when she was targeted a second time, SWAT officer Trip Jones vowed to protect her. The damaged beauty was slow to trust, but even she couldn't deny the tender bond forming between her and her handsome bodyguard. Trip was determined to keep Charlotte alive and help her face her life-altering fears. But with a serial killer on the loose and Charlotte willing to play bait, it would take every skill he had to keep his beautiful ward from facing dire consequences...

A seventy-two-hour countdown to save her life They may have battled in the courtroom, but KCPD detective Keir Watson isn't going to let their turbulent past stop him from protecting attorney Kenna Parker. She was attacked, escaping with her life but with no memory of who wanted to end it. And the only person she dares trust is Keir. With the clock ticking, every second grows more precious, each action more important...their feelings more intense. If Keir is going to discover Kenna's would-be killer, he has to keep his mind on the case. But his attraction to Kenna is making this self-declared bachelor reconsider just what his idea of forever could mean. The Precinct: Bachelors in Blue

A guilt-racked hero vows to succeed...even if it costs him his life.Five million dollars for rescuing a kidnapped heiress? To reclusive Jason Hunt, the job's about redemption, not money. But when the troubled former marine finds megarich Samantha Eddington, opposites attract as they escape her captors. Odds are they won't survive the brutal Teton Mountains or the mercenaries after them. And if they do, will Jason's reward be redemption or heartbreak?

THE NOTORIOUS TAYLOR Undercover cop Cole Taylor had his hands full sustaining a secret identity as he worked to expose a Kansas City crime boss -- while living under the enemy's roof! The last thing he needed was a snooty intellectual type interfering in his investigation, asking suspicious questions and snooping where she shouldn't. Besides, with all that fiery red hair and miles of silky skin, Victoria Westin didn't look like any professor he knew.... She had the touch-me-not beauty of an aristocrat and fit right in with their upper-crust hosts. But the streetwise Taylor from working-class roots would have to persuade Miss High-and-Mighty to cooperate with his plan to save his life -- and now hers, too. And if he couldn't gain her cooperation by his usual methods, he'd blackmail her with bedroom fantasies to "maintain cover."

WHO'S THE BOSS? Commissioner Shauna Cartwright knew she was stirring up a hornet's nest by reopening the Baby Jane Doe murder case. Now she faced the further wrath of the KCPD by recruiting the much-maligned Eli Masterson to get the job done. After witnessing the handsome, hard-nosed detective in action during a botched bank robbery, she sensed he would face down her enemies. However, she was overpowered by her scandalous sexual attraction to the IA investigator who pushed the limits of her authority in his die-hard need to protect her from a sadistic killer. Surrendering to temptation broke every departmental rule imaginable...but as the case of Baby Jane Doe emerges from the shadows, would they risk their badges for love--and systematically stop a lethal traitor in his tracks?