“You mean my lawyer,” he said, still grinning, deciding to go ahead and kiss her ear because it couldn’t talk back at him.
“That’s what I said. Though I appreciate what you did, my lawyer informed me I’m going to take a serious hit come tax season because of the nature of the transfer of assets. If you want to work for me at Odyssey and you expect to get back in this house, then you’d better do something about that situation.”
He chuckled while she straddled his lap on her knees and pushed back with her hands on his shoulders. She was all business as she looked down at him, his beautiful Egyptologist turned suspect-on-the-lam turned suddenly confident negotiator.
“Are you trying to cut a deal with me, Kit-Kat?”
“Yes,” she said without flinching.
“And what do you get in return?”
“Hopefully a joint tax return.”
His heart skipped a beat. “Are we talking marriage here?”
“I am. I’m not having your baby without a marriage certificate.”
“Baby?”
“I’m not pregnant,” she said quickly at what he knew was his shocked expression. “But considering the way you tackled me when you got here, anything’s possible.”
“The way I tackled you?”
“Denial is a river in Egypt, Pete. I should know.” She lifted a brow. “Wish you’d stayed in Cairo now?”
He flipped her to her back so fast she gasped. “Not on your life.”
“Wait!” She smiled against his mouth. “I’m suddenly afraid you might be agreeing to marry me just to get at my money.”
“Kat,” he said in all seriousness as he looked down at her. “You’re not getting out of this one. When I make a deal, I’m in it for the long haul, no matter where it takes me.”
“Promise?”
The mischievous glint in her eye told him the future would never be easy where she was concerned. Lucky for him, that was just how he liked it.
“Absolutely. Now shut up and welcome me home all over again.”
Acknowledgments
Big thanks to my agent, Laura Bradford, for her honesty, hard work and advice regarding this book. Thanks also to my editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, and the entire crew at Dorchester for their unflappable attention to detail.
Special thanks as always to my rock, Joan Swan, who makes writing just plain fun. My “girls”…Lisa Catto, Becky Hakes, Kendra Elliot & Alice Sharpe for always responding to “just one more thing.” To Bethany Cunningham Gabbert for her fab legal advice; Rita Van Hee, Tonia Wubbena & Connie Dingeman for dropping everything to read for me; and Tiki Gaugler, who sailed to my rescue in the middle of this book when I needed it most. Thanks also to Karl Wingren and the staff at the Clackamas County Public Safety Training Center for a great day on the range and for answering all my questions.
And finally, to my husband Dan, who puts up with the long hours I spend at the keyboard. I love you, babe.
Praise for Elisabeth Naughton and Stolen Fury!
“Wow, what a roller coaster ride! Naughton nails her debut with a hot hero, a sassy heroine and a plot with more twists then a pretzel! Well done!”
—Karin Tabke, author of Jaded
“A rock solid debut…Naughton’s intelligent adventure plot is intensified by the blazing heat that builds from Lisa and Rafe’s first erotic encounter.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Naughton deftly distills deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion into a perfectly constructed novel of romantic suspense.”
—Chicago Tribune
“When a tough-as-nails and slightly repressed archaeologist meets a charming bad-boy thief, they test each other’s limits, narrowly escape danger, and fall in love. While it’s a familiar plot (think Romancing the Stone), Naughton creates an action-packed and satisfying story line. She also delivers one very charming and sexy hero—with a heart of gold.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Stolen Fury puts an intelligent, spirited heroine together with a mischievous hot blooded rogue. The sparks fly! Danger threatens at every corner as these two race around the globe and delve into the secrets each keeps from the other.”
—Merrimon Book Reviews
“This is an exciting romantic suspense thriller that starts off hot and…from there turns up the heat and the action.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Stolen Fury has a complex plot…a sassy independent heroine, and a lush Latin hero. What more can one ask for in a romantic suspense novel?”
—Romance Junkies
Other Love Spell Books by Elisabeth Naughton:
STOLEN FURY
Copyright
LOVE SPELL®
August 2009
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2009 by Elisabeth Naughton
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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0720-3
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Elisabeth Naughton, Stolen Heat
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