An Eye for an Eye »

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 25 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, and the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. Irene and her husband make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

EXCERPT FROM CATALOG:

Emily felt the flush on her cheeks deepen. "Mark Sanders! Are you flirting with me?"

"I plead the fifth. But just to cover my back, is there a husband I should be concerned about?" His gaze flicked to her ringless left hand.

Her smile faded, and with it the lighthearted mood. "Not anymore. I lost him five years ago, less than six months after we were married. Grant was a fire fighter. He died in the line of duty."

He let out a slow breath. "I'm sorry."

"So am I. He was a good man." She swallowed and summoned up her smile again. "How about you, Mark? Do you have a wife back in Quantico?"

"No. My career hasn't been conducive to long-term relationships."

"Just short-term ones, hmm?" She switched back to banter mode, hoping that would help ease the ache in her heart that memories of Grant always stirred up.

"I think I'm going to employ those verbal judo techniques you mentioned. How about we settle on a time for that cold drink?"

"Deflecting my question, huh?"

With a chuckle, he lifted his arm to check his watch. "No comment."

As he angled away from her to shade the face from the sun, a persistent yellow jacket buzzed her. Sidestepping it, she flapped her hand to shoo it away.

"The bees are bad this sum--"

The distinctive crack of a rifle shot shattered the early morning stillness, cutting her off in mid-sentence.

The next thing she knew, Mark lunged at her, taking her to the ground with a powerful thrust.

As her body slammed against the unforgiving pavement, the bizarre reality slammed into her with equal force.

Someone was shooting at them.