Suspicious Minds
A Romantic Suspense Novel
Blurb
Revenge,
Betrayal, and Hidden Identity
In the city of Boston lies a story of
revenge and hidden identity. Ryan Donatelli, posing as Thomas Randolph, sets
out to avenge his sister's death, even if it means using Sam Southard's
daughter to do it. After all, Ryan is sure Sam's responsible.
Natalie Southard is determined to keep
her family business out of the hands of known crime boss, Nick DeMarco. After
her father is killed, Natalie and Ryan are forced to run for their lives. But,
will they live long enough for their hearts to heal once everything is
revealed?
Genres: Romance / Romantic Suspense / Romantic Thriller
Excerpt
Prologue
"Is that her?" Detective Walsh asked, talking
around the wad of gum in his mouth.
Ryan Donatelli tugged at the neck of
his old football jersey while he looked everywhere but at the body on the steel
examination table. The morgue walls were closing in on him. "I don't
know." Even to him, his voice sounded tinny and far off. "Shelley's
small, but this woman seems much smaller. It's hard to say." The obvious
resemblance struck him, but he looked for any reason he could to deny it.
"Dehydration from the burns,"
the gray-haired coroner said. "It changes the facial appearance."
Ryan glanced up and noticed the older
man's immense nose and his astonishing resemblance to the comedian and singer,
Jimmy Durante.
The detective shrugged. "Well, if
you can't be sure, I guess we'll just have to— Wait a minute! What about
this?" Walsh removed a small envelope from his jacket pocket and extracted
a plastic bag containing a necklace that had been tagged for evidence.
Ryan's stomach spasmed. Acid scorched
his throat. Every conscious thought screamed denial, yet his trembling hand
reached for the bag. Under the fluorescent lights, the ruby pendant glowed like
a hot ember. He squeezed it in his palm, trying to feel its pulsing warmth—like
the warmth of Shelley's smile.
Oh, God! It was as cold as the body on
the table.
"You okay?" The detective's
voice was muffled.
Ryan wanted to laugh at the stupidity
of the question, but at this moment, mirth was a foreign emotion to him.
With his index finger, he traced the
outline of the small stone before turning it over to read the inscription he
knew he would find. Unshed tears blurred his vision, but there it was. Happy
B-day, Love, R.
"It's Shelley," he said and
turned away. He could no longer deny the evident truth, or hang onto the
tiniest thread of hope that this was a terrible mistake.
Sweet, stubborn Shelley, his baby
sister. She'd never argue politics, movies or anything mundane as the weather
again. Shelley loved to challenge him. She'd made him think in new ways and
consider new options. What would he do without her?
Teaser Scene
...He
sipped his drink, noticing her eyes shifting from one object to the other. The
love seat and chair with its own ottoman matched the ivory couch. A
blue-and-crimson oriental rug dominated the living room floor. Sheer white
curtains covered the double glass doors leading to the dining room with a black
lacquered table and chairs.
"Do
you like the house?"
"Yes,
it's beautiful...lovely," she said, touching his arm.
"Thank
you, but I can't take the credit. My mother redecorated it last year."
Ryan looked around as if viewing it for the first time himself.
"I'd
love to meet your mother. She has exquisite taste."
"I
have to agree. Maybe one day you will. And, if you're good, I may take you on
the grand tour of the place." Ryan's face drifted close to hers. He found
himself not wanting to carry on the conversation any longer. His mind was far
from words at the moment.
Her black
hair, like her eyes, sparkled in the light. His skin beneath the sleeve of his
shirt burned where the tips of her fingers touched. She smelled like freshly
cut gardenias from his grandmother's greenhouse. Her voice sounded like an
angel's song.
All he
thought of was kissing her. He wanted to taste her sensuous pink lips and hold
her in his arms until she begged for more.
As if his
thoughts scared her, she turned away.
"I-I'd
be privileged to see it."
Did she
feel the electricity sparking between them, too? Did she hunger for him the way
he hungered for her?
He felt her
uncertainty as clearly he did his own. Finally, she looked at him, and he could
see the passion burning in her green eyes, and knew it was mirrored by his own.
The window behind Natalie flashed with light. Their gazes clashed as the
weather outside changed to a darkened, cloud-studded night. Wind whipped the
bay into a frenzy of waves that slammed onto the beach behind the house.
The
rumbling of thunder startled Natalie and she jumped into his arms. Her breast
pushed against his chest and his defenses crumbled. His mouth covered hers as a
hungry moan escaped his lips. She wrapped her arms around him, returning his
kiss. He'd imagined her kiss to be sweet and full of passion, and his
imagination was right on target...
Scheduled for
re-release March 15, 2016 – Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/kimcox
About Kim Cox
Kim Cox is an author of Paranormal, Mystery,
Suspense and Romance. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
with her chain saw artist husband, their West Highland White Terriers--Scooter
and Harley, and a Yorkie mix, Candi. Kim is published in novels, short stories
and articles. Sign up for Kim's Readers List for exclusive information, new releases, contests, giveaways, and free books.
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Thanks Kim for stopping by,
Tina
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