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Ethan's Daughter
Rachel Brimble
There's safety in solitude…isn't there?Single dad and best-selling thriller writer Ethan James has no problem being Templeton Cove’s most famous recluse…until a surprise visit from the past plunges him into a real-life crime drama, just as feisty nurse Leah Dixon barges her way into his world.Ethan’s first priority is to protect his daughter. His second priority is to keep Leah out of this dark web—and that means out of his bed. Except Leah isn’t going anywhere; she's afraid little Daisy is in danger. Ethan couldn’t live with himself if anything happened to Leah…but pushing her away may be even harder!
There’s safety in solitude...isn’t there?
Single dad and best-selling thriller writer Ethan James has no problem being Templeton Cove’s most famous recluse...until a surprise visit from the past plunges him into a real-life crime drama just as feisty nurse Leah Dixon barges her way into his world.
Ethan’s first priority is to protect his daughter. His second priority is to keep Leah out of this dark web—and that means out of his bed. Except Leah isn’t going anywhere; she’s afraid little Daisy is in danger. Ethan couldn’t live with himself if anything happened to Leah...but pushing her away may be even harder!
Ethan glanced at Leah as they drove along the main street.
Her jaw was set and her grip on the steering wheel looked tight enough to break the damn thing.
He stared ahead and cleared his throat. “You know, my hand feels fine if you want to postpone looking at it until tomorrow. I’ve no idea how long I’ll be talking to my agent, and I don’t want to keep you waiting. Plus, I need to get Daisy showered and into bed. She has school in the morning.”
“It’s for the best that I look at it tonight. I’ve already seen the dried blood.” She glanced at him. “Your hand is clearly not fine. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as possible.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. I just…” He just what? Wanted her far away from him so there was no risk of acting on the crazy need to kiss her?
Dear Reader (#u24408938-2b6d-5f7a-9680-c1a28c973f2d),
So happy to welcome you back to Templeton Cove! Ethan’s Daughter is book seven in the series, but all the stories can be read as stand-alone books. This is a romantic suspense story centering around Leah Dixon, who briefly appeared in books three, four and six. By book seven, it was clear she had a lot more to tell me! Her hero is a newcomer to the series, Ethan James, a single father and reclusive thriller writer.
The book opens with Leah finding Ethan’s young daughter playing alone on the beach. Having seen far too much neglect and harm come to children through her job as an ER nurse, Leah is ready to do battle as she returns little Daisy safely home. Leah’s shock that Daisy’s father is none other than sexy, mysterious and extremely successful novelist Ethan James is short-lived. Her surprise is soon cut short by his bleeding hand and her quick, experienced eye drawing the correct conclusion that the wound is a defensive one.
When Ethan refuses to go to the hospital, Leah is alerted to possible trouble and danger for little Daisy. Unable to ignore her professional care, duty and growing attraction to Ethan, Leah is soon drawn into Ethan’s criminal trouble and the people threatening him.
All that matters to both Leah and Ethan is his daughter’s safety and they will do everything they have to in order to make sure of it.
Ethan’s Daughter is romantic, tense and was so much fun to write. I really hope it will keep you gripped in its pages and tempt you to return to Templeton Cove again soon!
Visit me on Facebook at Rachel Brimble (https://www.facebook.com/rachelbrimbleauthor/), and Twitter, @rachelbrimble (https://twitter.com/rachelbrimble).
Happy reading,
Rachel
Ethan’s Daughter
Rachel Brimble
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
RACHEL BRIMBLE lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had eight books contracted with Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories). She also has four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical Press.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Harlequin Superromance finalist of the So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book, knitting or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in southwest England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Books by Rachel Brimble
HARLEQUIN SUPERROMANCE
Templeton Cove Stories
Finding Justice
A Man Like Him
What Belongs to Her
Christmas at the Cove
Her Hometown Redemption
Saved by the Firefighter
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com (http://www.Harlequin.com).
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Click here (http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002) to Join Harlequin My Rewards http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002 (http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002)
For my amazing friends who have believed in me from the start—but a special thank-you to the lovely Joanna Hall. I could not have written Leah & Ethan’s story without your professional help and advice (all errors are mine). You are a star!
Contents
Cover (#u13292c5d-680a-5f7e-b16b-94e8eb9e782e)
Back Cover Text (#u710eb204-38c5-502a-ad9b-6551198d2b25)
Introduction (#uae4f171b-3c95-512a-b38b-95631516b47c)
Dear Reader (#ue3b0d915-f199-5f67-be1d-f7839569482b)
Title Page (#u50c92d3d-fa8e-5f0f-bd57-f4f12d59b563)
About the Author (#u118fb497-b0f9-5efa-b8ad-18b69e38ffc6)
Dedication (#u04cc6402-0976-58af-98fb-7246c123d841)
CHAPTER ONE (#u907c7307-08d7-5b01-9f0e-516997e30480)
CHAPTER TWO (#u1f2bfadf-93e1-592e-a81a-5f30b2e49c97)
CHAPTER THREE (#u97b21c95-183d-5062-8654-690c6cf2e4a5)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ua798a9de-02de-5820-9ac0-53f47ffe96d0)
CHAPTER FIVE (#u8d3ffa10-a4ed-5088-9f79-8f8f28142e42)
CHAPTER SIX (#ube86cb01-e84c-5af0-88fb-87963704171d)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u24408938-2b6d-5f7a-9680-c1a28c973f2d)
THE RISING WIND blew off the ocean onto Templeton Cove’s promenade and Leah Dixon pulled her jacket closer around her body. Even though it was only September, the weather was already turning typically British. If she hadn’t stopped for a friendly chat with a few of the locals, she would have been home from her shift at the hospital an hour ago.
She looked to the beach and shivered as the first drop of rain spattered her glasses.
No one needed to get caught in one of Templeton’s rainstorms. The Cove and its coastal location meant it was prone to flooding, and when Mother Nature decided to scream her wrath there was little chance of escape for anyone.
Ducking her head, Leah glanced back and forth across the deserted beach as she hurried toward her small cottage just off the main street.
She suddenly drew to an abrupt halt.
Squinting, she walked to the railing. Was that a child out there on her own? It couldn’t be. “Oh, my God.”
Leah sprinted across the beach as the heavens opened, sending down an icy-cold deluge. The little girl, who couldn’t have been any older than six or seven, was throwing rocks into the incoming tide, relaxed and seemingly happy, as though it were a midsummer evening. Her track pants, denim jacket and open sandals would do little to stop her from getting soaked in five minutes flat.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Leah slowed as she came closer, not wanting to frighten her. “What are you doing out here on your own?”
The little girl turned, her dark, curly hair loose about her shoulders, her blue eyes sad. “Hello.”
Was that all this little one had to say to her? Leah swallowed and forced a smile as she surreptitiously looked about them, in search of an adult to whom this gorgeous creature belonged. “Hi, sweetie. Where’s your mum?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you lost?”
“No. I live here.”
“Here?” Leah frowned, fighting the urge to take the little girl’s hand and warm it between her own. “In the Cove?”
“Uh-huh.”
“But you don’t know where your mum is?”
“No, she left me and Daddy a long time ago.”
Deeper sadness seeped into the girl’s eyes and Leah’s self-control buckled. She offered her hand. “I see. Well, why don’t you come with me and I’ll help you find your daddy. Or is someone else looking after you?”
“Daddy’s working.” The little girl slipped her hand far too easily, far too trustingly, into Leah’s. “He’s always working. My name’s Daisy James. What’s yours?”
“Leah. Leah Dixon.” She firmly clasped Daisy’s hand and started to lead her back to the promenade steps. “So are you here with someone else while Daddy’s working?”
“No. I came out on my own. I was looking for some friends to play with.”
Leah briefly closed her eyes as ugly images reared in her mind. She knew them far too well, from working in Templeton’s ER for the last eight years. Anything could’ve happened to this sweet baby. Anything. “Well, I tell you what, Daisy. Why don’t you tell me where you live and I’ll get you home before we’re both soaked through. How will that be?”
Daisy smiled for the first time, her eyes bright even as the rain plastered her curls flat to her head. “That will be good. Thank you.”
Leah smiled back, itching to give Daisy a hug. “You’re welcome. Do you know your address?”
“Sure. I live on Clover Point. Our cabin is called King’s Korner. With a K.”
“Huh.” Leah nodded, already forming a picture of the little girl’s father. “Did your daddy name the cabin? Fancies himself a king, does he?”
“No.” Daisy giggled. “I think it’s because of a writer he likes.”
“Hmm...why don’t we get you home and I can ask him myself.”
Hand in hand, she led Daisy along the promenade toward Clover Point, situated at the far end of the Cove. Although they walked as fast as possible, it took them a good twenty minutes. Leah’s blood was boiling. How long had Daisy been gone from home for her father to not notice her missing? Worse, what if she was lying for her father and he’d actually sent her out alone so he could get some precious work done?
