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Familiar Obsession
Caroline Burnes
Join the coolest feline detective to ever take on mystery, mayhem and matchmaking, in his 13th adventure!Every night, he slipped into her dreamsMillionaire Duke Masonne had vanished years ago and was presumed dead. But Liza Hawkins never forgot her lover's face, his touch, and never gave up hope he would return. She saw Duke everyone–in her dreams, her paintings…and now, in crowded rooms. Friends feared she might be going crazy, but a little black cat meowed otherwise…Duke had come to reclaim a past he couldn't remember from a villain he wouldn't recognize. Only the sultry heat of Liza's kisses seemed familiar. For a future with Liza, Duke had to draw his enemy into the open–and expose the truth about the night he disappeared.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” Liza whispered
“Five years, Duke. Five years of wondering.”
Something in her voice must have touched him, as his cool expression gave way to sudden pain. “Whatever I shared with you, it must have been spectacular,” he answered.
Liza stepped closer, all thoughts of safety or caution evaporating, pushed aside by her feelings for the man who stood before her. She didn’t wait for him to kiss her. She stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips softly against his. “I’ve dreamed of this moment for five years,” she said, her arms going around his neck.
For a moment, Duke merely accepted her kiss, but then his arms closed around her and Liza gave herself to the pleasure of his mouth on hers.
The soft darkness of the night cloaked them, and Liza felt Duke’s hands grasp her waist. Her heart was pounding, and beneath his shirt she could feel his answering heartbeat.
He eased her away from him and looked into her eyes. His own were glazed with desire.
“Liza,” he said, his voice hoarse, “I remember.”
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
Your summer reading list just wouldn’t be complete without the special brand of romantic suspense you can only get from Harlequin Intrigue.
This month, Joanna Wayne launches her first-ever miniseries! You loved the Randolph family when you met them in her book Family Ties (#444). So now they’re back in RANDOLPH FAMILY TIES, beginning with Branson’s story in The Second Son (#569). Flesh and blood bind these brothers to each other—and to a mystery baby girl. All are her protectors…one is her father.
Familiar, the crime-solving black cat, is back in his thirteenth FEAR FAMILIAR title by Caroline Burnes. This time he explores New Orleans in Familiar Obsession (#570).
It had been Hope Fancy’s dream to marry Quinn McClure, but not under a blaze of bullets! Are Urgent Vows (#571) enough to save two small children…and a lifelong love? Find out with Harlequin Intrigue author Joyce Sullivan.
With her signature style and Native American characters and culture, Aimée Thurlo revisits the Black Raven brothers from Christmas Witness (#544). In Black Raven’s Pride (#572), Nick Black Raven would die to protect Eden Maes, the one-time and always love of his life. And he’d be damned before anyone would touch a hair on the head of their child.
So if you can handle the heat, pull the trigger on all four Harlequin Intrigue titles!
Sincerely,
Denise O’Sullivan
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
Familiar Obsession
Caroline Burnes
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caroline Burnes continues her life as doorman and can opener for her six cats and three dogs. E. A. Poe, the prototype cat for Familiar, rules as king of the ranch, followed by his lieutenants, Miss Vesta, Gumbo, Chester, Maggie the Cat and Ash. The dogs, though a more lowly life form, are tolerated as foot soldiers by the cats. They are Sweetie Pie, Maybelline and Corky.
Books by Caroline Burnes
HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE
86—A DEADLY BREED
100—MEASURE OF DECEIT
115—PHANTOM FILLY
134—FEAR FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
154—THE JAGUAR’S EYE
186—DEADLY CURRENTS
204—FATAL INGREDIENTS
215—TOO FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
229—HOODWINKED
241—FLESH AND BLOOD
256—THRICE FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
267—CUTTING EDGE
277—SHADES OF FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
293—FAMILIAR REMEDY* (#litres_trial_promo)
322—FAMILIAR TALE* (#litres_trial_promo)
343—BEWITCHING FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
399—A CHRISTMAS KISS
409—MIDNIGHT PREY
426—FAMILIAR HEART* (#litres_trial_promo)
452—FAMILIAR FIRE* (#litres_trial_promo)
485—REMEMBER ME, COWBOY
502—FAMILIAR VALENTINE* (#litres_trial_promo)
525—AFTER DARK
“Familiar Stranger”* (#litres_trial_promo)
542—FAMILIAR CHRISTMAS* (#litres_trial_promo)
554—TEXAS MIDNIGHT
570—FAMILIAR OBSESSION* (#litres_trial_promo)
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Familiar—The feline detective is always ready to help a beautiful woman in distress.
Liza Hawkins—She thought the world ended when her lover disappeared. Now she’s seeing his face everywhere and fears she’s going crazy.
Mike Davis, aka Duke Masonne—He’s come back to reclaim his past and the woman who once loved him.
Anita Blevins—Art critic and general pain, she seems to play both sides of the fence.
Lisbeth Dendrich—Marcelle’s best friend drinks herself into oblivion. Is she guilty of something?
Pascal Krantz—Liza’s agent made her a star. Does his need to control her hide something more sinister?
Kyle LaRue—Duke’s former business partner made a tidy profit when Duke disappeared.
Trent Maxwell—The detective pursues Duke relentlessly. Does he believe Duke is a murderer, or is he part of the setup?
Marcelle Ricco—The socialite led a secret life, and died the day Duke disappeared.
For Sharon Paul, who took in a stray kitty, Simon,
and a stray author, me, and treated us
as if we were her own.
Contents
Chapter One (#u9064c103-a41c-5f55-9e8b-baf2f1c19cea)
Chapter Two (#u261407bc-d31e-5a79-bbf5-4d550dac7501)
Chapter Three (#u260b4af8-a652-5493-835e-a306d8cda84e)
Chapter Four (#u75f90715-965e-5baf-99cf-578dcb1528cd)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
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 One
Ritzy! That’s the only word to describe this event. Pass the salmon popovers lightly drizzled with dill sauce—save a bonbon with crème de cacao center. This is a party with style and substance. Even if it weren’t for the food, the artwork is excellent. Especially this lovely watercolor of Dumaine Street after a spring rain. See the magnificent little calico kitty sitting on the third-floor balcony. She looks exactly like my Clotilde did when she was a sprite of a kitten.
It must be my advancing age, but this New Orleans artist, Liza Hawkins, looks like a child. But judging by her beautiful paintings, she’s a grown-up. There’s a certain sensuality in the watercolors, and a bit of sadness. Very interesting. As is the woman herself. Those long curls remind me of the tale of Rapunzel, and her long legs remind me of a runway model. The way she pays such close attention to everyone tells me that she’s not the typical egomaniac artiste. Those big brown eyes look as if she’s—haunted. Sad and haunted. I’ll have to keep a close eye on Miss Liza Hawkins. This is her night to shine and I get the feeling she’s about to burst into tears. As a cat who smells a mystery, my whiskers are a-twitchin’.
LIZA HAWKINS WAS ALMOST afraid to glance around the crowded reception room of LaTique Gallery. The drone of conversation bouncing off the historic old brick walls was almost more than she could bear—not the noise, but the fact that so many people had come to the opening of her show. The success of the event was so stupendous that she was terrified it was all a dream. Any moment, she’d awaken to discover she was in her bed on the third floor of the gallery.
Alone.
As she had been for the past five years.
“Liza, darling, the show is superb.”
She turned to speak to Anita Blevins, the art critic for the local newspaper, The Times Picayune. “Thanks, Anita. I’m in shock.”
“You’re on your way to the top,” Anita predicted. “I’ve decided to use a photo of this opening on the section front. I know this isn’t a good time for in-depth questions, so let’s have lunch tomorrow for an interview.”
“Sure.” Liza felt as if her fairy godmother had waved a magic wand. She was thirty-five and had been painting for twenty years. No one had ever predicted success for her—except Duke.
Even the thought of him was painful. She tried to control the frown, but it was too late. She’d been caught in a moment of pain—and her manager was bearing down on her.
“Liza dear, wipe that sour expression off your face and mingle.” Pascal Krantz’s face was a mask of pleasure, but his voice was iron. “I’ve busted my chops to get your show this much coverage. Your pleasant lifestyle is due to the fact that your work is now selling for big bucks. Look, the television cameras are on us. Smile!”
Liza obediently smiled up at her manager. “Thanks, Pascal. I do appreciate it. It’s way beyond all expectations. Look at the people. How did you get Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney to come?”
