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The Stolen Bride
Jacqueline Diamond
COP TO THE RESCUECrashing his high-school sweetheart's society wedding might be going above and beyond the call of duty, but Officer Joseph Lowery instinctively detected something unsettling–sinister, even–about Erin Marshall's impending union with a man she couldn't even remember saying yes to.After her harrowing "accident," Erin's memory had been wiped clean of the day she'd nearly been killed. And now the bewildered heiress was spending what would have been her honeymoon dodging bullets with the blue collar cop who risked his badge–and his life–to shield her from a dangerous criminal. If only she could recollect something…other than how badly she'd once wanted–still wanted–her dynamic protector….
“I’m not here to comfort you. I’m here to keep you alive.”
His breath whispered across her cheek.
“I didn’t realize you’d volunteered to be my bodyguard.” Erin fought the impulse to turn and touch her lips to his.
“I guess I have, by default.” Joseph shifted away. Perhaps he was battling the same urge, she thought. “There’s a positive side to my being on leave. Since I won’t have to work, there’s no danger of leaving you here alone.”
“Does that mean I can stay?” Erin asked, elated. Then guiltily, she added, “But I’m putting you out of your bed. Once I meet with Stanley, I should be able to move somewhere else.”
“If you like, I can put you in touch with a top-level security service.” He fingered a loose strand of her hair. “Or you can stay, if you prefer.”
She did prefer. Very much. “Yes. I’d rather be with you.”
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
To chase away those end-of-summer blues, we have an explosive lineup that’s guaranteed to please!
Joanna Wayne leaves goosebumps with A Father’s Duty, the third book in NEW ORLEANS CONFIDENTIAL. In this riveting conclusion, murder, mayhem…and mystique are unleashed in the Big Easy. And that’s just the beginning! Unauthorized Passion, which marks the beginning of Amanda Stevens’ new action-packed miniseries, MATCHMAKERS UNDERGROUND, features a lethally sexy lawman who takes a beautiful imposter into his protective custody. Look for Just Past Midnight by Ms. Stevens from Harlequin Books next month at your favorite retail outlet.
Danger and discord sweep through Antelope Flats when B.J. Daniels launches her western series, MCCALLS’ MONTANA. Will the town ever be the same after a fiery showdown between a man on a mission and The Cowgirl in Question? Next up, the second book in ECLIPSE, our new gothic-inspired promotion. Midnight Island Sanctuary by Susan Peterson—a spine-tingling “gaslight” mystery set in a remote coastal town—will pull you into a chilling riptide.
To wrap up this month’s thrilling lineup, Amy J. Fetzer returns to Harlequin Intrigue to unravel a sinister black-market baby ring mystery in Undercover Marriage. And, finally, don’t miss The Stolen Bride by Jacqueline Diamond—an edge-of-your-seat reunion romance about an amnesiac bride-in-jeopardy who is about to get a crash course in true love.
Enjoy!
Denise O’Sullivan
Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
The Stolen Bride
Jacqueline Diamond
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The daughter of a doctor and an artist, Jacqueline Diamond claims to have researched the field of obstetrics primarily by developing a large range of complications during her pregnancies. She’s also lucky enough to have a friend and neighbor who’s an obstetrical nurse. The author of more than sixty novels, Jackie lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. She loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 1315, Brea, CA 92822, or by e-mail at JDiamondfriends@aol.com.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Erin Marshall—An independent-minded heiress, she’s blindsided by attacks, uncertain whom to trust—and has to take the gamble of a lifetime on her wedding day.
Joseph Lowery—A police officer living in the shadow of his father’s disgrace, he offers Erin his protection. But he may be unintentionally drawing her into greater danger.
Chet Dever—He lied to Erin about their wedding plans. Was he also driving the van that ran her down?
Lance Bolding—Erin’s stepfather may have designs on the Marshall Company, the firm she and her mother, Alice, inherited.
Brandy Schorr—Lance and Alice’s new housekeeper is keeping secrets of her own.
Tina Norris—Erin’s friend and maid of honor, she’s tangled in a web of relationships.
Gene Norris—Tina’s brother would do almost anything to realize his ambitions.
Edgar Norris—As chief of police, he blocks Joseph’s investigation of Alice’s near drowning and may have framed Joseph’s father for murder.
Marie Flanders—Erin’s missing aunt might be the victim of violence—or a part of it.
Rick Valdez—Is the detective sergeant playing a game of his own?
Stanley Rogers—Longtime accountant at the Marshall Company, he controls Erin’s trust fund.
Todd Wilde—Eleven years ago, he may have gotten away with murder. Now he’s back, but what does he want?
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter One
Erin Marshall first noticed the van a little before 6:00 p.m. She wasn’t sure why it caught her eye, since there were still quite a few cars parked in the paved area roped off from the Healthy Children’s Fund carnival, which she’d helped organize.
It wasn’t just the peeling beige paint or dented bumper that drew her attention. Despite Orange County’s reputation for affluence, the daylong carnival in the centrally located city of Tustin had drawn not only late-model cars and SUVs, but also plenty of old clunkers.
Maybe it was the way the van lurked to one side, half-hidden in the shade of an office building that sat empty on a Saturday. And the fact that, despite an obscuring shadow, she could tell there was someone sitting behind the wheel, unmoving as the minutes ticked by.
Was he waiting for someone? Why didn’t he come out and enjoy the September sunshine?
“Wanna buy a candy bar?” a girl’s voice asked.
Erin tore her gaze away from the van. Before the booth where she’d been handing out pamphlets stood a teenage volunteer with one thick, nutty chocolate bar left on her tray.
“I just have to sell this one and I can go home,” the girl said. “You look hungry. How about it?”
It was on the tip of Erin’s tongue to say, “I can’t eat that stuff.” Even though she was only twenty-six, she’d stuck strictly—well, almost strictly—to health food since a heart attack killed her father two years ago.
What was a couple of dollars? And she had skipped lunch, and for heaven’s sake, it was one chocolate bar.
“Sure.” She fished a few crumpled bills from her shoulder bag.
“Thanks!” With a grin, the girl handed it over and hurried toward the cashier’s booth. Beyond her, workmen were disassembling the carnival rides on a far section of the asphalt. The scents of popcorn and cotton candy lingered in the air as the vendors closed up shop.
People streamed by, heading home. From the parking area, Erin registered the sound of cars starting. No one seemed the least bit interested in taking a pamphlet describing the fund’s free health screening programs.
After tucking away the candy to savor at leisure, she decided to make the rounds to see if anyone needed help closing up shop. Although many tradespeople had decamped, it was her responsibility, as administrative assistant at Conrad Promotions, to keep things running smoothly.
Erin glanced toward the building. The van hadn’t gone anywhere.
It probably belonged to one of the craftspeople, she told herself. Any minute, the driver would get out and begin loading unsold wares.
Still, she felt vulnerable. For comfort, she instinctively touched the gold pendant nestled against the front of her blue Healthy Children’s Fund T-shirt.
It was hard to say why she’d worn it today. Although she sometimes took it out of the drawer simply to enjoy the precious memories it stirred, Erin couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn the jagged half heart design. Maybe it was because, after tomorrow, she’d never be able to wear it again.
It reminded her of someone she’d once loved, someone who’d probably thrown away the other half of the heart years ago. Erin wished that didn’t bother her so much.
A tablecloth flapped in her path, startling her.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t see you,” called a woman shaking wrinkles from the fabric. She’d already tucked her unsold teddy bears into a box beneath her display table.
“I hope your sales went well,” Erin said.
“Terrific!” That was good news, since the fund netted a percentage of everything sold.
Erin moved on through the nearly empty carnival section. She was about to check on the van again when a boy of about four pelted toward her. Behind him lagged his weary mother, pushing a baby stroller.
“Whoa!” Erin held out one arm. “Wait for your mom.”
The boy halted in front of her. “I want to go home!”
“Are you planning to drive the car yourself?” she asked.
“Can I?” he asked hopefully.
“Well, no, so I guess you better wait for your mother.”
That seemed logical to Erin, but the little boy’s face reddened. “I’m hungry!” he wailed.
“I’m sure your mom will feed you as soon as she can,” she said.
The woman caught up in time to hear the last remark. “We ate about an hour ago, but he was too excited to finish his sandwich. I promised to split a chocolate bar with him, but I can’t find any.”
At the thought of the candy tucked into her purse, Erin’s stomach growled. Despite her devotion to health food—or perhaps because of it—she could almost taste the chocolate melting on her tongue and the nuts crunching between her teeth.
The little boy whined. His mother’s shoulders sagged.
“Here.” Erin took out the bar and handed it to the woman. “It’s courtesy of Conrad Promotions. We want everyone to go away happy.”
“How kind! I’ll pay for it, of course.” She reached for her wallet.
“It’s on the house.”
“Are you sure?” Receiving a nod, she said, “That’s great! Thank you.” The mother broke the candy bar in two and gave a piece to her son.
The smell of chocolate drifted through Erin’s senses. Her stomach rumbled again. She hoped nobody heard it over the clamor of workmen dismantling the rides. “Have a good evening.”
“You too!”
After the family left, Erin couldn’t find a single food stand open. Well, she’d eat a yogurt later at her apartment.
“Erin!” Bea Conrad waved from the cashier’s booth. The owner of Conrad Promotions had a friendly face and fluffy honey-colored hair. The T-shirt and slacks she’d worn instead of one of her usual tailored suits made her look younger than her late thirties.
Erin strode in her direction. “Anything I can do?”
“Actually, yes. I have a favor to ask,” Bea said.
