Elle Kennedy Colton's Deep Cover Read Online

  "He's establish me—I'thou dead."

Running from an abusive past, nurse Chloe Moreno artillery herself with a new identity and seeks an simple life in Eden Falls. But her security in the in one case-peaceful community is crumbling fast. Non only is there a kidnapper on the loose, but it seems her worst nightmare has tracked her down. She needs someone to trust…and no one fits the beak better than Dr. Derek Colton.

Resident healer and protector, that'southward all Derek is expected to exist. A new relationship—peculiarly with his beautiful, vulnerable new nurse—is a adventure he shouldn't take. Yet her life's in his hands. And once want puts her in his artillery, he must destroy the threat that'south lingering far besides shut….

"You're coming home with me."

"Why?" she whispered, fixing those big hazel eyes on his confront. "Why would you practise this for me?"

"Considering I don't desire to see you hurt. Because I want to assist y'all. Because I took a damn oath to save lives. Have your pick."

Their eyes locked, and despite the graveness of the situation, Derek experienced a flicker of heat. Amelia Phillips, Chloe Moreno, whatever name she called herself—it didn't matter, and it didn't modify the fashion his trunk reacted to her nearness. She was and so achingly beautiful that he wanted to pull her into his arms and osculation her senseless. He wanted to stroke her silky pare and cup those firm breasts and run his hands over every inch of her curvy body.

Inappropriate much?

Shoving abroad the unwelcome images, Derek cleared his pharynx. "Grab your things. Information technology's time to go."

Dear Reader,

I'yard then excited to be part of Harlequin Romantic Suspense'southward latest miniseries, The Coltons of Eden Falls. It's always a piddling daunting participating in a continuity, not but because I'm often in awe of the other authors in the lineup, but considering it's hard for me, as a writer, to write a story that I personally didn't come up upward with.

With a continuity, I'm given an overall story line, and and then it'southward my job to put the pieces together, fill the plot holes and make the story my ain. I was a tad scared to discover out exactly what kind of story I'd be required to write, simply luckily I was happy with the premise and the tightly knit Colton family I would go to write nigh. More than that, I was eager to tell Derek and Chloe's story.

I hope you lot relish their journey, likewise equally the other Coltons who will receive their ain stories during the course of this miniseries.

Happy reading!

Elle

Don't miss the other books in

The Coltons of Eden Falls:

COLTON DESTINY by Justine Davis

—Available September 2012

COLTON'Southward RANCH REFUGE by Beth Cornelison

—Available October 2012

COLTON SHOWDOWN by Marie Ferrarella

—Bachelor December 2012

Elle

Kennedy

Colton's Deep Embrace

Books past Elle Kennedy

Harlequin Romantic Suspense

Missing Motherhoped-for #1680

*Millionaire's Final Stand #1686

*The Heartbreak Sheriff #1690

Colton's Deep Cover #1728

Silhouette Romantic Suspense

Silent Watch #1574

Her Private Avenger #1634

Harlequin Blaze

Body Bank check #458

Witness Seduction #637

*Small-Town Scandals

Other titles by this author bachelor in ebook format.

ELLE KENNEDY

A RITA® Award-nominated writer, Elle Kennedy grew upward in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English language from York University. From an early age she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves stiff heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting.

Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website, www.ellekennedy.com, for the latest news or to send her a note.

To Justine Davis, Beth Cornelison

and Marie Ferrarella—

I'm honored to be in such amazingly talented company!

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Elle Kennedy for her contribution to The Coltons of Eden Falls miniseries.

Contents

Affiliate one

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Affiliate 4

Affiliate v

Chapter 6

Affiliate 7

Affiliate 8

Chapter 9

Chapter ten

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Epilogue

Chapter 1

"I demand to see y'all in my office, Amelia."

Chloe Moreno froze as her boss's soft-spoken asking sounded from backside. She'd been in the process of pulling a patient chart from the big steel cabinet in the file room, but now her fingers trembled, causing her to lose her grip on the Danford file. It fluttered to the shiny linoleum flooring, and as papers spilled out of the blueish folder, the estrus of embarrassment blasted through her.

Cheeks scorching, Chloe dropped to her knees and quickly nerveless the strewn papers. "Pitiful. I'm such a klutz sometimes," she murmured, keeping her eyes downcast. "Let me just option this up and I'll meet you in your offi—"

A shadow vicious over her. Clothing rustled as her boss knelt downwards, his big, gorgeous hands reaching out to help her collect the papers.

Swallowing, Chloe gathered upwardly the courage to lift her head—and found a pair of deep dark-brown eyes watching her in amusement.

"No need to look then terrified," Derek Colton said in that smooth, baritone vocalisation of his. "I'1000 not going to fire you for dropping a file, Amelia."

Amelia. Lord, would she ever go used to that name? It was the reason she'd dropped the file in the showtime identify; hearing Derek address her past a name that wasn't her own made her so damn uneasy, so very jittery.

You're Amelia Phillips now. Get used to information technology.

Chloe drew in a breath, heeding the commanding voice in her head. She couldn't keep jumping at shadows and battling a sense of disorientation each fourth dimension someone called her Amelia. She was Amelia. Chloe Moreno was dead. And according to the LA Times website, Felix had shelled out the big bucks for her memorial service. A funeral hadn't been an selection, seeing as her torso was presumed to be at the bottom of the Pacific.

Shoving the unwelcome thoughts from her listen, Chloe rose to her feet and tucked the patient file under her arm. Derek stood upwards, likewise, his six-human foot frame towering over her.

A shiver danced up her spine, a common occurrence in this man's presence. Derek Colton was besides attractive for his own expert—tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome. And his chocolate-brown eyes were too damn perceptive. Each time he focused that intense gaze on her, she felt as if he was peering into her soul. Like he knew all her secrets.

Only he didn't. He couldn't. Chloe herself had lost track of all the secrets and lies. Over the past half-dozen months she'd spun a spider web so thickly complex that she didn't even know who she was anymore.

She knew who she wasn't, though.

Chloe, the wife of celebrity plastic surgeon Felix Moreno, no longer existed. She'd been replaced with Amelia, the repose, hardworking nurse who'd impressed the heck out of her new boss when she'd helped him salvage a patient from bleeding out three weeks ago.

And as long as she connected to impress Derek with her skills, she could stay in Eden Falls and live the life she'd always dreamed of.

The life she'd earned.

And then, pasting on a professional person smile, she glanced at Derek and said, "What did yous need to talk about?"

"Permit'southward go to my office." His expression revealed nothing, no hint of what he needed to

discuss with her.

As Chloe trailed later on him, she took a calming breath, silently praying that he wasn't nearly to fire her. Unfortunately, inhaling was a bad thought because information technology but succeeded in cartoon Derek's highly-seasoned scent into her lungs. The human being smelled so proficient, like lather and aftershave and something intoxicatingly masculine.

Her gaze homed in on his broad back, covered past the white coat that assorted with his smooth, mocha skin. He kept his black hair in a fizz cut, which left the nape of his strong, corded cervix exposed. Another shiver ran through her as she admired him, and she was grateful that he couldn't see her face up. She'd worked hard to hide her visceral reaction to this man, the flames that licked at her mankind each time he flashed i of those sexy, easygoing smiles in her direction.

Derek led her down the brightly lit hallway of the dispensary. When they reached his part, he opened the door and gestured for her to enter first, but like the gentleman he was. Gosh, she'd never met anyone similar him—the man oozed amuse and sex activity appeal, nevertheless at the same time, he exuded a quiet force that was downright inspiring.

In the three weeks she'd worked as a nurse in Derek's do, she'd been then tempted to dig deeper and go to know this intriguing human, just the demand to maintain a certain level of professionalism had reined in the impulse. This job meant everything to her. Getting chummy with the dominate would exist a bad idea, especially because she hadn't exactly told him the truth about who she really was.

"Have a seat," Derek said pleasantly, gesturing to one of the plush chairs in front end of his commanding mahogany desk.

Chloe sat, nervously crossing her ankles.

Derek settled in his leather chair and clasped his hands. "I wanted to discuss your operation," he began, those deep brown eyes seeking her out once again.

She experienced a twinge of panic. "Oh. Did I do something wrong?"

He chuckled, and the croaking sound teased her senses. "On the contrary. You're doing everything right. I wanted to talk about making this arrangement permanent."

Relief and pleasance washed over her. "Actually?"

"Really," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "I know we didn't have a chance to talk nearly the long term, what with you being thrust into this practise so abruptly. Have I told you how wonderfully y'all handled the Violet Chastain situation?"

Fighting a outburst of pride, Chloe smiled. "Numerous times. How is Violet doing, by the way?"

"Nearly fully recovered and driving my brother crazy." Derek grinned. "But he loves it. I don't think I've ever seen Gunnar this happy."

Yeah, love could practice that to a person. Or and so she'd heard. Chloe hadn't lucked out in the relationship department, different Derek'southward older brother Gunnar, who'd found happiness with Hollywood starlet Violet Chastain. Violet had been in town researching a moving picture role when she'd been attacked and left for dead on the side of the road. Fortunately, she'd survived the assail and near-kidnapping and found a loving partner in Gunnar Colton, who'd stepped in to help Violet with her twin boys while she recovered from the injury to her leg.

Although Violet had gotten her happy ending, managing to escape her assailants, the attackers had abducted the young woman who'd been accompanying the actress.

The memory brought an ache to Chloe'south heart. "Has there been whatever discussion on Mary and Hannah?"

Derek instantly sobered. "None. Emma and Tate are still working the case, but there are no new leads."

She shook her head in dismay, unable to cover the events that had transpired. The boondocks of Eden Falls bordered Paradise Ridge, which was habitation to a small Amish community looking to live quiet, peaceful lives. Simply there was nothing peaceful near recent events. Iv Amish girls had disappeared over the past calendar month. Two had been found dead in a remote cabin near the Colton ranch, and the other two—Mary Yoder and Hannah Troyer—were still missing.

Derek's siblings, Emma and Tate, both worked in law enforcement, and while investigating the disappearances, they'd uncovered a horrific truth—the missing girls were beingness sold in a sex ring that catered to seedy buyers with even seedier intentions. Emma had gotten closer to Hannah's blood brother Caleb over the class of the investigation.

It sounded unimaginable, yet it didn't surprise Chloe to learn that sadistic people like that existed.

After all, she'd spent the past twelve years living with her very ain personal sadist.

"I detest thinking about what those girls must be going through," Derek said. His handsome face up revealed the frustration he felt over the situation. "I wish I could do more than to assistance, but I fear I'd only go far Emma and Tate'due south way."

"I wish I could do more than, likewise," she said softly, her heart breaking for those missing girls.

"Well, yous're doing your fair share around here," Derek answered, steering the discussion back on rail. "I'g going to exist honest, Amelia. You're a real asset to this clinic. Having you around these past few weeks has made me realize I can't afford to lose you. That's why I wanted to sit downwards with you and talk about your plans."

"My plans?" Chloe echoed.

He nodded. "I wanted to make sure you still program on making Eden Falls your habitation, that you're not going to suddenly pack your bags and move to Philly or accept a job with some other big-city hospital."

"Not at all," she blurted out. "Eden Falls is where I desire to be, Dr. Colton. And the only chore I'm interested in is this one."

"That'southward adept to hear." Those dark-brown optics danced playfully. "And how many times must I remind you lot to call me Derek?"

"Right. Deplorable. D-Derek." Her voice wobbled, and she tried non to cringe. She was forty-ane years former, for crying out loud. Why did she ever falter similar a schoolgirl in the presence of this human?

Derek seemed to be fighting a grinning, which told her he'd picked upwards on her bout of nervousness. "Well, if y'all're serious almost sticking around, then I want you to know I'1000 thrilled to have you. It still amazes me at times, the calming effect you have on anyone you come into contact with." He looked vaguely embarrassed. "You're really adept with the patients, Amelia."

"Then are you." The precipitous admission caused her cheeks to estrus up again.

Uh, suck up much?

Fine, she had a full instance of hero-worship when it came to Derek Colton. But how could she not? The human happened to be an incredible doctor. He had an easy rapport with his patients, and he carried himself with a self-assuredness that made her envious. She wished she had half the conviction that this talented doctor possessed in spades.

Besides, it didn't hurt that he was drop-dead gorgeous, which meant that taking orders from him could hardly be considered a task. And even though she had about ten years on him, he carried himself with a sense of maturity and forcefulness that tugged at something within her. Derek was a beginning-class man, the kind of man she wouldn't have believed existed if she hadn't just spent iii weeks by his side.

"Anyway, that was all I wanted," Derek said, scraping dorsum his chair. "Could you set up the examination room for our three o'clock?"

"Of course." Chloe stood and smoothed out the hem of her shirt. "I already pulled up the Danford file."

A smile tugged on the corners of his mouth. "Efficient as always, aren't y'all, Amelia?"

"Just trying to make an impression on the boss," she answered lightly.

He chuckled over again.

Her heart did a niggling flip.

Oh, brother. This had to stop. Her growing attraction to Derek was becoming a full nuisance. She hadn't traveled clear beyond the country to get lovesick about a man.

She was still a married adult female, after all.

As a lump of bitterness rose in her throat, Chloe quickly banished the reminder. "I'll prep the test room," she said before ducking out of Derek's role.

Her white sneakers squeaked confronting the floor as she hurried downward the hall. She sucked in a few deep breaths, wishing she could erase the memory of Felix fro

m her mind. Just each fourth dimension she idea she was close to forgetting her quondam life, those annoying reminders crept in like a cat burglar.

Why couldn't she just put the past behind her? After too many years of living in fear and existence tormented by the man she'd foolishly married, she was finally gratuitous of Felix Moreno. She'd spent the by 2 years painstakingly preparing for this, stashing money, renewing her nursing license, arranging her escape. Once she'd gotten costless, she'd spent six months making her mode due east, never staying in one place for long while she waited for the dust to settle. Waited until she could be absolutely certain that Felix truly believed she was dead.

She'd wound upwardly in Eden Falls, Pennsylvania, by pure chance—she'd run out of gas right outside of boondocks. She'd intended on filling the tank and continuing on to Philadelphia, merely the moment she'd laid optics on the idyllic Eden Falls, she'd fallen in love. This small boondocks had everything she'd always dreamed of and never had in California—warmth, joy, a tight-knit sense of family and customs. In that location was nothing fake nearly the people of Eden Falls; they were kind, decent folks who looked out for each other, which was the complete contrary of the phony, materialistic people she'd been surrounded with her entire life.

When she'd sat in the piffling diner in the heart of downtown and flipped through the newspaper, the job ad she'd come up across had been like a neon sign from a college power. The clinic in town was in need of a nurse—and what exercise you know, Chloe had a nursing degree only waiting to be put to use over again.

This past month had been so utterly wonderful. She loved her job, adored her cozy 1-bedroom flat, respected the heck out of her boss.

So why was she still battling the impulse to continually await over her shoulder?

As Chloe entered the exam room, something cold touched her cheek. She jumped, then relaxed when she realized information technology was her own hand. She'd involuntarily begun to stroke the left side of her confront, a nervous gesture she'd been trying to wean herself out of. She didn't want to draw any undue attention to her confront, and likewise, the thin ridge of scar tissue marring her skin beneath the makeup simply served as another reminder of the life she'd left behind.

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