The Naughty Nine: Where Danger and Passion Collide Read online

  THE NAUGHTY NINE

  Where Danger and Passion Collide

  Nina Bruhns

  Taylor Lee

  Julie Leto

  Lorhainne Eckhart

  Mary Leo

  Patricia Mason

  Dana Marton

  Rita Herron

  Karen Fenech

  Bonus Story

  Jill Sanders

  The Naughty Nine

  Copyright © 2014 by Zuzalley Enterprises, LLC

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

  All texts contained within this document are a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons (living or dead), is entirely coincidental.

  THE NAUGHTY NINE boxed set cover design © 2014 Steven Novak

  STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE by Nina Bruhns

  Copyright © 2014 Nina Bruhns

  RED ROCK RISES by Taylor Lee

  Copyright © 2013 Taylor Lee

  DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS by Julie Leto

  Copyright © 2011 Bookgoddess, LLC

  SAVED by Lorhainne Eckhart

  Copyright © 2013 Lorhainne Ekelund

  EVERYTHING HE NEVER WANTED by Mary Leo

  Copyright © 2014 Mary Leo

  A GIRL, A GUY AND A GHOST by Patricia Mason

  Copyright © 2009, 2012 Patricia Mason

  DEATHBLOW by Dana Marton

  Copyright © 2013 Dana Marton

  ONE NIGHT TO KILL by Rita Herron

  Copyright © 2014 Rita Herron

  SNOWBOUND by Karen Fenech

  Copyright © 2011 Karen Fenech

  SECRET IDENTITY by Jill Sanders

  Copyright © 2013 Jill Sanders

  CONTENTS

  STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE by Nina Bruhns

  Undercover vice cop Russell Bridger hates his new assignment doing surveillance on the home of a suspected traitorous spy. That is, until he receives orders to cozy up to the man's sweet, beautiful neighbor...and find a way to move in with her for the duration. But things don't go as smoothly--or seductively--as he'd hoped when she tells him she hates cops with a passion and wants nothing to do with him, his lies, or his damn assignment.

  Under cover…Or under the covers…?

  Cops in Mary Alice Flannery's family keep dying, and she doesn't think she can take another shot to the heart. So when the infinitely sexy road crew guy she's crushing on big time turns out to embody her worst nightmare, she must decide what kind of future she wants. ..safe and lonely, or wild and dangerous but filled with love?

  About the Author: Nina Bruhns

  RED ROCK RISES by Taylor Lee

  • A fiery former undercover agent, is as tough as she is beautiful

  • Fiercely independent, she is the Rock. Few see the vulnerable woman beneath

  • No one messes with Red Rock until she meets the handsome Police Chief

  “‘Fiercely independent’ doesn’t begin to describe Major Jesse O’Donnell aka Red Rock. Hard lessons in her past confirmed that she can only depend on herself. Jesse is convinced that every man she meets sees only her red hair and bodacious come hither body. Too late, she learns that the commanding Police Chief doesn’t fit the mold. Before she can ramp up her defenses, he breaks through her carefully constructed barriers and makes a beeline to her heart.”

  About the Author: Taylor Lee

  DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS by Julie Leto

  With everyone telling Dirty Little Secrets…what’s a girl gotta do to stay alive?

  When former bounty hunter Marisela Morales learns that her ex-boyfriend, Frankie Vega, is about to jump bail, she accepts the job to lure him back home. She might have lost her license to carry—and with it, her career as a bail enforcement agent—but seducing Frankie into her clutches is what she does best.

  Only this time, hooking up with her ex gets her more trouble than she bargained for. Catapulted into a treacherous underworld of arms dealers, assassins and sinister double-crosses, Marisela doesn’t know if she’s descended into hell or finally found herself in kick-ass heaven. With Frankie at her side, she impersonates a hired killer, dodges bombs and bullets…and struggles to figure out if her super-sexy lover is her ticket out of her previously mundane world—or if he’s just setting her up to break her heart.

  About the Author: Julie Leto

  SAVED by Lorhainne Eckhart

  Growing up I had dreams that one day I'd fall in love, get married and start a family. Then one night I was taken. But I survived, I escaped and I was saved. Eric didn't see me as damaged. He didn't see my baby as a monster. He protected me, he kept me safe ... he saved me.

  About the Author: Lorhainne Eckhart

  EVERYTHING HE NEVER WANTED by Mary Leo

  Billionaire, Antonio Milani has come to London for the annual book fair and to retrieve his first edition, signed copy of Oliver Twist. His book was stolen from him by a woman he thought was a talented new author his publishing house was courting.

  Margot James has spent the better part of her adult life raising two children in a small town and writing ‘journals.’ Now that her kids are grown, Margot takes a leap of faith and travels to London to visit her best friend. When her bff takes a hike and leaves her with Antonio, she wants nothing more than to fly back home. But attraction, heat, and a pending book contract get in the way of her departure and soon both she and Antonio are dealing with everything they never wanted.

  About the Author: Mary Leo

  A GIRL, A GUY AND A GHOST by Patricia Mason

  Curvy redhead Giselle Hunter, parapsychology reporter, has a crisis. Finding a ghost within three days is the only way to save her job. Not easy, especially with no psychic talent. A trip to Savannah Georgia-voted the most haunted city in America-seems ideal. But while Giselle encounters a discrimination-obsessed vampire, a nudist wizard, a not-so-psychic medium and a host of other kooks, there's not a ghost in sight. Then there's scrumptiously sexy, private investigator Ry Leland. With his buff body and bitable lips, Ry ignites her passion. He's an enormous distraction. Distracting her in a bed, in a closet, on the kitchen table, in a car. . . But despite the explosion of their mutual lust at first sight, Ry is unwilling to help with what he calls a cockamamie investigation. Unwilling, that is, until an attempt on her life makes it clear someone wants to stop Giselle from finding a ghost. . .and turn her into one.

  About the Author: Patricia Mason

  DEATHBLOW by Dana Marton

  Former small-town football hero turned cop, Joe Kessler never met a linebacker, perp, or a woman he couldn't handle. Then a troubled single mom walks into his life, and the only place this hot jock will ever see 'easy' again is in the dictionary.

  Hiding out in Broslin, PA was working pretty well for Wendy Belle until Cop Casanova took her under his protection. Now she’ll either lose her life to one man, or her heart to another.

  About the Author: Dana Marton

  ONE NIGHT TO KILL by Rita Herron

  Just coming off a dangerous mission, bomb expert Sergeant Max Murdock desperately needs some R & R. Unfortunately his leave turns into an assignment to protect Willow Woods, the General’s daughter.

  Then he discovers Willow is running a phone sex business, and it becomes impossible to keep his hands off of her!

  W
orse, not only is her life in danger but she has a stalker.

  Can he save her – and protect his heart – from the sexy vixen?

  About the Author: Rita Herron

  SNOWBOUND by Karen Fenech

  When her cover is blown in a criminal operation to apprehend a human trafficker, FBI Special Agent Mallory Burke is put in a car destined for a mountain cabin to be tortured and killed. But a snow storm results in an accident that leaves all but Mallory dead and she finds herself in the midst of the raging storm and in the care of Police Captain Gage Broderick. Mallory's relief that Gage is a cop is short lived. He has secrets of his own.

  Gage is haunted by an incident in his recent past. The last thing he wants is to become embroiled in Mallory's investigation -- or to feel this powerful attraction to her.

  But the lives of twelve women depend on Mallory and Gage working together to stop this man -- the women's lives and now Mallory's life. He knows about her. He knows where she is. And he wants her dead.

  About the Author: Karen Fenech

  Bonus Story: SECRET IDENTITY by Jill Sanders

  Eve is at the top of her game. She’s finally going to make partner at the ad agency run by two of her best friends. But when she takes a business trip to wine and dine a potential customer, her boss decides to tag along at the last minute. Now, everything she’s worked hard for might just disappear in a flash.

  Carter has had a thing for his best friend Eve ever since he can remember. He hired her a few years ago to help boost his business and it has never run more smoothly. But when a once in a lifetime opportunity presents itself, he takes a chance at happiness that could end up destroying their friendship.

  About the Author: Jill Sanders

  STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE

  by Nina Bruhns

  Stop in the Name of Love: Prologue

  Pasadena, California

  Three years ago

  Where the hell did he come from?

  Pasadena Police Sergeant Russell Bridger straightened and peered through his binoculars in annoyance at the young bicycle patrolman who came wheeling into the alley where Bridge’s vice squad team had set up the day’s sting. This was not good. The targeted meth dealer was due to turn up any second now, along with the buyer, complete with heavily armed entourages. According to the team’s snitch, today’s meet was supposed to be a major buy. And both parties had nasty reputations for shooting first and asking questions never.

  This kid was going to get in the way.

  Shit.

  “Who the fuck is that?” Jose’s voice growled in Bridge’s earbud, along with the colorful curses of four other team members.

  Jesus, could he look any more out of place in this rough neighborhood, with his new bike, shiny badge, and summer uniform of neat navy-blue shorts, crisp short-sleeved shirt, and APD baseball cap? Hell, he wasn’t even wearing aviators. Had he graduated from the academy last week, or what?

  “Hold your positions,” Bridge murmured into his com. “Hopefully the kid’s just taking a shortcut.”

  Or not.

  Bridge gave a mental groan when the rookie glided to a stop, dismounted his bike, and approached a homeless guy sleeping against the dirty brick wall. A homeless guy who was actually Chen, one of the team.

  Right about that same time, a trio of trailer trash ninjas appeared in the mouth of the alley. The one in the middle was carrying a briefcase, and the two flanking him were armed to the teeth.

  Fuck.

  “We got movement, Sarge,” Flip reported from his position on the roof. “Target’s vehicle approaching from the east.

  Holy hell. “Chen, get that kid out of here, now,” Bridge ordered. “Light a goddamn fire.”

  There was another round of curses in his ear as a sleek white Mercedes halted at the other end of the alley, blocking it off. Three bads emerged from the car with noticeable bulges under their fancy suits.

  Effectively making the kid a bicycle sandwich from hell.

  Fucking damn it.

  Bridge didn’t even stop to think. He threw the binoculars at Jones, touched the Glock 21 tucked under his ratty, oversized T-shirt, and stumbled from his concealed doorway out into the alley, singing a loud, wheeling, drunken version of O Danny Boy. What could he say? It was the first tune that popped into his mind. Possibly from too many similar, gleefully boisterous renditions by his dad upon every single solitary festive occasion in his whole damned life.

  Bridge almost smiled. But that would have blown his cover.

  As it happened, smiling wouldn’t have mattered.

  Chen said something sharply to the rookie, who proceeded to frown, then look up and down the alley like a fucking blinking navy-blue neon sign that screamed HEY BAD GUYS! POLICE SET-UP!

  A feeling of absolute impending disaster swept over Bridge nanoseconds before the hail of bullets started flying. He started to run.

  And lunged for the kid.

  Stop in the Name of Love: Chapter One

  Sierra Madre, California

  Three years later

  May

  Mary Alice Cathryn Flannery did not make mad, passionate love to men on the hood of her car.

  It could not happen, Mary Alice told herself...for the fourteenth time.

  Didn’t matter how hunky the guy from the road construction site down the street from her Sierra Madre Canyon cottage was. She had no plans to ask him out on a date, and she definitely would not be having monkey sex with him on the hood of her SUV.

  No matter how often he invaded her dreams.

  Good grief. What had gotten into her lately? She hadn’t so much as looked at a man in three years, and suddenly she’s having erotic dreams about the musclebound brain trust—not—holding up a freaking stop sign on a road crew?

  She was losing it. No doubt about it.

  She bent down and swooped up the shards of her favorite coffee mug, flinging them into the kitchen rubbish bin—right on top of the remains of the half dozen eggs she’d splattered across the floor a few minutes earlier.

  They really should make him put on a shirt. Every single female driver had her eyes glued to that ripped, tanned, hair-sprinkled chest. The man could cause a serious accident.

  Sure, he was handsome enough to stir any woman’s blood. His body was hard and lean without an ounce to spare under those loose-hipped jeans. And the come-hither way he crooked his finger at a woman when he spun his sign from STOP to SLOW, motioning her through the pitted construction site, well, it just didn’t bear thinking about. Let alone dreaming about.

  Still. It didn’t matter how provocative the sight of the man’s bare, muscular torso. Or how sexy the hint of spicy cologne, honest sweat, and canyon dust that drifted off that wide expanse of male flesh when he stood next to your open car window. And yeah, granted, it was pretty darn sexy.

  But Mary Alice was not interested.

  Not.

  Interested.

  She swallowed hard. Straightening her back, she yanked her flannel robe tighter over her breasts and tossed the mug into the trash. The plastic noses of her Snoopy slippers clicked furiously on the hardwood floor as she marched to the bedroom and flung open the closet door. Yanking a neat cotton blouse off its hanger, she allowed one succinct expletive to escape as the top button sailed across the room, ricocheted off the vanity mirror, and landed smack in the middle of the unmade brass bed.

  The fact was, after three funerals and crying herself to sleep more times than she cared to remember, she was pretty sure she’d never want to get deeply involved enough to ever make love again.

  Gritting her teeth, she glanced at the clock. With all the annoying accidents that had happened to her this morning, she was running late. Quickly, she shrugged on a loose, shapeless T-shirt dress over an equally shapeless sports bra—the usual uniform for her job as a nursery school teacher. Comfortable and bleachable. Not an outfit that would attract the attention of a broad-shouldered Adonis.

  As she hurriedly ran a comb through her long ha
ir, she squinted critically at her reflection in the mirror. Lord, that hair just got redder and redder every summer. Only May, and already the sun had turned it red enough to stop traffic. With a grimace, she gave it a final swipe and wound it into a tight bun on top of her head. Certainly, there was nothing about her that would attract the attention of a broad-shouldered Adonis and make him pin her to the hood of a car and—

  Good lord.

  How on earth would she ever face him this morning—the raven-haired man who’d had the starring role in dreams that even now left her knees weak and her body aching?

  She gave herself a stern mental shake, slipped her feet into clogs and clattered down the hall. She grabbed the oversized canvas bag that doubled as her purse on work days and sailed out the front door. When she reached the SUV, she squeezed her eyes shut, barely resisting the urge to lay a hand on the hood.

  “Hey there, Mary Alice!”