Austin Taggart is a hot man with a superhot mission! His quarry: one beautiful bombshell of a nightclub owner, who insists she’s innocent! The setting: steamy days spent together, followed by even sexier nights! The question: Will she get to him, before he gets to her?

Francesca “Maxie” Maxwell is on the lam. And if she can resist the sexy, but serious bounty hunter hot on her tail, her name will be cleared of all embezzlement charges.

Innocent or not, as a fugitive, Maxie’s fair game, and Austin’s staked a claim on her. His male pride and professional reputation hang in the balance. But can he resist the arresting beauty once he’s caught and cuffed her? He insists no amount of her convincing ways will persuade him to let her go. Or so he says.

Harlequin Blaze | ISBN 0373790470 | June 2002 | BUY IT HERE

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READ AN EXCERPT

When Maxie woke, she eased onto her back, trying to slide away from Austin who had flung himself across her while he slept, his jean pocket not far from her hand. Maybe he put the key to the handcuffs in there. It didn’t make much sense, but she would be a fool to pass up such an opportunity.

She slid her hands between their bodies and went into the pocket and felt around. She glanced at Austin, but he was still asleep. She had to drop her shoulder to get in deeper.

“If you’re looking for the key, I’d be pretty stupid to put it where you could reach it.”

“I wasn’t looking for the key.”

“Sure,” he said as he opened his eyes. “What were you trying to do then?”

“I was trying to get you off.”

It only took a moment for her to realize what she had just said.

Austin’s mouth kicked up into a wicked, genuine, all out smile. It was beautiful and made her heart skip a beat. Then she laughed.

“I don’t keep it in my pocket, blondie, but you’re close.”

She moved her hand slightly until she felt the hard heat of him and squeezed slightly. He hardened immediately in her hand.

Austin gasped and rolled off her. He gave her a level look and she just shrugged. “Don’t dare me, sugar.”

He flashed her a mocking smile.

“Could I take a shower?”

He eyed her for a moment. “Sure you can. As long as you know that trick won’t work a second time. Don’t try to conceal your clothes beneath the towel and then tell me there’s a spider in the tub.” He reached down into his boot and came up with the key to unlock the handcuffs. Then he locked her to the headboard. “Let me use it first.”

Maxie waited while he used the bathroom. As soon as he was done and he’d unlocked the handcuffs, she got her stuff and went into the bathroom. She stripped and wrapped a towel around her nakedness.

She pulled aside the shower curtain of the serviceable tub and let out a shriek and backed towards the door. But before she could go far, she came up against Austin’s wide, naked, hard-muscled chest.

He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Maxie, I told you not to try it again.”

“I’m not. There’s a snake in the bathtub.” She simply couldn’t hide the hysteria in her voice.

“I suppose it’s a Diamondback.”

“I think it is. I only got a glimpse.”

Austin sighed with a weary heaviness. “Okay. I’ll look in the tub. With one hand clamped to her arm, he pulled open the shower curtain. He snorted, reached into the tub, and came up with the snake. Maxie tried to back away from it, but Austin wouldn’t let her go.

“It’s a rubber snake. Nice try.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“Sure you didn’t.”

“Austin, I didn’t put that snake in the tub.”

“Prove it.”

His voice had a note of smugness in it that made Maxie ready to do anything to prove to him that this time, she had really been preparing to take a shower. “How?”

“Drop the towel.”

From the book: Hot On Her Tail
By: Karen Anders
Imprint and Series: Harlequin Blaze
Publication Date: 06/02
ISBN: 0-373-79047-0
Copyright ©: 2002
By Karen Alarie

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