Book Details

Harlequin Enterprises,
Mass market paperback, January 2007, ISBN# 0-373-77286-6

Wheeler Publishing,
Large print paperback, June 2004, ISBN: 0-754-09864-8

Wheeler Publishing,
Large print hardcover, February 2004, ISBN: 0-754-09864-8

Wheeler Publishing,
Paperback reprint, November 2003, ISBN-13: 9780373835874

Wheeler Publishing,
Original publication: Temptation, Blaze # 775, March 2000, ISBN: 0-373-25875-5

Chapter One (scene)

Let her be Charmed! ... Step inside and be transformed.

Kane McDermott peered through the space between the closed curtains in the brownstone window. He got a brief glimpse of chin-length blonde hair and a body with enough curves to make a centerfold jealous. It was a cold autumn day but the unexpected jolt of desire kicked in fast, warming him from within. If he had to wine, dine and proposition her at least he wouldn't be bored. But he still resented the hell out of this assignment. Coming off a tough case, his superior thought he needed a rest. Captain Reid hadn't used the words burned out, but Kane heard them in the lectures anyway. He disagreed. Just because a drug bust had gone down wrong didn't mean he needed R&R. Having grown up on the Boston streets, he knew better than anyone when he was in danger of losing his edge. Now wasn't it.

He could wish to hell and back the wrong kid hadn't gotten hit in the crossfire but it wouldn't change the fact that he had. It wasn't Kane's bullet. The kid got taken down by his own brother, but that didn't lessen Kane's sense of guilt. Or remorse. Though no one could have anticipated the arrival of the dealer's little brother, Kane would live with the mother's screams for the rest of his life. Time off wouldn't help him forget but neither would this new case. Apparently the Captain figured if Kane wouldn't take leave he might as well pretend he had.

Any rookie could verify whether Charmed! was a legitimate etiquette school for men or a front for a prostitution ring. Kane groaned aloud. As far as he was concerned, any guy who needed lessons in dating etiquette was as pathetic as this fluff assignment. What the hell kind of dork needed charm school in order to make headway with a woman? Especially one that looked like her.

He shook his head. What a waste. Then again, giving lessons to geeks was preferable to any other kind of service she might be performing for her paying customers. Considering she'd worked for her late aunt and uncle when they'd held the reins, she definitely knew the score. Whatever that was.

He might not know her agenda, but he knew his own. He'd pulled undercover work with drug dealers and pimps yet here he was gearing up to make his awkward pitch to Charmed!'s sexy owner. He still had his doubts he could pull the geek act off and had a contingency plan in case he blundered. He wouldn't know until he got inside.

He placed his hand on the door knob. The metal was ice cold from the cool Spring air. Was she or wasn't she? It was time to find out.