Dani Sinclair - Best-Kept Secrets

FOOLS POINT GAZETTE

Folks are still wondering about our newest business owner, Jake Collins. Though gossip is flying that he has connections to the Mafia, or he was wounded in battle, Jake wont say a word about his past. But lets not forget that he has taken in that troubled teen, Matt Williams. Jake cant be all bad.

Speaking of possible relationshipsNow that Amy Thomas has moved back to town, does anyone see a resemblance between her young daughter and Jake Collins? Its in the smile, Id say. Amy has been overseas these past several years, and some insist that Jake was in the militarythough no one seems to know where he was stationed. Hmm. Anyone up for a doing a little math?

Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

The recipe for a perfect Valentines Day: chocolate, champagneand four original romantic suspense titles from Harlequin Intrigue!

Our TOP SECRET BABIES promotion kicks off with Rita Herrons Saving His Son (#601). Devastated single mother Lindsey Payne suspects her child is alive and welland being kept from her deliberately. The only man whod be as determined as she is to find her child is Detective Gavin McCordif he knew hed fathered her missing baby.

In Best-Kept Secrets (#602) by Dani Sinclair, the tongues in MYSTERY JUNCTION are wagging about newcomer Jake Collins. Amy Thomass first and only love has returned at last and shes ready to tell him the secret shes long kept hidden. But would revealing it suddenly put her life in jeopardy?

Our ON THE EDGE program continues with Private Vows (#603) by Sally Steward. A beautiful amnesiac is desperate to remember her past. Investigator Cole Grayson is desperate to keep it hidden. For if she remembers the truth, shed never be his.

Bachelor Will Sheridan thinks hes found the perfect Mystery Bride (#604) in B.J. Danielss latest romantic thriller. But the sexy and provocative Samantha Murphy is a female P.I. in the middle of a puzzling case when Will suddenly becomes her shadow. Now with desire distracting her and a childs life in the balance, Samantha and Will are about to discover the true meaning of partnership!

Sincerely,

Denise OSullivan

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin Intrigue

Best-Kept Secrets

Dani Sinclair

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Books by Dani Sinclair

HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

371MYSTERY BABY

401MAN WITHOUT A BADGE

448BETTER WATCH OUT

481MARRIED IN HASTE

507THE MAN SHE MARRIED

539FOR HIS DAUGHTER*

551MY BABY, MY LOVE*

565THE SILENT WITNESS*

589THE SPECIALIST

602BEST-KEPT SECRETS*

HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION

790THE NAKED TRUTH

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Jake CollinsMade a serious error nine years ago; now time is running out for him to make amends.

Kelsey ThomasThe eight-year-old has become a pawn in a thirty-year-old nightmare.

Matt WilliamsJakes teenaged nephew has a history of being in trouble and now he really wants to change his image.

Susan and Cornelius ThomasAmys parents share a secret that threatens to destroy their world and the family they love above all else.

General Marcus PerryAbove reproach and up for his second star, but hes been keeping a terrible secret all these years.

Millicent PerryThe generals proper Bostonian wife.

Gertrude PerryThe generals sister is slipping in and out of dementia, but just maybe, her ramblings hold the key to everything.

Cindy Lou Perry BaranskiThe generals daughter who is up for reelection as the town mayor.

Eugene PerryThe generals son spends a great deal of time and money inside the local bar, with no visible means of support.

Ben DwyerThe Perrywinkles bartender, who may have a few secrets of his own.

John HepplewhiteFools Points police chief always gets his man.

DEDICATION

Thank you. For Natashya Wilson and the past two years

of friendship and support. And for Roger, Chip,

Dan and Barb always.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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

Prologue

Holy sh

Is that what I think it is?

Oh, man, oh, man, oh

Come on, Will said, reaching for the ladder, not waiting to see if Buddy followed on his heels. The burly foreman stepped back as the two men scrambled over the lip of the hole and into the brilliant September sunshine.

What the hell are you doing? Zeke demanded.

Will pointed, angry that his hand was shaking. We got us some bodies down there.

In the sinkhole?

That aint no sinkhole, Will told him. Theres some kinda room down there.

What?

Yeah. Will hated that he was still shaking. Buddy, youd better go tell the boss.

Zeke stared at them. Never mind the boss, Buddy, go get the police.

Buddys eyes were wide, his skin strangely pale beneath his dark bronze tan. He skirted the pile of debris from the torn-up corner of the parking lot, headed around the dump truck with its heavy load of gravel and started running across the tarmac in spite of it being ninety-eight degrees in the shade. The other two men watched him head for the restaurant before turning to peer back down into the hole.

You sure about this? Zeke asked again.