Love on the Line (Love Beyond Danger Book 3) Read online

  Love on the Line

  Diane Holiday

  LOVE ON THE LINE

  By

  Diane Holiday

  Copyright © 2019 Diane Holiday

  Edited by Mary Cain.

  Cover Design by Mibl Art.

  All stock photos licensed appropriately.

  Published in the United States by City Owl Press.

  www.cityowlpress.com

  For information on subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher at [email protected]

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior consent and permission of the publisher.

  This book is dedicated to all military members past and present. The sacrifices they and their families make to keep this beautiful country free allow me to pursue my dream of writing. I’m forever grateful.

  Praise for Diane Holiday

  FIRST PLACE in 2015 Pages of the Heart Contest.

  Golden Heart® Award Finalist 2016 for romantic suspense.

  2016 Molly First Place in Romantic Suspense

  “Love Uncovered blends the tension of a high-stakes corruption case with the charm of a well-realized small-town setting to create a fun, fast-paced story.”

  - Publisher’s Weekly

  “A fast-moving, exciting novel. The main characters are the perfect combination of charming and complex. This contemporary romance delivers electrifying heat between characters with a sprinkle of humor.”

  - InD’tale, Tina Donovan

  “Diane Holiday's debut, Love in Hiding, kept me hooked from the first page to the last.”

  - USA Today Bestselling Author of Historical Romance, Renee Ann Miller

  “A strong heroine, sexy hero and downright scream-worthy villains—a page-turner with spunky dialogue and suspense that kept me up way past my bedtime because I just couldn't put it down.”

  - Contemporary Romance Author and Golden Heart® Award Finalist, Christina Hovland

  “Love in Hiding combines the laid-back atmosphere of country life with the suspense angle of a crazed stalker beautifully. Great characterization, perfect pacing and witty dialogue top off this exceptional read.”

  - Contemporary Romance Author, Jessie Gussman

  “Solid storytelling featuring a classic hero and a daring heroine.”

  - New Adult Author and Golden Heart® Award Winner, C.R. Grissom

  “A man scarred by guilt, a feisty woman, and a villain who is totally evil make Diane Holiday’s Love Uncovered a fast-paced read that sizzles with both romance and suspense.”

  - USA Today Bestselling Author of Historical Romance, Renee Ann Miller

  “Diane Holiday’s well-crafted romantic suspense stories keep readers turning the pages, ready for the next twist! I always look forward to her books.”

  - Contemporary Romance Author and Golden Heart® Award Finalist, Christina Hovland

  “Holiday writes romantic suspense with just the right balance of heart and heart-pounding action.”

  - USA Today Bestselling Author, Dylann Crush

  “Love on the Line is an excellent story in the vein of time-honored romance--suspense, love, and characters who keep you turning the pages.”

  - Contemporary Romance Author and Golden Heart® Award Finalist, Christina Hovland

  “Two people looking for the opposite things in life find out they might be a perfect match. But danger lurks when they fall under the spotlight of a madman. Love on the Line is a suspenseful read.”

  - USA Today Bestselling Author of Historical Romance, Renee Ann Miller

  “Love on the Line delivers a romantic suspense with strong characters you’ll remember long after you read the last page.”

  - New Adult Author and Golden Heart® Award Winner, C.R. Grissom

  “Well-plotted, beautifully written and completely engrossing, Love on the Line is absolutely the best romantic suspense I've read this year.”

  - Top-Ranking Author, Jessie Gussman

  “Both intense and hot, Love on the Line keeps readers flipping the pages! Sexy romance and thrilling suspense--there's nothing else one could ask for!”

  -Young Adult Romance Author, Miguella Twosias

  Love Beyond Danger Series

  By Diane Holiday

  Love in Hiding

  Love Uncovered

  Love on the Line

  Contents

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  Keep Reading Romantic Suspense Novels!

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Epilogue

  Sneak Peek of Crazy on You

  Keep Reading Romantic Suspense Novels!

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  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  About the Publisher

  Additional Titles

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  Click here to sign up for the City Owl Press newsletter and be the first to find out about special offers, including FREE book days, contents, giveaways, cover reveals, and more!

  Sign up now and become a City Owl Reader today! And join our City Owl Reader-Author group here for even more deals and a whole lot of community and fun!

  Don’t miss a romantic comedy suspense car-chasing adventure with CRAZY ON YOU by City Owl Author, Nicole Terry. And discover more from Diane Holiday at www.dianeholiday.com

  Diane Thompson wakes up in the backseat of her car, shocked to find she’s acquired a chauffeur. Realizing she’s been inadvertently kidnapped, she swears off tequila—and Chili’s—then dials 9-1-1.

  But her rescue comes at a cost.

  Her savior, too-macho-for-words Lt. Cole Anderson, refuses to let Diane out of his sight until her kidnappers are apprehended. He’s already lost one woman he cared about due to his inattention; he’s not letting it happen a second time.

  But Diane isn’t a damsel-in-distress type of girl.

  When it turns out the criminals left a valuable item in her car and they want it back, involving Cole isn’t part of her plan and not only because the criminals have forbidden her f
rom involving the cops.

  Men are like birds—messy, easily distracted, and only around when there’s something to eat.

  She’s got this.

  All she has to do is find and return the item in question to the drug runners threatening her life, survive a high-speed car chase, and keep her vow to never trust a man with her heart.

  BUY NOW!

  Chapter 1

  Anne Cooper eyed the tray of tequila and kamikaze shots on the high table. Her friends grabbed one of each. Much as she’d like to join them, as the designated driver, she’d stick with water, and her stomach would thank her in the morning. Mixing shots was the kiss of death.

  Mostly, she wanted to be there for Emily, who worked nonstop and deserved a night out to celebrate her birthday. With a spreadsheet and a calendar, Anne had compared everyone’s schedules. Finally, she’d managed to find a date that worked for all of them. Thanks to her careful planning, she had all of her friends together. Her heart swelled with satisfaction.

  Emily ran a hand through her curly red hair and pouted. “Have a drink. I want you to have fun. We can get a ride.”

  “Relax, I’m enjoying myself,” Anne shouted over the band blasting alternative rock music from across the sports bar. Besides, she was more of a wine-sipping kind of girl. Hard liquor went straight to her head, and she didn’t like to feel out of control.

  She glanced at the guitar player jamming on the small stage. Maybe she could ask the band to play Emily’s favorite song. Approaching a singer and drawing attention to herself made her pulse skitter, but what the hell. She’d do it for her best friend, who always had Anne’s back. Besides, at thirty-two it’s not like she was some shy teenager.

  Trish, their server, was nowhere in sight. Anne pointed to her empty glass, using it as an excuse to slip away. “I’ll be right back.”

  She weaved through the crowd, dodging servers carrying trays with pitchers of beer and fried wings. Baltimore Orioles pennants and Ravens pictures covered every inch of the walls. Even though she didn’t follow sports, she at least knew the team colors, since her fifth-graders proudly wore their purple football jerseys to school.

  The band announced they were taking a break, and the noise level returned to normal. Perfect. She’d grab a water and muster up the courage to make a request.

  She spied an empty seat at the bar and hurried to the only open spot. As she slid the chair out, a man in the midst of an animated conversation waved a hand, bumping her shoulder. Cold soda spilled on her arm, and she jumped.

  He whirled around, his mouth agape. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you behind me.”

  Her breath caught as eyes the color of emeralds stared down at her. Way down, because the guy stood an easy foot taller. Blond hair highlighted his tanned face, which would be flawless if not for a few faint scars and a less-than-perfectly-straight nose that somehow added character.

  Her heart thumped in her chest, and she blinked.

  He snagged a handful of cocktail napkins as she held her arm away from her body so the drink wouldn’t drip onto her jeans or shoes. At least some part of her brain hadn’t seized. He placed a warm hand under her elbow for support and dabbed the napkins over her wet arm.

  “Um…it’s okay.” She fumbled to take them from him, paying no attention to his bulging biceps. Not at all.

  “Nice move, slick,” came a voice from behind him.

  Anne glanced at the beefy, dark-haired man with a shit-eating grin on his face.

  “That’s John. Ignore him. He has no manners,” Mister Biceps said. He released her elbow, wiped his palm on his jeans and extended his hand. “I’m Wyatt.”

  She shook his hand, and an electric current tingled up her arm. Something in his eyes flashed. Maybe he’d felt it, too? Her gaze traveled from his massive chest to his broad shoulders. Either the place had shrunk, or this giant of a man had filled it. “I’m Anne.”

  “Hey, you gonna buy the lady a drink or what, superjock?” John asked.

  Wyatt must have given a quick kick to John because he jerked on the bar stool and laughed. He leaned across the counter and said something to the bartender, who nodded, not breaking his rhythm pouring shots.

  “My friend has a good point. Can I buy you a drink to make up for this?” Wyatt waved at her arm, which had bits of paper stuck to it from the napkin dabbing.

  She brushed back a few strands of hair. Her stomach clenched. The guy was smoking hot, and the scent of his cologne was making her heady. Even so, she couldn’t go there. The next guy she dated wouldn’t be someone she met in a bar and knew nothing about. She’d closed that door and sealed the windows. But there he stood, jiggling the locks.

  “Well …” She glanced across the room to her table. “I’m with friends.”

  The bartender placed a drink with a pink umbrella in front of Wyatt, and faced Anne.

  “What can I get for you?” he asked.

  “A water, please.”

  He filled a glass and slid it over to her.

  Wyatt shook his head, plucked the umbrella from his drink, and twirled it in front of John’s face. “Seriously? You ordered a Shirley Temple for me?”

  John smirked and took a pull of his beer.

  Anne bit her cheek to keep from laughing. This big, manly guy holding a pink paper umbrella was too much.

  He dropped it on the counter and sighed. “I can’t take him anywhere. My team lost tonight, so I’m the DD, but I don’t drink Shirley Temples.”

  His eyes twinkled with humor, and her heart slammed against her ribcage. She needed to leave. Walk away right now before he made her laugh again. “Well, I gotta go.”

  Yet she didn’t make a move.

  Her gaze fell to the writing on his T-shirt. “No softballs here. We play hard.”

  This time she did laugh. Wyatt glanced down and winced. With a grin, he shrugged. “I’d regret the shirt choice, except it made you smile.”

  He made her smile.

  “There he is. Hey, superstar.” A tall blonde wearing stilettos, sprayed on jeans, and a clingy halter top strutted over, followed by an entourage of look-alikes. She gave Wyatt a peck on the cheek. “Sorry we’re late. I see the party has already started.”

  Giggles came from the peanut gallery as they surrounded Wyatt, pushing Anne to the end of the bar. She shuffled in her Skechers. Sure, she liked to dress up and wear heels once in a while, but if she tried to pull off sky-high stilettos, she’d be limping for a week. Jeans and the T-shirt she’d bought off the clearance rack at Target were no match for these women’s sexy, hip vibe. Heat crept up her neck like back in school when the popular girls called her a nerd.

  Time to go to her table. She didn’t fit in with this crowd. Picking up her water, she turned to leave, but Wyatt tapped her arm. He’d moved away from the women to stand next to her.

  He rubbed his jaw. “Hey, I don’t want to keep you, but…”

  Her gaze flew to his, and he must have seen something in her eyes, because he didn’t finish his sentence. He rocked back on his heels and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  Great. She’d scared him away. Just as well. Didn’t need a hot guy with groupies and an ego that probably needed constant stroking. She’d steer far away from that type.

  When she dated again, it would be with a stable, responsible man. Someone who had a work ethic and wouldn’t impulsively quit his job and expect to mooch off her. Someone she could count on, who wouldn’t perpetually stand her up or not be able to commit to any plans for fear of missing something else more “fun.”

  Nope. She was so done with those guys. Looks didn’t matter. Only, she couldn’t deny that Wyatt’s looks…well…the looks he gave her made her insides quiver oh-so-pleasantly.

  “We usually come here after the games. Maybe see you around sometime?” He hitched an eyebrow.

  John shook his head and coughed over what sounded like, “Coward.”

  The minions encroached on Wyatt, their laughter pealing. Still, he held Anne’s
gaze.

  Something in her chest fluttered faster than the wings of a bird taking flight. Doubtful she’d run into him again, since she didn’t get out much. “Maybe. Nice meeting you.”

  She hurried away before she changed her mind. Whatever expression he’d seen on her face had stopped him cold from asking her out. All for the best. Teaching, interviewing for vice principal jobs, and volunteer work kept her super busy. That’s the way she liked it. Besides, she needed some space to get over the last breakup and time to do her homework on anyone new. He’d have to tick off the right boxes on her growing list of important attributes.