The firm hand around her bicep-so warm, so familiar-sent a wave of thrilling awareness through her veins. The one touch could set her back months, maybe more. The man had always been unreal and larger than life. Wanting him had nearly destroyed her once. Never again. She sucked in a breath. "Did the doctors release you?"

"Yes. I have a concussion, and once it's healed, my memory should be restored. Though"-his voice dropped to a rumble-"you'll need to awaken me every two hours tonight, darlin'."

The tw.a.n.g. That Southern tw.a.n.g that escaped when he was either tired or aroused-an idiosyncrasy he normally managed to camouflage. The mere sound of it ignited memories of heated nights and soft whispers from her brain straight to her core. It was an intimacy most people didn't know about him, and learning about it made her feel special. Her mouth went dry.

A visible tic set up underneath the detective's left eye. "You're not free to leave, Major Dean."

Shane smiled.

The air rushed out of Josie's lungs. She knew that smile. The detective didn't stand a chance.

Neither did she.

Shane lowered his voice to a purely pleasant tone that wouldn't fool anybody with half a brain. "Malloy, I was attacked and have cooperated with you. I unfortunately have no new information, nor am I under arrest. Thus, I'm going home with my wife. Call me if you have questions."

The tw.a.n.g was gone.

Malloy tapped his pen. "I could hold you as a material witness."

"Try me." Somehow the tone became even more pleasant.

Josie fought a shiver.

Malloy, to his credit, ignored the threat and turned bloodshot brown eyes on her. "Is there anyone who'd want to hurt you, Mrs. Dean?"

Josie sucked in air. "You think he was injured because of me?"

The detective shrugged. "I don't know. This might've been a random mugging, but we need to explore all possibilities."

She hadn't seen her husband in two years. No way was the mugging connected to her. "n.o.body wants to hurt me. Besides, most of my friends don't know I'm married." Next to her, Shane stiffened, and her breath quickened in response.

The detective nodded, his gaze taking in them both. "Are you sure you want him with you?"

No. Though it was time to finish this. "Sure. We need to talk, and I have papers for Shane to sign. Thank you for your concern." Not for one second did she think Shane would stay away at this point.

"Are you sure you're safe? He may be dangerous." The detective appraised them both without expression. Cop face... soldier face. She'd seen it on her husband.

"Shane's dangerous as h.e.l.l." He'd saved her from an obnoxious jacka.s.s the first day they'd met, his combat training obvious. She allowed herself a wry grin. "But he would never hurt me." Physically anyway.

Malloy cleared his throat. "Major Dean, what about your safety?"

Shane blinked twice and then chuckled. "Ah. You mean from the deadly pixie doll standing next to me?"

"Perhaps." Malloy's gaze probed Josie's eyes as he addressed Shane. "You're estranged and she has moved on. Statistically, it's possible the pixie hired someone to take care of you." He smiled. "No offense, ma'am."

She coughed out a laugh. "None taken, Detective. Though I a.s.sure you, if I wanted Shane dead, I'd do it myself." He'd tried to teach her some dangerous skills during their brief marriage, but she'd never had cause to use them.

The detective's eyes narrowed.

Shane chuckled even deeper. "Let's go, angel."

She allowed him to tug her from the room. They pa.s.sed the uniformed cop and the many rooms, Shane's large form dwarfing her in a way she'd forgotten, in a way that made her feel safe-protected-and yet so vulnerable. The detective's concern filtered through her thoughts. Shane was dangerous before. What if he was even more so now? Where had he been the last two years? She didn't know him anymore. Heck, she'd never known him.

Maybe she wasn't so safe.

However, as the exit doors came into view, her stride sped up in an effort to escape the hospital. For her first visit, when she was seven, she'd been brought in by a foster parent who had hurt her. The second time, when she'd turned nine, she'd been carried in by a foster parent trying to save her. Different experiences, yet the result had been the same. She'd ultimately ended up alone.

Here she was again, leaving the hospital with someone who would soon leave. He'd abandoned her once. No matter how quickly her heart had leaped when she'd seen him again, or how lost he seemed right now, he wouldn't stay.

Shane wasn't a guy who stuck around.

He paused near the sliding gla.s.s exit doors, turning her to face him, tipping her chin up with one knuckle. The breadth of his shoulders, the narrowness of his waist, the strength bunched along his muscles promised power and danger. Warmth and the masculine scent of heated cedar wafted her way. "So, wife. Have you slept with this boyfriend of yours?"

Also by Rebecca Zanetti.

Forgotten Sins.

Sweet Revenge.

Blind Faith.

Praise for.

Rebecca Zanetti's Novels.

BLIND FAITH.

"Fast paced, suspenseful... an action-packed journey!... This is a unique, intriguing series and Blind Faith is another book you won't be able to put down."

-HarlequinJunkie.com "I loved the writing. I loved the plot... Zanetti is one h.e.l.l of a writer."

-Melimel.Booklikes.com "A great installment in the series. Everything was upped; the tension, the stakes, the angst, the romance, and of course the shrinking time line for the Dean brothers' chance at survival... I give Blind Faith an A."

-TheBookPushers.com "This book totally rocked. It had me at the edge of my seat and I was totally engrossed in it from beginning to end."

-GuiltyPleasuresBookReviews.com.

SWEET REVENGE.

"4 stars! Top Pick! Intense and thrilling... Filled with twists and turns and a heaping dose of adrenaline, Zanetti takes readers on a ride they won't soon forget!"

-RT Book Reviews.

"Kudos to Ms. Zanetti on another fine Sins Brothers installment, definitely a series to watch!"

-GraveTells.com.

"Sweet Revenge was my first Rebecca Zanetti read, and it definitely will not be my last... If you love action-packed, steamy romantic suspense with s.e.xy alpha heroes, definitely give this series a try-it's one of my new favorites and has gone on my auto-buy list."

-RamblingsfromthisChick.blogspot.com "Sweet Revenge is like a locomotive barreling at you at full throttle! With amazingly well-developed characters, the romantic tension, and a plot so full of subplots, this escape from reality is one of those books that you keep saying just one more page... just one more page... until it's 3 a.m. and there are no more pages left!"

-TomeTender.blogspot.com "The magic Zanetti creates when she puts pen to paper results in my kinda romance. The basis of the Sins Brothers series is one that captivates the reader; it's fresh, unique, and I absolutely love it!"

-KTBookReviews.blogspot.com.

FORGOTTEN SINS.

"4 stars! Top Pick! The rich world of romantic suspense gets even better with the first in Zanetti's tremendous new paranormal-edged series... [A] rapidly paced, clever thriller... Zanetti pulls together a heady mix of s.e.xy sizzle, emotional punch, and high-stakes danger in this truly outstanding tale. Brava!"

-RT Book Reviews.

"Forgotten Sins is the first book in what looks to be an extremely promising series... I'm completely captivated!... I feel like a kid in a candy store who just discovered a new favorite candy-and discovered they're sold out of it. Bring on the next book!"

-RomanceJunkiesReviews.com.

"[Zanetti is] an auto-buy author for me... Her world and characters captivated me, and she has maintained her grasp across three different romance subgenres. Forgotten Sins was no exception."

-TheBookPushers.com.

"Lord, I loved this book. From the first page to the last, this one left me trying to catch my breath after each action-packed page... Zanetti will always be a fixture on this reader's bookshelf!"

-Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind (nikkibrandyberry.wordpress.com).

Fall in Love with Forever Romance.

A HOPE REMEMBERED.

by Stacy Henrie.

The final book in Stacy Henrie's sweeping Of Love and War trilogy brings to life the drama of WWI England with emotion and romance. As the Great War comes to a close, American Nora Lewis finds herself starting over on an English estate. But it's the battle-scarred British pilot Colin Ashby she meets there who might just be able to convince her to believe in love again.

SCANDALOUSLY YOURS.

by Cara Elliott.

Secret pa.s.sions are wont to lead a lady into trouble... Meet the rebellious Sloane sisters in the first book of the h.e.l.lions of High Street series from bestselling author Cara Elliott.

DEVIL'S MOON

by Amanda Scott

In a flawless blend of history and romance, USA Today bestselling author Amanda Scott transports readers again to the Scottish Borders with the second book in her Border Nights series.

THE SCANDALOUS SECRET OF ABIGAIL MacGREGOR

by Paula Quinn