Annette Broadrick - Double Identity (Silhouette Desire No. 1646)(Crenshaws)

Why Didnt You Tell Me This Was Your First Time?

I didnt think it was necessary, Carina said.

You could have warned me, at least. I practically leaped on you. Jude frowned.

She smiled. I thought it was great.

Well he looked down at her Im glad you think so, but I should have taken more time with you. I was too rough, too eager. I wanted you so badly.

You made it a marvelous experience for me.

I thought that since you wereI mean, you were engaged, so it seemed reasonable that you had, uh, that you had He sighed, looking glum.

You know, I understand there are men who actually want to be the first one with a woman.

He took a deep breath and sighed. Probably. Its more important to me that I be the last one.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for choosing Silhouette Desire. As always, we have a fabulous array of stories for you to enjoy, starting with Just a Taste by Bronwyn Jameson, the latest installment in our DYNASTIES: THE ASHTONS continuity series. This tale of forbidden attraction between two romance-wary souls will leave you breathless and wanting more from this wonderful authorwho will have a brand-new miniseries of her own, PRINCES OF THE OUTBACK, out later this year.

The terrific Annette Broadrick is back with another book in her CRENSHAWS OF TEXAS series. Double Identity is an engrossing page-turner about seduction and liesyou know, all that good stuff! Susan Crosby continues her BEHIND CLOSED DOORS series with Rules of Attraction, the first of three brand-new stories set in the world of very private investigations. Roxanne St. Claire brings us a fabulous McGrath brother hero caught in an unexpected situation, in When the Earth Moves. Rochelle Alerss THE BLACKSTONES OF VIRGINIA series wraps up with Beyond Business, a story in which the Blackstone patriarch gets involved in a surprise romance with his newand very pregnantassistant. And last but certainly not least, the engaging Amy Jo Cousins is back this month with Sleeping Arrangements, a terms-of-the-will story not to be missed.

Heres hoping you enjoy all six of our selections this month. And, in the months to come, look for Maureen Childs THREE-WAY WAGER series and a brand-new installment of our infamous TEXAS CATTLEMANS CLUB.

Happy reading!

Melissa Jeglinski
Senior Editor
Silhouette Desire

ANNETTE BROADRICK

DOUBLE IDENTITY

Books by Annette Broadrick

Silhouette Desire

Hunters Prey #185

Bachelor Father #219

Hawks Flight #242

Deceptions #272

Choices #283

Heat of the Night #314

Made in Heaven #336

Return to Yesterday #360

Adams Story #367

Momentary Marriage #414

With All My Heart #433

A Touch of Spring #464

Irresistible #499

A Loving Spirit #552

Candlelight for Two #577

Lone Wolf #666

Where There Is Love #714

Love Texas Style! #734

Courtship Texas Style! #739

Marriage Texas Style! #745

Zeke #793

Temptation Texas Style! #883

Mysterious Mountain Man #925

Megans Marriage #979

The Groom, I Presume? #992

Lean, Mean & Lonesome #1237

Tall, Dark & Texan #1261

Marriage Prey #1327

Branded #1604

Caught in the Crossfire #1610

Double Identity #1646

Silhouette Special Edition

Mystery Wife #877

The Presidents Daughter #1226

But Not for Me #1472

Man in the Mist #1576

Too Tough To Tame #1581

MacGowan Meets His Match #1586

Silhouette Romance

Circumstantial Evidence #329

Provocative Peril #359

Sound of Summer #412

Unheavenly Angel #442

Strange Enchantment #501

Mystery Lover #533

Thats What Friends Are For #544

Come Be My Love #609

A Love Remembered #676

Married?! #742

The Gemini Man #796

Daddys Angel #976

Impromptu Bride #1018

Instant Mommy #1139

Unforgettable Bride #1294

Silhouette Books

Silhouette Christmas Stories 1988
Christmas Magic

Spring Fancy 1993
Surprise, Surprise!

Summer Sizzlers 1994
Deep Cover

Wanted: Mother 1996
Whats a Dad To Do?

Sons of Texas: Rogues and Ranchers 1996

Do You Take This Man? 1999
Rent-a-Husband

Callaway Country 2000

Matters of the Heart 2001
Im Going To Be a What?!

ANNETTE BROADRICK

believes in romance and the magic of life. Since 1984, Annette has shared her view of life and love with readers. In addition to being nominated by Romantic Times as one of the Best New Authors of that year, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Best in its Series, the Romantic Times WISH Award; and the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Awards for Series Romance and Series Romantic Fantasy.

Contents

One

Jude Crenshaws phone rang at seven oclock, waking him from a deep, exhausted sleep at his condo in Fort Meade, Maryland. He fumbled for the phone without opening his eyes.

Crenshaw, he mumbled.

This is Ms. Kincaids office calling. One moment, please. He was put on hold. Kincaid was his supervisor at the National Security Agency.

Jude had worked for the agency for the past four years. Hed been hired as a civilian after leaving the army, where hed been in Special Ops. He had been in the field until six months ago when hed been promoted to a supervisory position.

He couldnt imagine why Jackie Kincaid would be calling him at home at this time of morning. He sat up, rubbed his hand over his face and swung his legs to the floor.

Jude? Jackie. Sorry to bother you so early. I tried to reach you yesterday, but you must have been incommunicado. I couldnt get my calls to go through on your cell phone so I could leave a message.

Ive been on the west coast for the past two weeks. Got home in the wee hours this morning.

I know youre on vacation this week but somethings come up here that needs your presence.

Staff problems?

Nothing like that. We need you at an interdepartmental meeting at nine.

He frowned. What department?

DEA.

Youre kidding me.

Nope. Do you think you can get here by that time?

Jude yawned and said, Sure. No problem.

Great. See you then.

Jude stood and stretched. His body was still on Pacific Standard Time, which meant he was having to function at four in the morning.

He went into his kitchen and made a pot of coffee that would be ready by the time he finished his shower. In the bathroom, his bleary-eyed gaze looked back at him from the mirror.

He needed a haircut.

Hed been out in the sun quite a bit while in southern California, so that his skin was deeply tanned and his blond hair lighter than usual.

Jude showered and shaved, dressed and returned to the kitchen for his caffeine fix. After his first cup, he filled a thermos cup with the rest of the coffee to drink on the way to work and went into the garage where he kept his baby.

His two-seater late-model Porsche spent more time in the garage than out on the road. Hed been looking forward to a few days off so he could take her out, wind her up and put her through her paces. The car was the love of his life, and why not? She was always waiting at home when he got there, never complained about the hours he kept, didnt demand attention and didnt eat him out of house and home while he was away.

He hit the garage-door button as he stepped through the door and slid behind the wheel. When he turned on the engine, he smiled at the whisper of sound. She was purring for him.

Jude drove to the NSA office complex sipping on his coffee, determined not to let the rush-hour traffic disturb him. Once there, he went to his office, checked his mail and headed down the hall to Kincaids office.