Recommended Read from Lora Leigh

Riding Wild by Jaci Burton

Available from Berkley Trade on February 5, 2008

Pre-Order from Amazon

He's a Harley-riding ex-thief working undercover for the government. She's a gun-toting ex-socialite hired to protect a valuable museum exhibit. But in her attempt to stop a heist, she never anticipated having her breath and her heart stolen...

Mac Canfield was the last man Lily West expected to see again, never mind aim her gun at. But here he was, the bad boy who'd broken her heart years ago-still a thief, this time high-jacking a priceless artifact--and it was all she could do to push aside the memories of how it felt to have his perfectly chiseled body next to hers.

Mac was no less shocked to see the beautiful girl-next-door all grown up, threatening to shoot him on the spot. Little did she know she was blowing his cover-and now he had to figure out how to get her out of harm's way without succumbing to his crazy desire to take her on a hot trip down memory lane.

Unfortunately, Lily has no intention of going anywhere with Mac. Which means he has to resort to kidnapping. Unless, of course, she agrees to let him take her for the kind of ride destined to drive them both unbelievably wild...

EXCERPT

She skirted through the trees, though stealth wasn't really required since no one was on the lookout. But then she heard the motorcycle again. Closer this time. She darted behind a tree and watched as the rider cut his engine and pulled into a dark alley about a half a block away. She waited to see if he'd appear out of the alley, but he didn't. Still, instinct told her there was something not quite right about this, so she stayed hidden among the trees.

Five minutes later, he walked his bike to the museum delivery entrance.

Her heart skipped a beat. There was something hauntingly familiar about this man. The cocky way he tilted his head, the way he leaned to one side and hooked his thumb in his belt loop as he studied the door. The way he brushed his hair off his face--a weird case of déjà vu. She studied him, trying to make a connection. Did she know him?

Then it hit her. He looked so much like Mac Canfield it was uncanny. Was it because she'd just been thinking about Mac? The memories of all those years ago washed over her in an instant. Lily placed her hand over her heart to stop the thudding beat she was sure he could hear.

Oh, shit. And then her fast beating heart skidded to a halt as she watched him expertly jimmy the lock and slip into the building. She waited for the alarm to sound, ticking down the thirty seconds before it would go off. Nothing. He'd obviously deactivated it.

Well son of a bitch. He'd just broken in. In less than a minute and a half he had circumvented what was supposed to be an expert security system.

Now what? She had to check this out. She had to call the police. She headed in the direction of the door, reaching into her purse to grab her cell phone, but something made her pause.

Of course it wasn't Mac, even though she could clearly picture him riding a mean looking Harley like the one this guy had pulled up on.

Don't be stupid, Lily. Make the call. Mac was in Texas, where she'd left all the pieces of her past. Plus it had been ten years. The man she was looking at now was taller, broader, and he had a mighty fine ass.

Then again, so did Mac.

Three minutes. He'd been in there three damn minutes and was out again. No security team running like hell after him, either. He'd managed to slip in and steal something without the night watch even knowing he'd been there.

Those guys really sucked.

He had something under his arm. The telltale white sheen and its unusual shape meant it was one of the artifacts! Why the hell hadn't she called the cops? Because this guy reminded her of Mac?

Idiot, idiot, idiot! She was so fired. Of course even the cops couldn't have gotten here in time, and calling for the dipshit security guards would be useless. She'd have to stop him first, then call the police.

She hurried the remaining distance across the well manicured lawn, pulling her gun. As he turned toward the bike, she pointed it at his back.

"Freeze. I've got a gun pointed on you."

"Fuck," he whispered. He raised his hands above his head, the artifact held tight in his left hand.
She exhaled in relief, then smiled. This had been way too easy. "Put the item down and turn around slowly." She'd put him face down on the ground, then call the cops.

He pivoted.

The past mingled with the present and Lily felt dizzy. She almost dropped the gun, her worst nightmare come to life. This was why she hadn't called the cops. Something inside her had sent off warning bells and she hadn't wanted him to get caught.

"Mac."

Ten years had changed him, but not enough. Six feet of prime male flesh was instantly recognizable. Wicked sexy and hot enough to steal a woman's panties, and her heart, right out from under her.