Lure of the Bear (Aloha Shifters: Jewels of the Heart Book 3)
Page 18
His first reaction was outrage. That woman on the terrace was his target — nobody else’s. No one was going to have the satisfaction of eliminating that murderer but him.
In a flash, he swung his rifle back to the woman on the terrace and took aim.
Satisfaction? She’s not a killer, a little voice insisted.
The woman gazed up at the stars, and the electric current that zapped through Cruz’s body just wouldn’t let up. He bared his teeth, ready to shoot that voice instead of a target half a mile away. But, hell. What if the woman was innocent? What if he never found out?
The woman turned, ready to head inside. Meaning it was now or never if he was going to get a shot off before the other sniper did.
Now, the dark side of his soul called.
Never! his tiger growled.
He glanced to the right, where the second man was hurriedly taking aim at the woman.
No, his tiger roared. No!
A pop sounded, followed by an outbreak of laughter from the crowd on the main porch.
What the hell? Cruz’s heart pounded as he scanned the scene. Was that a silenced shot?
No — it was a bottle of champagne, bubbling all over a couple in the crowd on the main porch. Cruz ripped his gaze back to the side terrace, where the curtain flapped. The woman was gone.
She’s safe! Safe! His tiger cheered.
He turned back toward the hit man, who’d also been distracted from his shot by the pop.
Destiny smiles on her, his tiger hummed.
Cruz wasn’t so sure, because the second man kept his rifle high, squinting through his sights, intent on finding the woman for a second chance. Cruz sniffed for his scent, but the man was upwind.
Can’t let him kill her, his tiger cried.
Cruz couldn’t understand why it felt so important to keep that woman safe. But it did, and within the space of two heartbeats, the urge went from a vague feeling to a burning need.
Must keep her safe. Must get her away from this place! his tiger screamed.
Cruz cursed, disassembling the rifle in seconds flat, wondering what the woman had to do with the other shooter. Then he zipped the weapon into his bag and took off, racing through the woods with feline stealth. Within a matter of minutes, he’d concealed the rifle, plucked a stray leaf from his hair, and climbed the stairs to the golf club, straightening his tie as he went. He hated suits — and crowds — but he’d worn his best tux tonight so he could fit in if necessary. A good soldier always had a Plan B, right?
He’d find the woman, get her someplace private, and search for the truth in her eyes. Then he’d decide who to kill — the woman or the armed man in the woods. He could sense those preying eyes sweep the party as clearly as he might see a searchlight making regular sweeps.
That woman is mine, he told himself, trying to mask his rage at the imposter.
That woman is mine, his tiger hummed in a totally different tone.
* * *
Things heat up quickly from the moment Cruz meets his mystery woman face to face in Chapter 2 and keeps building through the rest of the story. Read Lure of the Tiger to catch all the passion, emotion, and romance!
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Books by Anna Lowe
Aloha Shifters - Jewels of the Heart
Lure of the Dragon (Book 1)
Lure of the Wolf (Book 2)
Lure of the Bear (Book 3)
Lure of the Tiger (Book 4)
Love of the Dragon (Book 5)
Blue Moon Saloon
Perfection (a short story prequel)
Damnation (Book 1)
Temptation (Book 2)
Redemption (Book 3)
Salvation (Book 4)
Deception (Book 5)
Celebration (a holiday treat)
The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch
Desert Hunt (the Prequel)
Desert Moon (Book 1)
Desert Wolf: Complete Collection (Four short stories)
Desert Blood (Book 2)
Desert Fate (Book 3)
Desert Heart (Book 4)
Desert Yule (a short story)
Desert Rose (Book 5)
Desert Roots (Book 6)
Sasquatch Surprise (a Twin Moon spin-off story)
Shifters in Vegas
Paranormal romance with a zany twist
Gambling on Trouble
Gambling on Her Dragon
Gambling on Her Bear
Serendipity Adventure Romance
Off the Charts
Uncharted
Entangled
Windswept
Adrift
Travel Romance
Veiled Fantasies
Island Fantasies
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