Conard County Spy Read online

  New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lee’s sizzling Conard County series continues!

  Hunted by an anonymous killer, rogue CIA agent Trace Archer seeks out a trusted buddy in Wyoming. With danger stalking him, the last thing he expects is innocent civilian Julie Ardlow to offer him help. But when the beautiful kindergarten teacher with a brave heart gives him a cover he can’t refuse—pretending to be an old flame—sparks begin to fly!

  Brave heart? Try crazy. Because though Julie will do anything to save the sexy spy’s life, he’s eventually going to leave, right? But she can’t resist emotionally withdrawn Trace and his soulful eyes. And the deeper they dig into his past to suss out a murderer, the closer danger creeps toward them both...

  “What?” Trace asked jokingly. “No torrid affair?”

  “I’m not sure I could carry that off without actually having had one.”

  Julie’s honesty was touching, but her statement fell into the room almost explosively. He tried to lighten the moment when he saw her cheeks start to color. How many women still blushed? he wondered. “We could always have one now.”

  He gave her a few seconds to stare at him wide-eyed, then he laughed. “Just joshing you. I mean, sure, I’d love to, but under the circumstances, it wouldn’t be wise.”

  Not when someone was trying to kill him. Not when he might have to leave at the drop of a hat. He had limits, and taking advantage of a woman was a hard line for him. He had few hard lines left, and not crossing them was all that kept him from feeling he was simply scum.

  Then she stunned him. “What makes you so sure it wouldn’t be wise?” she asked pertly as she slid off the bar stool. She headed for the bathroom, saying she’d be back in a minute to work on the story.

  For the first time, Trace wondered if he’d wandered into a new kind of quicksand.

  * * *

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  * * *

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  Dear Reader,

  Much to my surprise, when I finished writing a Special Edition that will be published in a few months, I found one of the characters was haunting my waking thoughts. Julie Ardlow had captured my mind and heart, and demanded her own story.

  The next book on my list was Romantic Suspense, and Julie wanted to be right in the middle of it. So here she is, outspoken, beautiful and with a heart that doesn’t count the cost when it cares. She thrusts herself into a situation that could get her killed, and she does it to protect her friends. In the process she becomes involved with a wounded spy—a real spy—and finds that his heart has nearly shut down.

  Well, Julie won’t stand for that.

  In the odd way of the publishing world, this book is a sequel to the Special Edition to be published soon. I tried not to give away much, but if you want Ryker and Marisa’s touching story...well, it’s coming soon.

  Hugs,

  Rachel

  Conard County Spy

  Rachel Lee

  Rachel Lee was hooked on writing by the age of twelve and practiced her craft as she moved from place to place all over the United States. This New York Times bestselling author now resides in Florida and has the joy of writing full-time.

  Books by Rachel Lee

  Harlequin Romantic Suspense

  Conard County: The Next Generation

  Guardian in Disguise

  The Widow’s Protector

  Rancher’s Deadly Risk

  What She Saw

  Rocky Mountain Lawman

  Killer’s Prey

  Deadly Hunter

  Snowstorm Confessions

  Undercover Hunter

  Playing with Fire

  Conard County Witness

  A Secret in Conard County

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

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  For all my readers who help bring Conard County to life, and many thanks to Ashley Granger who volunteered the use of her name for a character. Hope you’re pleased, Ashley.

  Contents

  Prologue

  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

  Excerpt from Her Colton P.I. by Amelia Autin

  Prologue

  The hotel room was opulent, befitting an important man, one on a diplomatic mission for his country. But there was not a diplomatic discussion taking place within its confines. Deadly business was on the table.

  The gray-haired man sitting near the window in a very expensive tailored suit looked at the dossier in his hands. He appeared to be extremely fit and when he moved, did so with fluid ease.

  The man who faced him was decades younger, dressed in much less expensive garb suitable to a government clerk. He was also a little nervous, no matter how calm he tried to be. He was the cover for the people helping the older man. They both knew it. They both also knew it could end badly for this young man if this meeting became known to the wrong people.

  The gray-haired man had a lot of experience judging people, and he knew that this one knew only what he needed to in order to complete this task. “So this is the one who betrayed me? Trace Archer?”

  “Yes, sir,” said the other. “We told you that several months ago.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “We sent him on his way to recuperate away from here. We’re tracking him.”

  “So you know where he is?”

  The younger man nodded. “What he did put you in great danger, General. My superiors understand.”

  “My man did a poor job of taking him out in Bulgaria. It will be harder here.”

  “It will be cleaner here. You know we value you highly. But if something happens to him on his trip, no explanations will be needed from anyone. That’s how we all want it.”

  The general put the dossier aside and went to stand at the window. “In Ukraine, the situation is very delicate. Now it is even more delicate because of this man.”

  “I know.”

  The general doubted the younger man knew even that much or had any real understanding of the complexities here. He was simply doing his job. “I will not trust this to anyone else. That failed last time. So this time you will get me close to him.”

  The younger man hesitated. Apparently this had not been in his brief. “General, the risk...”

  “There will be no risk. I am here on a diplomatic mission, yes?”

  “But that won’t protect you if...”

  “There will be no if. This man has threatened my life, my family, everything I have worked for. I must know he is taken care of, see it with my own eyes.”

  After a moment of hesitation, the younger man agreed. “As you wish.” Clearly he had been told not to disagree with the general.

  “I would expect no less. I have worked with you for man
y years, first from my position in the Russian army, and now in Ukraine. You owe me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The general smiled for the first time. “Soon we will resume our mutually beneficial relationship. Once I remove the traitor.”

  Chapter 1

  Trace Archer hesitated on the porch. The address was correct, but he hadn’t been expecting such a large house. It rose two stories on a street that would be shady in the summertime, but on this cold March night boasted leafless branches. Probably close to a hundred years old.

  In fact, he didn’t know what he had been expecting and wasn’t remotely certain what he was doing here. And even though an old friend lived here, he doubted he’d be welcomed.

  As he was standing there hesitating, a woman popped out the front door. Covered by winter clothing, her figure was obscured, but in the porch light he couldn’t miss the long, shiny auburn hair, and when her gaze settled on him, he could tell her eyes were an unusual green, undimmed by the poor light.

  “Well, hello,” she said, pausing.

  He must be at the wrong place. John Hayes had shown him a photo of his wife once, and Ryker Tremaine had married her after John died. This woman didn’t match the photo at all.

  “Sorry,” he said automatically, shifting a little to ease the everlasting pain in his arm and hand. “I must have the wrong house.”

  He couldn’t mistake the appreciation in her eyes as her gaze swept over him. He wasn’t sure what she was appreciating, considering that, like her, he was wearing a heavy winter jacket.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” she said. “I don’t live here. Who are you looking for?”

  “Ryker Tremaine.”

  “Right house,” she said, then before he could respond she turned and threw the door open. “Hey, Ryker, you’ve got a friend out here.”

  “Bring him in,” came a familiar but muffled voice from inside.

  The choice taken out of his hands, Trace followed the woman inside, entering a warm, pleasant foyer. Gleaming dark wood surrounded him and a staircase led directly upward. It made him feel like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit the picture.

  “I’m Julie, by the way,” the green-eyed woman said, stripping off her gloves and offering her hand. “Julie Ardlow.”

  Trace shifted uneasily. He still wasn’t used to all the limitations of his injury and had to make a conscious decision to offer his gloved left hand to shake hers. He saw the way her eyes widened, then saw comprehension dawn. Well, it wasn’t as if he could hide it indefinitely.

  Then he heard heavy footsteps from the back of the house, and Ryker appeared. Trace experienced a sense of shock. In all the years he’d known Ryker, never had he seen the man look this relaxed, and right now he had a faint smile around his mouth. As he saw Trace, that smile vanished, and he once again looked like granite.

  “Well. I’ll be damned,” Ryker said.

  “I can leave,” Trace replied. “I was just in the area...”

  “No,” Ryker said slowly. “No. Julie, you still need to run?”

  Julie looked between the two men. Trace could almost sense her calculating whether that was a dismissal or an invitation to stay.

  “Yeah,” she said finally. “School tomorrow and all that. See you, Ryker. Nice meeting you, whoever you are.”

  “Sorry,” he said. “The name’s Trace.”

  She cocked her head a little, smiled slightly with a mouth that seemed to beg for a kiss, then headed back out the front door. Neither man moved until it closed behind her.

  “I heard you were sidelined,” Ryker said. “Didn’t expect you, though.”

  “No reason you should. I wasn’t expecting to show up here, either. If it’s a problem, I’ll leave.”

  Ryker shook his head a little. “I’ll tell my wife you’re here and make some coffee. Just...no lies, okay? There’ve been enough of them.”

  Trace didn’t have to imagine those. He lived them. But he did wonder what lies the man was expecting. Between them, there didn’t need to be any. When Ryker waved him into the living room, he unzipped his jacket partway with his good left hand, then sat on the battered burgundy gooseneck chair.

  Seldom had he ever felt more out of place. What had brought him here, anyway? A desire to find out if life after the job was possible? Ryker seemed to be making it, but then it hadn’t been that long.

  This whole house smelled of baby, he noted. Powder and sour milk. He almost smiled thinking of the huge transitions Ryker must be going through. Nothing about this would resemble being a field operative.

  At last Ryker returned with coffee for each of them. “The baby’s been fussy the last couple of days. A cold. My wife’s going to try to catch some sleep, so it’s just us.”

  That was fine by Trace. The devil of it was, he’d brought himself here and now didn’t have a damn thing to say.

  “How bad is it?” Ryker finally asked.

  “I won’t be working in the field anymore.” The least of it in some ways. Being crippled was harder to deal with than a change of jobs.

  Ryker settled on the couch and crossed his legs loosely. “Sorry, man.”

  “Not so sure I am.” This visit was pointless. He honestly didn’t know what he’d expected to find here in Conard County, Wyoming. Answers to questions about a future he was having trouble facing? He needed a shrink for that, not an old friend. Maybe he should just congratulate Ryker on his new life and get the hell out.

  “You going to be staying in town for a while?” Ryker asked.

  Was that a suggestion he leave? Trace couldn’t tell, but then Ryker had always been difficult to read. “I wasn’t planning to. I just wanted to drop by.”

  Ryker nodded slowly, still watching him. “Where will you go next?”

  “Damned if I know. Does it matter?”

  A faint frown flickered over Ryker’s face. Then he sighed. “Yeah, Trace, it matters. Word I get about you isn’t good. We haven’t always seen eye to eye, you and me, but I’m hearing things. You got trouble on your tail?”

  “I’m not sure. No one’s sure.”

  Ryker stood up then, and now there was no mistaking his reaction. “You brought that trouble right to my door? To my wife and baby?”

  “I’ve been careful. No one knows where I am right now.”

  Ryker paced three steps quickly before turning and stabbing his finger at Trace. “You came here. Who told you how to find me?”

  “Bill.”

  “Bill. Damn it all to hell.”

  Trace stood up, battling to ignore the savage pain in his right arm. “Consider me gone. No one knows I’m here.”

  “I know and Bill knows. That’s one too many. Why the hell did he tell you?”

  “I don’t know. I’m just rambling.”

  “With a tiger on your tail?”

  “Nobody knows that for certain. And frankly, I don’t believe it.”

  This was a side of Ryker that Trace wasn’t used to seeing. Usually the man went into overdrive to help a buddy. Now he was in a different mode, a lion protecting his pride. This had been a huge mistake. He put his coffee down. “I’ll leave now, R.T. Gone tonight.”

  “But to where?”

  “Who cares?”

  Ryker scowled at him. “I do, damn it. They shouldn’t be cutting you loose like this.”

  “I’m a liability now. Obviously.” Nothing like facing the cold, hard truth.

  Ryker shook his head. “Sit down, drink your coffee and shut up. I need to think.”

  An eternity later, Ryker settled and faced him again. “You got a number of IDs? Some that they don’t know about?”

  “A few. I’ve been using different ones everywhere I go.”

  Ryker nodded. “Use one of them tonight. Check into the motel
on the edge of town with it. Stay low.”

  “And then?”

  “I’m going to talk to the sheriff here.”

  Everything in Trace rebelled. “You can’t tell him...”

  “I can tell him enough. He’s a good man to have on your side. But one thing you are most definitely not going to do is come back to this house. Got it?”

  “Yeah.” Trace practically snapped the word.

  “Stay tonight. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “I’ll leave.”

  Ryker shook his head. “Trace, you’re hanging in the wind. You can’t do that until you die. So shut up and get that room. We’ll talk again tomorrow once I figure out some things.”

  * * *

  Julie Ardlow decided not to head straight home. Instead she went to Maude’s City Diner and ordered a latte to drink while she went over her kindergarten students’ pictures. The exercise was designed to do two things: associate a printed color name with the actual hue, and work on fine motor skills by drawing inside the lines. Each child’s first name had to be crayoned at the top. Beyond that, she didn’t care how much they added their own inventions to the simple picture, but she often enjoyed them.

  The papers all said ball and purple at the top. As long as the ball was purple and was reasonably neat, she didn’t care what they colored the other items or how much they added. The kids seemed to enjoy it, and she had a stack of self-sticking stars and smiley faces to decorate each one with. At this point in the year, most were engaged in simple reading, so she measured their progress, especially in fine motor skills. A big improvement over the beginning of the year.

  And they all made her smile. The boys’ drawings were often decorated with simple rocket ships or planes. The girls’ with flowers or smiling stick figures. Not always, though. Tommy Wells had added what looked like a snake or a dragon to his. Gloria Chase, defying stereotypes as usual, had drawn a big boat on hers.

  When she finished with them, she pulled out another stack from her bag. Word matching this time, simple ones they had all learned to read aloud, drawing a line between the ones that matched in separate columns. Following directions, pattern recognition, reading, and...in one case, one student’s work indicated some clear dyslexia. That had been brought to the school’s attention, and Jason was getting extra help. She gave him a big smiley face and a gold star anyway. She never wanted to discourage a child.