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  She looked up to find Joshua staring at her—at them. His eyes met hers. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You’re welcome.”

  * * *

  Joshua stripped his gloves from his hands and tossed them into a trash bag. He never traveled without his bag of medical supplies and, once again, it had paid off to have it.

  He let his gaze travel the area, looking for the van used by Kaylee’s attacker. While he’d been focused on delivering the baby, he couldn’t help throwing glances over his shoulder every so often. He was almost surprised the man hadn’t shown up. Grateful, but surprised.

  For now, Kaylee and her baby were safe, and that was all that mattered. He glanced at her and found she was still enamored with the infant in her arms. Her son.

  His heart thudded at how beautiful he found the sight. Her long, blond hair feathered around her face. She’d pushed some strands behind her right ear but they didn’t want to stay there. Vivid blue eyes were now trained on her child, but Joshua remembered the fire in them when she’d tried to fight off her attacker and then again when she’d realized she was going to give birth in the back of his SUV. He drew in a deep breath. Beautiful or not, she was off-limits.

  The ambulance had arrived five minutes after the baby boy had slid into his hands. Now the paramedics were waiting to take Kaylee and her son to the hospital to be checked out. His cousin, Sheriff Clay Starke, was also waiting. “Be with you in a minute.”

  “Sure.”

  Joshua approached the nearest paramedic, a blonde in her midthirties. “I think she’s ready.”

  “Great.” She and her partner, an older guy, grabbed the gurney and rolled it over to the SUV. They gently helped Kaylee and the baby out of the back seat and onto the gurney.

  Joshua re-gloved, rolled up the soiled tarp and disposed of it in the ambulance’s hazardous waste bag. He turned to find Clay talking to Kaylee. “...you know the man? Can you describe him?”

  “No. I’ve never seen him before, I’m sorry. I...” She gave a small shrug and shook her head.

  “Did he say what he wanted?”

  “He wanted me to get in the van and, when I refused, he grabbed my arm. That’s when Joshua drove up and fought him off.”

  At Clay’s raised brow, Joshua shrugged. “I did some mixed martial arts training to help deal with the stress of medical school. I picked up a few moves.”

  She met his gaze. “I’ve never seen anyone fight like that. You made it look so easy.”

  “At least until he pulled the gun, huh?” He could have disarmed the man with a few simple moves. And if Kaylee hadn’t been standing in the path of a possible bullet, he would have.

  “Well, yes, but still, that was pretty amazing.”

  He smiled. “I’ve had some practice.”

  She bit her lip. “Thank you for being there. I don’t know what I would have done—with him or the baby.” She blinked back tears and he thought one of the walls around his heart might have just cracked a little.

  He cleared his throat and backed up a bit. “It was good timing.”

  Clay slapped him on the back. “Nice work. Glad to have you back home. Mom and Dad are looking forward to seeing you.”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing them, as well.”

  Clay turned to Kaylee. “Is there anyone we should call?”

  “My father. I suppose.”

  “I’ll call him now.”

  “Thanks.”

  “We’re ready to roll.” The paramedic shut the door.

  “Should I follow her?” Joshua asked.

  “Why?”

  “Because whoever came after her just a bit ago isn’t done. He said he’d be back.”

  And no matter who their parents were or the conflict that might wind up generating between him and Kaylee, he was worried her attacker might return—and he wasn’t about to leave her and her son unprotected.

  Copyright © 2018 by Lynette Eason

  ISBN-13: 9781488087981

  Top Secret Target

  Copyright © 2018 by Harlequin Books S.A.

  Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Dana Mentink for her contribution to the Military K-9 Unit miniseries.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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