ON DEADLY GROUND
Devlin Security Force - Protecting priceless treasures
Book 1
Although part of a series, this is a stand-alone with its own conclusion.
Book 1
Although part of a series, this is a stand-alone with its own conclusion.
“Susan Vaughan's On Deadly Ground is a red-hot, non-stop thrill ride complete
with kidnappers, stolen artifacts and a dangerously inconvenient romance.”
– Toni Anderson, NYT Bestselling Author
from The Wild Rose Press
Also available at Amazon - Barnes & Noble - iTunes - Kobo
A desperate sister - Museum director Kate Fontaine made two promises to her dying father—protect her ne’er-do-well brother and
return a stolen statuette of the Maya god of earthquakes to its temple. But when her brother is kidnapped and the price to save him
is the priceless artifact, keeping one promise means breaking the other. In a no-win situation and facing a dangerous trek through the jungle,
Kate is forced to rely on a guide she doesn’t trust… yet whose touch makes her yearn for so much more.
A cynical guide - The only person Max Rivera can truly count on is himself.
That's why he prefers to work alone. Unfortunately his Devlin Security Force assignment to guide and protect Kate includes
covertly finding proof her kidnapped brother has sold black-market antiquities. And sticking close to this delectable
and vulnerable woman proves more dangerous to Max than all the threats in the jungle.
A race against time - While following the kidnapper’s instructions, Max and Kate must outrun black-market smugglers and
a predicted earthquake in a race that takes them from Washington to England and into the Costa Verde jungle.
But as perilous as their quest becomes, when desire flares between them, risking their lives seems simple next to risking their hearts.
Research Picture Gallery
People swimming in a cenote, as Max and Kate do in the book. An unrestored building at Coba, Mexico, and the "Temple of Commerce," shaped like a beehive, because the local Maya traded in honey.
Susan & her husband at Coba. Dona Jimena, making tortillas the old way, over a charcoal fire. The restaurant doesn't look like much, but they served the tour group a delicious lunch.
Excerpt
His drawl—Texas?—slid into her like red wine. The man radiated sex like heat rays.
“Kate Fontaine,” Devlin said, “this is one of my best operatives, Max Rivera.”
He held out a hand. His expression smoothed to polite blandness. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Kate accepted his handshake, registering strength, the rasp of calluses, and a surprisingly gentle warmth. “Thank you for coming to my rescue, Mr. Rivera.” The name seemed familiar.
“No problem. And make it Max.”
They’d be traveling together for days. Formality was out, but she could ignore him as a man. She was no lonely female looking for a fling. Especially with a man who’d take over and tell her she was out of her element. She was, but still.
“If things go according to plan, you shouldn’t need rescuing again, you or the statue.” Humor glinted in Max’s dark eyes.
“Like you say. As long as nothing goes wrong.” Her stomach churned.
She and Max inched forward in the security line. At the checkpoint, she deposited her gear in bins. Behind her, Max kicked off his boots.
What was it about his name? She set her handbag and tablet case on the conveyer. Something about Doug. Max Rivera. Her breath caught.
She spun on him. “I recognize your name.”
His eyebrows shot upward.
“You’re the man who cheated my brother.”
His drawl—Texas?—slid into her like red wine. The man radiated sex like heat rays.
“Kate Fontaine,” Devlin said, “this is one of my best operatives, Max Rivera.”
He held out a hand. His expression smoothed to polite blandness. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Kate accepted his handshake, registering strength, the rasp of calluses, and a surprisingly gentle warmth. “Thank you for coming to my rescue, Mr. Rivera.” The name seemed familiar.
“No problem. And make it Max.”
They’d be traveling together for days. Formality was out, but she could ignore him as a man. She was no lonely female looking for a fling. Especially with a man who’d take over and tell her she was out of her element. She was, but still.
“If things go according to plan, you shouldn’t need rescuing again, you or the statue.” Humor glinted in Max’s dark eyes.
“Like you say. As long as nothing goes wrong.” Her stomach churned.
She and Max inched forward in the security line. At the checkpoint, she deposited her gear in bins. Behind her, Max kicked off his boots.
What was it about his name? She set her handbag and tablet case on the conveyer. Something about Doug. Max Rivera. Her breath caught.
She spun on him. “I recognize your name.”
His eyebrows shot upward.
“You’re the man who cheated my brother.”
