A Hero and a Rogue (Book 2 Gentlemen Undercover Series)

Book excerpt: A gentleman who solves the most challenging cases A young woman who keeps her own secrets close Will the threat of danger draw them closer together? Or will he let his painful past keep him from seeing his future? Robert Shelby was beaten, betrayed, and held prisoner for months. Now, a year after his rescue, he loses himself in his work. A gifted private investigator, he takes cases of missing persons and missing goods. He turns a blind eye to smugglers who ply their trade close to his estate in Sussex, leaving the matter to the law. He also seeks to ignore the constable’s inquisitive daughter, despite his attraction to her. Diana Ashley keeps watch over her brother as he works with the smugglers on the River Arun. She made a promise to her late mother to see to his safety and her father, the constable, cannot know of her brother’s involvement or her concealment of it. She is tired of her duty, and longs to convince her brother to give up the dangerous work. One night Robert finds her on the bluff near his home, but despite his probing questions she won’t reveal the true reason for her nightly vigils. There is more than smuggling going on in Sussex, and when her brother is accused of a horrible crime she goes to Robert for help clearing his name. Mutual attraction swiftly turns to passion, and she suspects that her heart is in more danger than she herself had ever been while keeping an eye on her brother. Robert is drawn to her sweetness, beauty, and quick mind, but believes she is better off without a scarred man like him. Can Robert make room in his heart for her? Or will past pain and betrayal drive him to deny the love they share?