Genuine Fake

           Devlin Security operative Boyd Kirby guards only art and artifacts. Memories of leading his Army Ranger team into a deathtrap haunt him, so he swears never to protect people. But when the woman who once stole his heart asks for help, he can’t refuse. The search for Gemma Bellini’s missing friend leads to a complex case of art forgery and murder attempts on her life. Sweating bullets, Boyd vows not to be distracted by her warmth and his desire. He damn well will protect her… with his life.

         When sparks between them ignite to flames, the danger escalates—to their lives and their hearts.

 Wild Women Authors is pleased to welcome back multi-published author Susan Vaughan as she celebrates the release of Genuine Fake, the latest in her Devlin Security series. With Susan is Boyd Kirby who will go first.

Good morning, Kirby. Thanks for taking time away from the agency to speak with us. Let’s start with where you’re from. Boston. My accent’s usually a dead giveaway. My dad was a Boston PD sergeant. After he was killed in the line of duty, I enlisted. Made Army Rangers and worked my way up to First Sergeant. Now I work for Devlin Security in Virginia.

Tell us a bit about Genuine Fake. Sure. Gemma texted me for help about her missing friend Troy. I soon figured out a lot more was going on and she was in deep sh—, sorry, deep trouble. Her grandfather was a famous artist who left her in charge of his estate. A tall order that set her up for trouble with art forgers who wanted her dead. While other operatives investigated, my job was protecting her. The last thing I wanted. Nobody should trust me to protect them. Plus, maintaining professional distance from her was a tough call. As it turned out, impossible.

What did you think the first time you saw Gemma Bellini? I immediately crushed on her. What red-blooded male wouldn’t? Gorgeous and full of life, and those dimples.

Works for us. And your second thought was . . .? Man, way out of my league.

Was it love at first sight? Lust at first sight, for sure. And like. Gemma’s easy to like. Friendly, fun-loving, and generous.

How would Gemma describe you? Hmm, she’d say I have protector in my DNA. But sometimes I’m too grim. And relentless.

What is your biggest fear? I wish you hadn’t asked that, but here goes. I didn’t keep my men safe in Afghanistan, so the possibility of failing again when it really counts—like protecting Gemma—twists a knife in my gut.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? It’s that saying about being in a hole. I can’t remember who said it. I’d dug myself into a hole, deeper and deeper. It took me a long time—and Gemma—to learn to stop digging.

Thanks for this, Boyd. We know it wasn’t easy. Now we’d like to chat with Susan.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I first wrote a couple of young adult novels, but didn’t feel I had the voice for that age even though I taught middle school. I had been reading mysteries, and still love them. But then a friend lent me Hummingbird by Lavyrle Spencer, and reading it was a revelation. I began devouring romance novels and knew finally what I wanted to write. A movie that influenced me was Romancing the Stone. The first book in the Devlin Security Force series, On Deadly Ground, about returning a Mayan artifact to its temple, is a tip of my hat to that film.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I was first published by Harlequin. I enjoyed most their Silhouette Intimate Moments (sadly, now defunct). The length and the mix of suspense and romance were what influenced me to submit there. Now, I’m happily published independently.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I have Immortal Heart by Julie Miller, one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, and Taking Care of Business in Judith Arnold’s Magic Juke Box series (love the whole series). I’ve just begun reading While Justice Sleeps by Stacy Abrams, definitely intrigue and suspense but not romance, although Abrams has published romance novels.

 Would you give us a snippet of Genuine Fake? I’ve chosen this section at the beginning where the couple first meet. The local police have just finished at Gemma’s missing friend’s apartment when Boyd arrives.

      The sound of footsteps pounding up the stairs turned everyone toward the half-open door. Long placed a hand on the butt of the pistol at her side.

Gemma’s heart fluttered against her ribs. Could it be? There’d been so much noise on Boyd’s end of his call—voices talking over each other, laughter—she wasn’t sure what he’d said after she gave him Troy’s address.

The door swung inward and Boyd Kirby filled the space. His steel-gray gaze mapped the room before landing on her. He swept her head to toe, then nodded, apparently satisfied she was all in one piece.

And oh my, the man did fill out a tuxedo. The jacket molded the muscularity of his wide shoulders. The ends of a bow tie stuck out of his breast pocket, and the blinding-white dress shirt hung open partway, displaying smooth, solid muscle dusted with bronze hairs.

“Gemma, you okay?”

She was, now that he’d arrived, and that he came right away, tonight. Her whole being felt lighter as warmth bloomed in her chest, but apparently her brain had left the building. Finally she managed to say, “Yes, yes, I’m good. As you see.”

She took two steps toward him before she forced herself to halt. Damn, she wanted nothing more but to feel his strong arms around her. And she’d promised herself to keep it all business.

“Who is this?” Long asked, in a tone of feminine appreciation that pulled Gemma’s focus from Boyd.

“Oh, it’s—” she began.

“Boyd Kirby, Sergeant. A friend. Gemma called me.” He strode to Gemma’s side and shot her a warning glance. About what? He stared unsmiling at the two officers. “You figure out what happened here?”

Back in cop mode, Long picked up her kit and headed to the door, her partner at her heels. “Hard to say so far.” She turned to Gemma with a small smile. “Y’all are in good hands then, ma’am.”

After that bit of good will, they left. Their wide leather equipment belts creaked as they hit the stairs.

“Thanks for coming, Boyd, but you didn’t have to leave a party. You could’ve waited until tomorrow morning.” She couldn’t help it, she had to touch him, to feel his solid presence. She gripped his forearm. Even through the jacket, his tensile strength and heat reassured her.

He shook his head. “Better I look this over tonight, so I can see things the way the ass— burglars left them.”

She huffed as she swept an arm to encompass the mess. “The way they left this place all cattywampus, assholes perfectly describes them.”

At her easy use of the word, a rascal’s crooked grin deepened sexy laugh lines framing his mouth and eyes. Heat flashed low in her body.

“Assholes it is then.” He tilted his head and placed his big hands on her shoulders. “No bruises, nothing broken? You said on the phone they nearly knocked you down the stairs.”

His warmth seeped into her, further easing the tightness. She might have black and blue on her hip. And a nightmare or two. But she firmed her jaw and her stance. She refused to be the weepy damsel in distress, especially if he’d left a date to come to her rescue.

“Nothing. Really.”

“I’d have been here sooner, but I couldn’t leave the shindig Devlin sent me to. And first I had to take home the client. Nearly midnight but traffic on the Beltway was like rush hour.”

Client, so no date then. Not that she was interested.

“Nice tux. Looks made for you.”

“Yeah, thanks. Actually feels comfortable, not like a vise. For security details among the rich and famous, I used to rent, but Mr. Devlin said I needed a suit tailored for my ape shoulders. Well, he didn’t exactly put it that way, but my mom would.”

She wouldn’t call him ape shouldered, but hunk came to mind. And buff. Laughing, she said, “Mr. Devlin was right.”

 

To purchase Genuine Fake, go to:

Digital & Print on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Fake-Devlin-Susan-Vaughan-ebook/dp/B097J4GPX3/;

short universal link: http://getbook.at/GenuineFake

 

To learn more about Susan Vaughan and the stories she creates, go to:

Website: www.susanvaughan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.vaughan.author

Twitter: @shvaughan or https://twitter.com/SHVaughan

Newsletter: www.susanvaughan.com 

Amazon Author page Universal Link: http://viewAuthor.at/SusanVaughan 

Goodreads Author page: http://bit.ly/1gUmLug

Contact: susan@susanvaughan.com