Five Star Press
January 2007 Release
Hardcover ISBN:1-59414-551-2
Also available as a Large Print from Thorndike Press.
As a Special Investigative Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard, Jamie Rivard is used to getting answers. He handles high-profile, possibly volatile investigations daily, but when his best friend is killed during a undercover gun smuggling operation off the coast of Maine, Jamie is determined to find the answers about his friend's death that no one wants to give him...
Shelby Teague has already lost a husband to the hard life made from the ocean and she's determined not to lose her brother as well. But when he disappears while diving she finds herself facing old fears, and enlisting the help of a stranger with a take-charge attitude and a mysterious reason for being in Chandler, Maine... and all to save the men she loves...
"OBSIDIAN is a terrific combination of romance and suspense. Teagan Oliver knows how to keep her readers turning the pages!"
-- Tess Gerritsen, author of THE MEPHISTO CLUB.
"Tangled mystery and touching romance--it doesn't get any better than OBSIDIAN. I couldn't put it down." -- Susan Vaughan, author of DEADLY MEMORIES.
"OBSIDIAN has more twists and turns than a coastal road in Maine." -- Diane Amos, author of GETTING PERSONAL & WINNER TAKES ALL.
Excerpt:
...Behind him a door creaked and slammed shut. Jamie straightened, turning away from the pack he was busy untying. But his fingers stilled on the binding cords.
Shelby Teague stood barefoot in the grass, watching him, and for the second time that day, Jamie found he was incapable of forming an intelligent greeting.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Rivard? Come to insult me some more?"
High green blades of grass covered her feet. Her hair hung down, curling softly against her shoulders. She took a few steps, stopping just a few feet in front of him.
Jamie held tight to his bag, not daring to move a muscle for fear he would say or do something that would scare her off and prove to her that he really was a complete idiot.
"John Case sent me. He told me you had a room for rent."
"And I’m supposed to rent to a total stranger?" She brushed at a wisp of hair that fell forward into her eyes.
"Look, I know we didn’t hit it off well at our last meeting, but I would appreciate the chance to change your opinion of me."
She nodded. "Mr. Rivard, you have no idea what my opinion of you truly is. Granted, you were on the receiving end of my little tirade, but I can assure you that I rarely hold a grudge."
"Point taken, still, I would hate to anger the landlord." And run the risk of her asking him to leave.
"I wouldn’t worry, Mr. Rivard. My uncle wouldn’t have told you to come here if he didn’t think you were safe."
Fading sunlight cast a halo of light on her hair. Her face was free of make-up and her nose was sprinkled with a ring of freckles that laced her high cheekbones. Gone were the faded jeans and loose shirt that hid her body. Instead, she wore shorts that clung like second skin and showed off her long legs. Her oversized shirt had been replaced in favor of a blue tank top that left her shoulders bare and smooth. She had great shoulders.
Jamie stood motionless, his brain frozen, as he watched her close the few remaining steps between them. She reached for the bag, pulling it from his fingers, and clutching it in her own. She held it in front of her, the dark leather contrasting with her pale skin. She could have walked up and taken his gun from him and he wasn’t sure if he would have been able to stop her.
She reached a hand out in greeting. "We haven’t formally met. I’m Shelby Teague."
Jamie willed himself to raise his hand and place it in hers. Her touch was smooth and warm against his skin. "Please, call me Jamie."
She frowned. "Is that short for something?"
Jamie shook his head. "Only to my mother: she calls me Jamie Paul, but she usually reserves it for when I am in trouble. Most of my friends call me Rivard."
She laughed, "I think I’ll stick to Jamie."
She looked down between them and his gaze followed hers. He had yet to release her hand. He dropped his grip, pulling it away with a quick motion. The imprint of her touch burned against his palm, making his fingers itch.
He was acting like some hormone-induced idiot without a brain to rely on and all of his training was flying out the window.
He was so used to knowing the right words to say to a woman. But then, Shelby Teague wasn’t like any woman he had ever met before.
"You must have impressed my uncle." Her soft words and implied tone made him raise an eyebrow at her. A ghost of a smile traced her lips.
"Why would you say that?"
Her gaze traveled down from his boots to his jeans and on upward to his T-shirt. He was standing inspection here and the last thing he wanted to risk was having her think he wasn’t a good bet.
"Because he’s very protective of my brother and I. Did he give you the job"
"I start Monday bright and early."
"You work very fast, Mr. Rivard."
"I’ve never been known for taking it slow." He flashed her a smile and motioned toward the house. "Shall we?"
She nodded. "I’ll show you to your room. Room and board is eighty dollars a week with dinner included. You get the run of the kitchen. But you have to fix your own breakfast and lunch since I’m usually down at the store. I don’t do the laundry for the boarders, but there is a washer and dryer in the basement if you want to do them yourself. I only ask that you keep quiet and if you want to have night visitors that you don’t do it here."
"Night visitors?" He gave her his best innocent look.
Shelby’s cheeks stained a pale rose pink as she raised her chin to look him in the eye. He had to give her credit. She had a lot of nerve.
"You know . . . company . . . at night?" She shifted in front of him and he stifled a grin. It was a rather old-fashioned rule, but then he wasn’t here to have visitors, night, or otherwise.
"You mean female visitors? At night?"
He felt bad for making her uncomfortable, but there was something about her that made him want to tease her, if even just a little.
"Exactly. Now if you agree to the terms I’ll show you around."
"Lead the way." He took his bag back from her. It was best he hold onto his own gear. He didn’t want to risk making her suspicious when he hadn’t even gotten through the door. But he couldn’t risk it, if she were to see just what was in his pack.
"I could have carried that for you." Her smile disappeared.
"I’m sure you could, but my mother taught me that a lady should never be allowed to carry packages themselves. She’d have my hide if she thought I let you carry my things. Call it my southern hospitality training coming through."
She faltered for a moment, motioning at his bag. "Is that all you have?"
"I tend to travel on the light side. There isn’t much you can pack on a motorcycle." He always traveled light. It made it easy when he needed to leave in a hurry. He had been in enough shaky situations to know you never carry something with you that you can’t afford to leave behind.
"If you want, you can store your bike in the garage out back. It isn’t much. My brother, Josh, keeps his tools and nets out there, but I don’t think he’ll mind if you store your bike there."
"I appreciate the offer. Thank you." He followed her toward the steps.
"It’s no problem. When my brother gets in I’ll have him get the key for you. He’s should be in any time now." She glanced toward the shoreline. Even the harbor was quiet now. "Besides, when he sees that bike of yours, you won’t be able to keep him away from it."
Jamie stored this away in his memory for later. It was perfect. When Josh did show up, he would be in a perfect position to observe him without bringing too much attention to himself.
And he would be waiting.
