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"Chere, what you think I was goin’ to do when I find out you be with the DEA?” John Cavenaugh asked, his Cajun accent more pronounced, warning the other three people in the penthouse suite that his explosive temper was teetering on the edge.

Fallon Hargis didn’t answer, instead she glared at the man in front of her. Hatred burned inside her even while the cold chill of death ran its bony fingers up and down her spine.

Sounding almost apologetic, he continued, “I have to kill you, sugar, or you be tryin’ to take old Cavenaugh down. I can’t let dat happen.”

“Remember when you called me petit chat?” She raised her chin. “Cats have nine lives, and I’m not so easy to get rid of.”

Cavenaugh chuckled without mirth. “It almost be a shame to kill you, but---” he shrugged “---business is business, Chere.”

“Screw you.”

His eyes narrowed. Reaching out, he ran a finger down her cheek, outlining the edge of her jaw. She jerked away but it only drew another chuckle from him.

“You be good to her, hear now? Don’t mess up dat pretty face,” he told his two flunkies before he strolled out of his suite without a backward glance.

It looked like her career as an undercover drug enforcement agent was about to come to an end. The last place she expected to die was a hotel room in Dallas, Texas.

But then, she wasn’t ready to die.

Jack spun the silencer onto the end of his gun. 

It isn’t over yet, boys.

“Say your prayers, honey.” Jack raised his gun.

A surge of adrenaline charged through her. She lunged for the coffee pot. Her fingers curled around the handle.

Jack fired.

Searing pain ripped across her side.

No time to think about it.

She whirled around, flinging the steaming liquid at Jack. He screamed and grabbed his face as she slammed the pot across George’s head. Stunned, George dropped his gun and fell to his knees.

Scooping up George’s gun, she ran out the door. Where now? No choice. The elevator. She stumbled inside and jabbed the button for the fourth floor. Anywhere but the lobby. She couldn’t take a chance of running into Cavenaugh.

The doors closed.

She drew in a deep breath---then grimaced. Jeez, her side burned like someone sticking it with a hot poker. She slipped the gun into the pocket of the mink and raised her gown.

The bullet had grazed her just above her hip. Nothing she would die from, but it hurt like a son-of-a-bitch, and it was bleeding. If she didn’t do something soon she’d leave Jack and George a breadcrumb trail, or in this case, blood. Pulling a scarf from her pocket, she wadded it up and placed it against the wound, keeping pressure on it with her arm as her dress fell back in place. That had been a close call. Too damn close. 

And she wasn’t safe yet, but at least now she was armed.

She brought the gun out and pushed a button. The clip from the nine-millimeter dropped into her palm. Empty. Damn it!

The elevator stopped and the doors whirred open. She stepped out, looking around. The elevator doors closed. She had to find a place to hide. It would be just her luck if Cavenaugh’s men stepped outside the room and saw where the elevator stopped.

The elevator began to move.

Her heart pounded.

Five rooms down, the hall veered left. She didn’t have much of a choice. Grabbing her gun and hitching up her dress, she made a run for it, gritting her teeth against the pain in her side.

Fallon heard the elevator doors open as she slipped around the corner. Leaning against the wall, she tried to stem her ragged breathing. Maybe it wasn’t Cavenaugh’s men. Maybe for once in her life something was actually going to go in her favor.

Staying close to the wall, she peered around the side. Jack and George stepped off. So much for wishing. They didn’t look happy, either.

“Where the hell did she go? You still got that passkey? Let’s start checkin’ rooms.”

Her options were quickly draining away. She glanced down the hallway behind her. A man stood beside a door, his back to her, as he inserted his key card. She raced toward him.  He’d suddenly become her lifeline. Just as he opened the door, she shoved him inside.

“What the hell?” he growled, falling forward and reaching for the wall as he stumbled into the room.

Without wasting a moment, she shut the door behind them.

The stranger quickly regained his balance and spun around. He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut, his gaze narrowing on her face. The furrow in his brow relaxed as his eyes dropped lower, slowly trailing past her fur-draped shoulders, lingering on the deep vee of the sequined dress. His inspection of her body skidded to a halt when it landed on the gun she had pointed right at his gut.

“That’s a gun,” he stated.

“A man with a brain. What a unique combination,” she purred.

He took a step toward her, stopping when she raised the barrel. “I don’t know what your game is, lady, but...”

She hesitated briefly. “Take off your clothes.”

* * * * *

"A fun sexy read!" -- Lori Foster.

"Once in a while a new author comes along that totally blows me away. This year that author is Karen Kelley. Southern Comfort is a book that will grab readers from the explosive first page and will carry them along until the surprising ending. Ms Kelley shows tremendous talent for creating a fantastic storyline in her first effort for Brava. Southern Comfort has it all, hot sex, loads of suspense, a feisty no nonsense heroine and a heart of gold to die for hero. Be prepared to add a new author to your auto buy list - 5 Roses!" -- Barbara, A Romance Review.

"Comfort is hot and steamy in the South - Karen Kelly’s new book for Kensington’s Brava line, SOUTHERN COMFORT, focuses on a tough undercover DEA agent bent on revenge. But it’s not the hero, it’s the heroine, Fallon Hargis. Fallon is smart, deadly, and not into feelings. SOUTHERN COMFORT is emotionally riveting as Fallon fights her feelings for Wade, and the twist at the end will shock and thrill you. Don’t miss this erotic journey traveled through a dangerous world of murder and retribution - 5 Stars!" -- Juliet Burns, Desire Author & Steamy Romance Lover.

"Readers will enjoy the dry, witty humor and down-home feeling of this steamy, fast-paced romantic suspense!" -- Tanya Kacik, Romantic Times - 4 stars!

"What do you do when a gorgeous woman barges into your hotel room, points a gun at you, and tells you to strip? Why fall in love with her of course! Karen Kelley writes an edge of your seat thriller that is sure to keep you hooked all the way through. The twists and turns in this story will keep you guessing until the very end of the book, while the sensual love scenes will keep you plenty warm while you turn those pages. Grab a cool drink and keep the lights on when you read this one!" --Cathleen Cody, Romance Junkies.