I hope you enjoy the read as much as I enjoyed bringing some happiness to two lost souls.

Justine

About the Author

Justine Davis lives on Puget Sound in Washington State, watching big ships and the occasional submarine go by and sharing the neighborhood with assorted wildlife, including a pair of bald eagles, deer, a bear or two, and a tailless raccoon. In the few hours when she’s not planning, plotting or writing her next book, her favorite things are photography, knitting her way through a huge yarn stash and driving her restored 1967 Corvette roadster—top down, of course.

Connect with Justine on her website, justinedavis.com, at Twitter.com/justine_d_davis or on Facebook at Facebook.com/justinedaredavis.

Books by Justine Davis

Harlequin Romantic Suspense

The Coltons of Roaring Springs

Colton’s Secret Investigation

Cutter’s Code

Operation Midnight

Operation Reunion

Operation Blind Date

Operation Unleashed

Operation Power Play

Operation Homecoming

Operation Soldier Next Door

Operation Alpha

Operation Notorious

Operation Hero’s Watch

Operation Second Chance

The Coltons of Red Ridge

Colton’s Twin Secrets

The Coltons of Texas

Colton Family Rescue

Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com,
or justinedavis.com, for more titles.

Dedication

For Molly.

We rescued her after she ran away from her old home. It was always a point of pride that she never wanted to run away from us. She was meant to be mine, but she was really my dad’s best friend. My brother’s, too.

For sixteen years (I can’t believe it!) we were greeted by the rapid thump of her tail when we walked through the door. My dad and I taught her to howl on command—we’d sit on the floor in front of the couch and howl together. She loved tennis balls, chasing after birds and the extra ice that slipped out of the ice maker.

She had the softest golden fur, freckles on her nose and big trusting eyes. I’m convinced I’ll never meet another like her, and I’m okay with that—she deserves to be irreplaceable. The joy she brought to our home cannot be measured; I am lucky to have known a spirit like hers.

We love you, Hooch.

—Shannon, Brandon and Dad

This is the latest in a series of dedications from readers who have shared the pain of the loss of a beloved dog. Since I personally knew Molly (and my dog still looks for her every time we visit) I truly understand the pain of missing that tail that, even when she had the shakes and could no longer see or hear well, never stopped wagging. There’s a lesson for all of us in that, I think.

Chapter 1