“Thank you for saving my life.”

      A shadow flickered across his face, but he immediately schooled his features and forced a grin. “That again? You really are easily impressed. At least it got me a date with you.”

      Riley winked, but Ginny detected an unease behind his flirtation. “You should feel proud of it. Saving any life is major. Big-time huge.”

      He shook his head. “Look, I’m glad you’re OK. As for my part in it, I’m a firefighter, and I was just doing my job.”

      She scowled playfully. “OK, I’ll let your mysterious reasons for your modesty slide…this time. But next time…”

      He caught the finger she wagged at him and lowered it to the bed. The warmth of his hand curled intimately around hers knocked the teasing grin from her lips and stole her breath…

       ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Beth Cornelison started writing stories as a child when she penned a tale about the adventures of her cat, Ajax. A Georgia native, she received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia. After working in public relations for a little more than a year, she moved with her husband to Louisiana, where she decided to pursue her love of writing fiction.

      Since that first time, Beth has written many more stories of adventure and romantic suspense and has won numerous honours for her work, including the coveted Golden Heart award for romantic suspense from Romance Writers of America. She is active on the board of directors for the North Louisiana Storytellers and Authors of Romance (NOLA STARS) and loves reading, travelling, Peanuts’ Snoopy and spending downtime with her family.

      She writes from her home in Louisiana, where she lives with her husband, one son and two cats who think they are people. Beth loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at PO Box 52505, Shreveport, LA 71135-2505, USA or visit her website at www.bethcornelison.com.

      Duty To Protect

      BETH CORNELISON

      To my sisters, Martha and Lenna, for all the

      years of love, laughter and support. You two are the best! Thanks to my brother-in-law, Kyle Beeson, corporal with the Athens/Clarke County, Georgia Fire Department, for his continued assistance with questions about firefighting and rescue procedures. Any errors in this regard are due to my own misunderstanding or stretching the truth for storytelling purposes. Our nation’s firefighters are real heroes! Thanks for all you do!

      Chapter 1

      “He said he’d kill me if I left him. And he meant it.”

      Her client’s assertion sent a prickle of ill ease skittering down Ginny West’s nape. Even hearing such statements on a disturbingly regular basis didn’t lessen the gut-twisting impact the words had on Ginny. The threat of such extreme violence had to be taken seriously, had to be dealt with quickly. Domestic violence by its nature was volatile and dangerous, and Annie Compton’s situation had just reached critical mass.

      Ginny looked up from her notepad and leveled a firm but sympathetic gaze on the battered wife sitting across from her at the Lagniappe Women’s Center. Annie’s freckled face sported a fresh set of cuts and contusions courtesy of her jealous and controlling husband and his nasty temper.

      Ginny cleared the tension from her throat. “You need to get out of that house, Annie. Take these threats seriously, and get yourself and your kids out of harm’s way.”

      Annie shook her head, tears welling in her dark eyes. “Didn’t you hear what I just said? If I leave him, he’ll kill me! He’ll find me, and he’ll kill me. I know he will.” She swiped at her damp cheeks with the sleeve of her oversized sweater. “You shoulda seen him last night. He was so mad. And he hadn’t even been drinking. I told him what you said about him needing counseling, anger management.”

      “You told him you talked to me?”

      Annie nodded. “He’s always asking where I am and who I’m with. I had to tell him the truth. He checks up on me, and if I lie, it just makes him more jealous. Anyway, he said I had no business talking to you about private family business and that you should butt out. That’s when he swore he’d kill me dead if I tried to leave.” Annie closed her eyes and sighed. Her slumped shoulders were the image of defeat. “I just don’t know what to do.”

      “You’re going to get free of him and his violence and make a fresh start. And I’m going to help you. I know it’s hard. But you are strong, Annie, and you can do this. You need to get yourself and your kids out of that house.”

      “I can’t. I have nowhere to go. He’ll find me and—”

      “Then you’ll go to the women’s shelter.” The springs in her wear-worn office couch creaked as Ginny leaned forward and laid her hand on Annie’s arm. “He won’t find you there. The location of our shelter is kept secret so that abusive husbands like Walt can’t find you. You’ll be safe, and you won’t be alone. We have people in place there to help you get a fresh start. I’ll check in on you, too. We can start working on getting a restraining order against Walt right now. Just say the word, and I can put things in motion.”

      Ginny met Annie’s watery eyes and gave her an encouraging smile. “We’re going to get you through this, honey. I promise.”

      “I’m scared,” Annie squeaked through her tears.

      “I know. I understand.” Ginny’s heart squeezed. The pain in Annie’s eyes sliced her to the core. “What I’m asking you to do is scary. Change can be scary. But I’ll be here for you the whole way. I won’t let you go through this alone.”

      No matter how many times Ginny guided a client through this process, the emotional toll never got easier. And she knew what she felt was a mere fraction of what the frightened women she helped were experiencing.

      Ginny took Annie’s hands in hers. She rubbed the young woman’s icy, trembling fingers, hoping to infuse her with warmth and courage. “Should I call the shelter and tell them to expect you?”

      Annie hesitated, then gave a small nod.

      “And the restraining order?”

      “No piece of paper will stop Walt.”

      “But it is a legal tool for the police if he tries to bother you. It gives them grounds to arrest him and keep him away from you. Shall I get the paperwork started?”

      Annie drew a shaky breath. “Okay.”

      Ginny smiled and pulled Annie into her arms for a bear hug. “Good. I have a few calls to make. You can stay here if you want, or you can go across the hall to the playroom to sit with your children if you’d rather. I’ll let you know when the arrangements are finished.”

      “I’ll go to the playroom. I need to be with my kids.” Annie backed out of the hug, and Ginny walked her to the door of her office.

      After alerting the playroom attendant of the arrangements being made for Annie and her family, Ginny headed down the hall to the break room. Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d worked through lunch again. But until she knew Annie and her two young children were safe at the women’s shelter and the legalities of a restraining order put into motion, she wouldn’t stop for more than a cup of coffee. Stepping into the break room, she took her New Orleans Saints mug from the dish rack by the sink and gave the hours-old sludge in the coffeepot a considering glance.

      Yuck.

      With a grunt of disgust, she turned off the pot and returned her mug to the dish rack. Once Annie was safe, Ginny decided, she’d stop at her favorite deli on the way home for some