ASSIGNMENT: BLACKMAIL

      Stephanie Gage’s father has been kidnapped—by a dangerous man who wants to make a trade. Her beloved dad for a multimillion-dollar family heirloom that’s gone missing. Either Stephanie finds the valuable violin or her father dies. But to track it down, she must rely on Tate Fuego—the man who broke her heart years ago. Stephanie knows that Tate’s reasons for helping have nothing to do with her. And that the handsome demolitions expert knows more about destroying things than saving lives. But trusting Tate is all that stands between Stephanie and a madman’s ultimate revenge.

      “Tell me what’s going on,” Tate demanded.

      Stephanie didn’t look at him. “Bittman wants something from me.” She turned her face to his, and he saw for the first time the gleam of tears there.“He drove my brother off the road and took Dad.”

      “I’m sorry.” For one crazy moment, he wanted to wrap her up in an embrace. “How does it fit together? What is Bittman after?”

      “I can’t tell you any more.”

      He folded his arms. “I want to know what’s going on, and you’re going to tell me.”

      Her eyes glittered. “I wasn’t supposed to get anyone involved, or he’ll kill my father.”

      “Too late. I’m involved.”

      Her eyes grew cold. “No you’re not, Tate,” she said as she pushed by him, leaving a tantalizing whiff of the cinnamon fragrance she always wore.

      Why, he wondered, could he pass through his day without remembering so much as what he had for lunch—but he could recall every detail of Stephanie’s face after seeing her for only a few moments in the past four years?

       About the Author

      DANA MENTINK lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Her family includes two girls (affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo). Papa Bear works for the fire department; he met Dana doing a dinner theater production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Ironically, their parts were husband and wife.

      Dana is a 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her novel Betrayal in the Badlands won a 2010 RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award. She has enjoyed writing a mystery series for Barbour Books and more than ten novels to date for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line.

      She spent her college years competing in speech and debate tournaments all around the country. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching elementary school and reviewing books for her blog. Mostly, she loves to be home with her family, including a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle and a quirky parakeet.

      Dana loves to hear from her readers via her website at www.danamentink.com.

      Dangerous Melody

      Dana Mentink