Crescent Moon

By Janet Eaves

She is dangerous, deadly and broken.
He has only two choices: Fix her. Or kill her.
Only he never expected to fall in love with her....

He'd admired her from afar, and couldn't believe he'd get to help her recover from a terrible attack. But Special Agent Polly Chapman has no desire to recover. Only she must! Or The Agency they both work for is going to force him to finish the job started by a murderer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janet Eaves
• Release date: Nov 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781944454807

Janet Eaves

Multi-published author of Legend Series books set in Legend, Tennessee, as well as other sweet to sexy romances, Janet Eaves strives to write stories that awaken the senses. She hopes you smell, feel, hear, taste, as well as see the scenes playing out her character's lives and struggles as they fall in love.Janet shares the Legend, Tennessee, series with her three SisterWriters, though each author (Janet Eaves, Maddie James, Jan Scarbrough, and Magdalena Scott) write and publish their own books within the Legend series. Check them out! You'll find sometimes, our characters visit each other in this wonderful small town!

Book preview

Crescent Moon

Legend After Dark

Janet Eaves

A Legend Series Romance

Crescent Moon

Copyright © 2015, Janet Eaves

Digital ISBN: 978-1-944454-80-7

Cover Art Design by KJ Jacobs

Digital Release, November 2015

Previously published under the title Beauty and the Beast.

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden.

This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.

This edition is published by Mystic Waters Books.

She is dangerous, deadly and broken.

He has only two choices: Fix her. Or kill her.

The waxing crescent moon

Trails the sun across the sky

Bleached by blinding rays

She’s naked to the eye

Once the sun sets west

Luna suddenly rears

A silver sliver at best

Yet darkness disappears

PROLOGUE

Move and you die.

Polly Chapman remained as still as possible, her mind working frantically for an escape that wouldn’t further rile the Powers That Be. For three months she’d followed this man—against orders—waiting impatiently for red tape to be resolved so she’d get the go-ahead to nail his sorry ass to the wall. It didn’t come too late, it never came at all, and he’d done the unthinkable before she could save the innocent.

The mess she was in now was her own fault. She was supposed to have waited for backup, kept hidden until Ballard or Augustine arrived to take the perp down. She’d been given direct orders to keep her hands off him—to let local law enforcement collar him. Now, she not only lost the advantage of surprise, she might very well lose her life to some sorry son of a bitch she could break into tiny pieces if allowed.

Who else is out there?

A line of heat met her throat where he held the knife. She licked her lips, refusing to whimper as heat turned to pain. My backup, she bluffed, knowing the sliver of light from the moon wouldn’t be enough to overpower the sinister shadows surrounding them.

If she couldn’t see anything, then neither could he.

How many?

Inch by careful inch Polly slid her hand across her stomach until her fingertips reached the small Taser tucked into her black slacks, but lost concentration when he ground his pelvis against her bottom.

Don’t fuck with me, sister.

Feted breath caressed her cheek making her gag. As far as she could tell, he hadn’t detected her movements, but was referring to her bluff. She fought taking a deep breath, certain she’d vomit from the dumpster-smell of his rotting teeth. Taking short, sharp breaths through her mouth, she nearly cried in triumph when she grasped the stun-gun on her second attempt.

Move that hand and I’ll take it off.

Indecision was a new and unwelcome problem. She remained still, regret formulating with the certainty that she wouldn’t make it out of this alive if she followed orders. Fury simmered at the restrictions she’d been made to endure regarding this man. He was refuse, sludge, and expendable as far as she was concerned, more so now than before, but she’d been forced to back off.

She had her orders—get counseling and leave Karl to others. To take him down now would spotlight her disobedience. To obey could, and most certainly would, cost her life—a condition she’d never given a seconds thought to before. How could she let go of life when she hadn’t even lived it yet? She’d given Uncle Sam everything. Twice over. And he’d paid her back by letting the very people she’d sworn to protect die.

She didn’t want to die, too. Not by this man’s hands. There was so much she’d put off in her climb up the Bureau’s ladder—a home of her own instead of an apartment where she couldn’t even change the wall’s color if she wanted to. She really wanted a family, though the thought terrified her. Starting with a man she could adore and one who would think of her as the bees knees, maybe even a couple of kids, and with them a dog or two.

Perhaps, somehow, she could even regain her soul.

What’s that sound?

Polly didn’t know what he was talking about, but wasn’t about to give up what might be her only opportunity to work him. Probably my back-up. Let me go and you’ve got a chance. Kill me and they will roast you in the chair, if they don’t kill you instantly.

The perp slightly turned his body, and subsequently her own, from side to side as he searched for whatever it was that had spooked him. Hoping her words scared him, she continued, I can help you. I know you didn’t mean to hurt Martha. Everybody knows you aren’t that kind of man. If you let me go we can make a judge understand that you are the victim. She made you do it. She didn’t give you any choice.

Polly closed her mouth, not wanting to overplay her hand, hoping he’d buy her offer. Chances were Wall knew his days were numbered if they got him into a courtroom. He’d brutally abused then murdered his wife and their three children months before when Martha finally tried to escape him. Polly had been her chance for a new life, a new start, a new identity. Only everything had gone wrong before she’d been able to get Martha and those children to safety.

To Legend.

You shoulda left me alone. I ain’t got no beef with you.

Polly nodded, relieved he was talking. You’re right, Karl. I stepped in where I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.

She done it. She made me hit her. Them brats, too. Hated them. They cried. All they ever did was friggin’ cry. He ground his engorged manhood against her bottom. Couldn’t even screw the old-lady without them whining bastard’s interfer’n.

Polly nodded, hoping if she agreed with everything, he’d drop his guard. I know. Kids ruin everything.

A huff of his laughter blew his breath from behind her head, across her cheek. This time her entire body gagged, and he tightened his hold. You ever had a man, girly? You ever had a real man make you cum? I can, you know. Martha had it so good.

Fury coincided with revulsion when he licked her face. Without thought, she grasped the Taser and spun, pressing the stun button and grinding it into his groin even as heat sliced into her throat. They went down together, him screaming and slashing with the knife, her pressing electricity into him until she couldn’t keep her eyes open or her arms aloft any longer. She lay there in darkness, feeling the life flow from her body, hearing the strangling coming from her own throat. Strangely, there was no pain. Only regret.

So much regret.

CHAPTER ONE

Did you rest well?

Polly started, her heart knocked against her throat. She took several deep breaths, softly, not wanting her hostesses to know they’d scared her. She nodded, keeping her focus on the serene landscape available through the screened window of the Legend’s Landing, Bed & Breakfasts’ back porch. Fine, Suzie, thank you.

Can we get you anything?

Polly shook her head. No thanks, Lilly. I’m fine. Please, don’t fuss over me. In truth, she wasn’t fine, and doubted she might ever be fine again, but she couldn’t deal with kindness or anything else right now. She just needed to be left alone.

We’ll go and leave you to your tea, then. Lil and I are taking Sweet-Pea into town for new clothes and supplies. Can we get you anything?

Polly shook her head, again, careful not to move her injured neck too much. "No, thank you. Really, I’m fine."

Seconds ticked by on the large mantel clock sitting on a nearby table. This time she made the effort to turn and face the two women. Lilly massaged her protruding belly. Suzie swayed with her young son held securely in her arms. Sympathy saddened their eyes. Even Suzie’s infant son, Peter, seemed to be frowning at her, and it was more than she could take. "Please. Go."

Call my cell if you need anything, Suzie said briskly, nearly pushing Lilly back into the house as she departed. Polly turned back to watch the morning unfold through the thick stand of pines and cypress trees that led to the large lake at the back of Suzie’s property.

Suzie Matthews and Lilly Hood had taken it upon themselves to become her new best friends and nurse her back to health the day she’d been delivered to her hometown of Legend, Tennessee. As a lifetime resident of Legend, and proprietress of Legend’s Landing, Bed & Breakfast, Suzie was a prominent member of the community, along with her new