Blindsided: The Playing Dirty Series, #3

By Jessica Kelly

The worst part about a blindside hit?  You never see it coming…

Heath Montgomery never would have guessed that his life would turn out this way.  As a billionaire and football superstar, he thought he'd seen it all.

Boy, was he wrong.

Now that Heath's stalker is getting bolder by the day, Heath knows he's running out of time.  Sooner rather than later, his stalker is going to make good on his promise to take him out.  And, unfortunately, this mysterious madman is a master at going undetected. 

Heath's only hope is that a sexy FBI agent can track down his stalker before he gets blindsided again.  But thanks to a wild twist of fate, she has become the underdog in this deadly game.

Can she save Heath -- and herself -- before time runs out?

Grab your copy of Blindsided and find out what happens when a sizzling superstar gets blindsided by sex, danger, and the blistering heat of fame.

(Not a football fan?  That's OK!  This sexy series is light on the football lingo and heavy on the steam.)

This sexy romance novel contains steamy scenes and adult content, so it's best-suited for readers who are 18+.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Premier Content Source, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540141378

Jessica Kelly

Author.  Dreamer.  Entrepreneur. That's how Jessica Kelly describes herself.  Just like the main character in her first book, Trick Play, Jessica believes that hard work is the key to success.  Luckily, though, creating new characters and new plot twists doesn't feel like work to her!  Jessica has always had a passion for writing, and she has dreamed of becoming a successful author for more years than she can count. So what about the "Entrepreneur" part? That proves just how serious Jessica is about turning her dream into reality.  Her goal isn't to write a book or two in her spare time.  Instead, she's focused on building a successful writing career from the ground up.  She's not content to JUST have a dream.  She's willing to do whatever it takes to make it come true. Jessica began living the dream the moment she started writing Trick Play.  When she's not dreaming up new story ideas, this native Floridian can be found spending quality time with friends and family, soaking up the sun on the beach, and -- of course -- reading. Jessica loves hearing from her readers.  Connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jessicakellyauthor or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WritingJessica

Book preview

Chapter 1

All Sydney could see were the lights.  Bright white, followed by red and blue, growing bigger and brighter by the second.  And then, her ears filled to the brim by the whining pitch of sirens.  Help was on the way.

But it was too late. 

Or, was it?

Focus on him!  She looked down at the mangled mess he'd become.  His white shirt was blood red.  Grizzly bullet-sized holes and scorch marks dominated what was left of the fabric.  He was a shell of what he'd been just a few minutes ago. 

You have to stop the bleeding!  Her wrists hurt from how hard she was pressing against his wounded chest.  Despite the pressure, bright red blood flowed in between her fingers.  Her pink nail polish had become invisible, flooded out by a sea of blood.

Sydney had never seen anyone bleed out before.  She had no idea how long it would take.  But she knew instinctively that he didn't have much longer.

While her hands focused on applying pressure to his chest, her eyes shifted their focus to his face.  Please, she whispered, begging for any sign of life.  His eyes were closed, his skin was a disturbing shade of gray, and his mouth was open ever so slightly.  He'd been gasping for air every few seconds.  Amidst the chaos, she'd seen his lips shake every time he struggled through a tiny gasp. 

But they weren't moving now. 

She stared at his lips, as if she could will them to tremble.  Come on! she whispered.  Breathe!  Fight for your life!

She pushed her hands down harder.  For a split second, she wondered if all of the pushing would crack his ribs.  That's hardly the biggest threat he faces, Sydney.  You have to stop the bleeding, no matter what. 

Her arms tingled from applying so much pressure.  Finally, as a sea of police cars and ambulances screeched to a stop in front of her, his mouth opened.

Sydney! a voice shouted.  Are you listening to me?!

Suddenly, the flashing lights were gone.  She looked down at the ground.  He wasn't lying there anymore.  There was no blood on her hands.

Sydney looked back up and saw SAC Todd Brunelli standing in front of her.  As the Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego FBI Field Office, Brunelli was her boss.  And if the look on his face was any indication, he didn't have any plans to make her Employee of the Month.

Special Agent Tyler, what happened tonight was very serious, he said sternly.  Is there some reason why you're not giving me your full attention?

I have to... check on... Heath, she said slowly.  It was Heath who was involved in the shooting, she reminded herself.  Not Phil.  Phil's shooting was a long time ago.  What happened to Phil has nothing to do what happened to Heath.  You're flashing back to Phil, but you've got to keep your mind on Heath.

Mr. Montgomery is just fine, SAC Brunelli said with a twinge of disgust.  He's answering some questions of his own at the moment.  I need you to focus and do the same, Agent Tyler.

Yes sir, she said, trying desperately to sound professional, even though she felt anything but.  I'm sorry for the distraction.  You have my undivided attention now.

Finally, SAC Brunelli huffed.  How about you start by telling me why you were at Mr. Montgomery's house at 4:00 AM?  And in your bathrobe, no less.

Sydney's mind flashed back again—but not to Phil.  This time, she went back just a few hours, back to when she and Heath had mind-blowing sex.  A spilt second later, she realized that there was no lie big enough to cover this.  She'd been caught red-handed.

I'm not going to insult your intelligence by trying to lie to you, sir, she said as her gaze shifted to the ground.  She couldn't bear to look him in the eye.  Heath and I have become involved.  Romantically.  I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but—

Not what I wanted to hear?! Brunelli bellowed.  You're damn right that's not what I wanted to hear!  You're a Special Agent, and he's the victim in an active, ongoing, high-profile FBI investigation.  Do you have any idea what you've done by hopping into bed with Heath Montgomery?!

Her lips snarled.  He'd made it sound so dirty.  Like she was just some kind of whore who hopped into bed with the nearest warm body.  Her mouth began to open, ready to tell him that it wasn't like that.  That she and Heath were truly in love.  That they'd be together long after his case was closed.

But when she looked up at her boss' dark, narrowed eyes, she knew none of that mattered.

You are suspended, effective immediately! Brunelli shouted as little specks of saliva flew out of his mouth.  Your reckless behavior has put every single case you've ever investigated in jeopardy, Special Agent Tyler.  You are an embarrassment to the agency.  Now get the hell out of my sight.

Sydney bit her lip—hard—to keep the tears from pouring out of her eyes.  She'd already been completely demoralized.  She'd rather die than let SAC Brunelli see her cry.

She turned to walk back into Heath's house, but she only made it a step or two before she saw the yellow crime scene tape.  No one—except for a team of forensic investigators—was going in there tonight. 

Great.

Her car keys were inside, on the kitchen table where she'd left them yesterday.  Her clothes were scattered all over the stairs.  She knew it would take the forensic team about five seconds to figure out they'd been ripped off during their hot tryst.  Looks like you're going to have to humiliate yourself even more and ask someone for a ride home.  Then, she looked down at her silk robe.  It was the only thing keeping her body from being completely exposed.

No, Sydney, she said to herself, you've already been completely exposed.  The robe had nothing to do with it.

Chapter 2

Heath looked down at himself.  He had slipped on a pair of sweatpants before grabbing his gun and going downstairs, but that was all he had on.  Instinctively, he held his arms up to cover his bare chest as the FBI Agent peppered him with questions. 

Stop being a shy asshole.  For Christ's sake, you've done post-game interviews in front of your locker wearing nothing but a towel.  This is nothing new for you.

But then he realized this was actually very new to him.  He'd never been interviewed by the FBI inside his garage before.  He'd never crept down his own staircase with a gun in the middle of the night before.  He'd never been scared of his own home before.  He'd never fired his gun in his own fucking living room before.  And he damn sure hadn't been grazed by a bullet before.

Do you have any idea how lucky you are? Agent Rhyson marveled as he gestured to Heath's right shoulder, which was covered with gauze and a big bandage.  "So far, forensics is saying that at least thirty shots were fired—fifteen of which came from your gun.