Lethal Attraction: Campbell Wildlife Preserve, #4

By D.M. Turner

Christian Romantic Urban Fantasy

HE CAN ONLY BRING HER PAIN

Dr. Jeremy Richardson decided years ago that being a werewolf wasn't conducive to marriage, especially to a human. That was before far-too-human nurse Annie Galloway appeared in his office. His unexpected and instant attraction to her has him rethinking the single life, despite sense and reason, but he must stand firm. She's better off without him, and he can continue to guard the secret that keeps him and others safe.

After a life-threatening accident, Annie discovers the truth of who, and what, Jeremy is. To complicate matters further, an old acquaintance brings a threat he never saw coming.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dawn M. Turner
• Release date: Apr 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386586180

D.M. Turner

Dawn lives in the high desert of Southern Arizona with her husband of over 20 years and a variety of furry and feathered critters. She enjoys photography, crochet, scrapbooking, spinning her own yarn from wool and alpaca, beading and jewelry-making, and lots of reading. When not doing those things, she writes romance, romantic-suspense, women's fiction under the name Dawn M. Turner, and medieval and urban fantasy with a Christian worldview under the name D.M. Turner. She took first place in the Contemporary Romance category, as well as winning the Grand Prize, in the 2011 Writers on the Storm Category Five Writing Contest.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Gentle Care Medical Clinic

Flagstaff, Arizona

Friday, May 5, 2017

"Quite a day, huh?"

Tell me about it. Dr. Jeremy Richardson glanced up from making notations on a patient chart and smiled at Annie Galloway, one of the nurses he shared with his partners. She’d come to work for them a few months before.

Seven months, one week, and two days ago actually, but who’s counting? He chuckled softly. Then to cover his straying thoughts, he added, It’s been quite a week.

She rolled dark brown eyes behind those cute wire-rimmed glasses and grinned. Tell me about it. I don’t think I’ve seen so many ear infections or runny noses from summer colds and allergies in my life. Is it always like this in the summer?

Sometimes. He shrugged and forced his gaze back to the chart. It wouldn’t do for her to realize how much he wanted to just stand and study her. Only a few inches taller than her, he caught himself thinking almost every time he saw her that they’d fit together perfectly if he kissed her. Dangerous ground to tread since he couldn’t do anything about it. A human didn’t need to be dragged into the world of werewolves. Nothing good could come of it.

Notes completed, Jeremy closed the file and dropped it into the basket on the desk on the other side of the counter. When he straightened away from the counter, he realized Annie was still there.

She smiled self-consciously when he glanced at her.

Um, so what’s on your agenda for this weekend? he asked for lack of anything better to say. Anything fun?

Hardly. She shrugged and wrinkled her nose in a fashion he found far too adorable. The usual. All the housework and laundry I never seem to get to during the week.

I know what you mean. He grimaced. I’ve got the same agenda for the weekend. It’s either that or come to work naked next week. He chuckled. I’m sure there’d be objections to that.

She smiled and muttered, Not from anyone with a brain.

He raised his brows and laughed. I appreciate the compliment, but I’m pretty sure my partners would think I’d gone around the bend, and I don’t want to know how patients would react.

Annie grinned. You’d make the nursing staff’s day. A blush brightened her cheeks, and she looked away for a moment before looking back. Anyway, I’ve decided to spoil myself this evening. I’m going out for pizza. Would you care to join me? I really hate to eat alone.

Jeremy froze. Oh, how he wanted to take her up on that offer, but it wouldn’t be right. She had no idea what she’d be getting into to get involved with him on anything more than a professional level. Regret filled him.

The wolf inside paced and whined, a far too common reaction to her presence.

I’m sorry. She lowered her gaze to the floor. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s inappropriate, I’m sure, for a nurse to ask a doctor to join her for dinner.

It’s not that. It’s just… I wish I could, but… I can’t. He hated himself for even saying the words. Why did doing the right thing have to suck so much at times?

Oh, man. Her eyes widened, and horror crept across her face. You probably already have plans, or a girlfriend. I should’ve thought of that.

I have neither, so no need to fret.

Oh. A frown furrowed her brow, and she looked away again, glancing at her watch. I’m sorry I bothered you. I should get out of here. I’m sure you’d like to lock up. She turned to leave, her footsteps moving rapidly toward the exit.

She thinks I don’t like her. He forced down a groan and jogged to catch up. Annie, wait.

She stopped just inside the door and waited, her gaze focused on the other side of the glass.

Listen, I’d love to spend time with you outside of work. I really would.

Really? Her gaze shifted to him, her eyes widening.

He nodded.

Her eyes narrowed. But?

Jeremy sighed. My life is a complicated mess, and I don’t want to drag you or anyone else into it. I can’t allow my professional life to cross over into my personal one. No matter how tempted I am at the moment.

We all have complications. She cocked her head in a manner so wolf-like, he could almost let himself forget she was only human.

Not like mine. Trust me.

Why don’t we have dinner, and you can tell me about it?

I…. He closed his eyes for a second then opened them to meet her gaze. You have no idea how tempting that offer is, but I can’t let you or anyone else get sucked into the madness that’s my personal life. Werewolf. Pack physician. Midwife to wolves. Yeah, that was bound to go over great. Not!

Annie chuckled. I can’t believe it. I’m getting the ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ brush-off.

I’m sorry. He allowed himself to take a half-step closer, inhaling the combination of the light fragrance lingering from that morning’s perfume and her personal scent. It wrapped around and climbed through him.

His wolf whined, longing to roll in it.

Believe me. If my life was… normal, I’d take you up on that invitation so fast, you’d probably run the other way for fear I was desperate.

Her smile widened. You’re assuming I have it in me to run.

Jeremy groaned softly and forced himself to back away. If you won’t, I should. For both our sakes.

You know—she stepped closer—"if it’s that hard to