Don't Know Jack: Secret Agent Series, #1

By Amy Manemann

Special Agent Jack Hamlin is a man who lives by a code. Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity. Three words symbolizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and three words hardwired in Jack's indelible brain. Jack's a doer and a risk taker who isn't afraid to do whatever it takes in the field to bring criminals to justice. That is until his latest assignment brings him face to face with Kate Monroe. One look into her mesmerizing green eyes and Jack has a hard time determining if he'd rather interrogate the beautiful redhead, or take her to bed first.

After Kate Monroe's silent partner cleans out their business account and disappears in the middle of the night, she's left to pick up the pieces and fend off the vultures circling her front door, including a baking conglomerate determined to buy Kate's prized, award winning recipe at all cost. When hunky newcomer Jack Hamlin moves into town, Kate's life becomes even more complicated by a dimpled grin that sends her heart into overdrive. Jack's too hot for words, but the timing of his appearance drives Kate's suspicions that he's there for more than just putting down roots.

Danger, white hot romance, and stress baking ensue as Kate is swept into Jack's dangerous world—and Jack's loyalties and training are put to the test when his cover is blown, and Kate's life is on the line. With Kate caught in the crossfire, it would seem the masterminds are one step ahead of the game. But when push comes to shove, if they think this special agent is down and out, then they don't know jack.

***Authors Note: This book contains sexual content and is not appropriate for readers under 18 years of age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amy Manemann
• Release date: Oct 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386004295

Book preview

Chapter 1

Kate Monroe stomped into her office and slammed the door, slumping dejectedly in the chair at her desk. Great. This was just flippin’ great. First Star Federal was the third bank to turn her down for the loan she so desperately needed. If she didn’t come up with something soon, she was going to lose her bakery, and her dreams along with it. What was she going to do ?

With a groan, Kate’s red head flopped against the back rest of her chair. Using the toe of her tennis shoe, she spun the chair in a slow circle, contemplating her current position. She was screwed. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. And it was all Scottie’s fault.

Kate brought her chair to a stop facing her desk. Cat green eyes narrowed in on the picture frame hanging above it, focusing on the laughing features of her silent partner, Scottie Jensen, her best friend’s cousin, aka the slime ball responsible for her current situation.

When Scottie approached her with the front money to make her dream bakery come true, Kate had jumped at the chance. She’d known Scottie as long as she’d been friends with Prudence, and had trusted him completely. In retrospect, she should have been more cautious, but the excitement of finally making her dreams come true had overshadowed any of her doubts.

Their business venture had been open barely five months before he cleaned out their business account, disappearing in the middle of the night. No one had heard from him since. With a stack of bills beginning to mount, and no loan prospects on the horizon, Kate could feel her dreams slipping through the cracks of her fingers. And she was helpless to stop it.

A soft knock sounded on the office door. Prudence Jensen stuck her spiky dark haired head in, a look of sorrow on her face.

I’d ask how it went, but I can tell by your look it didn’t go well, she said softly. Closing the door behind her, she walked into the room, propping a hip on the edge of the desk.

Kate sighed, leaning her head against the back of the chair again.

It didn’t go well, but thanks for asking. Any chance your uncle found Scottie? she asked, casting a hopeful look at Prudence.

Scottie’s parents, Mike and Sandy, had been scouring every lead they could possibly think of in the hopes of locating their missing son. To no avail. Nobody had seen him or heard from him. It was as if he’d fallen off the face of the earth.

Prudence shook her head, lips pulled down in a frown.

I’m sorry Kate, no. Uncle Mike has no idea where Scottie went. I feel like this is all my fault, she replied, wringing her hands together.

Kate leaned forward, covering her friend’s small hands with her own.

Don’t even go there, Pru. This isn’t your fault. We’ll find him, she reassured her. And he’d better have the rest of the money to pay off the bank loan, Kate silently added.

The door to the office swung open, revealing one of the teenagers Kate had on staff.

You two need to come check out the stud who just walked through the door…Er, sorry, is this a private meeting? seventeen year old Candy Engles asked, pausing in the doorway.

Kate forced an easy smile, hiding her anxiety. She knew rumors were already circulating about the possibility of the bakery closing. She didn’t need to add to them.

A real bonafied stud, huh? Should we go check him out? Kate asked, throwing a glance in Pru’s direction.

The pleading look in her eyes begged her friend to remain quiet, and Prudence inclined her head to acknowledge the request.

I dunno, Kate. The last time Candy said a stud walked through the door we ended up checking out old man Webster, Prudence replied with a grin, playing along.

Candy snorted, rolling her eyes in typical teenaged fashion. Old man Webster wasn’t the stud I was referring to that time. His grandson was, and it’s not my fault if you poky butts didn’t get out there in time to check him out.

Kate chuckled, pushing out of her chair to stand.

Well lead the way, Kiddo. I could use a bit of eye candy this morning, she said, ushering the two out of the office and shutting the door soundly behind her.

Tasty Treats Bakery was hopping with mid-morning business when the trio stepped through the swinging doors leading from the kitchen, making Kate burst with pride. To see her establishment flourishing was bittersweet, especially knowing she might have to close her doors. She had to find another way to get that money. She’d be damned if she’d let anyone take this away from her.

Three teenaged employees were manning the front display counter, assisting the rush of customers going in and out the front door. Kate did a cursory glance around the busy bakery for Candy’s stud, not wanting to seem too obvious. She could use a bit of cheering up, even if it came in hard bodied form.

So, Candy, where’d your stud go? Pru asked, hazel eyes dancing with mischief as she glanced around the bakery.

Candy stood on tiptoe to peer above the crowd, a look of disappointment on her face.

I swear he was right here when I left…Wait! I see the back of his head, over by the far wall, she said in a hushed, excited whisper.

Prudence craned her neck in that direction, letting out a low whistle.

Not too bad from the back, she commented, a sly grin on her face.

Kate rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh. Just because a hot guy happened to walk into her bakery was no need to get all worked up…

The last thought flew from her mind when her eyes came in contact with the gentleman in question just as he turned in their direction.

Holy hell, she said under her breath, her pulse quickening.

Deep blue eyes met and held her green ones, sending a jolt of awareness through Kate that ran straight to her toes. A shifting of the crowd allowed her to get a full look of the newcomer, and her mouth went dry.

Neatly cropped, dark curling hair topped his head, the jet black strands taking on a slightly purplish hue cast from the mid-morning sun spilling through the front window. Well-worn jeans and a fitted t-shirt hugged his masculine body, outlining ridges of hard, underlying muscle that rippled when he raised his coffee cup to his lips to take a sip.

His face was sinfully handsome, the solid lines and planes of his forehead and high cheekbones classifying him as Hollywood sexy, yet there was a rugged air about him that spoke of an underlying bad boy persona. His nose was slightly disjointed, as if it’d been broken at one time, but it merely added a sensual appeal to the total package, rather than detracted from it.

When he lowered his coffee cup and shot her a knowing grin, Kate became aware she was openly gawking. With a flush of her cheeks that matched her red roots, she quickly averted her gaze.

Now that’s what I call eye candy, Prudence murmured appreciatively, still openly gawking.

Kate swatted her friend’s arm, her own eyes straying back to him of their own accord.

What was his story, she wondered, peeking at him discreetly. She’d never seen the likes of him around town, and she was fairly certain she would have remembered seeing a man like that in Starling.

See, I told ya he was hot, Candy said proudly, disrupting the myriad of thoughts running through Kate’s head. Kate shot her a disapproving look that sent Candy scurrying behind the front counter, back to her post.

Hey, Kate, we’re running low on your muffins, Stacy Clemmons called out above the din, and Kate found herself once again dragging her gaze away from the mesmerizing eyes of Mr. Sexy.

I’ll get a batch whipped up. Pru, can you manage the front for me? she asked, already turning towards the kitchen.

She needed to get her head out of the gutter and back where it needed to be, she thought with a sigh. Having a drool fest over a hot guy was fun for the moment, but it was not on her ever growing to-do list for the day.

Sure thing, Boss, Prudence replied, giving a smart salute before moving behind the display case to help the girls.

Kate hid a smile. Pushing through the double doors, she headed into the kitchen. Four of her bakers were hard at work, rolling out dough and working on incoming orders. She smiled and chatted with them in passing, heading to her work station in the middle of the room.

Her lemon berry muffins were well known in the small town of Starling and beyond, though the recipe was a closely guarded secret. It was known only to Kate, who had originally gotten it from her great grandmother’s old cookbook. After a bit of tweaking, and several baking disasters, she finally managed to masterfully turn the original recipe into the perfect blend of lemon and berries that kept customers coming back for more.

Recently Kate had been receiving phone calls from Aunt Pauline’s Baking Company, a huge baking conglomerate who caught wind of her recipe success and was looking to snap it up. Despite several phone calls informing them she wasn’t going to sell it, they were still persisting in their pursuit.

Which made her wonder about the mysterious newcomer. Was it coincidence for him to show up after the most recent phone conversation went south, or was she just being paranoid? Could it be possible he was sent from Aunt Pauline’s Corporate office to schmooze her into giving up the recipe?

Kate had to admit, if he was from Aunt Pauline’s they definitely knew what appealed to a single woman like herself. The sexy smile he’d given her still played at the edges of her mind, making her blood pump suspiciously faster at the memory.

Jeez, what was she doing? Giving her head a shake, Kate turned her attention back to the task at hand. Spy conglomerate or not, she had a bakery to run. If he was sent from Aunt Pauline’s then she’d deal with him later. Right now, she had some muffins to make.

Shoving all thoughts of the mysterious man aside, Kate gathered her ingredients and set to work.

---

Federal Agent Jack Hamlin took another sip of his perfectly brewed coffee, savoring the rich flavor while taking in the ambiance of the bakery. He had to admit, the file he’d read on Tasty Treats Bakery was somewhat lacking in comparison to the real deal. As was the bakery’s owner.

Pictures of the slender, redheaded Kate Monroe hadn’t done her justice, he decided, the memory of her cat green eyes haunting the back of his mind. He’d been surprised of the instant awareness that shot through him the moment she stepped out from the kitchen, a tempting picture of sex and sin in a white apron.

Red hair tumbled down her back in sultry waves that made his fingers itch to run his hands through. Her skin reminded him of peaches and cream; the fair complexion and slightly rosy cheeks making him wonder if her skin tasted as sweet as she looked. Besides the alluring cat green eyes that sucked him in, her full lips also played havoc on his libido, sending a rush of blood straight to his groin. Not a good sign.

He was here to do a job, and getting involved wasn’t part of the plan, no matter how tempting a target. It was a damn shame, though. Kate Monroe was a woman who definitely made his blood boil at a glance, making him curious as to what lay beneath the serene exterior she kept firmly in place.

When Kate disappeared through the swinging double doors into the kitchen, Jack squashed down his feeling of disappointment. Get a grip, Hamlin, he told himself sternly, redirecting his gaze to his other target.

Prudence Jensen moved easily behind the display case, her lithe body making it possible for her to squeeze into impossible places while weaving in and out of the workers taking orders. She looked just as she did in her photo, he surmised, taking in the short, dark spiky hair, flushed cheeks that spoke of how hard she was working, and the welcoming smile that lit up her face for every customer who stepped up to the counter. She wore her typical outfit of a short sleeved t-shirt emblazoned with the bakery’s logo, and blue jeans underneath a white apron she continuously wiped her hands on.

Jack took in every detail of Scott Jensen’s cousin, committing the details to memory. His assignment was simple compared to his typical runs. Relocate to Starling undercover and get established in the small town. Jack’s department focus was on human organ trafficking on the black market, and their Intel spoke of a group operating out of this small California town. Scott Jensen was the key to their investigation, their sources stating he’d been present in more than one trafficking transaction. He’d also been often seen in the presence of a man high up in the organization.

When Jensen went missing before they could make contact with him, the agency was forced to turn their focus to Scott’s cousin, Prudence, and his business partner, Kate. Jack’s task was to establish contact with the targets, gain their trust, and gather as much information from them as possible without blowing his cover. They’d been working this operation for three years and were closer now than they’d ever been, so blowing his cover and tipping off the trafficking group was not an option.

A simple enough task, he’d had much worse. So why did he have the feeling his sudden attraction to the enticing Kate may hinder things?

Jack’s cell phone vibrated in his front jeans pocket, and he dug it out, glancing at the screen. His partner, Drew Greyson, better known simply as Grey, sat cooling his heels a few blocks away and was in much need of a lemon berry muffin and cup of coffee. Jack hid his grin, stuffing the phone back in his pocket. Using Grey’s unquenchable appetite was probably as good an excuse as any to get to meet Prudence.

Ready or not, it was game time. Shoving back from his table, Jack came to his feet to grab a spot in line.

Chapter 2

Kate shoved the last of the muffin tins into the oven, shutting the door and setting the timer. Returning to her work station, she scrubbed it clean, putting all ingredients and supplies back where they needed to go for their next use .

Taking a step back from her station, she smiled in satisfaction, noting all was where it needed to be.

I’m heading up front to take an inventory, she called out to no one in particular, though all heads nodded in return.

Washing her hands in the small sink next to the swinging door, Kate dried them off on a paper towel, tossing it into a nearby trash bin before heading up front.

The rush from earlier had slowed to a thin trickle, and Kate noticed Candy and Stacy were already out clearing off tables and wiping them down.

Soft laughter reached Kate’s ears and she turned, interest instantly peaked when she spied Prudence talking with Mr. Sexy. As if sensing her friend’s gaze, Prudence turned in Kate’s direction, a smile blossoming on her face.

Uh-oh. Kate knew that smile, and it only spelled trouble for her.

Hey, Kate, come meet a new friend of mine, Prudence said playfully, eyes sparkling with mischief. Yep, definitely trouble.

Butterflies took flight in Kate’s stomach as she slowly walked over, acutely aware of Mr. Sexy’s stare the entire way. She pasted a smile of greeting on her face, hoping this would be over with quickly. Talking and flirting with guys was Prudence’s forte, not Kate’s.

Kate raised her gaze to meet his, and her heart stuttered in her chest. He was even more handsome up close, she thought, the interest on his face and warmth in his deep eyes causing her stuttering heart to pick up its pace.

It also made her keenly aware of her probable unkempt condition, with the flour dusting her hair and bits of dough coating her apron. Kate flushed, fighting the urge to do a quick finger comb through her unruly hair.

Kate Monroe, meet Jack Hamlin, Prudence announced, introducing the pair.

A slow smile spread across Jack’s lips, creasing the corners and causing a dimple to appear in the corner of his right cheek. Prudence here tells me you’re the person responsible for creating the lemon berry muffins. I gotta tell you, they’re the best thing I’ve ever eaten, and I’ve done a lot of traveling.

He dangled his hand over the top of the display case in greeting while Kate’s cheeks flushed deeper at the compliment.

Thank you, an old family recipe, she replied, reaching out to shake the offered hand.

Warmth instantly flooded Kate when his hand touched hers, sending shocks of electricity zinging through her body. Yowza. Her eyes widened in surprise, her breath hitching in her throat. His eyes captured and held hers, surprise shimmering in the ocean blue depths as if he’d felt the connection too.

Definitely a keeper, Jack murmured huskily, leaving Kate to wonder if they were still talking about the recipe.

Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand, returning it to her side of the counter.

You mentioned you’ve done a lot of traveling, Mr. Hamlin. May I ask what you do for a living? she asked, choosing her words carefully.

If he was a spy sent from Aunt Pauline’s, she was going to find out. Sexy smile or not.

Prudence shot her a cursory look, which Kate ignored.

Call me Jack. I’m in sales actually, and a bit of a dabbler in shipping and receiving, he replied smoothly.

Kate chewed the inside of her cheek, allowing his words sink in. His explanation was too vague for her to gain anything from it, making her suspicions rise all the more.

Sounds interesting. What type of goods do you manage? she hedged.

Jack shrugged, his smile still in place, though the wheels in his head were turning. Why was she so suspicious? Did she have something to hide?

Prudence’s elbow interrupted Kate’s interrogation with a poke in her ribs, saving Jack from having to come up with a reply.

So what brings you to Starling, Jack? Prudence asked, ignoring the glare Kate cast in her direction.

I’m looking to start a new business venture with a friend, and am feeling out the community. I was hoping I might make nice with some locals who would be willing to show me around, he said, giving them a hopeful look.

We’d love to show you around, wouldn’t we, Kate? Prudence exclaimed excitedly.

Kate hesitated, weighing her options. If she helped show Jack around town she could weasel more information out of him. It also meant being up close and personal with the handsome stranger, which for some reason made her knees a bit weak and certain body parts tingle. For his sake, he’d better not be a spy from Aunt