Surrendering to a Billionaire

By Marie Higgins

Detective Kenna Allen's latest assignment is a ticking time bomb, with her trigger-happy tendencies aimed squarely at her irresistible new partner, Liam Hawke. His charm is as dangerous as it is distracting, threatening to derail her focus on the case and the hunt for a killer.

 

Billionaire-turned-blue-collar Liam is all about chasing down criminals, but his biggest challenge might just be his frosty new partner, Kenna. She's as far from his usual type as can be, and yet, her icy exterior conceals a vulnerability that draws him in. As they pose as an engaged couple to crack their latest case, they find themselves caught in a crossfire of danger and desire.

 

With bullets flying and sparks igniting, Kenna and Liam must navigate the treacherous waters of their partnership, where every glance could be lethal...or lead to something more explosive than they ever imagined.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Higgins
• Release date: Jun 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9798223722908

Marie Higgins

Marie Higgins is a multi-published author of romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who makes your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. Visit her website / blog to discover more about her – http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com Since Marie Higgins was a little girl playing Barbies with her sister, Stacey, she has loved the adventure of making up romantic stories. Marie was only eighteen years old when she wrote her first skit, which won an award for Funniest Skit. A little later in life, after she’d married and had children, Marie wrote Church roadshows that were judged as Funniest and Best Written. From there, she branched out to write full-length novels based on her dreams. (Yes, she says, her dreams really are that silly) Marie has been married for twenty-six years to a wonderful man. Together, they have three loving daughters and several beautiful grandchildren. Marie works full time for the state of Utah, where she has lived her entire life. Marie plans to keep writing, because the characters in her head won’t shut up. But her husband smiles and pretends this is normal.

Book preview

Mixing danger with love can only work for so long.

Police Detective, Kenna Allen's new assignment will drive her crazy - if she doesn't shoot her new partner, first. Liam Hawke is gorgeous, and he distracts her in the worst way. How can she focus on the new case and find the killer if she's always keeping an eye on Hawke?

Newly acquired billionaire, Liam Hawke, wants to continue his blue-collar job, mainly because he loves hunting down the bad guys. But currently, his new partner, the uptight, ice-cold Kenna, is the one who is a pain in his backside. He wishes she would act more like the women he dates. Then again, his heart might be in danger if that happens. Yet, in their new assignment as an engaged couple, he's watching her more than he'd bargained for.

Dodging bullets isn't the best way to fall in love, and that's only if they don't get killed first.

ONE

"I don’t care what you say, I’m not getting married! Detective Kenna Allen firmly stated with a voice higher than normal. Nothing in the world will make me do something that stupid."

With hands propped unceremoniously on her hips, she switched her glare back and forth between the two men in the office. Anger, mixed with panic, rushed through her. She needed to figure out how to convince the sergeant he was making a whopping mistake. Pairing her with that particular detective in their new undercover assignment would not only drive her insane, but she just might shoot him.

Allen, Sergeant Feakes explained as he tapped his fingers on his desk, it’s just a cover, and you’re not really going to marry him, but we need the hospital staff to think you and Hawke are engaged.

Kenna heard the sergeant’s words, but her mind wouldn’t wrap around it. Her temper had reached an all-time high, and she didn’t know if anything could bring it down. Why, Sergeant? Why do we need to be engaged?

Feakes leaned back in his swivel chair and linked his fingers across his tight stomach. It’s part of your disguise. You will be going undercover at the hospital as a volunteer, and Hawke will be undercover as a doctor.

His words popped into her head, and immediately she tried to picture the detective who thought he was God’s gift to women, Liam Hawke, wearing doctor’s scrubs and a white jacket with a stethoscope around his neck. The image was utterly ridiculous. She released a harsh laugh and looked at Hawke. Seriously? Let me guess... you’ll be disguised as a gynecologist?

Liam leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his wide chest. His ever-present cocky grin widened, making his gray eyes flash with confidence. Using his forefinger and thumb, he rubbed his chin. You must have forgotten that before I joined the task force, I was in school to become a doctor.  I completed two years of pre-med. I have no doubt I’ll be able to convince everyone I’m a Resident Doctor.

Kenna gritted her teeth. She hated how his deep British accent vibrated through the air and sent shivers up her spine. At the age of thirty, Liam Hawke was the biggest womanizer she’d ever met. Thankfully, that irritating flaw helped her keep a rational head whenever she looked at him. He was a major female carnival attraction and male strip club all rolled into one. His sexy gray eyes, brown hair, and sculptured physique were things most women wanted in a man. Because of this, she loathed his very presence.

Kenna also kept her twenty-eight year old body fit, just as the next cop, but she didn’t flaunt it, not like some men she knew. Several times she’d caught Hawke bunching his muscles and showing off his six-pack just to make women sigh. He always wore a self-assured grin that suggested to women, go ahead and ogle me – that’s what I’m here for.

Trying to ignore Hawke, she focused again on her sergeant, James Feakes. The middle-aged man narrowed his gaze on her as he slowly shook his head. He was going to try and convince her to take this assignment, but she would argue until she won, because there was no way she and Liam could be paired together on this particular case. Not without harming each other, anyway.

Can you give me a good explanation to why Hawke and I need to be engaged? Why can’t we just go undercover without pretending to know each other, she asked with a slightly calmer voice.

Sighing, Feakes rested a hand on his desk and drummed his long fingers. The reason I want the two of you to pretend to be married is so the other hospital workers won’t become suspicious. You and Hawke will be spending a lot of time with each other at the hospital and away from the hospital. When the staff sees you together, they are going to think something is up. But if you act as though you’re engaged, then the staff won’t wonder any further about your relationship. He shook his head. I don’t want to take the chance and make the hospital staff curious. Our senator has informed the mayor that they don’t want to take that chance, either. He took a deep breath before releasing it. I’m sorry you don’t like this assignment, Allen, but I feel you and Hawke are the best detectives for this case.

Irritation rattled her nerves and she pushed her fingers through her long hair. Her mind ran wild, and she couldn’t think of any way to get out of him. She shifted her gaze around the room, glancing briefly out the window at the other detectives in the main room with their eyes turned toward the sergeant’s office. Of course they were interested in what was going on behind closed doors. They knew she and Liam Hawke didn’t get along.

She gritted her teeth and moved her focus away from them and back into the sergeant’s room. Hanging on his walls were plaques of his years of service in the police force, and awards he’d received over the years. Finally, she dared look at the man she loved to hate who was still leaning against the wall. He always wore nicer clothes, looking like a male model in a fashion magazine. The office had labeled him James Bond, double-o-seven and a half because of his British charm and the way he dressed.

His gaze narrowed, and his mouth stretched into his famous gloating grin. Gritting her teeth, she tried to keep herself from screaming out her frustration. She absolutely despised him when he acted as if he was right and she was wrong.

I don’t mind going undercover, she told the sergeant although she kept her eyes on Hawke, "even if I have to pretend to be engaged. But I refuse to be partnered with him! She pointed to Hawke. Find someone else and I’ll consider it."

A bubble of laughter erupted from Hawke’s throat. Ah, come now, sweets. What’s wrong with being my partner? He winked.

She fisted her hands, afraid she would lash out. Everything is wrong with that, she snapped, and then quickly added, and don’t call me sweets. Not only did she dislike him, she hated the cutesy nicknames he gave to every woman he met.

"Oh, come now, babe. Hawke chuckled again. All women love me, so why can’t you?"

She threw him invisible daggers with her glare, but it didn’t faze him one bit. He still looked so incredibly sexy right now, and she hated herself for thinking that way. As you well know, I’m not like most women, and the reason I don’t want to play this engagement game is because it will mean spending more time in your arrogant presence.

The smile on Hawke’s face faded. His brows drew tighter, and his lips thinned. He moved away from the wall and walked toward her. The pound in her heart turned from anger to panic. Why was he coming so close? If he didn’t stop, she would... she would... punch him in the face. Yes, that’s what she’d do. Quickly, she fisted her hands by her side, fighting the urge.

Arrogant? He stopped only a few inches in front of her. "You have a lot of nerve calling me arrogant, Miss I’m-always-right."

Excuse me? she gasped. What do you mean by that? The lift of her voice didn’t surprise her at all since her temper shook through her whole body. His masculine cologne drifted around her, and she wished it would go away. It was making her knees weak, dang it.

You don’t know? Hawke’s eyebrow lifted. "I thought you knew everything."

Chuckling, he moved away from her and turned toward the door. At least she could breathe normally again.

Okay, you two, James intervened, holding up his hands. "You are two of Honolulu’s best police detectives – although it’s hard to believe that right now – but like it or not, you will pretend to be engaged. I have arranged for you to have an apartment during the assignment that’s not far from the hospital. I suggest you try and deal with it the best you can without physically hurting each other. Everyone who looks at you needs to believe you’re in love, not like you’ve been married for more than twenty years and can’t stand each other. He grumbled and handed each one a manila folder with the case information inside. The two of you will start your undercover assignments tomorrow morning, bright and early when you move into your apartment near the hospital."

This time, Liam was the one to grumble as he scrubbed his fingers through his thick, brown, hair. Kenna muttered her distaste, as well, but she was quieter about it.

Why so soon? Hawke asked. I have things to take care of first.

Sergeant Feakes shook his head. Get everything settled tonight. And Hawke, make sure all of your women-friends know they cannot contact you until this case is solved. He moved his gaze to Kenna. In fact, it’s probably best if the two of you move into the apartment sometime this evening so you’ll be ready to start your new jobs tomorrow morning.

You can’t be serious, Kenna complained.

The sergeant gave a harsh nod. Very serious. Blowing out a frustrated breath, he moved his gaze between Kenna and Hawk. So have we straightened everything out now? Or do I have to worry about someone accidentally shooting the other?

Inwardly, Kenna groaned. The sergeant had read her mind.

No, you don’t have to worry, she replied with a heavy sigh. "As much as I detest being engaged to him, I suppose I’ll do it for the job."

Good to hear. Feakes nodded as he looked at Liam. "The senator has arranged everything with the