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    On His Watch
    On His Watch
    On His Watch
    Ebook128 pages1 hour

    On His Watch

    By Katie Ruggle

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    "Vivid and charming."—CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series

    In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...

    Ice rescue diver Derek Warner never meant to be a hero. But when two little girls go missing, he's the first in line to bring them home—even if that means scouring the wilderness with the woman he once loved and lost, Artemis Rey.

    Artemis has never stopped wanting Derek. Now, racing to find the girls before it's too late, minutes turn to hours. Night falls. Old flames rekindle. And a danger grows in the darkest wilderness that may be more than even the Search and Rescue brotherhood can hope to face...

    On His Watch is the pulse-pounding prequel to the riveting Search & Rescue series by Katie Ruggle.

    Search and Rescue:
    On His Watch (FREE novella)
    Hold Your Breath (Book 1)
    Fan the Flames (Book 2)
    Gone too Deep (Book 3)
    In Safe Hands (Book 4)

    What People Are Saying:
    "I love Ruggle's characters. They're sharply drawn, and vividly alive. I'm happy when they find each other. These are wonderful escapist books."—CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series
    "Sexy and suspenseful, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."—JULIE ANN WALKER, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author for Hold Your Breath
    "Chills and thrills and a sexy slow-burning romance from a terrific new voice."—D.D. AYRES, author of the K-9 Rescue Series for Hold Your Breath

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSourcebooks
    Release dateJan 5, 2016
    ISBN9781492633440
    On His Watch
    Author

    Katie Ruggle

    A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie is a self-proclaimed forensics nerd. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing, and gymnastics, has lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains, rides horses, trains her three dogs, and travels to warm places to scuba dive. She has received 5 Amazon Best Books of the Month and an Amazon Best Book of the Year. Run to Ground, the first book in her Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series, is a 2017 RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee. Connect with Katie at http://katieruggle.com/, https://www.facebook.com/katierugglebooks, or on Twitter and Instagram @KatieRuggle

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      Book preview

      On His Watch - Katie Ruggle

      Copyright © 2016 by Katie Ruggle

      Cover and internal design © 2016 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

      Cover design by Dawn Adams/Sourcebooks, Inc.

      Background image ©Yevgen Timashov/istock

      Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

      The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

      Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.

      P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

      (630) 961-3900

      Fax: (630) 961-2168

      www.sourcebooks.com

      Contents

      Front Cover

      Title Page

      Copyright

      On His Watch

      An Excerpt from Hold Your Breath

      About the Author

      To Mary, the best editor in the universe. Without you, the Search and Rescue series wouldn’t exist.

      Don’t you think this punishment is a little harsh? Derek asked under his breath, eyeing the yellow school bus pulling into the gravel parking lot.

      His dive-team leader, Callum, didn’t hesitate. No.

      I think you’re blowing this way out of proportion. The kids started flowing off the bus, and Derek had to resist the impulse to take a step back. Any show of fear would be like blood in the water. They’d devour him alive. It was funny. You need to work on your sense of humor. Laughter makes you live longer. They’ve done scientific studies.

      It wasn’t funny.

      C’mon. Since the chaperones had the kids contained to the parking lot, Derek risked taking his eyes off the horde to shoot a smirk in Callum’s direction. "It was a little funny. Admit it. Your face…man. When you opened your truck door and saw that goat, I nearly pissed myself laughing."

      It ate the seats. Derek wasn’t sure how Callum managed to speak while clamping his jaw muscles so tightly. The man had a gift. I can’t take my truck to Denver to be reupholstered until next week. Now a forehead vein was throbbing in time with the clenching of his jaw. Nine days. Until then, my seats are being held together with duct tape. Callum slowly turned his head to focus his chilly blue gaze on Derek. Duct. Tape.

      Forcing his face into serious lines with some difficulty, Derek donned his most contrite expression. Hey, I’m paying for that new upholstery. Isn’t that punishment enough? Cal just narrowed his eyes a little more. I was trying to do a good thing. Maybelle needed a home, and I thought the dive team could use a mascot.

      Why would the dive team need a mascot?

      To improve morale? I mean, laughter is good for morale, right? And since Steve ended up taking Maybelle, now the Fire guys are going to be the ones with awesome morale. We lost out.

      How would a goat…never mind. Callum gave his head a single shake. "You put the thing in my truck. How could you ever think that was a good idea?"

      Since he was losing the battle to control his grin, Derek rubbed his hand over his mouth to hide it. Uh…didn’t really think about it, boss. I mean, I’d just picked up the goat, and we got a call—I had to put her somewhere.

      "Why not leave it in your truck?"

      Are you kidding? Derek snorted. Maybelle would’ve wrecked it.

      Callum’s expression cooled until it was positively glacial. I’ve changed my mind.

      Really? Hope replaced the amusement in Derek’s voice. In his peripheral vision, he could see that the kids, now organized in semi-straight lines, had started their advance. Time was running out. He needed to escape—quickly. I don’t have to do this?

      Oh, no, Callum said silkily, "you do have to do this. But I’ve decided that this punishment isn’t sufficient. It ate. My. Truck."

      But—

      A blond woman appeared at Callum’s side before Derek could say more. Hi! Are you Callum Cook?

      Turning his head, Callum focused the full power of his arctic glare on the woman. If he hadn’t been so relieved not to be the target of that stare, Derek would’ve felt bad for her. Several uncomfortable seconds ticked past before Callum dipped his head, finally answering her question.

      Great! Fire Chief Early said I’d find you here. Her grin was still as wide as ever, and Derek couldn’t help but be impressed. It had taken Derek years to build up the nerve to go toe-to-toe with Callum. I’m Lou Sparks. I’d like to join the dive team, and the fire chief told me you’re the one I need to hook up with. Her brown eyes widened as her smile finally began to falter. "Uh, not hook up with as in a dirty way or anything. I meant talk. Chief Early said I should talk to you."

      Derek tilted his head, forcing his expression into severe lines as he clucked his tongue. Don’t think you’re getting on this team that easy. Every one of us divers had to make it through the casting couch interview. There’s no shortcut to wearing the neoprene uniform.

      He’d been concentrating so hard on the woman that Derek didn’t see the hand swinging toward the back of his head until it was too late to duck.

      Ignore him, Callum said, dropping his arm. Do you have any dive experience?

      Sure. Although her smile started to return, Lou’s cheeks remained pink. In tropical places, that is—I’ve never done any cold-water diving. Mainly because of the…um, coldness. She gestured toward the icy reservoir behind them. I’m guessing that’s different than diving in just scuba gear and a bikini. She squeezed her eyes closed. Frick. What is wrong with my mouth right now? I promise I’m not an oversexed bimbo. And now I just said ‘sex’ and ‘bimbo.’ Wow, what a great first impression I’m making. Please make me shut up immediately.

      As Callum blinked at her, looking bemused, Derek couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer.

      Lou, he said, holding out a hand. Welcome to the dive team. I’m Derek, and I can already tell that I’m going to like you.

      She grinned with obvious relief as she shook his hand.

      Meet me at Fire Station One at six thirty tomorrow evening for your official—Callum shot Derek a scowl—"interview. Team training begins at seven."

      She nodded, looking nervous again.

      Derek stage-whispered, Interview-shminterview. You’re in. He’s just trying to play the hard-ass. He glanced up and barely restrained a flinch. The kids had formed a half circle around them, eliminating any chance of escape.

      Lou laughed. I imagine it’s a role he’s comfortable playing.

      Callum narrowed his eyes. Since the two of you have apparently bonded, your first task can be to help Derek with this presentation.

      Her mouth dropped open as she gave the encircling crowd a hunted glance. Uh…presentation? To kids? I’m not…well, very good with kids. In fact, they tend to hate me. The terror in her voice matched what Derek felt, and he gave her a commiserating smile.

      They’re waiting for you to begin. Jerking his chin toward the group, Callum turned and began walking away.

      Wait! Despite his best effort at not showing fear, Derek knew his panic was obvious. You’re leaving me here? Alone?

      You’re not alone, Callum said, tipping his head toward Lou. And I’ll be right over there. Observing. Weren’t you just saying that I should laugh more? I’m thinking this might be an excellent opportunity.

      Well, shit. He couldn’t argue with that.

      Reluctantly turning back, Derek faced his audience. A funny-looking kid in the front licked at snot running from his nose to his upper lip. Holding back a wince, Derek forced a smile.

      Hey, kids. How’s it going?

      All thirty-eight of the Simpson Elementary School third- and fourth-graders stared at him, unsmiling. Despite the December chill, Derek felt sweat prickle his forehead. When he shot Lou a desperate glance, she returned an equally fraught one and shifted behind him, putting his body between her and the kids.

      Derek cleared his throat, making a mental note never to seriously piss off Callum again. The man was positively diabolical when it came to punishments. I’m Derek Warner, and I’m going to tell you about the Field County Rescue Dive Team.

      Where are the firemen? demanded a girl with dark curls poking out from under her stocking hat. Ms. Belcher said we were going to see firemen.

      No firemen. Derek frowned. Apparently, even girls under ten had a thing for firefighters. Divers are way better.

      Nuh-uh. The girl scowled at him.

      Uh-huh.

      Nuh-uh.

      Totally better.

      Are not.

      Lou’s amused snort interrupted the argument, and Derek took a deep breath. When people fall into the water, the dive team rescues them. We also… His words trailed off as he turned his head toward Lou. Out of the corner of his mouth, he muttered, How do I explain body recovery to kids without traumatizing them?

      Um…I don’t think it’s possible, Lou whispered. Maybe you could use Barbie and Ken dolls to demonstrate?

      What? Realizing that his voice had risen, he lowered it to a hiss. That’s a stupid idea. Besides, I don’t carry dolls around with me.

      Just don’t mention dead people then! she whispered back.

      Where are your fire trucks? asked the snot-licker.

      We don’t have fire trucks. We have a dive van. He waved toward the converted ambulance parked ten feet away.

      The kids looked unimpressed. One mini-Neanderthal toward the back wasn’t paying attention at all,

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