Dark Horse — Tommie Conrad

Raven Williams had a frame of reference for loneliness -- for two years she's lived in Somerset Heights, working as a public defender during the day and spending her nights solo. She loves her job -- until she crosses swords with one of the town's most notorious criminals. Now Raven is fighting for her life, on the run from a madman, and wondering how she ever got mixed up with such a dangerous person. Culver Smith knows something about loneliness, too. Both time and his job as a courtroom bailiff have hardened him until he expects nothing more than the worst out of people. When a chance encounter forces him into close contact with Raven, the thaw begins and he finds himself a little too happy, and a little too settled in his new life. He's not prepared to love Raven with his whole heart -- just as he's not prepared to find himself dodging bullets. Being forced to flee for his life may be the best thing that's ever happened to Culver, though, because he'll have Raven by his side every step of the way -- as long as they can survive the final showdown with their nemesis.