A mission has gone almost deadly wrong in Afghanistan. Special Forces military working dog handler Chris Gonzalez and his K-9 partner, Delta Alpha, are sent home to heal after being injured during an operation. The military has decided Delta Alpha can no longer continue as an active military working dog, but Chris refuses to leave him behind.
Coming home to Nyack isn’t something he expected to do so soon, but in order to help his partner heal, he needs to do so with the help of the new local veterinarian, a woman who seems to have a dark history of her own.
Juliette Graham had only wanted to escape her past and start over, this time with a new life and a new name. She didn’t expect to find two males, one human, one canine, burrowing under her skin so quickly.
That’s the problem with secrets, though…they often have a habit of catching up when people least expect it…
Excerpt:
Stepping into formation, Chris stood second in line. They needed to be ready to work from the moment they landed. It wasn’t about him as much as it was about DA’s sense of smell. The dog could root out a bad guy, or a treat, in less time than any other canine he’d worked with. And seeing as they’d been partnered together for close to two years, they had learned to read each other better than other teams. His dog’s training and intelligence, combined with Chris’s skills behind a rifle, had led to their spot on this elite crew.
Squirrel glanced back as they got in position. The captain, shrouded in green from Chris’s night-vision goggles, and always leading his men, even when they hated it, winked at Dumb Ass before scuffing the top of his head with affection. “Time to live,” was all he said before he jumped. Chris’s heart lurched into his throat and his balls hid in his stomach, as it always happened, before he followed three seconds after. He pushed off the plane, and for what seemed like endless seconds, time stilled. No movement, no sound. Even the catch in his breath alerted him he had quit breathing. Just stillness, a peace in the sky where you were wrapped in the comfort of nothingness, like a heavy blanket on a cold night.
The peace never lasted. Dumb Ass jolted at the same time the air disappeared from beneath Chris’s body. He tightened his grip around his dog and tucked his chin to his chest, pulling DA close with one arm to protect him as his instincts from training took over. He stretched his body as much as he could, trying to slow their descent. He fell faster than the typical one-twenty, and he’d heard rumors of people who had gotten up to two-hundred miles per hour, but that was a speed he’d leave for those who wanted to take that chance. He was in no way ready to push that bar. Jumping out of planes was where he drew that line.
He choked on laughter with that thought. His dog wiggled and fought to turn his face against the wind. The world rushed to meet them from below in different shades of false green.
Chris shifted into the wind to slow their fall and looked around, making sure they wouldn’t collide with others or interrupt their landing. In his ear, his team communicated in low, almost silent tones. An announcement followed, relaying the aircraft had gotten away from the landing zone without incident.
They’d been falling in the air for about two minutes, which, from his calculations in his goggles, and from the time on his watch, told him he was only seconds from needing to pull. As if jumping from the plane wasn’t bad, the jerk in which he and DA would soon experience was worse. More so, the landing would be a bitch.
Shit, he was getting too old for this. Even in his mid-thirties, he felt each landing take another year off the age of his knees.
A low murmur in his ear told him Squirrel had ejected his parachute successfully. Chris braced and squeezed his eyes shut as he pulled on his cord, knowing he flirted with death doing this job. If this parachute didn’t work, at least he had the reserve. If the reserve didn’t work, well, then his team would have fun scraping him off the dangerous jagged mountains of Afghanistan for the next couple of years.
{"num_reviews":0,"add_this":[{"service":"facebook","annotation":""},{"service":"email","annotation":""},{"service":"print","annotation":""},{"service":"twitter","annotation":""}],"gtin":null,"id":2660,"can_purchase":true,"meta_description":"","category":["Contemporary","Erotic ","Military","Suspense","Series Empire Blue"],"AddThisServiceButtonMeta":"","main_image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2660\u002f2927\u002fintmatehonor1l__18677.1582085207.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 80, 300\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0130-1\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2660","custom_fields":[{"id":"278","name":"Series","value":"\u002fseries-empire-blue\u002f"}],"sku":"978-0-3695-0130-1","backorder_availability_prompt":"","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fintimate-honor-by-d-c-stone\u002f","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eEmpire Blue, 3\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fem\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA mission has gone almost deadly wrong in Afghanistan. Special Forces military working dog handler Chris Gonzalez and his K-9 partner, Delta Alpha, are sent home to heal after being injured during an operation. The military has decided Delta Alpha can no longer continue as an active military working dog, but Chris refuses to leave him behind.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComing home to Nyack isn’t something he expected to do so soon, but in order to help his partner heal, he needs to do so with the help of the new local veterinarian, a woman who seems to have a dark history of her own.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJuliette Graham had only wanted to escape her past and start over, this time with a new life and a new name. She didn’t expect to find two males, one human, one canine, burrowing under her skin so quickly.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThat’s the problem with secrets, though…they often have a habit of catching up when people least expect it…\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpt:\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eStepping into formation, Chris stood second in line. They needed to be ready to work from the moment they landed. It wasn’t about him as much as it was about DA’s sense of smell. The dog could root out a bad guy, or a treat, in less time than any other canine he’d worked with. And seeing as they’d been partnered together for close to two years, they had learned to read each other better than other teams. His dog’s training and intelligence, combined with Chris’s skills behind a rifle, had led to their spot on this elite crew. \u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eSquirrel glanced back as they got in position. The captain, shrouded in green from Chris’s night-vision goggles, and always leading his men, even when they hated it, winked at Dumb Ass before scuffing the top of his head with affection. “Time to live,” was all he said before he jumped. Chris’s heart lurched into his throat and his balls hid in his stomach, as it always happened, before he followed three seconds after. He pushed off the plane, and for what seemed like endless seconds, time stilled. No movement, no sound. Even the catch in his breath alerted him he had quit breathing. Just stillness, a peace in the sky where you were wrapped in the comfort of nothingness, like a heavy blanket on a cold night.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eThe peace never lasted. Dumb Ass jolted at the same time the air disappeared from beneath Chris’s body. He tightened his grip around his dog and tucked his chin to his chest, pulling DA close with one arm to protect him as his instincts from training took over. He stretched his body as much as he could, trying to slow their descent. He fell faster than the typical one-twenty, and he’d heard rumors of people who had gotten up to two-hundred miles per hour, but that was a speed he’d leave for those who wanted to take that chance. He was in no way ready to push that bar. Jumping out of planes was where he drew that line. \u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eHe choked on laughter with that thought. His dog wiggled and fought to turn his face against the wind. The world rushed to meet them from below in different shades of false green. \u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eChris shifted into the wind to slow their fall and looked around, making sure they wouldn’t collide with others or interrupt their landing. In his ear, his team communicated in low, almost silent tones. An announcement followed, relaying the aircraft had gotten away from the landing zone without incident. \u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eThey’d been falling in the air for about two minutes, which, from his calculations in his goggles, and from the time on his watch, told him he was only seconds from needing to pull. As if jumping from the plane wasn’t bad, the jerk in which he and DA would soon experience was worse. More so, the landing would be a bitch.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eShit, he was getting too old for this. Even in his mid-thirties, he felt each landing take another year off the age of his knees. \u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eA low murmur in his ear told him Squirrel had ejected his parachute successfully. Chris braced and squeezed his eyes shut as he pulled on his cord, knowing he flirted with death doing this job. If this parachute didn’t work, at least he had the reserve. If the reserve didn’t work, well, then his team would have fun scraping him off the dangerous jagged mountains of Afghanistan for the next couple of years.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e","show_backorder_message":false,"tags":[],"warranty":"","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"},"default_shipping_expectation_prompt":"","detail_messages":"","availability":"","page_title":"","cart_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fcart.php","show_backorder_availability_prompt":false,"max_purchase_quantity":0,"show_quantity_on_hand":false,"show_default_shipping_expectation_prompt":false,"show_quantity_on_backorder":false,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fbrands\u002fHeat-Level-3.html"},"attributes":[],"mpn":null,"upc":null,"options":[],"related_products":[{"id":3399,"sku":"978-0-3695-1167-6","name":"Intimate Secret by D.C. Stone","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fintimate-secret-by-d-c-stone\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Series Empire Blue","Contemporary","Erotic ","Suspense","New Adult"],"summary":"Empire Blue, 6\nA murder was captured on satellite and multiple law enforcement agencies are trying to solve it. One of the detectives on the case, Jake Gonzalez, is led right to the front doo","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3399\u002f3679\u002fintimatesecret1l__66019.1744591668.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 70, 000\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-1167-6\n\nEditor: Stephanie Marrie\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3399\u002f3679\u002fintimatesecret1l__66019.1744591668.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 70, 000\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-1167-6\n\nEditor: Stephanie Marrie\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"13th Apr 2025","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":579,"name":"Series","value":"\u002fseries-empire-blue\u002f"}],"num_reviews":10,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=3399","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":3068,"sku":"978-0-3695-0723-5","name":"Intimate Escape by D.C. Stone","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fintimate-escape-by-d-c-stone\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Contemporary","Erotic ","Suspense","Series Empire Blue"],"summary":"Empire Blue, 4\nJuliette Scaglione doesn't think her world can get any worse. Recently dumped by her longtime boyfriend while on a vacation she paid for, she returned home only to find the Dru","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3068\u002f3345\u002fintimateescape1l__21035.1668998589.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 74, 650\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0723-5\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3068\u002f3345\u002fintimateescape1l__21035.1668998589.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 74, 650\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0723-5\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"20th Nov 2022","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":275,"name":"Series","value":"\u002fseries-empire-blue\u002f"}],"num_reviews":58,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=3068","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":939,"sku":"978-1-77130-864-9","name":"Intimate Danger by D.C. Stone","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fintimate-danger-by-d-c-stone\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Contemporary","Erotic ","Interracial","Suspense","Series Empire Blue"],"summary":"Empire Blue, 1\r\nA sleeping threat has awakened in the cozy village of Nyack, and Detective Charlese “Charlie” Lopez is tasked with stopping the deranged perpetrator. Ready to prove herself, ","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f939\u002f1102\u002fintimate_danger_2__23856.1402441338.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 93, 610\n\nISBN: 978-1-77130-864-9\n\nEditor: Laurie Temple\n\nCover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f939\u002f1102\u002fintimate_danger_2__23856.1402441338.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 93, 610\n\nISBN: 978-1-77130-864-9\n\nEditor: Laurie Temple\n\nCover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs"}],"date_added":"10th Jun 2014","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":276,"name":"Series","value":"\u002fseries-empire-blue\u002f"}],"num_reviews":4,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=939","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":1394,"sku":"978-1-77233-392-3","name":"Intimate Fear by D.C. Stone","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fintimate-fear-by-d-c-stone\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Contemporary","Erotic ","Suspense","Series Empire Blue"],"summary":"Empire Blue, 2 \r\nOn the heels of a crime spree in the small town of Nyack, a new threat has arrived… \r\n","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1394\u002f1563\u002fintimatefear1l__82516.1434659502.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 86, 150\n\nISBN: 978-1-77233-392-3\n\nEditor: Jessica Ruth\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1394\u002f1563\u002fintimatefear1l__82516.1434659502.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 86, 150\n\nISBN: 978-1-77233-392-3\n\nEditor: Jessica Ruth\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"18th Jun 2015","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":277,"name":"Series","value":"\u002fseries-empire-blue\u002f"}],"num_reviews":4,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=1394","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":3185,"sku":"978-0-3695-0876-8","name":"Intimate Addiction by D.C. Stone","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fintimate-addiction-by-d-c-stone\u002f","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Series Empire Blue","Contemporary","Erotic ","Suspense"],"summary":"Empire Blue, 5\nEver since being rescued from a human trafficking ring, Hailey Mason has been trying two things: getting her life together and catching the attention of Lucas “Luke&rdquo","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3185\u002f3464\u002fintimateaddiction1l__20537.1693185899.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 80 ,700\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0876-8\n\nEditor: Lisa Petrocelli\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3185\u002f3464\u002fintimateaddiction1l__20537.1693185899.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 80 ,700\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0876-8\n\nEditor: Lisa Petrocelli\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"27th Aug 2023","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":[{"id":415,"name":"Series","value":"\u002fseries-empire-blue\u002f"}],"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=3185","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}}],"shipping_messages":[],"rating":0,"reviews":{"messages":[],"total":0},"bulk_discount_rates":[],"meta_keywords":"","show_quantity_input":0,"title":"Intimate Honor by D.C. Stone","gift_wrapping_available":false,"min_purchase_quantity":0,"customizations":[],"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2660\u002f2927\u002fintmatehonor1l__18677.1582085207.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 80, 300\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0130-1\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}]}
[{"url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002f","name":"Home"},{"url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fseries-empire-blue\u002f","name":"Series Empire Blue"},{"url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fintimate-honor-by-d-c-stone\u002f","name":"Intimate Honor by D.C. Stone"}]