Curves and the Marshal — Jenn Roseton

Curvy Honor Crenshaw is in trouble. The morning she's due to testify in court, a dirty cop shows up at her door.

Fleeing in her car, she winds up in Coldwater Springs and frantically considers her next move. Before she can make any plans, Max Kirkson, a Marshal, shows up to take her into custody.

On the their way back to Laramie, the peril Honor is in becomes all too real as Max eludes the dangerous person on their trail. Max vows to get Honor home safely, but now he's captured her, will he capture her heart as well? Or will she allow her insecurities about her curves to stand in the way of the most important relationship of her life?

This is a sexy contemporary romance novelette of approximately 16,800 words which can be read as a stand alone.

EXTRACT:

Just as she was about to slide out of the booth, a man strode into the diner. Early thirties. Much taller than her height of five foot five. Black hair. Black leather jacket. Tough jaw. Straight nose. Eyes of midnight blue. His eyes swept over the diner, seeming to take everything in at an instant.

And then he saw her.

Honor froze.

It wasn't the guy from this morning. But he was here for her. She knew it!
For a second she couldn't breathe, then she couldn't stop. I think I'm hyperventilating.

“Here, sweetie.” Betty appeared with a paper bag. “Breathe into this.”

Honor sank back against the leatherette booth cushions, clutching the paper bag to her face, trying to slow her breathing.

“Can I help you?” Betty asked the stranger.

Out of the corner of her eye, Honor saw Betty turn to the man who had entered - no, strode into - the diner.

The man who had come for her.

“I think I've found who I'm looking for,” the man replied, his eyes fixed on Honor. He took another step toward the booth, but Betty blocked his path.

“Not so fast, handsome. Give her some space.”

Honor concentrated on breathing into the paper bag. In, out. In, out. She did not want to think about anything else. Finally, her breathing calmed and she felt able to take away the bag from her lips. Until she saw him watching her every movement.

“Honor Crenshaw?” He flashed a badge at her. She glimpsed the word Marshal on it. “I'm Max Kirkson. I'm here to take you back to Laramie so you can testify.”