American surgeon Caitlin O'Donahue nearly lost her life doing volunteer work in the sultry jungles of El Salvador. She escapes to her childhood ranch to discover her father is in hiding. Now the place that was once safe seems dangerous. The only man she can trust is a stranger—a gorgeous rancher with an agenda and deep-set secrets. Undercover agent Rhett Kane is hell-bent on busting Caitlin's father. His assignment doesn't include protecting Caitlin…or taking her under cover in the most sensual way. When his dual lives collide, he's left with the ultimate choice. Will he choose love over duty—and will it cost him his life's mission? Carla Cassidy is a New York Times bestselling author who has written more than 125 novels for Harlequin Books. She is listed on the Romance Writer's of America Honor Roll and has won numerous awards. Carla believes the only thing better than curling up with a good book to read is sitting down at the computer with a good story to write. Caitlin O'Donahue nearly wept in relief as the O'Dona-hue ranch house came into view. The past two weeks of her life had been the worst kind of nightmare, and all that had kept her going, all that had kept her sane, were thoughts of home. The large two-story ranch house with its wraparound porch and cheerful white trim instantly filled her with a sense of safety, of security that had been absent from her life over the course of the past couple of weeks. Coarse male laughter. Big rough hands holding her wrists…her ankles. And pain. The kind ofpain and fear no woman should ever have to endure. She shook her head to banish the terrible memories. She was safe now. She was home and the last thing she wanted to do was dwell on the nightmare she'd so recently escaped. She parked the car and got out, then walked to the trunk and pulled out her suitcase. Setting the case on the ground, she paused a moment to draw in a deep breath of the sweet California air and allowed her gaze to sweep over the pastures and rolling hills. It was a beautiful November evening. Horses dotted a distant pasture, grazing peacefully and presenting a pastoral scene. There was a faint breeze and the sinking sun was coloring the western horizon. Caitlin drew in another breath as she continued to peruse the area. That's when she saw him, a tall man standing just outside the barn door. Despite the distance she could tell his shoulders were broad beneath the white T-shirt, and his slim hips were encased in worn, tight jeans. His long, shaggy blond hair sparked in the fading autumn sunlight and she knew she'd never seen him before. If she had, she was sure she would have remembered. It wasn't unusual for her not to know all the ranch hands that worked on the place. The turnover was huge and they came and went with a regularity she knew her father found frustrating. Still, she could feel his piercing gaze on her as she carried her suitcase up the stairs to the front door. Of course, Caitlin was fairly accustomed to garnering male stares. You couldn't have her fiery red hair and an hourglass shape and not have men stare at you. It had never bothered her before, but now she found the male attention a bit upsetting. She relaxed as she opened the door and stepped into the foyer. "Dad?" she yelled. Esmeralda, the housekeeper, appeared and with a shriek of happiness hurried toward Caitlin and embraced her in a warm, tight hug. Caitlin closed her eyes and relaxed even more as the scent of yeast and lavender surrounded her. It was the familiar scent of love. Caitlin's mother had died when she was three, and Esmeralda had been the mother figure in Caitlin's life. She was finally released and Esmeralda stepped back, her black eyes filled with both love and concern. "I'm happy to see you but why are you home now? I thought you'd planned to be with the Doctors Without Borders program much longer." "I got homesick." The lie fell smoothly off her lips. "Where's Dad?" As much as she adored Esmeralda, she was eager to see her father. "Gone on business." Esmeralda linked arms with her. "What a pleasant surprise you are. I'm so happy to see you. The house has been far too quiet since your father left. Come into the kitchen where we can catch up." They walked through the great room with its oversize leather couch and love seat, a stone fireplace that was rarely used and a wall full of electronic wonders that her father loved. The room smelled of the cigars he refused to give up and a slight lingering scent of his woodsy cologne. She was bitterly disappointed that her father wasn't home. She needed him not just for emotional support, but she also had some hard questions to ask him. "Where did Dad go on business?" she asked when they'd reached the kitchen. She sat in a chair at the round oak table as Esmeralda went to the cabinet and took down two cups for tea. "He didn't say." Esmeralda's plump features fell into a frown. "He left over a week ago and said he'd be in touch, but I haven't heard from h