BAYOU TREASURE

Cerridwen Press
ISBN: 9781419909061
May 2007

Order at Cerridwen Press

"For edge-of-your-seat suspense and sizzling hot romance in the bayou - readers will love Bayou Treasure." Bestselling Author, Robin T. Popp

Marie Bernard owns a successful antique business in her home town of New Orleans. It’s a quiet predictable life that she’s created for herself and even when her heart yearns for more, she reminds herself of how good she has it. The security she’s created for herself disappears in the blink of an eye as a man holds a gun to her head and drags her toward certain death.

Special Agent LD Carmouche is a nine-year veteran of the FBI and a man who is determined to forge his own way in the world. Carmouche family ties run strong and deep back home in New Orleans, which is why staying away from Louisiana is his number one priority. That is until he rescues Marie from a sociopathic killer with whom he shares a painful past. Now, he’s not sure if he should arrest the brown eyed temptress or bed her.

Together this mismatched pair will be forced to unravel the clues around a ring of international thieves in order to uncover the gang’s true target before Marie becomes their next victim. Somewhere between the streets of the French Quarter and the back waters of the Louisiana bayous they find a treasure even more valuable than diamonds – love.

5 Angels! "Georgia Tribell spins a magnificent rollercoaster read with strong characterizations and a remarkable storyline." - Linda, Fallen Angel Reviews

5 Lips!"Bayou Treasure is an appealingly suspenseful novel with a light touch which enwraps the reader in excitement, romance, mystery, and thrills, while at the same time weaving a tapestry of romantic attraction and emotional intensity." - Frost, Two Lips Reviews

"The plot leads the reader on a non-ending roller coaster ride from Boston to New Orleans." - Anne Boling, Reader Views

4 Cups!"This story was a fast and furious adventure." - Lototy, Coffee Time Romance

LD moved quickly to the two motionless forms while an image of another woman lying dead because he’d failed to do his job sliced through his mind. Terrified that history was repeating itself, yet propelled by the need to know, LD kicked the assailant’s gun out of the way, then crouched down beside the two bodies. He shoved the man’s body off of Marie’s without a second glance. A cold sick sweat coated LD’s skin when he saw the blood splattered across her face. Pushing aside the hair at her neck, he felt for a pulse.

A shaky sigh escaped him. Her skin was clammy but her heartbeat was strong. “Marie.”

LD brushed a hand across the side of her face to check for injuries. As he watched, her eyes fluttered, then flew open. Before he could stop her, Marie rolled over and got a good look at the dead man.

“He’s dead.” Her voice was shaky but not defeated. He admired her for that.

“It’s okay. It’s over.”

Panic-filled eyes turned back to him. Then, in a surprisingly swift move, she placed both hands against LD’s shoulders and shoved.

Unprepared for the attack, he landed on his backside. He watched as she stood and started running. She stopped about twenty yards away.

“You okay?” LD looked up to see Rob extending a hand to him. Ignoring his friend’s offer of help, LD stood and brushed off his pants.

“You want me to go get her?” Rob asked.

“No. She’s mine.”
LD approached Marie as one would a frightened animal. Slowly. Any sudden moves might send her bolting again.

She was frantically running her hands through her hair and across her face. He knew what she was doing. She was trying to remove the blood. Grasping her wrist, he stopped her wild motions.

“It’s all over me.” The words were soft, the shakiness gone.

“I know.”

“I want a shower.”

LD searched her face for signs of shock as he released her wrists. “Sure, but first I need to know if you’re hurt. Is any of this blood yours?”

“No. I...I...oh.”

LD grabbed Marie around the waist as she turned away from him to empty the contents of her stomach. When she was finished, he moved her away and slowly lowered her limp body to a sitting position on the ground. She started to shake uncontrollably. Removing his overcoat, he draped it around her then knelt in front of her. He placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Is there anyone we can call for you?” LD asked even though he didn’t want to hear the answer.

“No.”

LD felt, more than heard, the response as Marie rested her head against his chest and almost of their own volition, his arms stole around her until he held her in his embrace. For a few moments, he relished the feel of her body next to his until he looked down and saw her hand resting against his chest. The flash from her diamond ring blinked at him like a warning beacon. She belonged to someone else, not him.

He pulled back, putting distance between them. He needed to think and he couldn’t do that with her wrapped in his arms. “Are you sure? We could phone a family member or a friend.”

Marie shook her head, “No. There’s no one. Could you do me one favor?”

“Sure. What is it?” Brushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes, LD saw the first tear slip down her cheek.

“Hold me. Just for a couple of minutes. Please.”

LD took Marie by the shoulders and pulled her back into his arms. Holding her tight against his chest, he felt each and every shudder and sob that tore through her body for the next several minutes. Over the years, he’d comforted more victims than he cared to remember, so this wasn’t new to him. But feeling the pain was.