title: Run to Rome
author: Netzel, Stacey Joy
description: Italy Intrigue Series: Lost In Italy, Book 1 Run To Rome, Book 2 Love him and leave him. Nine months ago, undercover detective, Ispettore Evalina Gallo, protected her heart the only way she knew how, never expecting to see her savior-turned-one-night-stand again. When he returns to Italia--now a person of interest in an investigation of a local organized crime family--her personal connection to the rugged American gets her assigned to the case. A second chance to make things right. With his mother's pleas ringing in his ears, Ben Sanders plans to retrieve a stolen bible his father shipped to Italy thirteen years ago, and then get out as fast as he can. But with the arrival of the beautiful detective, he suspects his mother's desire to right past wrongs might not be the whole truth. Destiny will not be denied. Now, less than twenty-four hours after entering the country, he's getting shot at--again. In a race from Milan to Rome to find the precious book before anyone else, time is ticking for the one-time lovers. Attraction burns hotter than molten lava, but amid secrets and half-truths, they must learn to trust each other if they have any hope of a future together. **Romantic suspense for 18+, contains language and sexual content. ~ EXCERPT: "What are you doing?" His voice directly behind her made her jump about a foot and sent her pulse racing. She hadn't heard him with the rustling of branches and snapping of twigs under her own feet. Hopefully he hadn't noticed her startle. That'd be great after her embarrassing incident with the lizard. "I'm looking for a way inside. Those are some dark clouds rolling in." "You said there were no doors down here." "I'm looking for loose stones." "You're going to break through the wall?" Surprise rang in his voice. "This thing has to be hundreds of years old, wouldn't that be destroying a national monument or something?" "I'm not planning to tear the whole thing down, just enough to get us inside," she retorted. "It can be repaired." She found a small indent in the space between the rock bricks and dug with her fingers. A shower of weathered, crumbled pieces of mortar cascaded down onto her feet. When she applied some force, one of the stones on the corner gave about an inch. "Right here. This one's loose." Suddenly, his warm, solid chest pressed up against her back. She sucked in a breath, and held it in her constricted lungs as his fingers brushed against hers on the wall. His palm swept the surface, searching in the wrong direction. She grabbed his hand and placed it on the loose stone as she dared to breathe once more. The enticing combination of warm male and the earthy smells of the forest went straight to her head. For a weak moment, she left her hand covering his and leaned back against his unyielding form, allowing the contact to freshen the memory of how his hard, naked body felt against her softer curves. It warmed her all the way through, and an anticipatory heaviness settled low in her belly. "I feel it too." He'd dipped his chin so the husky words were spoken right next to her ear. It took a moment to realize he was talking about the wall, not the heady sensations swirling through her body. His hand slid down to test another, and hers rode along. "This one, too," he added. "Do you think you can break through the wall?" she asked, her own voice now breathless. His breath stirred her hair and tickled her ear. "I'm going to give it one hell of a shot." Something had changed in his tone. His low voice carried a strange undercurrent that made her wonder if he was talking about more than the physical barrier in front of them.