Some encounters start with hello. Theirs started with a gun...
Navy SEAL KC expected four weeks of peace and quiet at his uncle's beach house. Instead, he walks through the front door to find a frightened woman pointing a gun at his chest.
Moriah has spent months running from people who want her dead. Desperate to stay alive, she's built her life on half-truths and false identities. She tells KC just enough to earn his sympathy—but not enough to reveal the danger she's really facing.
As reluctant housemates, the two form an uneasy alliance. Determined to help, KC begins teaching Moriah how to protect herself. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the attraction growing between them. But trust is difficult when secrets stand between them.
When Moriah's past finally catches up with her, KC must decide whether he can forgive the lies and fight for the future they've begun to build.
To stay means risking everything. To run means losing the only man who's ever made her feel safe.
Perfect for Readers Who Enjoy:
•Forced proximity
•Alpha military hero
•Woman on the run
•Reluctant housemates
•Protector romance
•Fake identity
•Small-town romance
•Beach house setting
•Dangerous meet cute
•Trust issues
•Past catches up
•Steamy romance
•HEA guaranteed
Malone Brothers series:
Her Secret (Book 1)
Her Sleuth (Book 2)
Her Savior (Book 3)
"What a delight to discover Samantha A. Cole's Malone Brothers! I devoured this book and am amazed to learn this was her first novel—ever. I'm reading the second book now and am going to be watching for more of Samantha's brand of sexy romantic suspense in the future!" ~ USA Today Bestselling Romance Author Kallypso Masters
****This story is also published under the title Seaside Strangers by Sheridan Cole (©2026). The Sheridan Cole edition presents a sweeter, closed-door version of the same novel with refreshed narrative and dialogue. Both editions, published by Suspenseful Seduction Publishing, share the same storyline, with differences in language and on-page intimacy.
***Former title: Take the Money and Run. No new content added.
