By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Maryann Jordan

Nolan (Ringer) Bell is a SEAL, sidelined for a ruptured appendix and on medical leave. Bored at his mom’s house, he agrees to help his sister, a local PI, specializing in financial fraud. The case…suspected money laundering through a wedding chapel with ties to a casino.

His sister partners him with Lynn Cox, another PI, who just happens to be the high school crush he left behind when he joined the SEALs. Their assignment…to have a pretend wedding to get a close up view at what is going on in the chapel and spend their “honeymoon” at the Casino resort.

Ringer’s sweet but meddling mother is the secretary setting up the details. She has always had a soft spot for Lynn and uses their real documents when applying for their “fake marriage license”.

Discovering they are married for real, Ringer and Lynn have to figure out how to get unmarried while still investigating the casino mob’s money laundering scheme. A night gambling and drinking lands Ringer and Lynn in honeymoon suite.

Maybe mom knows best, after all. Or maybe they won’t survive the night.

What does a healing Navy SEAL do when he’s bored out of his mind? He jumps at the chance to help his sister with one of her PI cases.

Nolan may not have been totally thinking straight when he decides to go along with his sister Nancy’s hairbrained scheme to get the financial information her client needs to prove her husband is hiding money from her.

Lynn Cox is a certified fraud examiner and forensic accountant, she has been Nancy’s best friend for years and even as a teen had a crush on Nolan. When presented with the idea of posing as a bride to get into the office of ‘Cupid of the Mountains’ Wedding Chapel she sort of agrees. However when she finds out who her groom was going to be she was more than a little shocked.

This is a favorite scene.

Throwing up her palm toward Nancy, she halted her litany. “Okay, okay, I get it. Yes, we’ve been sneaky before. But why do I get the feeling that what you’re going to ask me to do is beyond regular subterfuge and possibly involves something more nefarious?”

“Look, it’s not illegal for us to get our hands on the wedding chapel’s financial records. After all, Sally is a co-owner of the business and has a legal right to those records. She’s going to permit us to obtain those records in any way we see fit and then follow the trail of money wherever it leads. Legally, she can do that without her husband’s permission.”

“So, she wants us to get our hands on the records instead of her giving them to us.”

Nodding, Nancy grinned. “Exactly!”

Lynn thought for a moment, pondering the implications. Finally, shrugging, she said, “Well, you’re the PI. You get your hands on the records, and I’ll take a look at them.”

“Um… well, that’s where it gets a little complicated. I can’t exactly sneak in. I’ve done some PI work in the area, and I’m afraid they might recognize me. What I need is someone who can get inside the business to get the records.”

Lynn opened her mouth to argue, but Nancy jumped in, cutting her off.

“I know it sounds weird, but I was hoping you could go in as a potential bride who’s checking out the place, and perhaps, if someone was with you who could keep an eye out, then you’d be able to grab a copy of the records. Sally claims everything’s kept on his computer in the office.”

Air left her lungs as she exhaled, but she forgot to inhale again. Finally, sucking in a deep breath, she tried to clear her mind. “Nancy, this is the most harebrained scheme you’ve ever come up with, and you’ve come up with some doozies before!”

“It can work. You’ve told me yourself that it’s easy to get financial records off the computer and only takes a few minutes.”

“Yes, but I don’t know anything about how to get into a place unseen and undetected! That’s not legal! I’m not going to lose my accounting license so she can get her husband’s ill-gotten gains!”

“Sally is giving us legal permission to go into the business and get the financial records. Plus, it will be virtually no risk because I’ll pair you with someone who will handle doing everything needed except for you getting the records. He’ll figure out what to do. Plan everything. They’ll make sure you get in and out with no problem.”

“Girl, this sounds like you’ve created a recipe for disaster.”

Shaking her head, she said, “No, actually, this is going to be a mission planned to precision.”

“So, I’m supposed to go in and pretend to be a bride?”

“Yes, and the person you go in with will be your pretend groom. You look around, you get the lay of the land, and then he’ll figure out how to get you into the office to obtain the records.”

“And if we get discovered and they call the police?”

“Believe me, the person who’s going to help you would not be involved in anything illegal. Remember, Sally is a co-owner of the business and is giving you written permission to go in. Granted, she’s not telling her husband ahead of time, but she’s still permitting you to get those records. Plus, let me just add that Sally Hightower is willing to pay a huge sum for us to do this. She knows her husband is probably making millions, and she is more than willing to make sure we’re well compensated for helping her get her due.”

That gave Lynn pause. Her business was certainly doing well, but it was sporadic, and she was still paying student loans while saving for a house. Nibbling on her bottom lip, she thought how nice a fat paycheck would be. Sighing, she finally nodded. “As long as it’s not illegal, and I’ll have written authorization from Sally that says I can get the records just in case we get caught and someone tries to get me arrested, I guess I can do it—”

“Yay!” The cheer from the doorway caused both Nancy and Linda to jump as Rita popped into the room, her hands clapping and her face bright with excitement. “I’m so glad you said yes! I think this is going to be perfect!”

Uncertain why Rita would be so excited for her to take on this scheme, Lynn shot her gaze over to Nancy.

“Mom, you’re a little premature. I haven’t finished letting Lynn know the whole plan.”

Lynn swung her gaze between Rita’s beaming face and Nancy’s tight smile. “Um… the whole plan? Who’s going to go in with me?”

The buzzer from the front door rang. “Mom? Nancy? Are you guys back here?”

The deep voice coming from the front of the office echoed down the hall, causing Lynn’s stomach to plunge. Oh, no! No way!

“Back here, dear!” Rita called out. She beamed toward Lynn as she stepped to the side and Nolan’s presence filled the doorway, his gaze landing on hers.

Nancy, her gaze cautious, piped up from behind her desk. “Lynn, meet your undercover groom.”
Jordan, Maryann. Hot SEAL, Undercover Groom (SEALs in Paradise) (pp. 26-29). Kindle Edition.

What Nolan has never admitted is that if Lynn had been older he wouldn’t have been upset by her kiss all those years ago. Now faced with spending time with her, he finds himself enjoying her company.

Their plan goes a bit awry but they do manage to get the information the client needs. The honeymoon at the casino has it’s own surprises and twists as well.

Suspense, intrigue, a bit of action and sizzling heat will keep you turning the pages.

5 Contented Purrs for Maryann!

Maryann Jordan

As an Award Winning, Amazon International Bestselling and All-Star author, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble Best Selling Author, I have always been an avid reader. In 2013 I started a blog to showcase wonderful writers and finally gave in to the characters in my head pleading for their story to be told. Thus, Emma’s Home was created.

My first novel, Emma’s Home became an Amazon Best Seller in 3 categories within the first month of publishing. Its success was followed by the rest of the Fairfield Series and then led into the Love’s Series. Soon, other spin-off series came along and 8 of my books have made Amazon top 100 Bestselling books.

Gabe, from the Alvarez Security Series won Silver Medal and 5 Star Review by the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Honor Love was an award winning novel from the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Serial Love was an award finalist novel from the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Coming Home was awarded the 5 Star Review by the 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Discover Love was awarded the 5 Star Review by the 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards.

My books are filled with sweet romance and hot sex; mystery, suspense, real life characters and situations. My heroes are alphas, take charge men who love the strong, independent women they fall in love with.

I worked as a counselor in a high school and have been involved in education for the past 30 years. I have just retired and look forward to more time with family and writing!

I have been married to a wonderfully patient man for 36 years and have 2 adult, very supportive daughters.

When writing, my dog or one of my cats will usually be found in my lap!

I love to hear from readers, so please email me!