Surviving Ice (Burying Water, #4)(111)

“Any color you want.”

She nods, her wheels spinning as she wanders around the bright space, the south wall full of windows, stopping in front of the closet. She runs her fingers along the slats. “Just like at Ned’s house,” she murmurs.

I know exactly what she’s thinking about.

I had no intention of ever telling her about that day. But one night, after hours of intensive interrogation involving harsh sexual manipulation, I finally admitted to spying on her.

I got the cold shoulder for two days.

“I think I like this house.” She steps into the closet and closes the door.

And clears her throat, as if she’s waiting.

Fuck . . .

I hang my head and smile.

“You’re still not forgiven . . .” she reminds me with her trademark icy tone.

I think I actually am. She just enjoys the leverage she has far too much.

Oddly enough, so do I.

With a deep sigh, I unbuckle my belt.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


Oh, Ivy. What a challenge you proved to be. You are who you are, not because you’re broken or damaged or scarred. You’re just you, and it was difficult finding the right match for you. I think I found him, though, in an equally complex character.

Surviving Ice concludes the planned books for this series, one that I am proud to have written. I strive to make each book unique, and each story line make sense for the character. The raw, sometimes dodgy elements of this story feel right for Ivy.

While this story is a work of fiction, the challenges that come with employing private security companies during war is very real. If you’re unfamiliar, you should take some time to google news stories surrounding them, especially during the war on Iraq. Many of my plots are inspired by real-life news stories. Surviving Ice is another such one.

Thank you to my readers, for picking up this book, and every other book I’ve written. Whether you buy a print copy at your local bookstore, or order it online, or borrow it from your local library/sister/friend/mother, you are helping to give me the opportunity to write books.

Thank you to the bloggers who continue sharing my book releases within their world.

Thank you to my publicist, KP—for being patient with me, and protecting me from a lot of the everyday things I couldn’t deal with while writing TWO books at the same time, under tight deadlines.

Thank you to my agent, Stacey Donaghy—for sitting in Pickle Barrel and hashing out the plot of this book over a plate of bacon and waffles. Even though I had to make some major modifications to our plot ideas and Stan Donaghy the thug just didn’t fit into the plot anymore, those breakfast dates are half the fun of writing books.

Thank you to my editor, Sarah Cantin— for your super-human patience. You helped me save this book when it passed “lost” and kept going down a scary path.

To my publisher, Judith Curr, and the team at Atria Books: Suzanne Donahue, Ariele Fredman, Tory Lowy, Kimberly Goldstein, and Alysha Bullock—for another beautiful series, complete!

To my family—I promise I will never write two books at the same time ever again.