She tilted her head up and kissed him. In front of her friends and family. She was uncomfortable with public displays of affection, but the one small kiss said more than any words could.

Noah Armstrong had been standing un.o.btrusively across the room. Now he walked over and handed Lucy a letter. "Hans wanted to be here to give this to you, but he couldn't get away."

It was the same type of envelope as the one that had carried her rejection letter four weeks ago. The day after she'd returned from New York City, she'd appealed the decision of the FBI oral interview panel. She had been granted a second interview in the neighboring jurisdiction. While Lucy was pretty certain that Hans had had something to do with the fast response, he had a.s.sured her that the panel was fair and unbiased. That acceptance or rejection would be the panel's sole decision.

She looked at Noah, pained, not wanting another rejection, not tonight when she was so happy.

He smiled. "Go ahead."

She opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Dear Ms. Lucy Kincaid, The Federal Bureau of Investigation is pleased to inform you that you've been accepted into the FBI Academy, having pa.s.sed all written, oral, and background checks. Please report at 10 a.m. Monday, May 9, for a medical physical, and to your training officer, Special Agent Noah Armstrong in the Washington D.C. Field Office, at 9 a.m. Monday, May 16.

The next opening in the FBI Academy at Quantico commences in August. Provided you pa.s.s your physical, you will be required to report on Sunday, August 14, before 2000 hours.

Congratulations.

Sean picked her up and swung her around. "I knew it," he said.

"You had more faith in me than I did." She looked around, smiling, trying not to cry. "You all did. I won't let you down."

Read on for an excerpt from

IF I SHOULD DIE.

by Allison Brennan

Published by Ballantine Books

FBI recruit Lucy Kincaid hadn't realized how much she'd needed a vacation until she and her boyfriend Sean Rogan checked into the Spruce Lake Inn in the Adirondacks. However, after less than twenty-four hours, she felt the tension of the last few months miraculously wash away in the beauty of the mountains, the serenity of the blue lake, and the purity of the fresh air.

Only a faint, nagging fear that such unadulterated bliss must be paid back marred an otherwise perfect weekend.

"So quiet this morning," Sean said. They'd had the resort pack a picnic lunch and were taking a five-mile hike to another small lake. They hadn't seen anyone since they left the lodge.

Sean had been planning this vacation practically since they first became involved four months ago, and he had not overlooked a single detail. He'd flown them into a private airport in his single-engine Cessna. The flight alone would have kept Lucy tickled for days. Then, he'd taken her to the lakeside cabin he'd rented at the resort-far enough to make them believe they were in the middle of nowhere, but close enough to the main lodge that they could eat dinner, or use the weight room, or walk a mile into the quaint old mining town down a tree-lined country road. And last night after a romantic dinner in town, they'd made love. Lucy had wakened in Sean's arms, with him smiling at her.

She was in heaven.

"Yep, it's nice and quiet," she said. "No traffic, no television, no news."

"I meant you. You're quiet. In fact, you look apprehensive."

"Not at all." She took his hand.

"Luce?" he said, staring at her with his probing blue eyes.

"What?"

"I know what you're thinking."

"Do not."

"You're thinking about all the things you need to do next week before reporting to FBI headquarters."

She laughed. "You're wrong."

"Really?"

He didn't believe her, so she told him the truth. "I'm not used to relaxing. The last time I took a vacation was with Patrick over a year ago. We got snowed in at a ski lodge with a dead body and a long list of suspects."

"No dead bodies here," Sean said, barely restraining his grin.

"You're teasing me."

He kissed her. "Am not."

They continued their walk down the mountainside. The scent of pine and spruce reminded Lucy of Christmas. A wet winter had given birth to a vibrant spring, and everywhere life bloomed: wildflowers, new leaves, and critters. In twenty minutes they'd seen white-tailed deer, rabbits, and a wide range of birds.

"I'm going to get spoiled." Lucy stopped to watch an eagle soar across the sky.

"You mean I'm not already spoiling you? I'd better get a move on."

She rolled her eyes. "I probably shouldn't say anything, your ego is big enough, but I missed you when you went to Texas."

"I knew you would," Sean said. He pulled her into his arms. "I missed you, too, Princess." He kissed her. "You could have come with me."

"Maybe I should have, to keep you out of trouble." But she shook her head. "It was better you weren't distracted."

"But you're my favorite distraction." He kissed her again, this time slowly, methodically, taking his time with her lips, making her body sag and lean into him. Lucy had once thought weak knees from a good kissing were only in books; now she knew better.

He smiled, his brown hair falling across his forehead, his dimple making his natural charm irresistible.

"The outdoors makes you glow," Sean said.

She laughed. "Is that a line?"

He grinned. "Do I need a line with you? Seriously, I want to take a picture."

She groaned. "I hate having my picture taken."

"Then you go up ahead and I'll take it when you least expect it."

"Impossible, now that I know you're playing with your camera."

Because it made Sean happy, Lucy did what he asked and continued along the narrow path several feet ahead of him. She almost tripped over an old wooden sign that was camouflaged by new growth of moss and ferns. Bright orange paint caught her eye.

She squatted and lifted the sign out of the plants, pulling hard since some of the leaves and roots had wrapped around the stake.

DANGER!.

ABANDONED MINE.

KELLEY MINING CO.

Sean clicked a picture with his digital camera, then pocketed it and helped Lucy free the sign.

"I didn't know there were mines right around here," she said. "Didn't Abel say they were on the other side of town?"

They'd chatted with Abel Hendricks, the inn owner, when they'd first arrived.

Sean scanned the area. "They could come out this far, I suppose. It's not my area of expertise."

Lucy feigned surprise. "You mean there's something you don't know?"

"Is that a challenge? Because I could spend the next three days learning about mining and earth science if you want."

"I like you ignorant," she teased, knowing Sean prided himself on being smart.

"Them's fighting words." He reached out and tickled her with his free hand.

She yelped and jumped back. "We should put the sign upright. It's here for a reason. We don't want someone wandering off the path if they might get hurt."

Sean looked around the immediate area. "I don't see where it's supposed to be. It looks like it's been lying here awhile." He set down the sign and took out his cell phone.

"You have reception?" she asked.

"Barely, but I'm just marking the coordinates so we can inform the Forestry Department, or whoever takes care of these things. It probably fell in a storm."

He pocketed his phone, then picked up the sign again. The soil on the path was too hard to get the stake deep enough to keep the sign upright, so he moved off the trail and tested the ground.

"Here's good," he said. He pushed down on the top of the sign as hard as he could, and the stake went in a good ten or so inches. "We'll find out who to talk to when we get back to the inn. I wouldn't mind learning-"

A sharp cracking sound cut through the field. Lucy watched in horror as Sean's legs buckled and he disappeared from view, his startled cry echoing in her head.

"Sean!"

Lucy started to run to where he'd fallen, then stopped.

Abandoned mines.

She dropped her backpack and got down on her hands and knees. She felt around the damp soil, taking care with each inch forward. "Sean? Answer me!" she called.

Silence.

She moved to the edge of the hole Sean had fallen in. She quickly pulled off the leaves and dirt and plants that had acc.u.mulated on the top of a boarded-up mine shaft. The boards were rotted and broken, and a hole in the middle showed where Sean had fallen.

"Sean!" she called into the hole. "Answer me! Tell me you're okay!"

All Lucy heard in response was the echo of her own voice.

BY ALLISON BRENNAN.

Kiss Me, Kill Me.

Love Me to Death.

Original Sin.

Carnal Sin.