Excerpt from MONTANA CHRISTMAS TARGET by Terri Reed:
“Do you think that’s why he was killed?”
“And I think it’s why the assailants wanted to kidnap you rather than kill you,” Bryce said. “They want your recipe.”
The upsetting theory had her knees wobbling, and she sat on the nearest chair. Rodin whined from his place by the door. After setting the statue on the table, she quickly yanked off the gloves and set them aside before giving Rodin the release command. He jumped into her lap. Wrapping her arms around him, she said to Bryce and the sheriff, “I don’t have the recipe written down. I know what I like to use and have the measurements memorized. The supplies can be easily purchased at any art store.”
“Do you know where these boxes were to be shipped?” Bryce asked.
The topic shift had her frowning. “Uh, yes. We maintain both electronic and hard copies of invoices, which are stored in a filing cabinet at the gallery. The shipping labels would be on the gallery’s computer or in the cloud.”
“I’d like to take a ride to the gallery,” Bryce said. “Sheriff, the Secret Service will want to take this evidence into custody. I’ll call them with the information.”
Sheriff Pounder nodded. “Understood. I’ll keep deputies here to guard the scene until we can make the transfer.”
After stripping off his gloves, Bryce held out his hand to Fiona. “Shall we?”
She slipped her hand into his larger one and allowed him to pull her to her feet. For a confusing moment, she didn’t want to let go. There was something steady and anchoring about the agent that she needed at the moment. But relying on him or anyone else wasn’t something she intended to do.
She released his hand and carried Rodin out of the condo. On the threshold of the porch, her gaze searched the growing crowd of curious spectators braving the swirling snow to see what was happening. A quiver of dread raced down her spine.
Were there more would-be kidnappers waiting for an opportunity to pounce?
Bryce made quick work of calling his contact in the Secret Service and giving her the information. She would send agents to collect the counterfeit bonds and currency. He’d asked if she could leave the statues, as he figured Fiona would want them.
Bryce wanted to believe she wasn’t involved in the counterfeit ring, but experience had taught him to keep his guard up. It wasn’t that long ago when he’d thought a fellow law enforcement officer was not only his friend but someone he could trust. Time had proved him wrong, and thanks to his so-called friend’s corruption, Bryce had been shot in the leg.
Awareness of the ache in his thigh flared. From the plane ride, the drive to the condo and then the action of diving, rolling and kneeling, his thigh was giving him grief. But no way would he give in to the temptation to limp as he joined Fiona on the porch under the eaves. The pensive fear in her brown eyes twisted his gut up. Real? Or was she a good actress?
“We can take my vehicle,” he told her.
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you driving?”
He gestured to the sedan parked in the lot adjacent to the condo.
She made a scoffing noise. “No way. Do you realize you’re in Montana and its winter? That rear-wheel drive car will be all over the road.” She shook her head. “Where are you from?”
“California,” he said. “Based in Sacramento.”
Her dark eyebrows rose. “Not much snow there.”
“I visit Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains often,” he assured her. More so recently, as he’d helped out a friend in a sticky situation.
“Then you should know that car is not appropriate for this weather.”
He did, but the sedan was the last vehicle on the lot when he’d arrived. “It’ll be fine. I’m a skilled driver.”
Her white teeth flashed with a small smile. “Sure you are. But I’m going to take my truck. You can come with us or follow me to the gallery.”
His insides twisted. He wasn’t about to let her get to the invoices he needed without him, in case she planned to destroy them. “Give me a second. I’ll ride with you,” he said.
At her nod, he jogged, with a wince as the movement jarred the scar on his leg, through the freshly fallen snow to the sedan. He opened the back passenger door to grab his overcoat, which he’d not bothered with earlier, and then popped the trunk. He retrieved his overnight bag, hefting the strap over his shoulder before shutting the trunk lid. When he turned around, Fiona and her dog were standing a few feet away next to a large silver 4X4 monster of a truck. That’s what she drove? He was expecting a small ladylike luxury SUV.
Once they were out of the icy weather inside the cab of the truck, he had to nudge the dog a bit to make room on the bench seat so that he could buckle the seat belt.
She started the engine and turned the heat to full blast. Warmth filled the enclosed space. His wool suit steamed. Soon, he was almost too warm. She must have sensed the uncomfortable shift in temperature, because she adjusted the amount of air flowing out the vents as she drove through town.
All around were signs of the upcoming holiday. He didn’t know what he’d be doing this year. Friends had invited him to their place for Christmas Day dinner, but he preferred working during the holidays. That way he didn’t have to lie to his sister, who lived in Nashville with her family or their parents, who had moved to Florida when they’d retired. Dad claimed the warmer climate eased the ache in his shoulder where he’d been shot during a robbery at their family store. Too bad it didn’t ease Bryce’s guilt.
They all wanted him to come for the celebration. And he always told them he was working.
Getting dumped on Christmas Eve ten years ago had kind of left a bad taste in his mouth. Not about God and the birth of Jesus. He celebrated in his own way. He just didn’t feel the need to be with others.
His gaze strayed to the woman beside him. Would the events of the day sour her toward Christmas?
Excerpted from MONTANA CHRISTMAS TARGET by Terri Reed. Copyright © 2026 by Terri Reed.
Running from armed gunmen—
and seeking a safe refuge.
Sculptor Fiona Halverson is shocked to stumble upon her ex-fiancé’s murder—just before a masked attacker attempts to abduct her. She’s rescued by FBI Special Agent Bryce Springs, who is investigating a counterfeit ring that points directly to Fiona’s art gallery. Forced to flee from a dangerous crime boss during a brutal blizzard, Fiona and Bryce must uncover how her gallery became part of a criminal operation—and prove her innocence. Facing armed adversaries and the treacherous storm, they’ll risk everything to expose the truth. But with every step, the fight for justice becomes a battle for their very survival.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Romance Suspense [ Love Inspired Suspense, On Sale: October 27, 2026, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781335919267 / eISBN: 9780369784551 ]
Lose Yourself In Heart Warming Romance, Heart-Pounding Suspense
Growing up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Terri Reed is a country girl at heart but loves exploring big cities as well as going on adventures around the world. An avid reader, she dreamed of writing her own romance and romantic suspense novels and set out to learn the craft and business of writing.
Now she has numerous published books that have been Fresh Picks on Fresh Fiction, have made the Publishers Weekly Mass Market Paperback Bestseller list, Nielsen’s Bookscan top hundred, Amazon Bestseller list, and have been featured in USA Today. Her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest, National Readers’ Choice Award, Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, and American Christian Fiction Writers The Carol Award contests.
When not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, friends and doing agility with her dog.
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