Strangers in the Night

LINDA HOWARD
Lisa Litwack
Kazutomo Kawai
Photonica

POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Lake of Dreams
copyright © 1995 by Linda Howington

White Out
copyright © 1997 by Linda Howington

Blue Moon
copyright © 1999 by Linda Howington

Originally published in hardcover in 2001 by Pocket Books

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN: 0-7434-4426-4

eISBN: 978-1-439-10777-5

ISBN 978-0-743-44426-2

First Pocket Books paperback printing November 2002

10  9  8  7  6  5

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Cover design by Lisa Litwack; front cover photo © Kazutomo Kawai/Photonica

Printed in the U.S.A.

These titles were previously published individually by Pocket Books

Lake of Dreams

Blue Moon

White Out

$7.99 U.S.

$11 99 CAN.

LOOK FOR THESE HEART-POUNDING
NOVELS FROM
LINDA HOWARD

She's hunting for a mate—and there's
no more playing it safe.

OPEN SEASON

“A thriller…with deftness and charm.”

—
The Orlando Sentinel
(FL)

Handsome, rich, sexy,
deadly
….

MR. PERFECT

“Sexy fun.”

—
People

… and don't miss

ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN

NOW YOU SEE HER

KILL AND TELL SON OF THE MORNING

HEART OF FIRE

AFTER THE NIGHT

All available from Pocket Books

PRAISE FOR THE SENSATIONAL
NEW YORK TIMES
BESTSELLERS OF
LINDA HOWARD

OPEN SEASON

“A perfect mystery for a late summer weekend. It's part romance with a dollop of suspense.”

—
The Globe & Mail
(Toronto)

“This book is a masterpiece. Howard hooks us with a devastating opening prologue, then paints such visual pictures of her characters that they live.”

—
Rendezvous

“The irrepressible Daisy Minor has a way of freshening everything.”

—
The Palm Beach Post

“This lighthearted novel takes a dark turn when Daisy herself becomes prey.”

—
People

“A modern-day version of the fairy tale about the ugly duckling that grows into a magnificent swan….”

—
The Orlando Sentinel
(FL)

MR. PERFECT

“A frolicsome mystery…. Jaine Bright lives up to her name: she's as bright—and explosive—as a firecracker.”

—
People

“
Mr. Perfect
really scores…. Part romance novel, part psychological thriller, [it] is both a frightening and funny look at the plight of the modern woman searching for an ideal mate.”

—
New York Post

“There is nothing quite like a sexy and suspenseful story by the amazing Linda Howard! … Funny, exciting, gripping, and sensuous…. One of her all-time best!”

—
Romantic Times

ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN

“A high-suspense romance…. Howard's trademark darkly sensual style and intense, layered plot will delight her fans.”

—
Booklist

“Ms. Howard has made the character [of John Medina] irresistible…. A fascinating novel of suspense and sensual tension.”

—
Rendezvous

“Heart-pounding sensuality and gripping tension made it impossible to put this page-turner down until the very end…. John Medina is quite a hero.”

—
Old Book Barn Gazette

“[A] sexy thriller…. Another explosive hit.”

—
Romantic Times

“Watching [hero John Medina] in action, à la James Bond, is exhilarating….”

—Amazon.com

NOW YOU SEE HER

“Steamy romance morphs into murder mystery….”

—
People

“An eerie, passionate, and thrilling tale….”

—
Romantic Times

“Sensual, page-turning.”

—Amazon.com

KILL AND TELL

“Linda Howard meshes hot sex, emotional impact, and gripping tension in this perfect example of what romantic suspense ought to be.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“A riveting masterpiece of suspense. Linda Howard is a superbly original storyteller.”

—Iris Johansen,
New York Times
bestselling author of Body of Lies

SON OF THE MORNING

“Linda Howard offers a romantic time-travel thriller with a fascinating premise … gripping passages and steamy sex.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A complex tale that's rich with detail, powerful characters and stunning sensuality…. It's no wonder that Linda Howard is the best of the best.”

—CompuServe Romance Reviews

Also by Linda Howard

A Lady of the West

Angel Creek

The Touch of Fire

Heart of Fire

Dream Man

After the Night

Shades of Twilight

Son of the Morning

Kill and Tell

Now You See Her

All the Queen's Men

Mr. Perfect

Open Season

Published by POCKET BOOKS

LINDA HOWARD

STRANGERS
in the
NIGHT

Lake of Dreams

Blue Moon

White Out

H
is eyes were like jewels, aquamarines as deep and vivid as the sea, burning through the mist that enveloped him. They glittered down at her, the expression in them so intense that she was frightened, and struggled briefly in his grasp. He soothed her, his voice rough with passion as he controlled her struggles, stroking and caressing until she was once more quivering with delight, straining upward to meet him. His hips hammered rhythmically at her, driving deep. His powerful body was bare, his iron muscles moving like oiled silk under his sweaty skin. The mist from the lake swirled so thickly around them that she couldn't see him clearly, could only feel him, inside and without, possessing her so fiercely and completely that she knew she would never
be free of him. His features were lost in the mist, no matter how she strained her eyes to see him, no matter how she cried out in frustration. Only the hot jewels of his eyes burned through, eyes that she had seen before, through other mists
—