Bulletproof Texas

When a grad student discovers cancer-eating microbes in a long-buried cave beneath the Texas hill country, claustrophobic scientist Maxine O'Neil is sent to investigate. If the microbes can be used to create a cure for cancer, her company will be rich and the world will benefit. Unfortunately, other companies profit from the status quo and aren't willing to let her do her work in peace. Zach Douglas loves caving and wants nothing more than to be left alone to explore the cave he discovered. When a drug company leases the land on which the cave is located, he reluctantly agrees to serve as a guide to the team of scientists, but he knows better than to trust drug companies--after all, a drug company was behind his sister's murder. But when sexy scientist Max O'Neil runs into trouble, Zach finds himself doing more than guiding--he's protecting as well, and it doesn't take long before he wants to do more than protect. Author Kay Thomas weaves together the romance and suspense angles of her story, keeping the reader engaged as Max and Zach deal with their own issues, forcing each other to grow past their fears to earn a chance at each other. Of course, there is the small matter of surviving the ruthless assassin who is intent on killing them and on destroying the priceless microbes that might spell an end to the curse of cancer.