The Renegade Rancher (Texas Family Reckoning, 2, Band 1499) - Softcover

Buch 2 von 2: Texas Family Reckoning

Morgan, Angi

 
9780373697663: The Renegade Rancher (Texas Family Reckoning, 2, Band 1499)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 037369766X ISBN 13: 9780373697663
Verlag: Harlequin Intrigue, 2014

Inhaltsangabe

A TEXAS RANCHER FINDS TROUBLE ON HIS DOORSTEP IN THE FORM OF A KILLER'S BEAUTIFUL NEXT TARGET… 

It's clear to Texas rancher Brian Sloane that Lindsey Cook will be a serial killer's next victim. For twenty years someone has been systematically killing off her family in "accidents," and recently her car was deliberately run off the road. The handsome cowboy is willing to be the protector the gorgeous blonde wants—but unwilling to act on their instant attraction. Before long, the search for Lindsey's stalker leads Brian into more trouble…and right into Lindsey's arms. After one smoldering kiss, he knows there'll be no turning back. Though never one for relationships, he'll risk his life for her…and the surprising secret her family has been dying for.

Die Inhaltsangabe kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Using actual Texas settings and realistic characters, this USA Today and Publisher's Weekly bestseller, creates stories with characters who put everything on the line. Angi is an 11th generation Texan who lives there with her husband and 'four-legged' kids. Find her at AngiMorganAuthor.com

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Tall, blond and deadly gorgeous.

Brian Sloane knew that Lindsey Cook was a looker. One glance would let any male with eyes know that fact. Platinum blond hair that hung to her waist, classic blue eyes that would disappear next to a clear summer sky and a body that should be gracing covers of magazines. A looker, all right.

This was the longest he'd ever been with a woman and he hadn't met her yet.

He knew how old she was, where she'd graduated from college, that her best friend's name was Beth. All that information was on her internet site. He knew she lived in Arlington, drove a sports car, kept two goldfish and was allergic to cats. She'd had five jobs in the past three years and did freelance web design. He also knew why she'd migrated to Texas after burying her cousin. Jeremy had drowned while they'd been on vacation together about six months ago and she'd stayed after settling his affairs. Her cousin's female lawyer had been extrachatty during happy hour.

Unfortunately, accidents happened everywhere, leaving one question he couldn't answer. How long she would live.

Brian entered the sandwich shop and tried not to zoom all his attention on her. Searching the remaining tables, he noticed no one else was alone, so it was probably safe to assume she was his appointment. "Lindsey?"

"You're Brian?" she asked, extending her hand. Her smile could mesmerize him. He'd watched her work that magic on several customers—male and female—over the past couple of weeks.

"That'd be me." He took a slender palm in his own, gave a quick squeeze and sat at the table. A well-chosen table in the middle of the very empty sandwich shop. The red silky blouse clung everywhere and plunged just enough to make his imagination go a little wild.

"So, you said that Jeremy's lawyer recommended me for a job. Your email said something about a ranch website?"

"Yeah, about that. This might sound strange, but I've been doing some research and—" Was that sudden look in her eyes one of surprise? An alert? How had he messed up?

"No website?"

He stared, thinking hard on what his answer should be. It was important she listen to him. Her life depended on it. He couldn't just say that. Could he? He'd avoided the truth long enough. "To be honest—"

"Excuse me just a sec." She looked into her purse. She brought her keys to the tabletop. Hooked to the ring—now pointed at his face—was a small can of pepper spray. "Who are you and why have you been following me? I saw you in front of the store yesterday and you were in line behind me when I got coffee last week."

"Whoa there." He raised his hands, trying not to jump away from that can. "I really am Brian Sloane. I'm a Fort Worth paramedic, just like I said on the phone. I've got ID."

She shook her head slowly from side to side. Was she thinking about believing him or shooting that pepper spray into his eyes? Okay, so he'd slipped up and not only let her see him a couple of times, but he'd made eye contact at the coffee shop. Who could have resisted? She was smoking hot.

"I'm going to leave," she said, "and you'd better stop following me. Just so you know, I took your picture when you walked in and if I see you again—even by accident— I'll report you to the police as a stalker."

He leaned forward, and she jerked to attention. Skittish as a newborn colt. "I know this is a weird way to meet."

"To say the least." She kept the nozzle pointed at his eyes. Extremely close to his eyes.

"But I do have information regarding your family."

"I don't have any family."

"What I mean is…I've been doing research and I think Jeremy was murdered."

"I thought you were an EMT. You sound like a reporter." She brought her finely shaped eyebrows into a straight line, showing her scrutiny and distrust. Not knowing she'd just delivered an insult to highly trained paramedics everywhere by calling him an entry-level EMT.

With a new sister-in-law around his house, he was picking up on a lot of subtle feminine looks that he'd had no clue about before. This look? Well, it didn't leave any room for interpretation.

He shifted. She jerked.

"Just getting my wallet. Okay?"

"Is there a problem, Lindsey?" The guy behind the sandwich counter stopped wiping the display cases.

"I'm fine. Just dealing with another jerk reporter."

"I'm not a reporter." He shook his head, looked at the big fellow who was very defensive of the woman in front of him and repeated, "I'm not a reporter."

"Then why are you following me?"

"It's a long story and I'd rather not have pepper spray aimed at me while I tell it."

Lindsey's long, straight hair gently framed a delicate, expressive, beautiful face that he'd been attracted to since the first picture he'd seen of her online. It sort of took him by surprise when she leaned back in her chair, dropped her hands to her lap and waited, the key ring in plain sight. Her protector returned to cleaning. The shop's patrons went back to business as usual.

"I'd like the short version, please," she said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "You've got five minutes and then I'm leaving."

Short? How did he explain such a complicated story?

"All right. Twelve years ago I thought my brother caused the accidental fire that took the life of one of our former teachers, your second cousin, Gillian Cook. But I was wrong. She was murdered."

"Take it to the police." She pushed back her chair and scooped her keys into her purse, clearly taking off.

"You said I had five minutes."

She stood. Her long hair swayed at her waist, drawing his attention to the fraction of flat belly he could see above her jeans when her shirt rose up as she took a deep breath.

"You have five seconds to remove your hand from my arm or I'll let Craig—" she tipped her head to the sandwich guy, who threw down his bar towel "—deal with you. Four. Three."

Craig dashed to the end of the counter. Brian dropped his hold. Lindsey stared at him as her friend reached for his shirt. He'd been so caught up in her leaving that he hadn't realized he'd grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Wait. Craig, wait." She waved off the man's attempt to lift Brian from the chair—through the table. "Look, I'm very tired of people hounding me about my accident-prone family. There have been terrible emails from someone thinking I'm a jinx." She hid her eyes behind slender fingers, then shoved her hair behind her ear again and straightened her back. "I know what happened to my family. I live with it every day, and to have it in the paper or on a blog is disrespectful. It's mean and I've had enough. Just leave me alone."

She tilted her face toward her chest, hiding behind her hair.

"Your family didn't do anything wrong." Brilliant blue eyes opened wide to search him. Why was she ashamed? "Besides, I don't think they were accidents. And I'm fairly certain you're next."

"Seriously? You think someone's out to kill me?" Her long nails were the exact color of one of the flowers on her shirt. It was easy to see with her hand nervously rubbing her collarbone.

"I haven't been...

„Über diesen Titel“ kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.

Verlag
Harlequin Intrigue
Erscheinungsdatum
2014
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
037369766X
ISBN 13 
9780373697663
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
224
Kontakt zum Hersteller
Nicht verfügbar
Verantwortliche Person
Product Safety Manager
enquiries@harpercollins.ie

HarperCollins, Macken House, 39/40 Mayor Street Upper
Dublin 1
D01 C9W8
Irland

Weitere beliebte Ausgaben desselben Titels

9780373748204: The Renegade Rancher (Texas Family Reckoning, 2, Band 1499)

Vorgestellte Ausgabe

ISBN 10:  0373748205 ISBN 13:  9780373748204
Verlag: Harlequin Intrigue Larger Print, 2014
Softcover