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Texas Midnight
Caroline Burnes
From enemies…to lovers?Proud Apache Anna Red Shoes had sworn revenge against Jeremy Masterson for the lies he'd written about her family. But when she confronted the famous author, the passion that burned in her wasn't anger, but the scorching heat of desire. When she saw an answering spark in Jeremy's eyes, Anna chose to disappear…She hadn't expected to become the obect of a manhunt. She certainly hadn't expected Jeremy to come after her, claiming she's put them both in danger. But when he did, Anna knew that more than her freedom was at stake–she was falling in love with the man who'd taken her captive…
She was completely naked
Jeremy’s heart slammed hard against his ribs as he watched the tall, slender woman climb onto a rock by the lake. He held his breath until he thought his lungs would burst. When he finally breathed, Anna dove back into the river.
He fought against the sensations that seemed to hit him with the force of a lightning bolt. He was a man who loved women, and he was always aware of their beauty.
But he’d never had a reaction like the one Anna had just evoked.
He had to get control of himself and the situation. His future depended on it.
During the long, hot hours of tracking her, he’d anticipated all kinds of trouble. He hadn’t thought of this. Now all he wanted to do was kiss her—run his hands all over that wet skin.…
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
Chills run down your spine, your pulse pounds…and you can’t wait to turn the page! It’s just another month of outstanding romantic suspense from Harlequin Intrigue.
Last month, Amanda Stevens introduced you to a new brand of justice—GALLAGHER JUSTICE—in The Littlest Witness (#549). This month, Detective Tony Gallagher gets his very own Secret Admirer (#553) for Valentine’s Day. Cupid is also hard at work in B.J. Daniels’s Love at First Sight (#555), in which a sexy police officer has to pose as the husband of the only witness to a murder in order to protect her. Except he keeps forgetting their marriage is supposed to be a façade.
Caroline Burnes takes a break from her FEAR FAMILIAR series to bring you Texas Midnight (#554). Simmering passion and a remote location make for an explosive read from this bestselling author. But Familiar, the crime-solving black cat, will be back at Harlequin Intrigue soon in his thirteenth novel! Watch for Familiar Obsession (#570) in stores this June.
Finally, Rita Herron contributes to the ongoing Harlequin Intrigue amnesia promotion A MEMORY AWAY… with Forgotten Lullaby (#556). In this highly emotional story, not only do a man and woman commit their love to one another once, but they also overcome the odds to fall in love all over again.
Intense drama and powerful romance make for an extraspecial selection of titles this February. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Denise O’Sullivan
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
Texas Midnight
Caroline Burnes
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caroline Burnes is currently involved in writing her books and “gentling” her three-year-old Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding, Cogar. An animal advocate, she believes that kindness and consistency are the keys to relating to animals—big or little. She also has two mares, three dogs and six cats.
Books by Caroline Burnes
HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE
86—A DEADLY BREED
100—MEASURE OF DECEIT
115—PHANTOM FILLY
134—FEAR FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
154—THE JAGUAR’S EYE
186—DEADLY CURRENTS
204—FATAL INGREDIENTS
215—TOO FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
229—HOODWINKED
241—FLESH AND BLOOD
256—THRICE FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
267—CUTTING EDGE
277—SHADES OF FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
293—FAMILIAR REMEDY* (#litres_trial_promo)
322—FAMILIAR TALE* (#litres_trial_promo)
343—BEWITCHING FAMILIAR* (#litres_trial_promo)
399—A CHRISTMAS KISS
409—MIDNIGHT PREY
426—FAMILIAR HEART* (#litres_trial_promo)
452—FAMILIAR FIRE* (#litres_trial_promo)
485—REMEMBER ME, COWBOY
502—FAMILIAR VALENTINE* (#litres_trial_promo)
525—AFTER DARK “Familiar Stranger”* (#litres_trial_promo)
542—FAMILIAR CHRISTMAS* (#litres_trial_promo)
554—TEXAS MIDNIGHT
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Anna Red Shoes—Her unthinking actions put her on the run with a man she’s sworn to hate, but is coming to love.
Jeremy Masterson—He started the hunt for Anna—now he just wants to keep her safe.
Ellie Clark—The bookstore owner is Jeremy’s oldest friend and supporter.
Lucinda Estar—She’s glamorous, spoiled—and deadly?
Blane Griffin—His friendship with Jeremy has turned to wild jealousy.
Maria Gonzalez—How high might she price her friendship with Anna?
Henry Mills—Someone literally stabbed the editor in the back.
Johnny Severe—Does he want Anna back, or does he want to destroy her?
Gabriel Wexit—She charmed her way into Jeremy’s life. What does she really want?
To the Ellen Drive gang—especially Rat Boy
Tommy Beech and the cowgirl Rat-ettes.
They can’t sing, but they can ride.
Contents
Chapter One (#ue9f20568-77a4-55d8-b869-d9fe97c33d62)
Chapter Two (#ud7efb20b-5120-54d0-8be1-9dcd41dc4f40)
Chapter Three (#u36249086-fa15-5da7-a7ad-701b4438dee2)
Chapter Four (#uda236d59-e824-55d5-bb8b-17b71fc2feac)
Chapter Five (#uef8241db-ea94-5896-afa8-c06455b824b8)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One
Jeremy Masterson leaned back in his chair and made eye contact with the pretty little brunette who was smiling at him from the back of the audience. She looked to be about thirty and ripe for the picking. And she was hanging on every word he spoke. Yes indeed, life was good.
He closed the book he’d read a brief passage from and noticed Ellie Clark, the bookstore owner, giving him a look that signaled a large dose of warning. Ellie was no dummy, and she’d picked up on the little flirtation he’d started with the brunette. Ah, Ellie. She was his best friend and his conscience, but he was ready for a celebration. And he didn’t want to party alone.
Ellie came to stand beside him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Jeremy will sign books over at the table. Please help yourself to some wine and refreshments,” she said, putting an official end to the reading.
“I want to thank all of you for coming,” Jeremy added, taking Ellie’s cue. It was time to quit flirting and start signing. There were about a hundred people in the audience, and it would take some time to meet, greet and sign for each one. He couldn’t help a grin of self-satisfaction. Blood on the Moon, his novel about the settling of his home state of Texas, had finally put him on the way to fame and fortune. It had been a long, hard road.
Ellie leaned down. “Henry called from your ranch. He’s having some problems with the new book.”
Jeremy forgot about the book signing and the brunette as he looked up into Ellie’s worried blue eyes. “He said not to worry you. He was rechecking some of the facts about the Indian raids after 1875. Since Blood on the Moon has gotten so much notice, he said it was vital that there weren’t any mistakes in the sequel.”
“Did he want me to call him?” Jeremy rose. “I checked those facts six times each. You know that, Ellie. You helped me.” Ellie was his biggest fan and strongest supporter. When he’d sold his first three novels—for a pittance—she’d encouraged him to keep writing, to hone his talent. When he was about to starve to death, she’d bought him lunches and showed up at his door with casseroles. All because she believed in his writing. Now, here he was, in her store, signing his fourth book—and finally gaining national recognition. Blood on the Moon was a bestseller. And his editor, Henry Mills, had never had a problem with a single word of it. Jeremy knew the sequel was even better. So what was going on?
“Henry doesn’t want you to call. He said he’s going to continue working. He also said he wasn’t coming to the party tonight.” She shrugged her shoulders. “You told me he hated that kind of thing.”
“He deserves the party as much as I do,” Jeremy pointed out. “He’s a great editor.”
“Nonetheless, he isn’t coming. He said he was so involved in the book he wanted to continue with it. And—” she gave him a stern look “—he told me to tell you to leave the ladies alone.”
“These aren’t ladies,” Jeremy said, lowering his voice so that only Ellie could hear. “These are fans.”
“I’ve heard about your fan club,” Ellie said. “Be careful, Jeremy. There are a lot of desperate women out there, and some of them can read. I’ve been in the book business a long time, and I’ve seen it happen more than once. Handsome author stalked by fan. There was even a book about it. I remember something about a mallet.”
Jeremy winked at her. “I think I can handle a woman so taken with my writing that she wants me.”
“Don’t let that Texas-size ego overwhelm that Rhode Island-size brain,” Ellie warned him. “Now sign books. The crowd is about to stampede.”
Jeremy laughed and turned his attention to the first woman who stood in the queue at his table. As he scanned the crowd, he noticed that about seventy percent were of the female persuasion. And one of them was that very attractive brunette.
She caught his eye again, and he felt his body tingle. Yes indeed, it was going to be nice to ride the wave of stardom that his book had created.
After twenty years of barely being able to afford beans, he was getting the payoff for dedication and hard work. And he intended to enjoy it.
