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Lone Star Standoff
Margaret Daley
A high-profile trial turns lethal…The next exciting Lone Star Justice novel. Presiding over the trial of a powerful drug cartel member, Judge Aubrey Madison finds her life threatened, and Texas Ranger Sean McNair isn't taking any chances. Protecting the widow and her twins comes naturally to Sean- too naturally for a guy who's convinced he shouldn't have a family. But he can't help wishing for a future with Aubrey…if he can keep her alive.
A high-profile trial turns lethal...
The next exciting Lone Star Justice novel
Presiding over the trial of a powerful drug cartel member, Judge Aubrey Madison finds her life threatened, and Texas Ranger Sean McNair isn’t taking any chances. Protecting the widow and her twins comes naturally to Sean—maybe too naturally for a guy who’s convinced he shouldn’t have a family. But he can’t help wishing for a future with Aubrey…if he can keep her alive.
MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats, who think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com (http://www.margaretdaley.com).
Also by Margaret Daley (#u147ff596-4ee7-50be-a9e0-8158f05c4107)
Lone Star Justice
High-Risk Reunion
Lone Star Christmas Rescue
Texas Ranger Showdown
Texas Baby Pursuit
Lone Star Christmas Witness
Lone Star Standoff
Alaskan Search and Rescue
The Yuletide Rescue
To Save Her Child
The Protector’s Mission
Standoff at Christmas
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
Lone Star Standoff
Margaret Daley
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-09639-3
LONE STAR STANDOFF
© 2019 Margaret Daley
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
“Who has a key to your office right now?”
“An assistant I share with Judge Rodriquez and maintenance. You think it was one of them?”
“No, there were fresh scratch marks on the lock. He risked breaking into your office for some reason. What was it?”
Aubrey made her way around to the other side of her desk. Sean started to rise, and she quickly said, “You stay there. If I need you, I’ll let you know.” She opened the top left drawer. “After I’ve gone through my office, I’ll drive your car and take you to the ER to make sure you’re okay.”
He opened his mouth to reply.
She held up her palm. “No arguments on that. If something is wrong and you didn’t get help, it would be my fault.” She shut the top drawer and reached for the bottom one.
Their gazes clashed. A war of emotions played across his face while Aubrey pulled the second compartment out.
A rattling sound sent shivers down her body as she stared at the coiled rattlesnake, poised to strike.
Dear Reader (#u147ff596-4ee7-50be-a9e0-8158f05c4107),
This is the sixth book in the Lone Star Justice series. I had fun writing the twins—Sammy and Camy. They were my lightness in the middle of a dark story about drugs pouring into our country. Aubrey went through a lot in her life as a mother, wife and judge. She didn’t want to fall in love with Sean and end up losing him like she did her husband, Samuel. Love is a strong emotion, but so is fear. Fear keeps you from doing something you want to do or should do. She had to learn to turn her fear over to the Lord in order to fall in love again.
I love hearing from readers. You can email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com and join my monthly newsletter by signing up on the front page of my website, www.margaretdaley.com (http://www.margaretdaley.com). Also on my website you can see what books are out and coming soon, as well as links to them.
Take care,
Margaret Daley
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
—Psalms 46:1
To my mother-in-law, Marcella, who has been a great supporter of my writing.
Contents
Cover (#u01b53430-bc99-5513-9a4b-ee09d57d3e00)
Back Cover Text (#ueeda3f09-0fdf-5911-bf9e-55ded5e2c4d4)
About the Author (#u54a0f853-6f9b-596d-bb20-0fad0199c231)
Booklist (#u17f1b0fd-c9db-5a09-8102-ca5ae2898177)
Title Page (#ub8f9c218-7764-5924-8389-8ebe58e6d227)
Copyright (#udadaba6d-cec6-5198-ab69-7f16b5518aaa)
Introduction (#uefe6e3b2-38c1-5f44-b84f-e2e14cb86f90)
Dear Reader (#u67f01823-9210-548d-9d06-7ec0d3dd779f)
Bible Verse (#u845edfda-5ffb-5dbc-9e61-374ac9653e78)
Dedication (#u37f12594-4916-5953-923f-504551ff5d48)
ONE (#u603feb4e-28c9-5021-8e40-4da1d9729b1c)
TWO (#u4e1a8cf0-4810-5bd6-a0f1-11658c6d0a88)
THREE (#uea2e8750-5924-5956-b0ef-842ffb2a9fe3)
FOUR (#uffa56098-bda1-5f74-91d2-97e2437cb9fd)
FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
ONE (#u147ff596-4ee7-50be-a9e0-8158f05c4107)
District Judge Aubrey Madison left her office at the courthouse, her brain pounding against her skull. The jury was finally chosen today in her current trial—a trial that could propel her into the limelight, a place she’d rather not be. At least for the weekend, she could relax and enjoy time with her twins. They meant everything to her.
“Good night, Bill,” she said to the deputy sheriff at the rear entrance.
“Judge Madison, I’ll walk you out tonight.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you need to guard the door.”
He smiled. “I know. Part of the extra security for the Villa trial. I can keep an eye on the entrance and walk you to your car.”
Aubrey sighed. Bill took his job seriously. “I know. That’s why I parked near the entrance, so you wouldn’t have to go so far.” She stepped outside, where the sunset painted the sky with beautiful shades of red and yellow. “How are you doing?”
He slowed his pace, his forehead wrinkled. “I guess okay, Judge Madison.”
She stopped and turned toward Bill, a large man with a slight potbelly. “I know what you’re going through. My husband died two years ago. I’m here if you need to talk about your wife’s death.”
“Thanks.” His face tensed, and he started walking again. “You have enough to deal with.”
At the end of the sidewalk to the parking lot, Aubrey glanced at Bill. “I can take it from here. My car is right over there.”
The deputy sheriff scanned the area then nodded.
She strolled the short distance to her car. The warmth from the spring day had already faded, and the chill in the air made her shiver. She slid behind the steering wheel and pulled out of her parking space. As she headed toward the exit of the lot behind the courthouse, reserved for people who worked inside, she passed Bill and waved.
When she arrived home a short time later, she punched the garage-door opener then drove inside and parked next to her mother’s car. She didn’t know what she would have done if her mama hadn’t insisted on coming to stay with her at least until Camy and Sammy went to elementary school. Two years ago when her husband was murdered, Aubrey had to go back to work because of Samuel’s sudden death. Their savings had all been wiped out by medical bills when the twins were born early. She’d always intended to return to work, but not until they were in elementary school. Instead she’d run for the judge position six months later.
Not wanting to dwell on a past she couldn’t change, she hurried into the house, the scent of beef and onions permeating the place. “What’s for dinner? It smells great.”
Her mother pulled out a casserole dish from the oven and set it on a burner. “My lasagna. Camy and Sammy helped me.”
“Where are they?” Aubrey wondered how messy the kitchen had been after her twins’ “help.”
“When I heard your car pull into the garage, I had them go wash their hands. How did it go today?”
“Long, but the two attorneys have finally settled on a jury.”
“Just in time for the weekend.” Her mother brushed a stray strand of black hair behind her ear.
“Yes. I threatened to continue late into the night if they didn’t.” Aubrey put her briefcase and purse on the desk nearby. “I’d better go check on my kids. It’s too quiet. They’ve had enough time to wash their hands.”
Aubrey left the kitchen and walked upstairs and down the hallway toward her twins’ bedrooms at the end. The light from the bathroom beckoned her. Giggles resonated down the corridor. That sound usually meant she would have to spend time cleaning up whatever mess her rascals had made. She hurried her steps.
When she entered the bathroom, she looked down at the puddle of water the twins were standing in. She stared at Camy and Sammy, drenched from head to toe. She pressed her lips together, suppressing the laugh at the sight of her soggy children. That would only encourage them. “Who won the battle?”
They each pointed at themselves.
“Who started it?” Aubrey asked, trying to put on her stern face.
“He started it,” her daughter immediately said.
