THIS COWBOY WONâT BACK DOWN
Houston homicide detective Brittany Garner just got hit with a one-two punch. The twin sister she never knew existed has been found dead, leaving behind a three-month-old daughter. Brittanyâs vow to find her sisterâs murderer, as well as the father of the orphaned infant, leads straight to Cannon Dalton. A bull rider who spends his life roaming from rodeo to rodeo, Cannon has only one mission now: protect the beautiful cop and the child who could be his. Caught in the crosshairs of escalating dangerâand his powerful desire for BrittanyâCannon races to stop a desperate killer...and a revenge thatâs been a long time coming.
Brittany knew she should back away, but her body ignored her brain.
His lips were soft at first, then more demanding. The thrill of their mingling breaths roared through her like fire. The inhibitions that had become part of her being melted away and she kissed him back, letting the heat of him wash though her.
The unexpected hunger for him was primal, untamed. Her arms slid around his neck, pulling him closer as her body arched toward his.
When he had the good sense to pull away, her body went weak.
âDonât think the doctor would approve of this.â His voice was a husky whisper.
âProbably not,â she agreed, though it wasnât her physical health she was worried about but her inability to control her emotions where Cannon was concerned. It wasnât the time or the place. Likely not even the right man, no matter how right it felt right now.
âGood night, Detective.â
âGood night, cowboy.â
JOANNA WAYNE began her professional writing career in 1994. Now, more than fifty published books later, Joanna has gained a worldwide following with her cutting-edge romantic suspense and Texas family series such as Sons of Troy Ledger and the Big âDâ Dads series. Joanna currently resides in a small community north of Houston, Texas, USA, with her husband. You may write Joanna at PO Box 852, Montgomery, Texas 77356, USA, or connect with her at www.joannawayne.com.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Cannon DaltonâA bull rider and R. J. Daltonâs youngest son.
Brittany âBritâ GarnerâHouston homicide detective whom someone wants dead.
Sylvie HammâBritâs twin sister and Kimmieâs mother.
Rick DrummondâBritâs partner.
Carla BradfordâBritâs supervisor who plays by the rules.
Clive AustinâA criminal capable of anything.
Melanie CrouchâRecently released from prison.
Marcus and Joyce DaltonâBritâs deceased parents.
Aidan McIntoshâMarcusâs best friend, before Marcus was instrumental in sending Aidan to prison.
Louise McIntoshâAidanâs unforgiving wife.
R. J. DaltonâThe owner of Dry Gulch Ranch, a dying father attempting to reconnect with his estranged adult children.
The rest of the Dalton Familyâ
Adam Dalton, rancher; his wife, Hadley; their twin daughters, Lila and Lacy.
Leif Dalton, attorney; his veterinarian wife, Joni; and his teenage daughter, Effie.
Travis Dalton, Dallas homicide detective; his wife, Faith; and her teenage son, Cornell.
Jade Dalton, R.J.âs youngest daughter, still estranged.
Jake Dalton, R.J.âs oldest son, still estranged.
To my twin sisters, Linda and Brenda, and to all my readers from big families who know what itâs like to love, chat, laugh, eat and sometimes cry with a houseful of siblings.
Chapter One
Brit Garner woke to the irritating rattle of her cell phone vibrating against her bedside table. She pulled the pillow over her head and tried to ignore it. It finally stopped only to start again a few seconds later. If this was her partner, she was going to kill him.
She checked the caller ID and then took the call. âThis had better be of life-threatening importance, Rick Drummond.â
âNot life threatening, but I think you better get down to the morgue.â
âWhat part of âIâm on vacation with plans to sleep until noon every dayâ do you not understand?â
âI get it. Youâve worked your gorgeous butt off the past few months. But I think youâll want to see this.â
âIâve seen dead bodies before.â Too many of them, which was why she needed a few well-deserved days off. A walk in a park or along the beach would do wonders for her state of mind. Time to read a book or visit friends would be heaven.
Her dad had warned her it would be like this.
âJust come down. No work involved. I really think you should see this.â