Mr Serious

Duty and danger bring an alpha hero to Mystery, Montana

Waylon Fitzgerald had a life of adventure all planned out—one that did not include returning to his family’s ranch to bring his missing ex-wife into custody for murder. With so much bad blood between them, the sexy military police officer understands why his ex’s sister, Christina Bell, hates him. And yet he and Christina spark a sizzling attraction.

What changes everything for Waylon is Winnie, Christina’s adorable ward…and the startling revelation that he’s her father. When she goes missing—her mother a killer at large—Waylon’s world is upended. Will he redeploy to follow his passions around the world…or stay where his heart has found an unexpected Christmas present?

Mystery Christmas

“Everything’s going to be okay, Waylon. Nothing has to change,” Christina started.

The knot of nerves in his belly tightened. Now he was sure everything was about to flip on its head.

“My sister made a lot of mistakes. You know most of them. Heck, you were the victim of most of her poor decisions,” Christina continued, as she ran her fingers over the back of his hand. “But, there was one mistake… Well, not mistake, but rather an error in judgment that…well… We all… We…”

“We are just as much at fault as Alli,” his mother said, her voice high with nerves. “We should have told you sooner. Years ago, but—”

“Wait,” he said, with a raise of the hand. “What exactly should you have told me years ago?”

“It’s about Winnie…” Christina began.

His heart stopped at the sound of the little girl’s name.

Christina looked up at him and her eyes were filled with a look of apologetic fear. “Winnie is yours, Waylon. She’s your daughter.”

Mr. Serious

Danica Winters

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Mac.

You’re the mac to my cheese and the butter to my bread.

Thanks for making life such an amazing adventure.

DANICA WINTERS is a multiple award-winning, bestselling author who writes books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and occasionally a touch of magic. When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana, testing her patience while she tries to hone her skills at various crafts—quilting, pottery and painting are not her areas of expertise. She believes the cup is neither half-full nor half-empty, but it better be filled with wine. Visit her website at www.danicawinters.net.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

It was Waylon Fitzgerald’s firm belief that most people were the same when it came to their wants. People were driven to desire four major things: good-enough sex, at least a comfortable amount of money, to be happy most of the time and to find someone to love them. Lucky for him, he’d never been like most people. His dreams were so much bigger—he wanted it all, and more. He wanted to travel the world, to help those in need, to live the dream and have a life driven by passion—not by good enough.

The helicopter’s headset crackled to life. “Where do you want me to put her down?” The pilot motioned out the window of the Black Hawk as they passed over the stock pond in the pasture where his mother normally put the horses out this time of year.

His family wasn’t going to like that he was bringing the helicopter to the ranch, but thanks to the disappearance of his ex-wife, Waylon had had to catch the next available flight. As luck would have it, his friend was relocating bases from Fort Bragg to Fort Lewis and he got to come along for the ride.

He’d always loved the feel of the chopper, its blades cutting through the air and the thump they made, just like the thump of a heart. Maybe that was what the chopper and the army were—his heart. He glanced down at Dunrovin Ranch and the guesthouses speckled throughout its expanse.

As much as he had loved the place where he spent most of his childhood, the lifestyle it symbolized was exactly what he feared the most—boredom. A life spent in habitual motion. Feed the horses, take care of the guests, take care of the ranch’s maintenance, take care of the animals and go to bed, ready to repeat it every day until one morning he just didn’t wake up. It wasn’t that he judged his adoptive mother and father, Eloise and Merle Fitzgerald, for their need for complete stability. It was because of their stability and values he had even made it out of childhood alive. He owed them everything.

“Waylon?” the pilot asked again. “You got a place?”

“Put her down just there.” He motioned toward the gravel parking lot that stood empty in the midmorning sun.

That was strange. This time of year, Dunrovin was normally hopping with life—winter-themed weddings, riding classes and parties to celebrate the coming of Christmas.