In Mystery, Montana, a white-hot hunk fights fire with passion...
Though heâs ridiculously handsome and notoriously funny, itâs Colter Fitzgeraldâs firefighting skills that are most needed by Whitney Barstowâat first. Sheâs been traumatized by fire and terrified that the arsonist sabotaging Dunrovin Ranch is a madman from her past. Sheâs also fearful that harm will come to any man she loves, so denies her attraction to Colter. Then why is she jealous of another womanâs hands all over him?
On the eve of the ranchâs Christmas festival, Colter wants no one but Whitney, body, soul and darkest secrets. But thereâs still an arsonist to stop...before what makes the season bright is Dunrovin in flames.
Mystery Christmas
âI donât want to date just anyone. The only one Iâd love to take out is you. From the moment you came here, itâs all Iâve wanted.â
She wanted to give in to the joy of hearing those words, but her reality wouldnât allow it.
âI donât know who you think I am, but Iâm telling you that if you just got to know me a little more, you would see that you wouldnât want a woman like me.â
âI know you, whether you want to admit it or not.â
She gave a sardonic chuckle. âJust because weâve been passing each other on the ranch since I got here doesnât mean you know me. You have merely seen me. We have fundamental differences. Number oneâyou have more dates than a fruitcake. I donât want a man whose attention I have to struggle to keep.â
âUnless we go out, how do you know if we have fundamental differences?â He leaned against the chair closest to him. âAnd, waitâ¦does fruitcake even have dates in it?â
Acknowledgments
This series wouldnât have been possible without a great team of people, including my editors at Harlequinâthank you for all your hard work.
Also, thank you to Suzanne Miller and the crew at Dunrovin Ranch in Lolo, Montana. Suzanne is the inspiration behind one of my favorite characters in this series, the fantastic Eloise Fitzgerald. Just like Eloise, she always greets you with a warm smile and an open heart.
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 sheâs not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana, testing her patience while she tries to hone her skills at various craftsâquilting, 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.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Whitney BarstowâThis cowgirl is taking no chances after her life was nearly ended by her ex-husband when he set fire to her familyâs barn. Out of fear for her familyâs safety and her own, she has taken to the road and found herself thousands of miles away from her home and working the front desk at Dunrovin Ranch.
Colter FitzgeraldâCharm should have been this firefighterâs middle name. Everywhere he goes, the women of Mystery, Montana, swoon. Yet, he only has eyes for Whitneyâthe one woman who refuses to give him the time of day.
Wyatt FitzgeraldâColterâs brother and the local sheriffâs deputy, who quickly finds himself neck-deep in an investigation that calls into question not only his detective skills, but a whole slew of his familyâs history.
Eloise FitzgeraldâFoster mother and caregiver not only to the people in her life but to the animals as well, she is the head matriarch of the Fitzgerald clan.
William PoeâA shady county tax appraiser who has a running feud with the Fitzgeralds, he thinks everyone and everything belongs to himâincluding the women of Mystery, Montana.
Daryl BucketâA long-haul trucker who has come to the aid of the family in the past but now may have more tricks up his sleeve.
Sarah RizzoâOwner of Pretties and Pastries, the local café that has been catering the Fitzgeraldsâ events, but Sarah hopes she can become even more involved with the family.
Frank HarrisâOn the run and potentially dangerous, Whitneyâs ex-husband may have finally located the runawayâand he may do whatever it takes to make sure she doesnât slip through his grasp once again.
To Mac,
From sea to shining sea,
it will always and forever be you and me.
Thanks for making life such an amazing adventure.
Chapter One
No matter how hard Whitney Barstow tried, there was one memory that never seemed to fade or be twisted by timeâit was the moment she had nearly died. The smoke had filled her lungs, stealing her oxygen and making her head ache. The acrid smoke was like hands covering her mouth and nose, and however hard she tried to breathe, they only clenched harder. She had torn at the invisible hands, leaving faint scars on her faceâa personal reminder of her desperation to survive.