I am enormously grateful that my niece, Heather McGrath, has come to Hacienda de Alegria, for a short sabbatical. With so many troubles befalling the family, I need all the emotional support I can get right now. Once I thought the Colton empire was indestructible, but now that another attempt has been made on my life, I wonder how much longer Iâll be around to keep the Colton clan together. Fortunately, the investigating detective, Thaddeus Law, has sworn to see justice done and to keep us all safe. He seems to be particularly interested in keeping an eye on Heather, even though he does an awful good impression of the big bad wolf whenever sheâs around. My sheltered niece is hardly this world-weary single dadâs type, but unless my sight is starting to fail, I swear I see stars glistening in her blue eyes whenever Thad storms into a room. Could my sweet and innocent niece have finally found her Prince Charming in the form of this dark and brooding lawman?
RUTH LANGAN
is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than sixty books, both contemporary and historical and has been described by Romantic Times Magazine as âa true master at involving your emotions, be they laughter or tears.â Four of Ruthâs books have been finalists for the Romance Writers of Americaâs RITA Award. Over the years, she has given dozens of print, radio and TV interviews, including some for Good Morning America and CNN News, and has been quoted in such diverse publications as the Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan and the Detroit Free Press. Married to her childhood sweetheart, she has raised five children and lives in Michigan, the state where she was born and raised. She hopes her readers will love her warm and wonderful characters in Passionâs Law as much as she does.
Meet the Coltonsâa California dynasty with a legacy of privilege and power.
Heather McGrath: A country club dilettante. Though sheâs lived a charmed life, Joe Coltonâs foster nieceâs two broken engagements have made her despair of ever meeting her Prince Charming. Until she runs into a hunky single dad who seems to be just what Cupid ordered!
Thaddeus Law: A jaded detective. A far cry from the smooth-faced, golden boys Heather has been dating in San Diego, and a decade older, this lawman just might be her diamond in the rough.
Silas âSnake Eyesâ Pike: A conniving little weasel. Hired by Meredith Coltonâs evil twin sister to find Emily Blair, this hit man has just tracked her down to Keyhole, Wyomingâ¦.
For Nora, who keeps challenging me to fly.
And for Tom, who never lets me fall.
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
âHey. Where did you go just now?â Peter McGrath, Chief Financial Officer of Colton Enterprises, easily maneuvered the car around a curve in the road and glanced over at his daughter, Heather, who was staring pensively out the window. âWhat are you thinking, honey?â
Heather watched the passing scenery with keen interest. âJust thinking how big California is. And how different it looks once we leave San Diego.â
âI hope youâre not regretting your decision to come here and give your Uncle Joe a hand with his business affairs.â
She gave her father a gentle smile. âOf course not. In fact, I was thinking just the opposite. Thereâs such rugged beauty here. Iâm glad Iâll have some time to really see it. You know Iâve always loved the ranch. As for Uncle Joe, Iâm happy to help. Really.â
Peter was delighted by his daughterâs response. He had a special love for his foster brother, Joe Colton. Joe had been the one to see to Peterâs education at one of the best universities in the country, and been enormously proud of Peterâs intelligence, especially his mathematical talents. After graduation from Stanford, Peter happily accepted a low-level job in the accounting department of Colton Shipping. Because he proved to be a whiz at finding loopholes and shelters in the corporate tax laws, he quickly came to the attention of his supervisors, who sang his praises to Joe. Joe in turn gave Peter free rein within the company, and Peter had soon worked his way up the corporate ranks of Colton Enterprises. This put Peter in a position to repay his foster brother many times over by acting as a diligent watchdog on Joe Coltonâs behalf.
There was a special bond between these two men. One that had always grated on Joe Coltonâs blood brother, Graham.
Peter reached over to lay a hand on Heatherâs. âThatâs my girl.â
He turned the car up the familiar long, winding driveway and came to a stop in front of the large, sand-colored adobe house. âWelcome to Hacienda de Alegria.â
Heather smiled, showing her dimples. âHouse of Joy.â
Her fatherâs smile faded slightly. âThere hasnât been much of that here lately.â He sighed before switching off the ignition and shoving open the car door.