Sheâll make Christmas magic...in spite of him!
In all his years as a cop, Ben Palmer had seen some hard cases. But Corie Ochoa took the cake. There was more hostility in her gorgeous five-foot-one frame than heâd seen in hardened criminals. Not to mention her uncanny knack for getting herself in trouble. But she was his adopted brotherâs sister, and he was going to help her whether she liked it or not. And clearly, she didnât.
Too bad. He hadnât come all the way to Texas to let this infuriating woman off the hook. Every instinct told him there was more to this story...and to her.
Ben Palmer? It couldnât be.
In complete disbelief, she saw him coming toward her, picking up speed as the tree she was hoisting began to fall. Six feet and a couple of inches of darkly gorgeous but self-righteous, self-satisfied male who despised and distrusted her... What was he doing here? As though her life wasnât already fraught with more problems than she could deal with. Heâ
She lost her balance completely as he tried but failed to help.
âCorie?â he asked.
She wanted to say something clever, sound flippant, as though it didnât matter that he was the man she hated and he considered her an incorrigible criminal. âNo, Iâm the Druid that came with the tree. Of course, itâs me.â
She felt his sigh against her forehead. âI know itâs you. I want to know if youâre okay.â
âNo, Iâm not okay. I have twelve feet of tree on me and six feet of hateful man.â
Dear Reader,
I love November. Itâs a time for giving thanks, a preparation for the holiday season, a time for family. And thatâs what Manning Family Reunion is all about. Jack, from In My Dreams, is determined to put his family back together after most of a lifetime of separation.
To Love and Protect is Corieâs story. She was four years old when the Manning kids were separated, and her life took a much different path from Jackâs. Sheâs small in stature but big in courage and resourcefulnessâwith an interesting tendency toward flaunting the rules when necessary.
Ben, Jackâs adopted brother, is all heart. But as a police officer, he has great respect for the rules and serious concerns about Jackâs devotion to his newly discovered sister. Particularly when she presents a threat to their family, and Jack is away on his honeymoon. Itâs Ben to the rescueâor is it?
Happy holiday season!
Muriel
MURIEL JENSEN lives with her husband, Ron, in a simple old Victorian looking down on the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. They share the space with a loudmouthed husky mix and two eccentric tabbies. They have three children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Their neighborhood is charmed, populated with the kindest and most fun-to-be-around people.
In loving memory of Wayne McVey, who was a wonderful friend to Ron and me, who loved Starbucks, and onion rings, casinos and dinner at Doogerâs. And to Diane McVey, who soldiers on without him. Love you both!
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Introduction
Dear Reader
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
CHAPTER TWENTY
EPILOGUE
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
âIâM GOING TO wring her pretty ballerina neck,â Ben Palmer told himself as he drove from the airport in McAllen, Texas, to Querida, where his quarry lived. He studied the side of the road for the break in the dry brush he remembered from a couple of weeks ago when he and his brother, Jack, had been here together in search of Jackâs sister. He was glad Elizabeth Corazon Manning Ochoa wasnât his sisterâthe little thief! As if her full name wasnât enough to deal with, her given name was the Spanish word for heart. It should have been whatever the Spanish word was for trouble. âThere it is.â
He turned right onto the narrow, bumpy lane, watching for the Rio Road sign. High weeds lined the path that led to the impoverished little two-block-long downtown. The side with city hall, the post office and the library, all built in traditional Spanish style with arches and red-tiled roofs, looked tidy and well-kept in contrast to the stores and services opposite them and the run-down bed-and-breakfast at the very end. Fall flowers lined the street on the city hall side but the commercial businesses looked as though they struggled to stay alive.
He slowed as he passed the Grill, the café where Corie waitressed. It was the only structure on the block that looked even mildly prosperous. He noticed that her black Ford truck was not in the parking lot. She must have the day off.