Margaret Daley - Lone Star Standoff

A high-profile trial turns lethal...

The next exciting Lone Star Justice novel

Presiding over the trial of a powerful drug cartel member, Judge Aubrey Madison finds her life threatened, and Texas Ranger Sean McNair isn’t taking any chances. Protecting the widow and her twins comes naturally to Sean—maybe too naturally for a guy who’s convinced he shouldn’t have a family. But he can’t help wishing for a future with Aubrey…if he can keep her alive.

MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats, who think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com.

Also by Margaret Daley Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher

Lone Star Justice

High-Risk Reunion

Lone Star Christmas Rescue

Texas Ranger Showdown

Texas Baby Pursuit

Lone Star Christmas Witness

Lone Star Standoff

Alaskan Search and Rescue

The Yuletide Rescue

To Save Her Child

The Protector’s Mission

Standoff at Christmas

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Lone Star Standoff

Margaret Daley

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09639-3

LONE STAR STANDOFF

© 2019 Margaret Daley

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“Who has a key to your office right now?”

“An assistant I share with Judge Rodriquez and maintenance. You think it was one of them?”

“No, there were fresh scratch marks on the lock. He risked breaking into your office for some reason. What was it?”

Aubrey made her way around to the other side of her desk. Sean started to rise, and she quickly said, “You stay there. If I need you, I’ll let you know.” She opened the top left drawer. “After I’ve gone through my office, I’ll drive your car and take you to the ER to make sure you’re okay.”

He opened his mouth to reply.

She held up her palm. “No arguments on that. If something is wrong and you didn’t get help, it would be my fault.” She shut the top drawer and reached for the bottom one.

Their gazes clashed. A war of emotions played across his face while Aubrey pulled the second compartment out.

A rattling sound sent shivers down her body as she stared at the coiled rattlesnake, poised to strike.

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher ,

This is the sixth book in the Lone Star Justice series. I had fun writing the twins—Sammy and Camy. They were my lightness in the middle of a dark story about drugs pouring into our country. Aubrey went through a lot in her life as a mother, wife and judge. She didn’t want to fall in love with Sean and end up losing him like she did her husband, Samuel. Love is a strong emotion, but so is fear. Fear keeps you from doing something you want to do or should do. She had to learn to turn her fear over to the Lord in order to fall in love again.

I love hearing from readers. You can email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com and join my monthly newsletter by signing up on the front page of my website, www.margaretdaley.com. Also on my website you can see what books are out and coming soon, as well as links to them.

Take care,

Margaret Daley

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

—Psalms 46:1

To my mother-in-law, Marcella, who has been a great supporter of my writing.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A high-profile trial turns lethal... The next exciting Lone Star Justice novel Presiding over the trial of a powerful drug cartel member, Judge Aubrey Madison finds her life threatened, and Texas Ranger Sean McNair isn’t taking any chances. Protecting the widow and her twins comes naturally to Sean—maybe too naturally for a guy who’s convinced he shouldn’t have a family. But he can’t help wishing for a future with Aubrey…if he can keep her alive.

About the Author MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats, who think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com .

Booklist Also by Margaret Daley Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse Dedication ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN EPILOGUE Extract About the Publisher Lone Star Justice High-Risk Reunion Lone Star Christmas Rescue Texas Ranger Showdown Texas Baby Pursuit Lone Star Christmas Witness Lone Star Standoff Alaskan Search and Rescue The Yuletide Rescue To Save Her Child The Protector’s Mission Standoff at Christmas Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk .