AlTonya Washington - His Texas Touch

No man is more irresistible than a Texan in love!

Heiress Avra Ross has made a name for herself while working at her family’s newspaper, which is known for uncovering lies and corruption. But an ongoing murder investigation brings her into the crosshairs of Samson Melendez, heir to one of the Lone Star state’s most famed dynasties. Determined to resist the gorgeous executive’s commanding charm, Avra realizes that far more than the truth is at stake.

Because the Ross and Melendez families have been close for years, Sam has always hidden his secret desire for Avra. But now he and the willowy beauty must work together to uncover a shocking truth that could turn their powerful Western clans into bitter rivals. Soon passion ignites as a breaking scandal unfolds. Sam and Avra must unmask the unseen enemy threatening to bring down both their families…or risk losing a love they can no longer deny!

“There’s something you enjoy about giving me a hard time, isn’t there?”

Appearing to contemplate her words, Sam tapped his fingers on the seductive curve of his mouth and smiled faintly.

Avra felt helpless to direct her gaze away from the gesture.

“I think you’re right,” he muttered.

“That’s a first.”

Any more that she might have said was silenced when his mouth crashed down on hers, and he proceeded to kiss her hungrily. Resisting never occurred to Avra. She was determined to find out whether his build was due to great tailoring or genetics.

Quickly she discovered it was all him. Heatedly she participated in the kiss, caressing his tongue over and under as she moaned unashamedly.

Eventually it was Sam who pulled back, but only briefly. When he spied the wetness on her mouth, he couldn’t resist another taste of her.

Faintly, very faintly, Avra realized she wasn’t refusing him. She didn’t want to refuse. Sam realized it, as well. Big hands cupping her delicate face, he drove his tongue deeper, craving more of her unique taste.

He ordered his need to cool and broke the kiss, stroking the tips of his thumbs across her moist, swollen lips. He waited until she brought her eyes to his. The smile he directed her way wasn’t gloating, but tender. “I’m gonna have to work on changing your perception of me.” He left her alone soon after.

Dazedly, Avra stumbled back to her desk and leaned on one corner. It was some time before her breathing slowed.

ALTONYA WASHINGTON

has been a published romance novelist of contemporary and historical fiction for eight years. Her novel Finding Love Again won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Multicultural Romance 2004. In addition to teaching a community college course entitled Writing the Romance Novel, she works as a senior library assistant, resides in North Carolina and is currently working to obtain her master’s in library science. Writing as T. Onyx, AlTonya also pens erotic romance. Her latest novel with the Harlequin/Kimani label was the January 2012 title Pleasure After Hours. She will release the twelfth installment of her popular Ramsey/Tesano series, A Lover’s Hate, in 2012.

His Texas Touch

AlTonya Washington

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

Thanks for returning to Houston, Texas, where a mystery is about to be solved. When Harlequin Kimani’s editors approached me last spring about this project, I was instantly motivated by its possibilities. The chance to craft this story over the course of two books was especially thrilling.

You’ve already met the devastating Samson Melendez and his stunning counterpart Avra Ross. Now discover how these two balance their competitive streaks and bickering with the chemistry and hunger that has lurked beneath the surface of all that unrest. The sensual unrest between Samson and Avra was especially fun to create as I envisioned the take-no-prisoners heroes and strong, outspoken heroines of the nighttime soaps that so many of us enjoyed back in the day. I hope you’ll settle in, enjoy this tale and share your thoughts with me: altonya@lovealtonya.com.

Love,

AlTonya

For my readers who recall the nighttime soaps of the ’80s.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Prologue

Houston, Texas—One Week Ago…

Samson Melendez silenced his truck’s soft engine and bumped one fist against the black leather braiding that protected the steering wheel. He debated. Go home, Sam. Just as his voice of reason sounded, another reminded him that he was a fool to pass on the chance to be alone with her—even if the reason was for something other than what he most wanted from her.

Rolling his eyes then, Sam made his choice. Hell, he rarely listened to his voice of reason anyway. Why pick now to start? he thought. Leaving the sleek Dodge Ram parked at an angle spanning two spaces, he headed toward the high-rise Avra Ross called home.

Avra had arrived at her condo only a few minutes earlier. She hadn’t even stepped past the threshold, but stood leaning against the open doorway. Deep in thought, she scraped a glossy, round thumbnail across her chin. She was still doing that when the elevator opened to her private floor.

Samson stepped out into the hallway and saw her there. A lone, heated curse settled to his tongue but made no sound. At that point he knew his earlier concerns from the evening were well-founded. Something was up. The only question now was whether he could get her to tell him what was going on.

Not likely, he thought with a blank look. Chances were he’d have to piss her off and bully it out of her—a thing he dreaded since she thought that was all he was good for. Still, he’d come to know her well since they’d entered each other’s lives two years prior, when they began working on advertising for Machine Melendez in the Ross Review.

Given that fact, the last thing he wanted to waste time on was discussion about the threat to his family and, quite possibly, her own. There was, in fact, only one thing he wanted to spend his time on. His smirk curved a perfectly sculpted mouth provocatively set above a strong, square, dimpled chin. The midnight gaze narrowed wickedly even as he schooled himself. It would be easier to coax her into telling him whatever it was she suspected than getting her to give in to another, more preferable way of spending their time. Maintaining his stance near the elevator, Sam cleared his throat softly at first and then a tad more loudly when she didn’t register his presence.

A hard knock in the distance jerked Avra out of her thoughts. She turned around to find Sam Melendez standing just down from her door.

“Damn, you…scared me to death,” she muttered, lashes fluttering in mild relief. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Told you I was following you from the club,” he said, sounding matter-of-fact while pushing his broad frame from the wall.