Tyler Anne Snell: Small-Town Face-Off

For this lawman, it’s do or die in Riker County

Bound to protect and serve, sheriff Billy Reed has tried to let his career be enough. But he could never forget Mara Copeland, the woman who left without a goodbye and hurt him without warning. Now she’s back with criminals on her trail and a child in her arms. His child.

Mara didn’t trust the future she and Billy could’ve had. He’s a lawman and she was born into a world of ruthless criminals. Still, he’s the man she can turn to. He’ll do anything to protect their daughter, but will love be reason enough to forgive Mara and bring their family back together?

The Protectors of Riker County

Mara froze, watching as the sheriff, completely clothed, stood in front of a very naked her.

Billy had seen her naked on several different occasions while they had been together. What was beneath her clothes wasn’t a mystery to the man; however, she expected him to at least give her a once-over. Even if she was caught between utter confusion as to why he was standing in front of her in the first place.

Yet, Billy’s gaze never left her own.

He closed the space between them so fast that she didn’t have time to question it. He grabbed her face in his hands and crashed his lips into hers without a second thought. Mara, too stunned to react, let alone speak, stood stock-still as he pulled back, breaking the kiss.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Small-Town Face-Off

Tyler Anne Snell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

TYLER ANNE SNELLgenuinely loves all genres of the written word. However, she’s realized that she loves books filled with sexual tension and mysteries a little more than the rest. Her stories have a good dose of both. Tyler lives in Alabama with her same-named husband and their mini “lions.” When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s playing video games and working on her blog, Almost There. To follow her shenanigans, visit www.tylerannesnell.com.

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Sheriff Billy Reed—After a new drug wreaks havoc in the county Billy has spent his entire career trying to protect, he has to team up with a beautiful woman to stop the supplier and save his home. What he doesn’t count on is falling in love with her. Or her leaving only to come back two years later with his child in her arms and a madman on her tail.

Mara Copeland—Fighting to get out of the shadow of her criminal father, Mara has tried to win over the residents of Riker County with little success. Plans of staying away from Riker, as well as the sheriff, don’t last long after her past comes knocking. Now she’s back, this time with a secret daughter in tow.

Alexa—Born a secret to her father, this toddler keeps everyone on their toes as a madman tries to use her against the sheriff.

Bryan Copeland—Father to Mara, this former drug supplier has the sheriff’s department and unknown criminal parties racing to find what he’s hidden, all while he sits behind prison bars.

Suzy Simmons—Billy’s best friend since childhood and his right-hand woman in the field, this chief deputy sheriff will do anything to ensure Alexa’s safety.

Cassie Gates—Sheriff department dispatcher who treats Mara with kindness.

Beck—While his motives are unknown at first, he makes it clear that he’ll stop at nothing to get to the Copeland family secret.

This book is for Liz.

Thank you for reading every book, making every birthday cake

and understanding I just don’t like lemons. Every book I write is

because you never stopped supporting me and for that I love you

more than you’ll ever know. Thank you for being an anchor to a kid

who could have been left drifting.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Dedication

Prologue

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

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

Billy Reed looked down at the body and wished he could punch something. Hard.

“This is ridiculous,” Suzy said at his side. “She’s not even eighteen.”

His partner was right. Courtney Brooks had turned sixteen two weeks ago. The car she had been found in was a birthday present from her father. Billy knew this because he’d known of the girl since she was in middle school. She was a part of one of the many families in the small town of Carpenter, Alabama, who had lived there through at least two generations.

And now she was dead in the back seat of a beat-up Honda.

“Anyone tell her folks yet?” Billy asked. He’d arrived on the scene five minutes after his partner, Suzanne Simmons, had. By the time he’d cut through lunchtime traffic and bumped down the dirt road in his Crown Vic to the spot where poor Courtney had met her end, a set of paramedics, the deputy who had first responded to the call and the boy who had found her were all gathered around, waiting for what was next.

“No, Rockwell wanted to make the call,” Suzy answered. Billy raised his eyebrow, questioning why the sheriff would do that when he hadn’t even come to the crime scene yet, and she continued. “He’s fishing buddies with her dad. He heard Marty call in the name.”

Billy could imagine their leader, a man north of sixty with a world of worries to match, breaking the bad news from behind his desk. He’d let his stare get lost in the grain of the oak while he broke a family’s heart with news no parents should ever receive.

“There’s no signs of foul play, as far as I can tell,” Suzy commented. One of the EMTs broke off from the car and headed toward them.

“We both know what this is, Suzy,” Billy said. The anger he was nearly getting used to began to flood his system. The deputy could save the EMT time by telling the man he already knew what had killed her. An overdose of a drug called Moxy. The current scourge of Riker County. However, Billy’s mother had taught him the importance of being polite. So he listened to the man say that he thought Courtney had been gone a few hours before they’d gotten there, and if the paramedic was a betting man, he’d put his money on an overdose.

“I’ve already taken pictures, but I’d like to look around again, just in case,” Suzy said. Billy was about to follow when a call over the radio drew him to his car instead. He asked dispatch to repeat.

“The sheriff wants you here, Billy,” she said. “Now.”

That gave him pause but he confirmed he understood. Suzy must have heard, too. She waved him away, saying she could handle it from here. Billy’s eye caught the teen who had found Courtney. He was standing with Marty, one of the other deputies from the department, and they were deep in discussion. Every few words he’d glance back at the girl. And each time he looked closer to losing it. He’d likely never seen a dead body before, and judging by his expression, he’d never forget it, either. It made Billy grind his teeth.