Patricia Thayer - Dylan's Last Dare

Her easy laughter filled the room. “I don’t think you’ve been trying to charm me, only drive me away. Besides, I’m not a lady. I’m your physical therapist.”

Ooh, she was definitely a lady. “Just out of curiosity, what would it take to get your…attention?” Dylan asked with a grin.

“More than sweet words…or a cocky smile. I have three brothers, and they’ve inherited a bit of the blarney along with their Irish genes.” She sobered. “Besides, I learned a long time ago to believe only half of what men say.”

“Who did you wrong? Want me to go beat him up?”

Sadness transformed her face. “You can’t beat him up…he’s dead.”

Dear Reader,

Baby birds are chirping, bees are buzzing and the tulips are beginning to bud. Spring is here, so why not revive the winter-weary romantic in you by reading four brand-new love stories from Silhouette Romance this month.

What’s an old soldier to do when a bunch of needy rug rats and a hapless beauty crash his retreat? Fall in love, of course! Follow the antics of this funny little troop in Major Daddy (#1710) by Cara Colter.

In Dylan’s Last Dare (#1711), the latest title in Patricia Thayer’s dynamite THE TEXAS BROTHERHOOD miniseries, a cranky cowboy locks horns with his feisty physical therapist and then learns she has a little secret she soon won’t be able to hide!

Jordan Bishop wants to dwell in a castle and live happily ever after, but somehow things aren’t going as she’s planned, in An Heiress on His Doorstep (#1712) by Teresa Southwick. This is the final title in Southwick’s delightful IF WISHES WERE…miniseries in which three friends have their dreams come true in unexpected ways.

When a bookworm meets her prince and discovers she’s a real-life princess, will she be able to make her own happy ending? Find out in The Secret Princess (#1713) by Elizabeth Harbison.

Celebrate the new season, feel the love and join in the fun by experiencing each of these lively new love stories from Silhouette Romance!

Mavis C. Allen

Associate Senior Editor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Nora.

Thank you, niece, for your expertise in getting my hero back on his feet. And to my model, Daniel. I couldn’t have done it without you both.

Thanks to Colin Anderson for sharing your bull-riding experiences. I know your wife and mom are happy you are retired.

And always to Hence, my friend and true Texas cowboy.

has been writing for sixteen years and has published nineteen books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion, Orange Rose Contest and a prestigious RITA ®Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition.

Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of thirty-two years, Steve, and her three grown sons and two grandsons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251, or check her Web site at www.patriciathayer.com for upcoming books.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Dylan Gentry’s life would never be the same again.

He gripped the arms of his wheelchair, trying to fight off the panic that threatened to take over his already battered body.

It was all gone.

He’d never again be able to do what he loved. He’d never be able to feel the rush from a wild ride, the thrill from the cheer of the crowd as he broke out of the chute. He’d ended up a cripple for life, all because of one mean son-of-a-gun bull, Red Rock.

Dylan’s hands fisted. He hated himself more for the self-pity. But dammit, hadn’t he earned the right? He’d spent the last two months in the hospital. He’d had three surgeries, one to close up the wound in his gut from being hooked by the bull, and two more on his crushed leg.

Hell, it was January. He’d spent the entire month of December in the hospital. A month that he’d planned to spend at the national finals in Las Vegas. Now he was stuck in a two-bedroom cottage at his brother Wyatt’s ranch in San Angelo, Texas, waiting for the next physical therapist to show his face.

In the past two weeks, he’d already sent six packing within hours after their arrival. Today, he was going for number seven. At least it gave him something to look forward to. He glanced around his new home. There was a state-of-the-art television and sound system, a bookcase filled with every top-selling novel.

There sure as hell wasn’t much else for him to do.

He picked a book off the coffee table and threw it at the door, hating what he’d become and feeling sorry for the next person who walked in the door to face his wrath.

Brenna Farren stepped onto the small porch and raised her hand to knock on the door, when she heard something hit the other side. Startled, she paused, recalling what Wyatt Gentry had told her about his injured brother. No doubt the past months had been difficult for national-champion bull rider Dylan Gentry. As a physical therapist, Brenna knew she wasn’t her patients’ most popular person. She had known this was going to be a difficult job when she applied for the position, but she wasn’t about to turn down the excellent pay and the bonus, which was she could live right here in the cottage.

Another object hit the door with a thud. Sounded as if her new patient was having a bad day. Even with her limited experience she knew that was to be expected.

Brenna gripped the knob. “Let’s see if we can change that, Mr. Gentry,” she said, then released a breath as she swung open the door. She walked inside and caught a surprised look from the good-looking man sitting in the wheelchair.

Midnight-black hair hung over his ears and forehead. His square jaw showed more than a few days of scraggly beard, but that didn’t take anything away from his handsome face. Yet it was his eyes that caused her to pause. They were a pale blue, mixed with silver. His gaze was cold as stone, yet triggered a sudden warmth within her.

She jerked away from his hold and smiled brightly at his irritated look. “Good morning, Mr. Gentry.”

“Who the hell are you?” he growled.

“Brenna Farren.”

“Well, if you’re here to clean I don’t need the sheets changed or any fresh towels.”

She figured the towels didn’t need to be changed, because he looked as if he hadn’t bathed in days. She glanced around the mess in the cozy room. “The place could stand to be tidied up, but not right now. I’m here to help you get back on your feet. I’m your physical therapist.”