Karen Whiddon - Texas Secrets, Lovers' Lies

Karen Whiddon’s story of abduction in the Lone Star state will have your pulse racing!

Every time Brock McCauley locks eyes with Zoe Onella, his heart aches. Though Zoe explains why she skipped town, leaving him at the altar years ago, Brock refuses to go down that road again. After all, she’s only back in Anniversary, Texas, to help investigate the bizarre disappearance of her best friend, Shayna.

The sooner they find Shayna, the sooner Zoe can return to New York. But Brock can’t stop thinking about the hot passion they once shared. And when danger surrounds Zoe, he must protect the only woman he’s ever loved. Even if it costs him everything.

“We’re still no closer to finding her than we were before,” Brock said.

The maddening hint of arrogance in his profile should have angered Zoe. Instead, she wanted to reach across the desk and kiss him.

What was wrong with her?

Getting up, she moved slowly to the door, careful not to look at Brock, stunned at the sheer strength of the simmering desire she felt for him. Her body ached for his touch, filling her entire being with a fierce and urgent wanting. Even now, when every ounce of her focus should be on finding her friend.

She’d already lost so much when she’d had to leave town—her fiancé, her family, her friends and her home. She couldn’t bear losing Shayna, too.

Brock didn’t call after her or follow her, and even though she hadn’t expected him to, she told herself she was glad. What had she expected? Nothing she was learning about Shayna added up.

Zoe needed to regain her objectivity about Brock, and about Shayna, too. Until her friend was found—alive or…God help her…dead.

Dear Reader,

Though I’m a native New Englander and grew up in New York and Colorado, I’m an honorary Texan. I’ve lived in this big-hearted state for more years than I want to admit and have come to love and admire the people. They are justifiably proud to be Texans. I love setting books in the Lone Star state, especially in the fictional town of Anniversary.

In addition to small towns, I love a good homecoming story. So the idea for Texas Secrets, Lovers’ Lies was born. When my heroine, Zoe Onella, returns to the town—and the man—she’d run away from five years earlier, she is surprised to learn nothing is what it seems.

Life is like that sometimes. I personally think the little twists and turns are what keeps life interesting. And, as Zoe and Brock McCauley eventually learn, sometimes having that special someone to help navigate brings more joy than one ever could have imagined.

I hope you enjoy Texas Secrets, Lovers’ Lies. There’s murder and mayhem, secrets, half-truths and lies. There also is love. Because in the end, that’s the most important part of the story after all.

Sincerely,

Karen Whiddon

Texas Secrets, Lovers’ Lies

Karen Whiddon

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Karen Whiddon

started weaving fanciful tales for her younger brothers at the age of eleven. Amid the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she fueled her imagination with the natural beauty that surrounded her. Karen now lives in north Texas, where she shares her life with her very own hero of a husband and three doting dogs. Also an entrepreneur, she divides her time between the business she started and writing. You can email Karen at KWhiddon1@aol.com or write to her at P.O. Box 820807, Fort Worth, TX 76182. Fans of her writing can also check out her website, www.karenwhiddon.com.

First and always, to my wonderful husband. Thanks, Lonnie, for making my dreams come true. Second, a shout-out to all the dedicated and hardworking people who volunteer in animal rescue. You work so hard and give so tirelessly of not only your time, but your wallets and purses, to help those creatures who have no voice. Hats off to you for all you do—especially you, Legacy Boxer Rescue, Inc.

Contents

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

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter 1

I wish you were here.

In her mind Zoe Onella replayed the last words her best friend, Shayna, had said to her before disappearing. Or maybe I could visit there. I really need you right now. The entire cross-country trip from New York to Dallas, Zoe wished she’d have probed or, even better, agreed to let Shayna visit.

Instead, she’d rushed Shayna off the phone so she could meet a couple of friends for happy hour. And then, two weeks later, the next phone call had been from Shayna’s mother, Mama Bell, worried because she couldn’t locate her daughter. Mama had actually believed Shayna might have been with Zoe.

With guilt churning inside her, Zoe collected her luggage and stepped outside. The scorching air blasted her like a furnace. Ah, yes. Dallas was still the same as she remembered. Hot and miserable. She slipped on her dark glasses before she looked around for her ride.

No one on the sidewalk even looked familiar. Which was odd, since Mama Bell had promised to send someone to collect her. Fine. Squaring her shoulders, Zoe hefted her suitcase and began the trek to the cab area, lifting her chin and making her stride confident despite the towering heels she wore. This was her New York persona, one she planned to hang on to while here in Texas, to remind herself of the person she’d become.

She could handle this. Would handle it, exactly as she’d done a hundred times before at home in the city. So what if the cab fare from DFW to Anniversary would be outrageous?

“Zoe,” called a voice—deep, masculine and unforgettably familiar. The sound of it reached inside her, echoing old longings. “Over here.”

She stiffened. Brock McCauley. The one person from her past she didn’t want to see. Not now. Not ever.

For the space of a heartbeat, she debated pretending not to have heard him and striding down the sidewalk as fast as she could. Away from him. Just like before. Instead, she took a deep breath, pasted her best “I am all business” smile on her face, and turned to face the man she’d practically left at the altar long ago.

The instant she saw him, all the jangling noise inside of her went still. He looked the same—tall and broad shouldered, blond hair cut in the same sexy-shaggy cut. As his piercing blue eyes met hers, her entire being vibrated. Though her heart hammered out a welcome, she schooled her expression to nothing but pleasant surprise.

The man she’d once needed with every fiber of her being wasn’t the one she wanted now.

“Mrs. Bell sent me to pick you up,” he said. His blank expression let her know he took no enjoyment in the task. She nodded, unable to summon up a response. After all, what did one say to a man after you’d broken his heart?

He led the way to his truck, a new Chevrolet painted shiny red. She flashed back five years to his beat-up old pickup, which had also been red, remembering the way they’d celebrated their love in his front seat.

As her face warmed in a blush, she climbed up into the cab and turned away, pretending a sudden interest in everything outside her window. Guilt be damned. She had nothing to say to him, nothing at all.

Everything that had happened between them was in the past. She refused to look back.

Brock started the truck and they began the long drive from DFW Airport to Anniversary. Keeping his gaze on the road, Brock apparently felt no need to fill the awkward silence with meaningless words. She appreciated that, also unable to give voice to the thoughts taunting her. Might-have-beens that could never be. All they had in common now was Shayna, the only reason Zoe had returned.