Joanna Wayne - Quick-Draw Cowboy

This cowboy is a sure shot to the heart…

Riley Lawrence is an expert at moving on and not risking his heart. Helping pastry chef Dani Boatman is a onetime deal—she’s got her hands full giving her orphaned niece a stable home. But someone with a vicious grudge has a target on the curvaceous redhead’s back. And destroying her life is just the start…

Dani doesn’t trust easy—a lesson she learned the hard way. This freewheeling cowboy with an irresistible grin insists on putting himself between her and harm’s way. But the desire getting hotter between them can’t promise anything more than heartbreak. And with unsuspected danger also closing in, Dani and Riley’s one chance for love could prove forever lethal.

The Kavanaughs

“A horse isn’t that big a mystery. They show you what they need from you. Just like a man does.”

Riley’s voice had softened to a whisper. His gaze was intense, hypnotic. The need inside Dani swelled until she was dizzy.

He pulled her into his arms and lowered his face until their lips touched. In that moment every inkling of control vanished, melted in the heat of his kiss.

Dizzy with desire, Dani swayed against Riley. Her pulsing need vibrated through every erogenous cell in her body. She parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside her mouth. Thrusting. Probing. Ravenous. As if he couldn’t get enough of her…

Quick-Draw Cowboy

Joanna Wayne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JOANNA WAYNE began her professional writing career in 1994. Now, more than fifty published books later, Joanna has gained a worldwide following with her cutting-edge romantic suspense and Texas family series, such as Sons of Troy Ledger and Big “D” Dads. Joanna currently resides in a small community north of Houston, Texas, with her husband. You may write Joanna at PO Box 852, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA, or connect with her at www.joannawayne.com.

Thanks to all my friends and neighbors who’ve taught me so much about living in Texas. Now that I’m settled into my own small-town Texas lifestyle, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. And, as always, thanks to my hubby for constantly being willing to rearrange our life to make time for my writing and research.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text This cowboy is a sure shot to the heart… Riley Lawrence is an expert at moving on and not risking his heart. Helping pastry chef Dani Boatman is a onetime deal—she’s got her hands full giving her orphaned niece a stable home. But someone with a vicious grudge has a target on the curvaceous redhead’s back. And destroying her life is just the start… Dani doesn’t trust easy—a lesson she learned the hard way. This freewheeling cowboy with an irresistible grin insists on putting himself between her and harm’s way. But the desire getting hotter between them can’t promise anything more than heartbreak. And with unsuspected danger also closing in, Dani and Riley’s one chance for love could prove forever lethal. The Kavanaughs

Introduction “A horse isn’t that big a mystery. They show you what they need from you. Just like a man does.” Riley’s voice had softened to a whisper. His gaze was intense, hypnotic. The need inside Dani swelled until she was dizzy. He pulled her into his arms and lowered his face until their lips touched. In that moment every inkling of control vanished, melted in the heat of his kiss. Dizzy with desire, Dani swayed against Riley. Her pulsing need vibrated through every erogenous cell in her body. She parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside her mouth. Thrusting. Probing. Ravenous. As if he couldn’t get enough of her…

Title Page Quick-Draw Cowboy Joanna Wayne www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author JOANNA WAYNE began her professional writing career in 1994. Now, more than fifty published books later, Joanna has gained a worldwide following with her cutting-edge romantic suspense and Texas family series, such as Sons of Troy Ledger and Big “D” Dads. Joanna currently resides in a small community north of Houston, Texas, with her husband. You may write Joanna at PO Box 852, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA, or connect with her at www.joannawayne.com .

Dedication Thanks to all my friends and neighbors who’ve taught me so much about living in Texas. Now that I’m settled into my own small-town Texas lifestyle, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. And, as always, thanks to my hubby for constantly being willing to rearrange our life to make time for my writing and research.

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Dani Boatman piped the last exquisite rose onto the top layer of the tiered wedding cake. She stood back and examined her handiwork. Magnificent, she decided—almost too pretty to cut and eat.

But it would definitely be eaten. According to the bride, the guest list kept growing. Weddings were apparently a big deal in the small town of Winding Creek, Texas—a chance to dress up, visit with friends and neighbors and dance to a live band. And, of course, to celebrate the new couple.

The exciting part was that this time, she was not only invited to the festivities, but was also actually going to be involved. Maid of honor in the wedding of Grace Addison and Pierce Lawrence.

She’d be the only attendant, except for Pierce’s five-year-old daughter, Jaci, who’d be the flower girl.

Grace had helped Dani pick out her dress, which was made of an emerald-green satin that brought out Dani’s eyes and went well with her mass of unruly coppery curls.

The style worked, too. The dress was fitted at the waist with cap sleeves and a slightly flared skirt that fell to her ankles—easily long enough to cover her chunky calves.

The rounded, no-frills neckline revealed only a minimum of cleavage and fully covered her size 38 D puppies. A plump lady’s version of chic.

Grace had been her first and only close friend since moving here. Not that the people weren’t nice, but Dani’s spare time amounted to pretty much zero.

Dani put the finishing touches on the cake, the last rose with petals so thin they were practically translucent. She’d entwined the roses with deep green vines to represent the way Grace and Pierce’s lives had joined together forever.

Dani was a sucker for anything romantic. Not that she had any romance in her life. She’d dated, but never anything serious. Never met a guy who’d blown her away with just a smile, the way it happened in books.

Hadn’t been with a guy who’d made her heart go tripping or left her breathless the way Grace claimed Pierce affected her.

But Dani was only twenty-six. One day her prince would come charging in on a white horse. Of course, with her luck, he’d probably be dropping by to order a wedding cake for his marriage to some hot chick with a drop-dead gorgeous body.

So, who needs a prince?

Dani had her very own bakery and she had her adorable, drama-queen niece, Constance, who’d dropped into her life totally unexpectedly. Between her job and her niece, she was kept busy enough that she hit the bed exhausted every night.

And Dani was just about there now. She rubbed the tired muscles in her neck and glanced at the wall clock next to the cooling racks. Eighteen minutes after nine.