Marie Ferrarella - Colton Baby Rescue

A K-9 cop must protect a single mom as USA TODAY bestselling author Marie Ferrarella introduces the new Coltons of Red Ridge miniseries

Carson Gage has a crime to solve—the murder of his brother—and his number-one suspect is his archenemy, Serena Colton. The Coltons and Gages have feuded for generations; Carson is convinced the cowgirl is hiding his prime suspect on her ranch. But the beauty and her baby stir unwelcome yearnings in his calloused heart. After all, Carson has learned the hard way what vulnerability can cost. When Serena and her child become targets of a mysterious assailant, Carson’s protective urges take over. Can an irresistible attraction prove stronger than old family hatreds and help them capture a criminal?

Serena mentally threw up her hands.

This was hopeless. Why did she even care if something was bothering this boorish man who had come stomping into her house, disrupting everyone without even displaying an iota of remorse that he was doing it? Never mind that her brother had led this invasion into her parents’ home. She felt better blaming the detective for this than blaming Finn.

“Never mind,” she told Carson, changing topics. “I have to see to my baby—if it’s all right with you,” she said, a mild touch of sarcasm breaking through.

Rather than say anything in response, Carson just waved her back to her quarters.

Serena’s voice was fairly dripping with ice as she said, “Thank you.”

With that she turned on her bare heel to walk back into her suite.

“Let’s go, Justice,” Carson said to the dog, steering the animal toward the stairs.

Keeping a tight hold on the dog’s leash, Carson walked out of the house quickly, a man doing his best to outrun memories too painful to coexist with.

* * *

The Coltons of Red Ridge : A killer’s on the loose and love is on the line

Colton Baby Rescue

Marie Ferrarella

www.millsandboon.co.uk

USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Award–winning author MARIE FERRARELLA has written more than two hundred and fifty books for Harlequin, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, www.marieferrarella.com.

To

Nancy Parodi Neubert

And

The Successful Return

Of

Happiness

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A K-9 cop must protect a single mom as USA TODAY bestselling author Marie Ferrarella introduces the new Coltons of Red Ridge miniseries Carson Gage has a crime to solve—the murder of his brother—and his number-one suspect is his archenemy, Serena Colton. The Coltons and Gages have feuded for generations; Carson is convinced the cowgirl is hiding his prime suspect on her ranch. But the beauty and her baby stir unwelcome yearnings in his calloused heart. After all, Carson has learned the hard way what vulnerability can cost. When Serena and her child become targets of a mysterious assailant, Carson’s protective urges take over. Can an irresistible attraction prove stronger than old family hatreds and help them capture a criminal?

Introduction Serena mentally threw up her hands. This was hopeless. Why did she even care if something was bothering this boorish man who had come stomping into her house, disrupting everyone without even displaying an iota of remorse that he was doing it? Never mind that her brother had led this invasion into her parents’ home. She felt better blaming the detective for this than blaming Finn. “Never mind,” she told Carson, changing topics. “I have to see to my baby—if it’s all right with you,” she said, a mild touch of sarcasm breaking through. Rather than say anything in response, Carson just waved her back to her quarters. Serena’s voice was fairly dripping with ice as she said, “Thank you.” With that she turned on her bare heel to walk back into her suite. “Let’s go, Justice,” Carson said to the dog, steering the animal toward the stairs. Keeping a tight hold on the dog’s leash, Carson walked out of the house quickly, a man doing his best to outrun memories too painful to coexist with. * * * The Coltons of Red Ridge : A killer’s on the loose and love is on the line

Title Page Colton Baby Rescue Marie Ferrarella www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Award–winning author MARIE FERRARELLA has written more than two hundred and fifty books for Harlequin, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, www.marieferrarella.com .

Dedication To Nancy Parodi Neubert And The Successful Return Of Happiness

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

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

He really did not have time for this.

Detective Carson Gage frowned as he drove down the darkened streets to The Pour House. He had more important things to do than attend his older brother Bo’s bachelor party at a second-rate dive bar in the sketchy part of town.

Hell, he would have rather stayed home and spent the evening talking to his K-9 unit partner, Justice. Granted it would have only been a one-way conversation, but the German shepherd was probably more intelligent than half the people who were going to be at the bachelor party anyway.

This whole thing was a joke, the Red Ridge police detective thought. Bo shouldn’t be getting married anyway, not to a woman who he’d only known for a total of three months. This was way too sudden.

The whole thing seemed rather strange to him, not to mention ironic. Bo’s bachelor party was being thrown at The Pour House, which just happened to be owned by Rusty Colton, who was the father of Bo’s last girlfriend, Demi—the woman Bo had been engaged to for one month, then dumped when he took up with Hayley Patton, his current bride-to-be.

More than likely, Carson thought dourly, given who was being invited to this party, the evening was going to end up in a huge brawl—which was why he intended to stay for just one drink, then get the hell out of there.

Besides, he had work to do. His burning obsession was to find some piece of irrefutable evidence he could use to finally put away the Larson brothers, the cold-blooded twins who fancied themselves up-and-coming crime lords intent on building up a vast criminal empire and destroying everything and everyone in their path.

The Larsons were behind at least two murders that he knew of and they were at the center of a rash of drug busts, but because the thugs who worked for the brothers were more afraid of them than they were of the police, he hadn’t been able to find anyone willing to testify against the twins.

But he would. Come hell or high water, he would, Carson swore, his hands tightening on his car’s steering wheel. All he needed was to find that one elusive piece of evidence that would start the process of nailing the Larson brothers’ coffins shut.

Carson picked his way through the streets, driving slowly. The area seemed even more unsavory at this time of night than it was during the day.

“If you have to marry this one, why couldn’t you just run off and elope like a normal guy?” Carson asked out loud, addressing the brother who wasn’t there. “Why all this need for fanfare and hoopla?”