Carrie Weaver - Once A Ranger

Kat angled her head to indicate his feet. “The biker boots. And I saw you in the lobby carrying a helmet. I figure you’re a weekend warrior with a Harley. That, and you never seem totally relaxed even when you’re just making conversation. You’re always scanning the room, and there’s this undercurrent to you, as if you’re spring-loaded.”

Nick shook his head, wondering if he’d chosen the right woman to pursue. She was too observant for his comfort. “You’re good.”

“Not really. I have a talent for finding the one bad boy in a room full of good guys. You might even call it a curse.”

Dear Reader,

I have wanted to write Kat’s story since she emerged as Annie’s wisecracking best friend in Welcome Home, Daddy. To be honest, I felt sorry for her because she had a total loser boyfriend, the latest in a long line of bad boys.

Kat is smart, beautiful and successful. Couldn’t she see she deserved better? And if picking losers was a pattern for her, why didn’t she simply change it?

Many of you are probably nodding and thinking, “That’s just like my friend________.” Yes, we all have a friend like Kat. Heck, some of us are Kat. So why do intelligent, attractive, charming women seem to be drawn to men who are no good?

As Kat’s story unfolds, I think you’ll see why she needs to be needed so badly (although she covers her vulnerability with a smart-ass attitude). And I hope you’ll cheer her on as she fights to let go of the past. Even as dark, intense Tony Perez will challenge her newfound courage to choose differently every step of the way.

As always, I love to hear from readers, by e-mail at carrieauthor@aol.com, or snail mail forwarded through Harlequin Books.

Yours in reading,

Carrie Weaver

www.carrieweaver.com

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Carrie Weaver is vastly relieved that she no longer shares Kat’s penchant for bad boys…or more accurately, bad men. As the mother of two young men, Carrie hopes her sons are the good guys Kat would have avoided during her loser-chasing days. When not molding the husbands of tomorrow, Carrie loves to write award-winning novels reflecting real life and real love.

This book is dedicated to my friend and fellow reader Carol Cancik, and her amazing daughter, Mary.

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

EPILOGUE

EUNICE TREADWAY DESERVED justice and Tony Perez intended to see that she got it.

Not only because Eunice’s son had hired him, but also because of the there-but-for-the-grace-of-God factor. Tony would want to exact a whole lot more than justice if Will Sterling destroyed his widowed mother.

Tony opened his laptop and placed it on the mission-style table in the breakfast nook of his suite. Booting up, he ran through his notes; there were precious few. It wasn’t that he didn’t have contacts in law enforcement. As a former Texas Ranger, he had plenty. There simply hadn’t been an investigation. Treadway’s death had been declared a suicide, no foul play involved.

Except Tony knew better.

His cell phone buzzed. He checked the number as he went and grabbed a bottled water from the fridge under the minibar. The Phoenix Rising Resort was top of the line, even if it was in the Arizona boonies. He thumbed the button on his phone. “Hey, Teresa, how was your flight?”

“This is Brian, Teresa’s husband.”

Tony’s shoulders tensed. She wouldn’t let anyone take her BlackBerry without a fight. Even her husband.

Tony’s gut told him this case could derail before it had even begun. “Yeah, we’ve met a couple times. Is something wrong?”

“They just took Teresa into emergency surgery. Her appendix was about to burst and the stubborn woman insisted I call you before her family.” His chuckle sounded shaky. “Wanted me to tell you she’s sorry she won’t be able to help you with that case in Arizona.”

“That sounds like Teresa.” Concern for the tough ex-cop warred with the desire to punch something. “Is she going to be okay?”

“Yeah, the doctors caught it before it ruptured. A few more hours and it could have been a different story.”

Tony took a deep breath, determined not to dwell on all the women who could potentially avoid destitution or worse if Will Sterling was put in jail. “Tell her to concentrate on getting better. I’m sure we’ll have the chance to partner up again soon.”

“I will. I gotta go call our youngest at the University of Texas.”

“Take care.” Clicking off his phone, Tony swore under his breath. Without Teresa for bait, luring Sterling was out of the question. Now would be the time for plan B. If he had one, that is.

There was a knock at the casita door. When he opened it, the blond, middle-aged woman who had handled his check-in smiled warmly. “I’m Linda. In case you haven’t had the chance to read your brochure, I wanted to make sure you’re aware we try to keep the dining experience casual. You’re invited to a welcome luncheon that starts in half an hour in the private dining room next to the Copper Dining Room. It’s a small affair for the people who arrived within the past few days.”

“Thank you. But I thought to get some work—”

“None of that. One of the things that sets Phoenix Rising apart from other resorts is that we encourage our guests to shake things up, meet new people, change worn-out patterns. Step outside your box, so to speak. We find that folks who form friendships with other guests are more inclined to participate in activities and are, on the whole, more satisfied with their stay here. After the welcome luncheon, our activities are more on an à la carte basis. There’s a schedule on the credenza in each room.”

Tony figured a con man stalking his mark wouldn’t want to miss the welcome luncheon. That meant Tony couldn’t miss it, either. Especially now that he was solo. And operating without a plan. “I’ll be there, I promise.”

“Good.” She smiled warmly, clearly enjoying her job. “Will your sister arrive in time?”

“No, she just called to say her plans have changed, and she won’t be able to make it at all.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought it was nice for a brother and sister to vacation together. We have two sisters who always stay together at Phoenix Rising, but they’re much older.”

“I was looking forward to catching up with Teresa. But these things happen.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful stay all the same. Well, I have a few other guests to remind, so I’ll see you at lunch.”

Tony closed the door, calculating the pros and cons of continuing without a partner. His not-so-legal surveillance of Sterling’s credit card charges had shown the man had arrived at the resort day before yesterday.

Tony had monitored Sterling’s accounts regularly and this was the first time in months the weasel had gone anywhere resembling a vacation destination. Since the Treadways said Eunice had met Sterling at a resort in Texas, Tony figured he was planning to target a new victim. Smart man to vary his hunting grounds.