by Barb Han
He must face his own demons
To rescue his childhood friend
Dade Butler’s father ruled with an iron fist. Carrie Palmer was bounced around the foster system. But they found solace as childhood friends. Neither imagined their grown-up reunion would involve the six-foot-four handsome rancher rescuing Carrie from a would-be assault. But when a stalker nearly kills Carrie, Dade will stop at nothing to save her—and turn this friendship into a permanent relationship.
Crisis: Cattle Barge
“The first treat is for old time’s sake. You’re on your own from there,” she quipped, thinking how nice it was not to have to work at conversation for a change.
It had always been like that with Dade. Easy. Light. Fun. When they were young, she corrected. High school had been another matter altogether.
Things changed. And so did people.
The serious blue eyes Dade had possessed as a child were even more intense now. As easy as conversation had been between them all those years ago, neither had spoken about their demons—demons that grew and changed people over time. Demons that could make a man sign up to travel halfway around the world to fight a monster he couldn’t see.
“It’s good seeing you again, Dade,” she said, finally looking up and realizing what a mistake that was. Because he was looking, too. And the way he was looking made her body ache like it hadn’t in far too long.
“You, too, Carrie.”
Neither made a move to leave right away.
TEXAS GRIT
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
Barb Han
USA TODAY bestselling author Barb Han lives in north Texas with her very own hero-worthy husband, three beautiful children, a spunky golden retriever/standard poodle mix and too many books in her to-read pile. In her downtime, she plays video games and spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She loves interacting with readers and is grateful for their support. You can reach her at barbhan.com.
Books by Barb Han
Harlequin Intrigue
Crisis: Cattle Barge
Sudden Setup
Endangered Heiress
Texas Grit
Cattlemen Crime Club
Stockyard Snatching
Delivering Justice
One Tough Texan
Texas-Sized Trouble
Texas Witness
Texas Showdown
Mason Ridge
Texas Prey
Texas Takedown
Texas Hunt
Texan’s Baby
The Campbells of Creek Bend
Witness Protection
Gut Instinct
Hard Target
Rancher Rescue
Harlequin Intrigue Noir
Atomic Beauty
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com.
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CAST OF CHARACTERS
Carrie Palmer—This sweet shop owner with a difficult past has made good with her life—a life that someone is insistent on taking away from her.
Dade Butler—This Butler twin is back from the military and trying to figure out his place in the family now that his larger-than-life father is gone.
Nash Gilpin—This festival worker seems obsessed with spending time with Carrie. How far will he go to force her into his life?
Samuel Jenkins—This keeps-to-himself neighbor of Carrie’s seems to know an awful lot about her whereabouts. How far is he willing to go to get to know her better?
Brett Strawn—This ex-boyfriend isn’t taking Carrie’s rejection lightly. Just how far will he go to get her back?
Sheriff Clarence Sawmill—This sheriff might be in over his head with a high-profile murder to solve and a town in chaos.
Maverick Mike Butler—Even in death this self-made Texas rancher has a few cards left to play.
To my editor, Allison Lyons, for being a dream to work with—thank you! To my agent, Jill Marsal, for always having the right words of encouragement—thank you!
To my children, Brandon, Jacob and Tori, who inspire me to be the best version of myself every day. I’m eternally grateful. Whether we’re up late carving pumpkins or cheering each other on in our daily adventures (some might say antics) I’m always grateful for our close relationships. Brandon, welcome to the 1m challenge. I’d wish you luck but since you’re one of my competitors...game on, buddy! I love you all so very much!
And to John, for laughing no matter how silly we get and for jumping in with both feet for every challenge no matter how crazy. I can’t imagine a better partner in crime and in life. I love you!
Contents
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
Excerpt from Cease Fire by Janie Crouch
Chapter One
Carrie Palmer planted her shoulder against the back door of her cold-treats shop and, with a grunt, gave it a good shove. The latch could be tricky and required a certain touch. Humidity always caused the solid wood door to swell. It was August in south-central Texas, with the threat of rain hanging in the air. She twisted the key and listened for the snick of the lock.
The heat combined with a successful annual week-long festival had brought another day of fantastic sales to Carrie’s Cold Treats. Aside from an annoying festival worker who seemed bent on dating her, this year’s AquaPlay Festival and Cattle Run had gone off without a hitch. People were laughing again, and everyone in Cattle Barge needed the distraction. The town could use a sense of normalcy after being turned upside down for the past couple of weeks following the murder of a prominent family’s patriarch, Mike Butler, a.k.a. Maverick Mike.
The man who was notorious for living large and on his own terms had made national news after being found gunned down on his beloved ranch.
Every time she thought about his son, Dade, her heart squeezed. She’d heard that he’d been discharged from the military recently and had only been in town a few weeks. She could only imagine what her childhood friend was going through. Not only had his father been killed in a bizarre manner that had caused a media frenzy and an attempt had been made on his sister’s life, but an adult child no one had known about had been summoned to town, bringing with her a murderous ex-boyfriend. Carrie shuddered, because after her recent breakup with Brett Strawn had blown up, he’d made terrible threats—threats she knew in her heart he couldn’t mean. Before she would’ve chalked them up to him being emotional, a temporary reaction to the disappointment of a relationship ending. Now, she worried.
With Brett, it probably was just the heat of the moment that had him saying words she knew he’d regret when he had some time to think about them. And yet her problem was nothing in comparison to Dade’s. Her heart went out to him as she watched his worst nightmares play out in the news, wishing she had some way to contact him. Even at nine years old, he’d had the most serious blue eyes beneath thick, curly, sandy-blond hair.
Their
s had been an unlikely friendship. His family was one of the most prominent in Texas, while she had no parents, moving from group home to a distant relative’s house and then back into foster care through the early part of her life. Funny how little kids never noticed how much or how little money another kid’s family had. Interesting how much that changed later in life. By the time she’d returned to the same high school after being relocated and bounced in and out of another home, everything had changed. Dade had grown into his athletic frame. He’d become popular and, outside of a few glances in her direction, she was sure he didn’t even remember her name.
It was dark outside. She normally closed at dusk, but the AquaPlay Festival broke down at sunset and she’d agreed to stay open late to accommodate all the children not quite ready to wind down on a summer night. At least her business was working for her, even though it seemed like everything else in her life was standing on shaky ground. She’d hoped to find a home in returning to Cattle Barge to open her store. But she felt just as much an outsider here as she had everywhere else she’d lived since college.
The overwhelming feeling that someone was watching caught Carrie off guard. This feeling was a little too familiar since her relationship with Brett had ended a couple of weeks ago, and she often thought she could feel him watching her.
She tried to shake it off, figuring her heightened emotions had to do with the breakup, the words that had been spoken out of anger. And the dozens of apology texts that she had yet to read all the way through, let alone answer.
“Beautiful night,” a male voice boomed from behind, startling her. He was close, and she hadn’t heard him walk up.
“What are you doing back here, Nash?” A chill raced through her and her fingers tightened around her key ring as she pulled the key out of the lock. She whirled around and had to back up against the wooden door to put some space between her and the tall, thick-around-the-middle festival worker. He brought his hand up against the door, trapping her on one side. His long hair was soaked with sweat after breaking down and loading up the rides. He wore a stained tank top underneath a button-up denim shirt that had half the sleeves cut off. Threads frayed over thick forearms used to lifting heavy equipment.
“Festival’s over. Thought you might like to spend some time together before I leave town.” The smell of alcohol on his breath assaulted her as he leaned closer. She held her breath. He’d stopped by three times over the course of the weekend to ask her out. Each time she’d declined. She’d been crystal clear. There was no doubt in her mind that he hadn’t somehow misinterpreted her rejections, and standing there any longer would cause her to pass out. “Or, maybe I’ll find someone worth sticking around for and get a local job.”
“It’s late. I have to get home and let my dog out.” Carrie ducked under his arm and tried to sidestep him, blowing out a breath in the process. He moved with her, blocking her, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
Nash was big. Too big. Fighting him off would be a challenge. She palmed the small can of pepper spray attached to her key ring and flicked the leather cover open using her thumb, hoping she wouldn’t need to use it. As long as she was wishing, she might as well go for it and wish she was already in her car.
The back parking lot was lit by a single light in the far corner. Out of habit, she’d parked in her usual spot behind the building. Regret stabbed her that she hadn’t realized how dark it would be after extending her hours. Or how vulnerable she’d be walking to her car alone after she sent her employees home early, reassuring them she could close up by herself with no problem. The festival had ended two hours ago and everything was quiet—everything but the sounds of her pounding heart rushing in her ears.
“What about a movie first?” The cinema was at the end of the strip shopping center, and as much as Carrie liked the idea of being around people right now—lots of people—she didn’t want to give false encouragement to a man who gave her the creeps.
She strained to hear voices, anything that might signal life was near, but was met with silence save for the sounds of Nash’s heavy alcohol-infused breaths. If she got lucky, a movie would end and people would exit the cinema. She really hoped so, because she might need the help. As it was she doubted anyone would hear if she screamed, and Nash seemed to realize it, too, as a show of yellow teeth stared back at her.
“I’ve been working extra hours and haven’t been home since lunch. Like I said, my dog needs to go out or I’m afraid she’ll have an accident.” Carrie looked up and didn’t like what she saw in Nash’s eyes. She flicked the safety off the pepper spray. Experience had taught her that she’d get some in her eyes, too, and hers started watering just thinking about the burn. Her lungs would seize and her chest would ache. But it would give her the edge she needed to get to her car, where she could lock herself inside.
Even at night, the August temperatures in Cattle Barge were in the high nineties. Sweat beaded on Carrie’s forehead, a mix of fear, adrenaline rush and sweltering heat. Experience had also taught her not to show her emotions when facing down a bully, no matter how shaky she was on the inside.
Carrie looked straight into the man’s eyes, and her heart skipped a beat at what she saw behind them. She resigned herself to a fight and fisted her free hand.
He slicked his tongue across his bottom lip and made a move to grab her.
She screamed as she brought the pepper spray toward his face.
“Everything okay here, Carrie?” The sound of Samuel’s voice was a welcome reprieve, like a soaking rain in the desert on a hot day.
Nash took a step back and turned his attention to her neighbor, sizing him up. “We’re just talking.”
Carrie used the distraction to dart toward her savior. He was a quiet guy in his late twenties, or maybe early thirties, who’d moved in with his elderly aunt in the same cul-de-sac as Carrie last fall. She presumed he’d moved to Cattle Barge to help his aging aunt, but she wasn’t sure because she’d been busy with the shop and only interacted with a few people in town on a personal level. Personal level? Carrie would laugh if anything about that or this situation was actually funny.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” She grabbed his arm, noticed he was shaking, and an icy chill raced down her spine. She withdrew her hand, chalking up the reaction to overwrought emotions. Nash seemed to realize immediately what she already knew. Samuel was no match. He was close to her height and had no muscle mass, but he’d distracted the worker and that was good enough for her to make an escape. Between the two of them, she had a chance of getting out of this unscathed. She wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Walk me to my car,” she said to Samuel, dodging Nash’s attempt to catch her arm.
Her neighbor shot the worker a look that was probably meant to scare him.
“Keep walking,” Carrie told Samuel in a low voice.
“The lady and me were trying to have a conversation,” Nash said. Based on the nearness of his voice, he wasn’t more than a step or two behind them.
Could they make it to her car without an altercation?
“It’s okay. Just keep our heads down and feet moving.” She didn’t want to provoke Nash any more.
Ten more feet and she’d be home free.
A callused hand gripped her shoulder, pinching hard, and she suppressed a yelp.
Samuel spun to his left to face off with Nash.
“She’s with me,” Samuel squeaked out, his voice shrill. He was trying to be a hero and was clearly not cut out for the job, because she could feel him trembling next to her. His skin had gone sheet white, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
Like a shark zeroing in on a vibration of fear, Nash took a threatening step toward Samuel.
“Back off, little man,” Nash demanded, his rough hand clamping around Carrie’s arm.
She jerked it free and brought up the pepper spray. Na
sh caught her arm in time to stop her from aiming at his eyes.
“Carrie, is that you?” A dark rumble of a voice boomed from the end of the alley, and all three of them froze. She recognized who it belonged to immediately. Dade Butler’s voice made her heart thump a little faster, and for very different reasons than being scared. The inappropriateness of her reaction to him caught her off guard, especially after all this time.
“Dade,” she said, her voice sounding as desperate as she felt.
“Everything okay here?” Dade had to be at least six foot four, with a body built for athletics. Ripples of solid muscles were apparent underneath his white T-shirt and low-slung jeans. He seemed to size up the scene accurately, based on the deep wrinkle on his forehead and the fact that he was frowning.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” Nash threw his hands up in surrender. “I was just leaving.”
Samuel stepped between Carrie and Dade as though sizing up a new threat.
“It’s definitely better now that you’re here,” she said to Dade to calm some of Samuel’s tension. The message? Dade was a friend. Samuel just got the muscle he needed to avoid getting his face bashed in. He should be grateful instead of tense.
Nash seemed to take the hint, backing away before heading toward the cinema with a few choice words mumbled just loud enough to hear.
“How long has it been since the last time I saw you?” Dade asked Carrie, his eyes intent on Nash.
She stepped away from Samuel and toward the sound of Dade’s voice as a sensual shiver rocketed through her.
“Too long.” She hadn’t seen him since the news of his father broke and hadn’t talked to him in years. She could never forget that voice, and even though dark circles cradled his still-too-serious crystal-blue eyes, he looked damn good. She turned to Samuel, whose body language was even tenser now. “Thank you so much for stepping in when you did. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t shown up. I’m good from here, though, so you don’t have to stick around.”