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Darlene Moore’s reason for shunning Parker Shane has nothing to do with his
reputation of being a playboy. She even dates him before the death of her mother
forces her to move away. After a two-year absence from Dalesville, she returns
home to find Parker exchanging wedding vows with her sister. Two months later, her
sister dies.
Then Richard Ryan, head of Dalesville’s wealthy, prominent family, and Parker’s
employer, goes missing. Could there be a connection to his disappearance and
Parker’s unexpected promotion?
Danger and questions a plenty barrage Darlene with the deadly speed of a six-
shooter. Who called down a representative from a Washington agency? Who later
assaulted him? Who attacked Darlene at her friend’s apartment? And will Parker’s
scandalous brand of playboy be changed to one of murderous culprit? Or, in the
moment of Darlene’s greatest need, might he become her rescuing knight?
Whimsical Publications
The Miss Mae Site
Excerpt
The door re-opened. Darlene glanced up and immediately choked on her swallow of ice cream.
Parker Shane stood at the threshold.
Clad in snug-fitting blue jeans, he wore a leather jacket halfway unzipped. Its black color enhanced the golden sheen of his blond hair. At sight of the girls, his dark brows rose slightly. Then, that same easy grin Darlene first saw at Fat Man’s appeared. “Oops. Wrong door.” His blue eyes went to Darlene. “Hi there.”
She snatched a napkin to her mouth to cover her fit of coughing. Blessedly, she was saved from having to try and reply with some kind of answer. Margo jumped to her feet.
“Hi,” she greeted Parker, a pretty blush staining her cheeks. “What a surprise to see you.”
A casual hand raised to show a sealed envelope. “I’m dropping off your dad’s paperwork for Mr. Ryan.” His grin broadened as he continued to watch Darlene.
“Um…” Margo made an awkward gesture at the dessert plates on the table. “Mr. Ryan invited us for lunch.”
“Lucky man.” Parker’s deep voice lowered even more.
Darlene caught Margo’s flustered glance. The blonde hesitated, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Parker moved away from the door and came toward Darlene.
“You and I have met.” He extended a hand in introduction. “Remember?”
She stiffened. Reference to his flirty wink at Fat Man’s in no way, no how, suggested they’d “met”. Deciding to set the record straight, she arched a haughty brow. “Can’t say that I do.”
“Oh, I’m not believing that.” He spoke with such conviction that her pulses revved into overdrive.
A heavy tread sounded outside the door and Boone entered. After one startled glance, he said to Parker, “Mr. Ryan’s in the library. I’ll take you there.”
“Sure.” His eyes glinting as though in challenge, Parker closed his hand that Darlene refused to lay hers in. He swung around to follow Boone, but paused at the threshold. “See you later,” he told her across his shoulder, his cocky grin holding a promise.
When the two men’s footsteps faded away, Margo sank to her chair. Voice small, she asked, “What did he mean that you two had already met?”
“Absolutely nothing. It was a lie.” Quickly, she reached for her glass of water, but her hand trembled so badly, she just as quickly set it down.
“Why would he lie?”
“Because he’s a dope. Oh, I don’t know!” Expelling a frustrated breath, Darlene shook her head. She didn’t want to admit it, but Parker bothered her. A lot.
copyright 2009 L.M. Thomas
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