The Stranger Next Door. Joanna Wayne
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A man could take only so much temptation
The house was quiet except for the pounding of Langley’s heart. He had told himself over and over the reasons he shouldn’t make love to Danielle, but right now he couldn’t remember one of them. He couldn’t think at all, not with her mouth on his. His body was going crazy with a hunger that robbed him of control and scared him to death.
She wanted him. He wanted her, wanted her so desperately that just her kiss seared into his very soul. He couldn’t understand his feelings for her. They had come on so fast and so strong, so different from anything he’d experienced before. All he knew was that he had to make love with her before they had no time left.…
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
Sunscreen, a poolside lounge—and Harlequin Intrigue: the perfect recipe for great summer escapes!
This month’s sizzling selection begins with The Stranger Next Door (#573) by Joanna Wayne, the second in her RANDOLPH FAMILY TIES miniseries. Langley Randolph is the kind of Texan who can’t resist a woman in trouble. Can he help unlock a beautiful stranger’s memories…before a killer catches up with her first?
Little Penny Drake is an Innocent Witness (#574) to a murder in this suspenseful yet tender story by Leona Karr. The child’s desperate mother, Deanna, seeks the help of Dr. Steve Sherman. Can Steve unlock her daughter’s secrets…and Deanna’s heart?
Dr. Jonas Shades needs a woman to play his wife. Cathlynn O’Connell is the perfect candidate, but with time running out, he has no choice but to blackmail his bride. Each minute in Jonas’s presence brings Cathlynn closer to understanding her enigmatic “husband” and closer to danger! Don’t miss Blackmailed Bride (#575) by Sylvie Kurtz.
Bestselling Harlequin American Romance author Tina Leonard joins Harlequin Intrigue with a story of spine-tingling suspense and dramatic romance. She’s created the small town of Crookseye Canyon, Texas, as the backdrop for A Man of Honor (#576). Cord Greer must marry his brother’s woman to keep her and her unborn baby safe. But is it fear that drives Tessa Draper into Cord’s arms, or is it something more than Cord had hoped for?
Indulge yourself and find out this summer—and all year long!
Sincerely,
Denise O’Sullivan
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
The Stranger Next Door
Joanna Wayne
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Everyone loves a cowboy, and Joanna Wayne is no exception. Although she lives just a few miles from steamy, exciting New Orleans, she always enjoys her trips to the neighboring state of Texas. While there, she delights in becoming just one of the hands. From riding the range to rounding up cattle by helicopter, she finds plenty to keep her busy and lots of wonderful plot ideas to enhance her stories of romance and suspense. She is sure that as long as there are rugged men who love their cattle, their land and their lifestyle, there will be women who fall in love with them. The fact that the cowboys look so sexy in their boots, jeans and Stetsons is only icing on the cake. You can write to Joanna at P.O. Box 2851, Harvey, LA 70059.
Books by Joanna Wayne
HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE
288—DEEP IN THE BAYOU
339—BEHIND THE MASK
389—EXTREME HEAT
444—FAMILY TIES*
471—JODIE’S LITTLE SECRETS
495—ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
505—LONE STAR LAWMAN
537—MEMORIES AT MIDNIGHT
569—THE SECOND SON*
573—THE STRANGER NEXT DOOR*
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Danielle—A sexy Cajun lady with a past she can’t remember and a killer on her trail.
Langley Randolph—The neighboring rancher who’ll do whatever he has to in order to keep Danielle safe.
Ryder Randolph—Langley’s younger brother. He likes Danielle, but is afraid she will cause Langley trouble.
Milton Maccabbee—Danielle’s uncle and the owner of the Running Deer Ranch, which borders the Randolph spread. He’s dead but still luring Danielle into a web of danger.
Joshua Kincaid—He has his fingers in a lot of pies and they may not all be legal.
Wade Hernandez—Joshua Kincaid’s ranch foreman, but he may be following his own agenda.
Samuel Drummer—He’s afraid of losing his fiancé.
Corky Westmorland—Milton’s stepson. He wants the Running Deer for himself.
Riff—The cantankerous old ranch hand who shows up where you least expect him.
A special thanks to Dr. Cavanaugh and his lovely wife, Donna, for always taking the time to answer my plot-related medical questions. To my grandchildren, who just by being themselves, inspire me to create adorable fictional children. And to Wayne, always.
Contents
Prologue
Danielle strolled down a side street of the famed New Orleans French Quarter. She shifted the bulk of her packages from one shoulder to the other and