The eagerly awaited new installment in the Long, Tall Texans series
New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer continues her beloved Long, Tall Texans series by delving deep into the heart of San Antonio and one of its top detectives, Rick Marquez. He never met a case he couldn’t solve or a woman he couldn’t charm. But this smooth-talking Texan is about to meet the one woman who’ll lasso him—body and soul!
Don’t miss the classic tale by Diana Palmer Carrera’s Bride included in this book!
Notorious Marcus Carrera instills fear in friends and foes alike—but one woman can see beyond the formidable veneer to his gruffly tender heart. When she needs his help, can he risk it all to make her his beloved bride?
Praise for the novels of New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Diana Palmer
“Palmer demonstrates, yet again, why she’s the queen of desperado quests for justice and true love.”
—Publishers Weekly on Dangerous
“The popular Palmer has penned another winning novel, a perfect blend of romance and suspense.”
—Booklist on Lawman
“Palmer knows how to make the sparks fly…heartwarming.”
—Publishers Weekly on Renegade
“Diana Palmer is a mesmerizing storyteller who captures the essence of what a romance should be.”
—Affaire de Coeur
* * *
Bonus Book!
For your enjoyment, we’ve added to this volume Carrera’s Bride, a classic, bestselling book by Diana Palmer!
DIANA PALMER
The prolific author of more than one hundred books, Diana Palmer got her start as a newspaper reporter. A multi-New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author and one of the top ten romance writers in America, she has a gift for telling the most sensual tales with charm and humor. Diana lives with her family in Cornelia, Georgia.
True Blue
& Carrera’s Bride
Diana Palmer
Contents
True Blue
Chapter 1
“We could lose the case,” San Antonio Detective Sergeant Rick Marquez muttered as he glared at one of the newest detectives on his squad.
“I’m really sorry,” Gwendolyn Cassaway said, wincing. “I tripped. It was an accident.”
He stared at her through narrowed dark eyes, his sensual lips compressed. “You tripped because you’re nearsighted and you won’t wear glasses.” Personally, he didn’t think the lack of them did anything for her, if vanity was the issue. She had a pleasant face, and an exquisite complexion, but she was no raving beauty. Her finest feature was her wealth of thick platinum-blond hair that she wore in a high bun on top of her head. She never wore it down.
“Glasses get in my way and I can’t ever get them clean enough,” she muttered. “That coating just causes smears unless you use the proper cleaning materials. And I can’t ever find them,” she said defensively.
He drew in a long, exasperated breath and perched on the edge of the desk in his office. In the posture, his .45 Colt ACP in its distinctive leather holster was displayed next to his badge on his belt. So were his powerful legs, and to their best advantage. He was tall and muscular, without it being obvious. He had a light olive complexion and thick long black hair that he wore in a ponytail. He was very attractive, but he couldn’t ever seem to wind up with a serious girlfriend. Women found him useful as a sympathetic shoulder to cry on over their true loves. One woman refused to date him when she realized that he wore his pistol even off duty. He’d tried to explain that it was a necessary thing, but it hadn’t given him any points with her. He went to the opera, which he loved, all alone. He went everywhere alone. He was almost thirty-one, and lonelier than ever. It made him irritable.
And here was Gwen making it all worse, messing up his crime scene, threatening the delicate chain of evidence that could lead to a conviction in a complex murder.
A college freshman, pretty and blonde, had been brutally assaulted and killed. They had no suspects and trace evidence was very sketchy already. Gwen had almost contaminated the scene by stepping too close to a blood smear.
He was not in a good mood. He was hungry. He was going to be late for lunch, because he had to chew her out. If he didn’t, the