The Texan's Return Read online

  A dying father’s final wish brings a mystery to life once again...

  In the small town of Legacy, Texas, an old man is dying. At his side is the son determined to clear his name. Mac Morrison knows his father was wrongfully imprisoned for murder, and he’s determined to find the real killer. But not before he reunites with a love from his past...

  Hailey Green, who’s still grieving her brutally murdered sister, hasn’t seen Mac since he fled town in disgrace. Forced to raise her siblings, Hailey still relies on no one but herself—until the man who killed her sister returns. Turning to each other while seeking answers, Hailey and Mac find their old desires reignited and realize that the only life worth protecting is one together!

  “Why?” Mac finally asked in a soft voice. “I’ve missed you. What would be the harm in reconnecting?”

  This question so dumbfounded her that Hailey stared, speechless. And then, while she was still trying to formulate a response, he leaned over and kissed her.

  It wasn’t a demanding kiss, or a punishing one. The brush of his lips on hers felt soft, welcoming and familiar. And because of that, sensual as hell. When he finally lifted his mouth away, she couldn’t stop shaking.

  Of course he noticed. “Are you cold?” he asked, even though she suspected he knew the truth.

  “No.” Right then, right now, she knew she should stand up, move away and demand in a forceful voice that he never do such a thing again. But it had been far too long since she’d been touched, and the cold, empty shell of a person she’d become felt like a flower opening to the sun. She wanted more.

  * * *

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  Dear Reader,

  Some books are more difficult for me to write than others. This book was one of those. I started working on it while still raw from losing my father just two years after losing my mother. Several times while writing it, I had to force myself to face my pain and dig deep. The story, while alternately painful and uplifting, hit close to my heart, and now that the book is finished, I feel it is among my best work. The love shines through.

  Previous loves and second chances are my very favorite to write. Throw in a massive need for forgiveness, for understanding and the fact that a very giving woman needs to finally learn it’s all right to reach for her own happiness, and you have part of the reason why this book was so important to me. Raw and emotional, some of it culled from my own recent experiences, I viewed this story as redemption and the true power of love. There’s beauty in sacrifice and joy in love. This particular couple is special to me. I hope you feel the same. I’d love to hear from you and see what you think.

  Karen Whiddon

  THE TEXAN’S

  RETURN

  Karen Whiddon

  Karen Whiddon started weaving fanciful tales for her younger brothers at the age of eleven. Amid the gorgeous Catskill Mountains, then the majestic Rocky Mountains, she fueled her imagination with the natural beauty surrounding her. Karen now lives in north Texas, writes full-time and volunteers for a boxer dog rescue. She shares her life with her hero of a husband and four to five dogs, depending on if she is fostering. You can email Karen at [email protected]. Fans can also check out her website, karenwhiddon.com.

  Harlequin Romantic Suspense

  The Texan’s Return

  The Coltons of Texas

  Runaway Colton

  The Coltons of Oklahoma

  The Temptation of Dr. Colton

  The Coltons: Return to Wyoming

  A Secret Colton Baby

  The CEO’s Secret Baby

  The Cop’s Missing Child

  The Millionaire Cowboy’s Secret

  Texas Secrets, Lovers’ Lies

  The Rancher’s Return

  Silhouette Romantic Suspense

  The Princess’s Secret Scandal

  Bulletproof Marriage

  The Cordiasic Legacy

  Black Sheep P.I.

  The Perfect Soldier

  Profile for Seduction

  Visit the Author Profile page at

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  To those who take care of others. The caregivers—of the elderly or of children, of spouses or friends. Know that while an often thankless job might seem unappreciated, in the end it truly is.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Secret Agent Under Fire by Geri Krotow

  Chapter 1

  The sharp sound of someone knocking on her front door made Hailey Green narrow her eyes. She’d posted a No Soliciting sign years ago, but every once in a while, a very persistent salesperson would pretend not to see it. She supposed they felt somewhat entitled after walking all the way up her long, winding drive.

  Still... She put down the whisk, wiped her hands on the front of her faded jeans, and marched to answer the knock. Prepared speech all ready, she flung the door open. And stared, the words dying on her lips. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest, like a caught catfish on the end of a trotline.

  Him. Mac Morrison.

  “What...” Stunned, she took a step back, in disbelief, in defense, or a combination of both. Once, her younger self had dreamt of this moment. That dream, like all the others, had faded. Every time his face drifted into her thoughts, she’d chased the image away, telling herself after so many years, she had no idea what kind of man Mac had become.

  Now she knew. She let her gaze drink him in, too shocked even to attempt to hide her reaction. After a decade away, he was no longer a boy, but a man. And oh, what a man.

  He’d filled out, his body finally catching up to his height. Time had hardened the craggy perfection of his face and given him a masculine virility that his younger self had only had a hint of. He’d gotten muscular, too, his bare arms powerful, his broad shoulders filling out his black T-shirt. He wore his thick, dark hair longer, shaggier, but this also just enhanced his appeal. Only the warmth in his gray eyes as he gazed at her hadn’t changed.

  “Hi,” he said, his easy smile and husky voice making her catch her breath. “How’ve you been? It’s been a long time, but you still look the same. Even down to the earrings. I’m glad to see you kept them.”

  Purely on reflex, she brought her hand up to her ears. The tiny diamond ear studs he’d given her for her sixteenth birthday were in place, just as they always were. She took them off every night and put them on every single morning. They were the only piece of jewelry she wore.

  She could have slammed the door and locked it, turned and run down the hall to the bathroom so she could retch up the remains of breakfast. She could have, probably should have, but instead she couldn’t make herself move. One devilish quirk of a smile and all the memories, wants and desires came rushing back as if they were
yesterday rather than almost a decade ago.

  Mouth dry, she struggled to find the words to make a response. Instead, to her absolute horror, her eyes filled with tears. She would not cry, not in front of him.

  “What...” she tried again. “What are you doing here? After all this time.” The harshness of her tone spoke more of her pain rather than anger.

  “What, no friendly welcome?” Mockery and regret combined to darken his eyes to slate. “I thought at least that you’d want to catch up with an old friend.”

  Friends. They’d been that, once. And more. Much, much more. Not only best friends, but lovers and soul mates. She’d loved him, with all the fervor of a teenage girl. And he’d loved her back, or so she’d believed. Though when he and his family had moved away, under the cloud of shame caused by what Mac’s father had done, he hadn’t even said goodbye. Hailey had never heard from him again.

  Not that she’d wanted to. That was what she’d told herself to mitigate the hurt. After all, there’d only been so many things she could grieve at seventeen. Her sister’s murder had been difficult enough. Once upon a time, Hailey had believed in true love, happily-ever-after and fairy tales. That was Before, with a capital B. Before everything had changed and she’d learned monsters really did exist.

  “Hailey?” He cocked his head, clearly waiting for her to respond.

  The sound of her name on his lips sent a shiver up her spine. Words. She needed to answer him. So she said the first thing that came to mind. “I thought you moved far away. Another state? Up north somewhere.”

  “No. Mother and I settled in Huntsville, to be near my dad.”

  She couldn’t suppress a shudder.

  He continued on as if he hadn’t noticed. “My mother passed away three years ago.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, meaning it. Then, because she had to ask, she did. “And your father?” Holding herself stiffly, she waited for him to say the words that, even now, might set her free.

  Swallowing, Mac looked away for the first time since he’d arrived. “He’s been ill. Pancreatic cancer. It’s terminal.”

  Heaven help her, she wouldn’t allow herself to feel pity. His father deserved none, that was for sure. Crossing her arms, she settled for a nod. “What are you doing here, Mac?” This time, she softened her tone. “Nothing good can come of dredging up old memories.”

  Finally, he appeared uncomfortable. Shifting his weight from foot to foot—sturdy black motorcycle boots, she noticed—he sighed. “I’m home, Hailey. My father and I both. We’ve moved back into the old place on Front Street.”

  “They let him out?” Shocked, she didn’t have time to think of the impact her words might have on him. He winced, and she scaled back her outrage, just a little bit. “I’ve been notified every time he’s come up for parole,” she informed him, her voice firm but softer. “I’d know if they were going to release that man.”

  “That man is my father.” He rolled one shoulder in that shrug she remembered. “He’s sick, Hailey. Very ill,” he told her, his tone matter-of-fact since he definitely knew he couldn’t ask for her sympathy. “He’s dying, actually. His one wish was to come home and spend his final days in the house he built with his own hands. He needed someone to take care of him when hospice isn’t there, so I came with him.”

  Hailey stared. She’d never been cruel, not to him. Even when the accusations had been flying like mud under a galloping horse’s hooves, she hadn’t blamed him for what his father had done. She wouldn’t be cruel now either.

  Lips tight, she nodded. “Good luck.”

  Before he had time to muster up a reply, she closed the door in his face and, for good measure, clicked the dead bolt into place.

  Breathing as hard as if she’d just completed several runs up and down the stairs, she stared at the back of the closed door and tried to adjust to the sudden shift in her reality. As she trembled, she pressed her hand to her midsection, trying to regain her equilibrium.

  She had a sneaking suspicion nothing would ever be the same again. Mac had returned. Despite knowing better, her heart had given a spontaneous leap of joy at the sight of him, proving old habits died hard.

  Mac Morrison. The only boy she’d ever loved. He was a man now, devastatingly handsome, and even more ruggedly virile. The sight of him still captivated her. Despite everything. He’d come back. Who would have ever believed such a thing could be possible? Stunned, dismayed and confused, she wasn’t sure of herself anymore. The flare of sudden attraction at the sight of him made her feel as if she’d been catapulted into the past, before her entire life—both of their entire lives—had been irrevocably changed. She’d not only lost her sister, but her mother had descended into the depths of alcoholism, her stepfather had left and Hailey had become caregiver to her three younger siblings. For them, she’d had to be strong. For them, she’d buried her grief and sorrow deep inside and worked hard to make sure they’d have the most stable lives she could give them.

  Since then, she’d clawed her way back to a semblance of normalcy. She refused to let that be jeopardized because of his return.

  Why had he come to see her? Just to let her know he was back in town? Along with the monster he called his father. She supposed she should be glad for the warning. That way, she could make sure she avoided them.

  Giving herself a mental shake, she straightened her shoulders, exhaled and turned to make her way back to the kitchen. She’d never liked change, but it sure looked like things were changing. She’d do her damnedest to keep any repercussions from touching her or her brothers and sister.

  * * *

  Mac Morrison had known his stomach shouldn’t have been twisted in knots because he meant to say hello to his old high school flame. Yet it was. The fact that he’d never forgotten her factored in heavily as one reason, but it could also be due to the possibility that she still hated him.

  Did she, after ten long years? Wanting to know the answer was part of the reason he made this unannounced visit.

  The other part? He simply wanted to see her. To find out if the years had been kind to her. To hear her speak in that slow, sensual Southern drawl he’d never forgotten. Even if she looked at him with her bright blue eyes full of hate, he thought he could take that. Maybe. Maybe now enough years had passed that he’d no longer feel that sharp stab of betrayal.

  Foolish, he knew. But in the aftermath of Hailey’s sister’s murder, he and his family had been part of the fallout. The entire town had been in upheaval. He could have taken that; he could have taken anything. But when Hailey turned against him, that had been the final straw of many.

  Now looking back, he could see a bit more clearly. They’d all been in agony. The unspeakable had happened right in the middle of their idyllic little town, and the consequences had been enormous. There’d been so much pain on both sides. So much loss. Surely not the worst, but definitely not the least of all had been their breakup.

  If he’d wanted a fresh start, he wasn’t sure this town would be the best place to get it. But he owned the house and farm free and clear. This was what his father wanted, so Mac had come home. Because despite everything, no matter where he’d lived since then, he always considered Legacy, Texas, home.

  Once he’d arrived back in the place that had haunted him since leaving, the first thing he’d done after getting settled was ask around in town about Hailey. He figured she might have gotten married by now, have a couple kids of her own. He’d been stunned to learn she hadn’t, even more surprised to find out she’d remained living in her childhood home with her mother and three younger siblings.

  Of course he knew he had to head out to Hailey’s place. He’d driven there slowly, the winding, tree-lined roads as familiar as if he’d never left. The thick foliage, glowing in various shades of vibrant green, reminded him how beautiful spring could be in this part of Texas. With the back
drop of a cloudless sky in that particular shade of cornflower blue, the natural beauty lightened his heart. He thought it might be the prettiest thing he’d ever seen, except for the sight of Hailey’s gaze softening as she looked at him.

  Once, he’d been certain he and Hailey would end up together. Ever since they’d split, he’d felt a yawning ache in his heart, right where she used be.

  As he walked up her sidewalk, still edged in what he swore were the same type of colorful flowers from the previous decade, his heart hammered in his chest. He tried to remember the words he’d rehearsed. They’d all flown out the window at his first glimpse of her tidy little white house, unchanged by time.

  Unaccountably nervous, he swallowed hard. Then, before he had time to change his mind, he lifted his fist and rapped on her door. Again, he rehearsed his speech, hoping to sound casual, friendly even.

  When she opened the door, annoyance in her sky blue eyes, he swallowed back whatever he’d been about to say. Their gazes met, locked and every single word he’d prepared fled again.

  Damn it. He could do nothing but drink her in with his gaze. Hailey looked even better than he remembered—gorgeous, stunning and sexy. If anything, the decade since he’d seen her had ripened her lush beauty, maturing a younger prettiness into a sensual sort of beauty. She still wore her blond hair straight and uncut. Now it came nearly to her slender hips. Even in an old T-shirt and well-worn jeans, she outshone any other woman he’d ever known.

  A roiling mix of emotions stampeded through him. Longing, joy and lust, of course. And more. All the memories of the time they shared, all the regret at missing the future he’d planned with her.

  One thing he knew with absolute certainty. He’d been gone too long. Way too long. Still standing like a tongue-tied fool on her front porch, he realized another utter truth. He should have come back years ago and tried to right things between them. Even if she had believed the son should suffer for the sins of his father, he could have at least tried.