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Blazing Star
Suzanne Ellison
WELCOME TO TYLERCHANGES ARE AFOOT…Tyler's got a new female police captain – and everybody's talking! Come on down to Marge's and share the speculations of America's favorite hometown.SHE SEEMS TOUGH AS NAILSWhen Tyler's favorite son Brick Bauer loses a promotion to outsider Karen Keppler, no one is pleased – least of all Brick.BUT THEY CALL HER "CAPTAIN CURVACEOUS"Thoughts of his beautiful new boss, however, are soon keeping Brick awake at nights. Unfortunately, no-nonsense Captain Keppler has this rule about not dating subordinates….
WELCOME TO TYLER. CHANGES ARE AFOOT...
Tyler’s got a new female police captain—and everybody’s talking!
Come on down to Marge’s and share the speculations of America’s favorite hometown.
SHE SEEMS TOUGH AS NAILS
When Tyler’s favorite son Brick Bauer loses a promotion to outsider Karen Keppler, no one is pleased—least of all Brick.
BUT THEY CALL HER “CAPTAIN CURVACEOUS”
Thoughts of his beautiful new boss, however, are soon keeping Brick awake nights.
Unfortunately, no-nonsense Captain Keppler has this rule about not dating subordinates....
Previously Published.
“Crawled into your office to hide, did you, Karen?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer before he roared on. “Funny, I didn’t take you for a quitter. I thought you were the type to face things head-on!”
“Brick,” she pleaded, “please understand. This can’t continue. I need the respect of the community. The support of my men.”
Suddenly she felt two broad, male hands on her waist. “None of that’s going to keep you warm at night, Karen. None of it’s going to put out the fire burning deep inside you.”
Then his lips claimed hers. It took all her strength to wrench herself away.
“Listen to me carefully,” she said coldly, through her misery. “If you ever touch me like that again, Lieutenant Bauer, I will have your badge!”
Dear Reader (#ulink_f28125ea-8ee1-5a76-b327-035a0a62007e),
Welcome to Mills & Boon’s Tyler, a small Wisconsin town whose citizens we hope you’ll soon come to know and love. Like many of the innovative publishing concepts Mills & Boon has launched over the years, the idea for the Tyler series originated in response to our readers’ preferences. Your enthusiasm for sequels and continuing characters within many of the Mills & Boon lines has prompted us to create a twelve-book series of individual romances whose characters’ lives inevitably intertwine.
Tyler faces many challenges typical of small towns, but the fabric of this fictional community will be torn by the revelation of a long-ago murder, the details of which will evolve right through the series.
Renovations are almost complete at the old Timberlake lodge. They’re gearing up for the Ingallses’ annual Christmas party, which hasn’t been held at Timberlake for decades! There’s a new owner now, a man with a personal interest in showing Tyler folks his financial clout and with a private objective in reclaiming the love of a town resident he romanced long ago.
Marge is waiting with some home-baked pie at her diner, and policeman Brick Bauer might direct you down Elm Street if it’s patriarch Judson Ingalls you’re after. Brick calls Kelsey’s boardinghouse home, and you’re always welcome there. In fact, new police captain Karen Keppler is about to move into Kelsey’s herself. So join us in Tyler, once a month for the next eight months, for a slice of small-town life that’s not as innocent or as quiet as you might expect, and for a sense of community that will capture your mind and your heart.
Marsha Zinberg
Editorial Coordinator, Tyler
Blazing Star
Suzanne Ellison
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For Betty Cook, who’s always there to lend a hand
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Suzanne Ellison for her contribution to the Tyler series.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Joanna Kosloff for her contribution to the concept for the Tyler series.
CONTENTS
Cover (#ub2b3de36-7524-5a6f-83fa-29e6b0c06e21)
Back Cover Text (#ua68d7f3d-bb77-5930-b6dc-e4082dd6d0ab)
Dear Reader (#ulink_0906d4dc-c635-59d0-9b67-d3b4b85f3e6e)
Title Page (#u927fa3f5-40fd-5b61-8d06-bb81245428f5)
Dedication (#u61654240-89be-5984-a95f-eeedd8b39670)
Acknowledgments (#u32acfc4a-8c4a-52a3-b692-b8ef521f9724)
Chapter One (#ulink_7ad4c4c4-30af-5df4-9b14-980fc635130c)
Chapter Two (#ulink_73cc8460-3080-5398-9236-3d7b88ab75a0)
Chapter Three (#ulink_0c096c23-f1f8-5e1b-acfb-652dbfbc96a5)
Chapter Four (#ulink_dd08911f-24d4-5c3b-83a8-6c59bee518ec)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_85b61b92-dd08-5067-ac08-b0362a26ee2a)
BRICK BAUER PARKED his old black pickup outside the main gates to the Schmidt farm, then hurried up the long gravel walkway that led through the dark to the house. It was already after eight, and he hoped the chief’s retirement party would be in full swing by now—the bigger the crowd, the less conspicuous his token appearance was likely to be. A half hour or so ought to do it, just long enough to say hello to everybody who’d be sure to notice if he lacked the courage to show up here tonight. All week he’d felt like a bug in a specimen jar, and he had no intention of spending the next week the same way.
Since last Monday, Brick’s name had been on the lips of every housewife who had her hair done at Tisha Olsen’s Hair Affair, every cop who hung out at Marge’s Diner and every old codger who was living out his sunset years at Worthington House. Nobody had dared to spread rumors at the Kelsey Boardinghouse, but Brick figured that was because his Aunt Anna had threatened to take a spatula to the backside of any of his fellow boarders who so much as mentioned that he’d been passed over for promotion, let alone that a woman from the other end of Sugar Creek County was going to take the helm instead of him.
The worst of it was that Brick still wasn’t sure how it had happened. He’d been Chief Paul Schmidt’s right-hand man at the Tyler Police Department for the past six years, and back in college he’d been engaged to Paul’s daughter, who was supposed to be making one of her rare pilgrimages home for the party tonight. Granted, Brick and Shelley had parted painfully, but nobody could blame him for that. It wasn’t his fault that Shelley had decided being a big-city microbiologist suited her better than marriage to a hometown cop. She still hadn’t married; she claimed she never would.
Brick was single, too, but it wasn’t because he didn’t want a family. He just hadn’t found his lifetime mate yet. He’d actually grown a bit weary of searching, but his Aunt Anna still spent a good deal of her time trying to find him the perfect wife. Her latest candidate was the new boarder who was moving in tonight.
Aunt Anna and Uncle Johnny had zipped off to Milwaukee at the last minute to put their daughter Kathleen on a plane for Switzerland, conveniently leaving Brick as the resident family member to greet the newcomer anytime after nine. He wasn’t holding out any hopes that he’d want to get particularly chummy with the new boarder, but he was pleased that he had such a good excuse to leave the party early.
As he pocketed his key and marched up the gravel walkway, Brick spotted a pair of long, magnificent female legs moving at a good clip in front of him. At once he found himself checking out some impressive curves that not even the stylish wool coat could conceal. Brick knew every woman in the retiring police chief’s life—there weren’t many—but for a moment he had trouble placing this one. The confidence of that saucy walk made him question his own memory; besides, there was something different about the hair. Shelley always wore her hair long and loose, the way he liked it. Tonight it was wrapped in a classy chignon but it was still dark and thick and tempting. In fact, in the moonlight, it looked even more silky than Brick remembered it. Shelley looked more silky than he remembered her! Womanhood had been good to her. Not only did she move with more compelling grace than she used to, but she’d put on a little weight, too...in all the right places.
As Shelley approached the porch where they’d exchanged fervent kisses so many times, Brick felt an odd sense of déjà vu. Was it possible that he still had deep feelings for her? Was that why he’d never really found another woman to take her place? Was that why she looked so good to him—better than ever—after all this time?
Suzanne Ellison
WELCOME TO TYLERCHANGES ARE AFOOT…Tyler's got a new female police captain – and everybody's talking! Come on down to Marge's and share the speculations of America's favorite hometown.SHE SEEMS TOUGH AS NAILSWhen Tyler's favorite son Brick Bauer loses a promotion to outsider Karen Keppler, no one is pleased – least of all Brick.BUT THEY CALL HER "CAPTAIN CURVACEOUS"Thoughts of his beautiful new boss, however, are soon keeping Brick awake at nights. Unfortunately, no-nonsense Captain Keppler has this rule about not dating subordinates….
WELCOME TO TYLER. CHANGES ARE AFOOT...
Tyler’s got a new female police captain—and everybody’s talking!
Come on down to Marge’s and share the speculations of America’s favorite hometown.
SHE SEEMS TOUGH AS NAILS
When Tyler’s favorite son Brick Bauer loses a promotion to outsider Karen Keppler, no one is pleased—least of all Brick.
BUT THEY CALL HER “CAPTAIN CURVACEOUS”
Thoughts of his beautiful new boss, however, are soon keeping Brick awake nights.
Unfortunately, no-nonsense Captain Keppler has this rule about not dating subordinates....
Previously Published.
“Crawled into your office to hide, did you, Karen?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer before he roared on. “Funny, I didn’t take you for a quitter. I thought you were the type to face things head-on!”
“Brick,” she pleaded, “please understand. This can’t continue. I need the respect of the community. The support of my men.”
Suddenly she felt two broad, male hands on her waist. “None of that’s going to keep you warm at night, Karen. None of it’s going to put out the fire burning deep inside you.”
Then his lips claimed hers. It took all her strength to wrench herself away.
“Listen to me carefully,” she said coldly, through her misery. “If you ever touch me like that again, Lieutenant Bauer, I will have your badge!”
Dear Reader (#ulink_f28125ea-8ee1-5a76-b327-035a0a62007e),
Welcome to Mills & Boon’s Tyler, a small Wisconsin town whose citizens we hope you’ll soon come to know and love. Like many of the innovative publishing concepts Mills & Boon has launched over the years, the idea for the Tyler series originated in response to our readers’ preferences. Your enthusiasm for sequels and continuing characters within many of the Mills & Boon lines has prompted us to create a twelve-book series of individual romances whose characters’ lives inevitably intertwine.
Tyler faces many challenges typical of small towns, but the fabric of this fictional community will be torn by the revelation of a long-ago murder, the details of which will evolve right through the series.
Renovations are almost complete at the old Timberlake lodge. They’re gearing up for the Ingallses’ annual Christmas party, which hasn’t been held at Timberlake for decades! There’s a new owner now, a man with a personal interest in showing Tyler folks his financial clout and with a private objective in reclaiming the love of a town resident he romanced long ago.
Marge is waiting with some home-baked pie at her diner, and policeman Brick Bauer might direct you down Elm Street if it’s patriarch Judson Ingalls you’re after. Brick calls Kelsey’s boardinghouse home, and you’re always welcome there. In fact, new police captain Karen Keppler is about to move into Kelsey’s herself. So join us in Tyler, once a month for the next eight months, for a slice of small-town life that’s not as innocent or as quiet as you might expect, and for a sense of community that will capture your mind and your heart.
Marsha Zinberg
Editorial Coordinator, Tyler
Blazing Star
Suzanne Ellison
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For Betty Cook, who’s always there to lend a hand
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Suzanne Ellison for her contribution to the Tyler series.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Joanna Kosloff for her contribution to the concept for the Tyler series.
CONTENTS
Cover (#ub2b3de36-7524-5a6f-83fa-29e6b0c06e21)
Back Cover Text (#ua68d7f3d-bb77-5930-b6dc-e4082dd6d0ab)
Dear Reader (#ulink_0906d4dc-c635-59d0-9b67-d3b4b85f3e6e)
Title Page (#u927fa3f5-40fd-5b61-8d06-bb81245428f5)
Dedication (#u61654240-89be-5984-a95f-eeedd8b39670)
Acknowledgments (#u32acfc4a-8c4a-52a3-b692-b8ef521f9724)
Chapter One (#ulink_7ad4c4c4-30af-5df4-9b14-980fc635130c)
Chapter Two (#ulink_73cc8460-3080-5398-9236-3d7b88ab75a0)
Chapter Three (#ulink_0c096c23-f1f8-5e1b-acfb-652dbfbc96a5)
Chapter Four (#ulink_dd08911f-24d4-5c3b-83a8-6c59bee518ec)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_85b61b92-dd08-5067-ac08-b0362a26ee2a)
BRICK BAUER PARKED his old black pickup outside the main gates to the Schmidt farm, then hurried up the long gravel walkway that led through the dark to the house. It was already after eight, and he hoped the chief’s retirement party would be in full swing by now—the bigger the crowd, the less conspicuous his token appearance was likely to be. A half hour or so ought to do it, just long enough to say hello to everybody who’d be sure to notice if he lacked the courage to show up here tonight. All week he’d felt like a bug in a specimen jar, and he had no intention of spending the next week the same way.
Since last Monday, Brick’s name had been on the lips of every housewife who had her hair done at Tisha Olsen’s Hair Affair, every cop who hung out at Marge’s Diner and every old codger who was living out his sunset years at Worthington House. Nobody had dared to spread rumors at the Kelsey Boardinghouse, but Brick figured that was because his Aunt Anna had threatened to take a spatula to the backside of any of his fellow boarders who so much as mentioned that he’d been passed over for promotion, let alone that a woman from the other end of Sugar Creek County was going to take the helm instead of him.
The worst of it was that Brick still wasn’t sure how it had happened. He’d been Chief Paul Schmidt’s right-hand man at the Tyler Police Department for the past six years, and back in college he’d been engaged to Paul’s daughter, who was supposed to be making one of her rare pilgrimages home for the party tonight. Granted, Brick and Shelley had parted painfully, but nobody could blame him for that. It wasn’t his fault that Shelley had decided being a big-city microbiologist suited her better than marriage to a hometown cop. She still hadn’t married; she claimed she never would.
Brick was single, too, but it wasn’t because he didn’t want a family. He just hadn’t found his lifetime mate yet. He’d actually grown a bit weary of searching, but his Aunt Anna still spent a good deal of her time trying to find him the perfect wife. Her latest candidate was the new boarder who was moving in tonight.
Aunt Anna and Uncle Johnny had zipped off to Milwaukee at the last minute to put their daughter Kathleen on a plane for Switzerland, conveniently leaving Brick as the resident family member to greet the newcomer anytime after nine. He wasn’t holding out any hopes that he’d want to get particularly chummy with the new boarder, but he was pleased that he had such a good excuse to leave the party early.
As he pocketed his key and marched up the gravel walkway, Brick spotted a pair of long, magnificent female legs moving at a good clip in front of him. At once he found himself checking out some impressive curves that not even the stylish wool coat could conceal. Brick knew every woman in the retiring police chief’s life—there weren’t many—but for a moment he had trouble placing this one. The confidence of that saucy walk made him question his own memory; besides, there was something different about the hair. Shelley always wore her hair long and loose, the way he liked it. Tonight it was wrapped in a classy chignon but it was still dark and thick and tempting. In fact, in the moonlight, it looked even more silky than Brick remembered it. Shelley looked more silky than he remembered her! Womanhood had been good to her. Not only did she move with more compelling grace than she used to, but she’d put on a little weight, too...in all the right places.
As Shelley approached the porch where they’d exchanged fervent kisses so many times, Brick felt an odd sense of déjà vu. Was it possible that he still had deep feelings for her? Was that why he’d never really found another woman to take her place? Was that why she looked so good to him—better than ever—after all this time?
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