To Love And Protect

To Love And Protect
Muriel Jensen

She'll make Christmas magic…in spite of him!In all his years as a cop, Ben Palmer had seen some hard cases. But Corie Ochoa took the cake. There was more hostility in her gorgeous five-foot-one frame than he'd seen in hardened criminals. Not to mention her uncanny knack for getting herself in trouble. But she was his adopted brother's sister, and he was going to help her whether she liked it or not. And clearly, she didn't.Too bad. He hadn't come all the way to Texas to let this infuriating woman off the hook. Every instinct told him there was more to this story…and to her.

She’ll make Christmas magic...in spite of him!

In all his years as a cop, Ben Palmer had seen some hard cases. But Corie Ochoa took the cake. There was more hostility in her gorgeous five-foot-one frame than he’d seen in hardened criminals. Not to mention her uncanny knack for getting herself in trouble. But she was his adopted brother’s sister, and he was going to help her whether she liked it or not. And clearly, she didn’t.

Too bad. He hadn’t come all the way to Texas to let this infuriating woman off the hook. Every instinct told him there was more to this story...and to her.

Ben Palmer? It couldn’t be.

In complete disbelief, she saw him coming toward her, picking up speed as the tree she was hoisting began to fall. Six feet and a couple of inches of darkly gorgeous but self-righteous, self-satisfied male who despised and distrusted her... What was he doing here? As though her life wasn’t already fraught with more problems than she could deal with. He—

She lost her balance completely as he tried but failed to help.

“Corie?” he asked.

She wanted to say something clever, sound flippant, as though it didn’t matter that he was the man she hated and he considered her an incorrigible criminal. “No, I’m the Druid that came with the tree. Of course, it’s me.”

She felt his sigh against her forehead. “I know it’s you. I want to know if you’re okay.”

“No, I’m not okay. I have twelve feet of tree on me and six feet of hateful man.”

Dear Reader (#u2299cc02-bcf3-5cd9-a157-0694e6647440),

I love November. It’s a time for giving thanks, a preparation for the holiday season, a time for family. And that’s what Manning Family Reunion is all about. Jack, from In My Dreams, is determined to put his family back together after most of a lifetime of separation.

To Love and Protect is Corie’s story. She was four years old when the Manning kids were separated, and her life took a much different path from Jack’s. She’s small in stature but big in courage and resourcefulness—with an interesting tendency toward flaunting the rules when necessary.

Ben, Jack’s adopted brother, is all heart. But as a police officer, he has great respect for the rules and serious concerns about Jack’s devotion to his newly discovered sister. Particularly when she presents a threat to their family, and Jack is away on his honeymoon. It’s Ben to the rescue—or is it?

Happy holiday season!

Muriel

HEARTWARMING

To Love and Protect

Muriel Jensen

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

MURIEL JENSEN lives with her husband, Ron, in a simple old Victorian looking down on the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. They share the space with a loudmouthed husky mix and two eccentric tabbies. They have three children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Their neighborhood is charmed, populated with the kindest and most fun-to-be-around people.

In loving memory of Wayne McVey, who was a wonderful friend to Ron and me, who loved Starbucks, and onion rings, casinos and dinner at Dooger’s. And to Diane McVey, who soldiers on without him. Love you both!

Contents

Cover (#ufb7dcd03-8d9f-54eb-8848-a8dd8687329a)

Back Cover Text (#u1502bc77-8880-50fd-8294-c39163b0e056)

Introduction (#u05c659ad-08e8-5645-abca-0f9051cbad15)

Dear Reader

Title Page (#ua658b4c8-98d7-57dd-a606-09c6ee9bed1d)

About the Author (#u9f82dedf-2339-5490-b29a-99a04cee36a0)

Dedication (#udb9c7df2-fcd2-523d-a3a2-4aa231e156a8)

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN