Dylan's Last Dare

Dylan's Last Dare
Patricia Thayer

Bull-riding champion Dylan "The Devil" Gentry had females of all ages eating out of the palm of his hand. Except his pretty physical therapist, the no-nonsense Brenna Farren. His stolen kisses–aimed to make her quit–only made him more eager to keep the feisty redhead around!And once the ruggedly handsome cowboy learned that Brenna was expecting and alone, his protective instincts kicked in. Knowing her family would be disappointed in her single status, Dylan proposed a temporary marriage to give her unborn babe his name. But would Dylan take the biggest dare of all–and settle down?

“If I’m so good with the ladies, how come it hasn’t worked on you?”

Her easy laughter filled the room. “I don’t think you’ve been trying to charm me, only drive me away. Besides, I’m not a lady. I’m your physical therapist.”

Ooh, she was definitely a lady. “Just out of curiosity, what would it take to get your…attention?” Dylan asked with a grin.

“More than sweet words…or a cocky smile. I have three brothers, and they’ve inherited a bit of the blarney along with their Irish genes.” She sobered. “Besides, I learned a long time ago to believe only half of what men say.”

“Who did you wrong? Want me to go beat him up?”

Sadness transformed her face. “You can’t beat him up…he’s dead.”

Dear Reader,

Baby birds are chirping, bees are buzzing and the tulips are beginning to bud. Spring is here, so why not revive the winter-weary romantic in you by reading four brand-new love stories from Silhouette Romance this month.

What’s an old soldier to do when a bunch of needy rug rats and a hapless beauty crash his retreat? Fall in love, of course! Follow the antics of this funny little troop in Major Daddy (#1710) by Cara Colter.

In Dylan’s Last Dare (#1711), the latest title in Patricia Thayer’s dynamite THE TEXAS BROTHERHOOD miniseries, a cranky cowboy locks horns with his feisty physical therapist and then learns she has a little secret she soon won’t be able to hide!

Jordan Bishop wants to dwell in a castle and live happily ever after, but somehow things aren’t going as she’s planned, in An Heiress on His Doorstep (#1712) by Teresa Southwick. This is the final title in Southwick’s delightful IF WISHES WERE…miniseries in which three friends have their dreams come true in unexpected ways.

When a bookworm meets her prince and discovers she’s a real-life princess, will she be able to make her own happy ending? Find out in The Secret Princess (#1713) by Elizabeth Harbison.

Celebrate the new season, feel the love and join in the fun by experiencing each of these lively new love stories from Silhouette Romance!

Mavis C. Allen

Associate Senior Editor

Dylan’s Last Dare

Patricia Thayer

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

To Nora.

Thank you, niece, for your expertise in getting my hero back on his feet. And to my model, Daniel. I couldn’t have done it without you both.

Thanks to Colin Anderson for sharing your bull-riding experiences. I know your wife and mom are happy you are retired.

And always to Hence, my friend and true Texas cowboy.

PATRICIA THAYER

has been writing for sixteen years and has published nineteen books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion, Orange Rose Contest and a prestigious RITA

Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition.

Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of thirty-two years, Steve, and her three grown sons and two grandsons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251, or check her Web site at www.patriciathayer.com for upcoming books.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Chapter One

Dylan Gentry’s life would never be the same again.

He gripped the arms of his wheelchair, trying to fight off the panic that threatened to take over his already battered body.

It was all gone.

He’d never again be able to do what he loved. He’d never be able to feel the rush from a wild ride, the thrill from the cheer of the crowd as he broke out of the chute. He’d ended up a cripple for life, all because of one mean son-of-a-gun bull, Red Rock.

Dylan’s hands fisted. He hated himself more for the self-pity. But dammit, hadn’t he earned the right? He’d spent the last two months in the hospital. He’d had three surgeries, one to close up the wound in his gut from being hooked by the bull, and two more on his crushed leg.

Hell, it was January. He’d spent the entire month of December in the hospital. A month that he’d planned to spend at the national finals in Las Vegas. Now he was stuck in a two-bedroom cottage at his brother Wyatt’s ranch in San Angelo, Texas, waiting for the next physical therapist to show his face.

In the past two weeks, he’d already sent six packing within hours after their arrival. Today, he was going for number seven. At least it gave him something to look forward to. He glanced around his new home. There was a state-of-the-art television and sound system, a bookcase filled with every top-selling novel.

There sure as hell wasn’t much else for him to do.