Cowboy Alibi

Cowboy Alibi
Paula Graves

For months, cop Joe Garrison had followed every lead to fi nd the woman he held responsible for his brother's death. Now, as he fi nally stood face-to-face with her, he knew justice would have to wait. It seemed the woman who conjured up memories within him both painful and passionate had recently lost her own. Torn between believing she had amnesia and turning her in, the tough lawman had his answer when the true killer surfaced.On the run, desperate for the truth, Joe gave in to his passions. He wanted to show this woman, who had no recollection of the past they'd shared, a future could be possible. If only danger didn't intervene….

“Who was I to you?”

Joe made himself meet her wary gaze. “We saw each other a few times.”

“You mean dated?”

“Yeah.”

A dozen emotions darted across her face in the span of a couple of seconds. “How long?”

“Five months.”

Her eyes flickered with surprise. “That long?”

He nodded and she processed that information quietly, but he could see her doing the math. Five months together meant more than just holding hands while walking or a goodnight kiss at the door.

He turned back to his food, aware that he had to keep up his strength, which had already been compromised by the bullet wound. But he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever have enough strength to deal with many more nights alone with Jane Doe.

PAULA GRAVES

COWBOY ALIBI

TORONTO • NEW YORK • LONDON

AMSTERDAM • PARIS • SYDNEY • HAMBURG

STOCKHOLM • ATHENS • TOKYO • MILAN • MADRID

PRAGUE • WARSAW • BUDAPEST • AUCKLAND

For Jenn, Cissy and Emily, who make wonderful

sounding boards and wonderful friends.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alabama native Paula Graves wrote her first book, a mystery starring herself and her neighborhood friends, at the age of six. A voracious reader, Paula loves books that pair tantalizing mystery with compelling romance. When she’s not reading or writing, she works as a creative director for a Birmingham advertising agency and spends time with her family and friends. She is a member of Southern Magic Romance Writers, Heart of Dixie Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.

Paula invites readers to visit her Web site, www.paulagraves.com.

Contents

Cast of Characters

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

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Jane Doe—The waitress has no memory of her former life. All she knows is that someone is willing to kill to get to her.

Joe Garrison—The embittered Wyoming cop believes Jane was complicit in his brother Tommy’s murder. But when someone comes gunning for them, he finds himself in the role of protector to his prime suspect.

Angela Carlyle—Jane’s roommate ends up dead in the apartment they share, and Jane’s the only one who can identify her killer.

Clint Holbrook—Who is the steely-eyed man who’ll stop at nothing—even murder—to get Jane back under his control?

Hank Trent—The Idaho cop has a murder to investigate and a Wyoming cop who’s disappeared with his star witness. How many rules will he have to bend to stop the killer before he finds Jane and Joe?

Harlan Dugan—The wily old con man claims he can tell Jane who she really is—for a price. But where do his loyalties really lie?

Melissa Blake—Joe’s stepmother left home when he was just a little boy, breaking his heart. Will she help him now when he needs her the most?

Riley Patterson—Joe has always trusted his second-in-command with his life. But can he trust him with Jane’s?