The Winter Soldier

The Winter Soldier
Diana Palmer

The Winter Soldier Everyone in Jacobsville, Texas, steered clear of taciturn Cy Parks–everyone but the spirited Lisa Monroe, who electrified the formidable loner with her tantalizing kisses. Their fiery passion escalated when the soldier returned from the line of duty–and claimed Lisa as his bride, to shield her from a revenge-seeking desperado. Clearly Cy was getting mighty possessive of this enchanting woman who needed the type of safeguarding only he could provide. But who would protect the beguiling bride from him?

Head back to Jacobsville, Texas, in New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer’s fan-favorite tale, The Winter Soldier!

Most everyone in town steered clear of taciturn Cy Parks. However, lovely young Lisa Monroe wasn’t exactly quaking in her boots at the sight of Cy; instead, she electrified the formidable loner with her sweetly tantalizing kisses. Their fiery passion escalated when the winter soldier returned to the line of duty…and claimed the lovely Lisa as his wife, but only to shield her from a revenge-seeking desperado. Against his own will, Cy found himself getting mighty possessive over this enchanting woman who needed the type of safeguarding only he could provide. But who would protect the beguiling bride from him...?

Originally published in 2001.

He Could Feel Her Pulse Go Wild Under His Touch.

It had been far too long since Cy had had anyone this close to him. Restraints that had been kept in place with sheer will were crumbling just at the proximity.

He moved a full step closer, so that her body was right up against him. His hands were at the back of her neck now, caressing the silky skin below her nape.

Her vulnerability made him feel taller, more masculine than ever. He wanted to protect the sweet young widow, care for her, watch over her. These were new feelings. Before, his relationships to women had been very physical.

Lisa made him hungry in a different way.

She parted her lips to speak, and he put a thumb gently over them. His free hand went around her waist and drew her slowly closer, pressing her to him.

He lifted an eyebrow at her shocked expression. “Why, Mrs. Monroe, you’re blushing,” he chided softly.

Dear Reader (#ulink_7ac37c9f-9b97-50d4-ad88-6666bbad4b49),

Welcome to the world of Silhouette Desire, where you can indulge yourself every month with romances that can only be described as passionate, powerful and provocative!

The incomparable Diana Palmer heads the Desire lineup for March. The Winter Soldier is a continuation of the author’s popular cross-line miniseries, SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE. We’re sure you’ll enjoy this tale of a jaded hero who offers protection in the form of a marriage of convenience to a beautiful woman in jeopardy.

Bestselling author Leanne Banks offers you March’s MAN OF THE MONTH, a tempting Millionaire Husband, book two of her seductive miniseries MILLION DOLLAR MEN. The exciting Desire continuity series TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB: LONE STAR JEWELS continues with Lone Star Knight by Cindy Gerard, in which a lady of royal lineage finds love with a rugged Texas cattle baron.

The M.D. Courts His Nurse as Meagan McKinney’s miniseries MATCHED IN MONTANA returns to Desire. And a single-dad rancher falls for the sexy horsetrainer he unexpectly hires in Kathie DeNosky’s The Rough and Ready Rancher. To cap off the month, Shawna Delacorte writes a torrid tale of being Stormbound with a Tycoon.

So make some special time for yourself this month, and read all six of these tantalizing Silhouette Desires!

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

The Winter Soldier

Diana Palmer

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

For J. Nelson

CONTENTS

COVER (#uf2a5b712-f01a-5b55-9fcf-57495862a422)

BACK COVER TEXT (#u6c34ce95-d325-5a47-9ed1-f7fe79d765c7)

Dear Reader (#ulink_5abc4bcf-6304-54f7-b102-787994753073)

TITLE PAGE (#u2d7bc0d3-e360-5dd7-ba54-52a9ab1f2803)

DEDICATION (#u919d1fb4-5808-5725-9d57-1b5e6137310d)

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_ba95b6c2-87bd-5481-ae13-383eab27ae91)

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_3b284342-f18c-5f89-99a2-82e524fa2b6f)

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_2dd47e2f-1b7c-5764-bb18-25f246120582)

CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

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)

EXTRACT (#litres_trial_promo)

COPYRIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_d54ffb25-6bbe-54f5-8351-05d9315e1329)

It was Monday, the worst day in the world to try to get a prescription filled. Behind the counter, the poor harassed male druggist was trying to field the telephone calls, fill prescriptions, answer questions from patrons and delegate duties to two assistants. It was always like this after the weekend, Cy Parks thought with resignation. Nobody wanted to bother the doctor on his days off, so they all waited until Monday to present their various complaints. Hence the rush on the Jacobsville Pharmacy. Michael, the pharmacist on duty, was smiling pleasantly despite the crush of customers, accustomed to the Monday madness.

That group putting off a visit to the doctor until Monday included himself, Cy mused. His arm was throbbing from an encounter with one of his angry Santa Gertrudis bulls late on Friday afternoon. It was his left arm, too, the one that had been burned in the house fire back in Wyoming. The angry rip needed ten stitches, and Dr. “Copper” Coltrain had been irritated that Cy hadn’t gone to the emergency room instead of letting it wait two days and risking gangrene. The sarcasm just washed right off; Coltrain could have saved his breath. Over the years, there had been so many wounds that Cy hardly felt pain anymore. With his shirt off, those wounds had been apparent to Coltrain, who wondered aloud where so many bullet wounds came from. Cy had simply looked at him, with those deep green eyes that could be as cold as Arctic air. Coltrain had given up.

Stitches in place, Coltrain had scribbled a prescription for a strong antibiotic and a painkiller and sent him on his way. Cy had given the prescription to the clerk ten minutes ago. He glanced around him at the prescription counter and thought he probably should have packed lunch and brought it with him.

He shifted from one booted foot to the other with noticeable impatience, his glittery green eyes sweeping the customers nearest the counter. They settled on a serene blond-haired woman studying him with evident amusement. He knew her. Most people in Jacobsville, Texas, did. She was Lisa Taylor Monroe. Her husband, Walt Monroe, an undercover narcotics officer with a federal agency, had recently been killed. He’d borrowed on his insurance policy, so there had been just enough money to bury him. At least Lisa had her small ranch, a legacy from her late father.