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Black Rain Rising

A down-and-out country singer with nothing but spare change and troubles, a dingy tavern with dangerous associates, and a mysterious brunette with raindrops in her hair. The setting sounds like every bad country song he’s ever heard, but Dallas Baird believes he can win the girl and Nashville stardom…if he can just avoid the sheriff and that inconvenient murder charge.

Dallas stopped her river of words with one finger across her lips.

“Shh, Angel, shh. We aren’t going to do anything further with Al Hayes and his investigation.”

“But, Dallas,” she began.

“No, I won’t have you mixed up in all this.” He paced the small room for a moment.

“Look, Angel, you’re quite a girl. You’re the best—smart, perceptive, and fearless. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have in my corner, no question. The thing is, I like you. Probably I like you a little too much for my peace of mind, but that’s not the point.”

His amber eyes were dark, fierce, and his words measured and slow. “Things tend to happen to people I care about. I won’t take the chance of letting you get too close to me. So there won’t be any we getting the sheriff to look at ledgers or talk to people who might have done business with Duff.

“No beautiful girl with a mouth made for kissing is putting herself in harm’s way for me. Understand, me, Angel? This whole thing can come down like a breached dam with me trying to mop up the disaster it leaves. I don’t want to see you pulled under by the mess.”

“Let me tell you something, cowboy.” Moving in on him she poked a red-tipped fingernail at the third button on his shirt. “You’re up against the machinery of small town politicians who will hang a stranger before they embarrass a local stray cat. I’m what you’ve got, my friend. If a mess has to be cleaned up when that dam goes down, I’m right there with you. I’ll even bring my own mop.”

With an exasperated sigh he crossed his arms over his chest. “Angel, I suspect the trouble I have with the sheriff is only about half the trouble I’m going to have with you.”