He told himself he could never be what she needs. But maybe he’s found the only role that really matters… As a kid, Hayes Dalton took a back seat to his sisters’ reality show, Little Cowgirls, but to deputy Cait Jameson, her childhood crush was always the main attraction. Now a Hollywood star in his own right, Hayes is back in Lone Star Ridge to attend his sisters’ weddings and, while their … while their connection is immediate, Cait finds herself struggling to reconcile the boy from her past with this new celebrity bad boy.
Hayes knows he’ll return to LA once the “I dos” are over, but until then, getting to know Cait again is the best part about coming home. Being with her is a salve, especially after a personal tragedy turned his world upside down. Can he convince the small-town cop he’s falling for that he’s still the same guy beneath the image–and willing to do whatever it takes to see where this no-longer-just-a-fling takes them?
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Good conclusion to the series. Though Hayes took a supporting cast role in his sisters’ Little Cowgirls show when they were kids, he is now the star of his own show. The part of a motorcycle club bad boy is a good fit for him and kept him employed for ten years. Now he returned for his sisters’ weddings and spent some time getting himself together after the death of a good friend. He didn’t count on getting mixed up with Cait Jameson.
Cait stayed in Lone Star Ridge and eventually became a deputy sheriff. She likes her job and the people she protects (most of the time). She remained friends with the Dalton girls, who are about to become her sisters as they marry her three brothers. The only hitch in the situation is keeping her still active crush on Hayes under wraps. That proves to be easier said than done.
The story starts with a bang as Cait, in the ER, receives treatment for an injury received during a domestic violence call. She’s there when an injured Hayes arrives after being run off the road on his motorcycle. Add in a ditzy stalker and swirling rumors about his friend’s death, and it’s no wonder Hayes feels a little overwhelmed. He has some ideas on how to deal with all of it, but it’s going to take Cait’s help to do it.
I liked seeing the development of the relationship between Cait and Hayes. Neither one can deny the sparks that light up between them, but both hesitate to do anything about it. Cait knows Hayes returns to California after the weddings creating a good chance of a broken heart on her part. Hayes knows his shortcomings and doesn’t want to take a chance on hurting Cait. But as they work together to deal with family crises, Cait and Hayes discover that they have more in common than they realized. I loved watching them grow closer, support each other through family issues, and become each other’s refuge when life gets messy. I loved the scene at the end. Hayes’ vulnerability shows as he goes after what he wants while fearing it isn’t possible. Cait’s response was great.
As in the previous books, family dynamics play a significant part in the story. The Daltons’ mother, Sunshine, is up to her old tricks of trying to cash in on her kids’ fame. She wants to film the weddings and sell it to the tabloids, and Hayes and his sisters want nothing to do with it. Sunshine uses threats and blackmail to push her demands, putting Hayes in the difficult position of protecting his sisters or dealing with some personal fallout. I loved seeing how the Daltons support each other through the crisis, along with the capable backup of the Jameson clan. On the Jameson side, family patriarch Marty’s irresponsibility comes home to roost again. This time it’s a previously unknown grandson who shows up in need of a place to stay. Cait reads Marty the riot act, inadvertently revealing the effects of his actions on her. I finally have some hope for Marty’s redemption as some of her complaints hit home. Not only does he come through for his family at the end, but he also helps solve the Daltons’ problem with Sunshine.
TEMPTING IN TEXAS is Delores Fossen’s book four of the Lone Star Ridge Series. A delightful Brady Bunch-tale involving three sisters and three brothers takes readers on a fun ride with Hayes Dalton who is back in town to attend his sisters’ weddings, but to deputy Cait Jameson, her childhood crush was always the main attraction. She finds herself struggling to reconcile the boy form her past with this new celebrity bad boy. To Hayes, getting to know Cait again is the best part about coming home, but can he convince the small-town cop he’s falling for that he’s still the same guy beneath the image—and willing to do whatever it takes to see where this no-longer-just-a-fling takes them? Delores Fossen brilliantly crafted Lone Star Ridge series with humor and wit along with a bit of family drama and sensual romances.
WHATEVER HAPPENS IN TEXAS is a bonus story you can find at the back of Delores Fossen’s TEMPITING IN TEXAS novel. Lila Novak, home for her sister’s wedding, has never forgotten that unforgettable night she had spent with Cooper Kendall. As for Cooper, he wants more than just a night. He wants Lila. WHATEVER HAPPENS IN TEXAS is all about falling in love all over again.