B.J. Daniels - Just His Luck

He thought the past was finally behind him

Shade Sterling has carried a torch for Lizzy Conners since senior year of high school. But the timing never felt right for them, especially since his ex-girlfriend, Ariel, disappeared without a trace years ago. Now, with their ten-year class reunion approaching, Shade is tired of waiting. Determined to move on with his life and take a chance with Lizzy, hes all in...until a car is dredged up from a local pond and Ariels remains are found inside.

As the newly appointed sheriff, Lizzy must investigate every single leadincluding the ones that point right to Shade. She knows she cant let her heart get in the way of an investigation, but she cant accept that Shade is guilty. Now if she can only prove itboth to the town out for justice and to herself.

Praise for New York Times bestselling author
B.J. Daniels

Readers who like their romance spiced with mystery cant go wrong with Stroke of Luck by B.J. Daniels.

BookPage

Daniels keeps readers baffled with a taut plot and ample red herrings, expertly weaving in the threads of the next story in the series as she introduces a strong group of primary and secondary characters.

Publishers Weekly on Stroke of Luck

Daniels again turns in a taut, well-plotted, and suspenseful tale with plenty of red herrings. Readers will be in from the start and engaged until the end.

Library Journal on Stroke of Luck

B.J. Daniels has made Cowboys Legacy quite a nail-biting, page-turner of a story. Guaranteed to keep you on your toes.

Fresh Fiction

I kept reading until I finished it once I started. It was that good.

Night Owl Romance on Cowboys Legacy

Daniels is an expert at combining layered characters, quirky small towns, steamy chemistry and added suspense.

RT Book Reviews on Heros Return

Also available from B.J. Daniels and HQN Books

Sterlings Montana

Stroke of Luck

Luck of the Draw

Just His Luck

The Montana Cahills

Renegades Pride

Outlaws Honor

Cowboys Legacy

Cowboys Reckoning

Heros Return

Ranchers Dream

Wranglers Rescue

The Montana Hamiltons

Wild Horses

Lone Rider

Lucky Shot

Hard Rain

Into Dust

Honor Bound

Beartooth, Montana

Mercy

Atonement

Forsaken

Redemption

Unforgiven

New York Times Bestselling Author

B.J. Daniels

Just His Luck

This book is for Jodee Lee, who keeps our quilt club running so smoothly.

I wish I had your organizational skills, girl!

Contents

A NOTHER SCREAM ROSE in her throat as the icy water rushed in around her. She fought to free herself, but the ropes that bound her wrists to the steering wheel held tight, chafing her skin until it tore and bled. Her throat was raw from screaming while outside the car, the wind kicked up whitecaps on the pond. The waves lapped at the windows. Inside the car, water rose around her feet, before climbing up her legs to lap at her waist.

She pleaded for help as the water began to rise up her chest. But anyone who might have helped her was back at the high school graduation party shed just left. If only shed stayed at the party. If only she hadnt burned so many bridges earlier tonight. If only...

As the water lapped against her throat, she screamed even though she knew no one was coming to her rescue. Certainly not the person standing on the shore watching.

The pond was outside of town, away from everything. She knew now that was why her killer had chosen it. Worse, no one would be looking for her, not after the way shed behaved when shed left the party.

Youre big on torturing people, her killer had said. Not so much fun when the shoe is on the other foot, huh?

More than half-drunk, the bitter taste of betrayal in her mouth, shed wanted to beg for her life. But her pride wouldnt let her. As her hands were bound to the steering wheel, she tried to convince herself that the only reason this was happening was to scare her. No one would actually kill her. Not even someone shed bullied at school.

She was Ariel Matheson. Everyone wanted to be her friend. Everyone wanted to be her, a sexy spoiled rich girl. No one hated her enough to go through with this. Even when the car had been pushed into the pond, she told herself that her new baby blue SUV wouldnt sink. Or if it did, the water wouldnt be deep enough that shed drown.

The dank water splashed into her face. Frantic, she tried to sit up higher, but the seat belt and the rope on her wrists held her down. The car lurched under her, as it wallowed almost full of water on the rough surface of the pond. Waves washed over the windshield, obscuring the lights of Whitefish, Montana, as the SUV slowly began to sink and she felt the last few minutes of her life slipping away.

She spit out a mouthful and told herself that this wasnt happening. Things like this didnt happen to her. This was not the way her life would end. It couldnt be.

Panic made her suck in another mouthful of awful-tasting water. She tried to hold her breath as she told herself that she was destined for so much more. The girl most likely to end up with everythingshe wanted, it said in her yearbook.

Bubbles rose around her as the car filled to the headliner, forcing her to let out the breath shed been holding. This was real. This wasnt just to scare her.

The last thing she saw before the SUV sank the rest of the way was her killer standing on the bank in the dark night, watching her die. Would anyone miss her? Mourn her? Shed made so many enemies. Would anyone even come looking for her in the days ahead? Her parents would think that shed run away. Her friends...

Fury replaced her fear. They thought she was a bitch before? As water filled her lungs, she swore that if she had it to do over, shed make them all pay.

A S L IZZY WALKED around the desk and sat down in the large leather chair, she gave up trying to hide her grin. Sheriff Elizabeth Conners. By afternoon, those words would be painted on her office door. Still, she wanted to pinch herself. Shed won the election and now this was her office.

She leaned back but didnt dare put her feet up on her desk, although she knew that if the men whod run against her were now sheriff, they would have.

Hows it feel? Sid Anderson asked from the doorway.

Lizzy sat up quickly, shooting to her feet at the sight of the former sheriff and her mentor. He laughed and motioned her back into her chair.

Congratulations on your win. Youre going to make a great sheriff, Sid assured her. It was so good to see him up and about, although he would probably have to use a cane the rest of his life after his hit-and-run accident.

Thank you. She noted that he remained standing in the doorway, leaning on his cane. Want to come in?

He shook his head as his gaze took in the office with what could have been nostalgia. She hoped it wasnt regret. But hed made it clear that hed planned to retire even before his accident. Still, she couldnt help but wonder if he missed it. He swore that hed been looking forward to the time when all he had to do was hang out in his woodworking shop. That and get married.

Do I hear wedding bells? she joked. I heard that you finally proposed to Dorothea Brand.

Sid broke into a huge grin. Dorothea had worked at Sterlings Montana Guest Ranch for more than thirty years and was like part of the Sterling family. Lizzy had gone to school with Shade and knew that when his mother died, Dorothea had stepped into the role for him and his brothers, Will and Garrett.