Texas Rose — Patricia Rice

Evangeline (Evie) Howell grew up in a genteel St Louis home, an abandoned love-child with no one to love her. Then a letter from Texas tells her where to find her true identity.

In desperate need of someone to escort her safely to Texas, the only man Evie can convince is Tyler Monteigne, a hell-raising, womanizing gambler scarcely suited to escort a lady. But he can shoot as well as any gunslinger, and is even better at conning his way out of trouble.

Tyler needs to get out of town and the rosy gal standing before him is his ticket.

But what Tyler doesn't see is the dark passion rising to sweep him away. Passions that will make Evie everything he's ever wanted -- and him exactly what Evie fears most.

Originally titled: Paper Roses