One Night in Texas

24 Hours: The Wedding #3

by Jane Sullivan

To: Derek Stone

From: Washington, D.C.

Mission: Break in to a penthouse and retrieve materials being used to blackmail a congressman. Don't fall for the sexy blonde while you're working!

All covert operative Derek Stone wanted was to get in and get out. The job was simple. Unfortunately, getting caught by Alyssa Ballard wasn't part of the plan. Six months ago they'd had a week of wild, wonderful sex. Then he'd left without a trace.

Derek's undercover work allows him to get close to no one -- though he can't help wanting another under-the-covers experience with Alyssa. His mission in Dallas wraps up in twenty-four hours, and he wants to make them count. While he knows he should walk away again, Derek wants Alyssa -- and one more night in Texas.

Genres: Contemporary Romance

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Natalija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner from Jane Sullivan aka Jane Graves. I truly admire her ability to create such a touching & suspenseful story in so few pages. The characters were well developed & the plot was fantastic. If you are a Jane Grave's fun, I'm sure you'll like it.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

2006 RITA Nominee for Best Short Contemporary

4 1/2 Stars! ~ Six months ago in Seattle, Alyssa had the fling of a life time and still she tingles when she remembers Derek. When Derek left suddenly, she was disappointed and then hurt when she found out he'd lied about his name. Now transferred to the Dallas hotel of the chain she works for, she goes to the penthouse to fix a little problem the maid left behind. Hearing someone coming, she glances and is shocked to find a man in a ski mask, so she hides in the closet. The burglar removes items from the safe and then talks to someone over a microphone. Alyssa's in shock, that voice, that scar on his forearm, that ring ... that's Derek. Suddenly Derek has to explain that he's a government operative retrieving blackmail evidence on several congressmen; evidence strong enough to sway their votes on delicate legislation soon to be presented for vote. The next 24 hours are hectic with Alyssa and Derek rarely apart. Alyssa finds herself helping Derek in his undercover work. Their attraction is just as explosive now as it was six months before. Only now Alyssa sees the man Derek's been hiding, the one that's never ever had anyone tell him that he was loved. This explains his need for a job that takes him away for months at a time and into dangerous situations.

I really liked this one. The 24 hour theme is a tremendous challenge, and Ms. Sullivan pulls it off wonderfully. The story is packed with intrigue, heat and with some very touching moments. Derek's never known love, not as a child or as a man. So when Alyssa introduces him to love and life as she sees it, he's scared. Great story!

There's alot in this story that makes it stand out. The plot is exciting; that race to get the blackmailer and the secondary race to not miss Derek's friend's wedding really work well. Ms. Sullivan uses Alyssa's very intense daydream of meeting Derek to establish their passionate connection. The whirlwind events when they meet again keeps the intensity of Alyssa's day dream going. Ms. Sullivan does an excellent job of allowing us insides these two. I can certainly see why this book is a RITA Nominee.

[Darla Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It stated off intriguing and it flopped at the end