Nothing in life's been easy for Nikki starting with being left at her grandmother's at the age of six and a marriage with a cheating ex who is still hanging around like he hopes for reconciliation. The most lush flowers were not going to let Jack worm his way into Nikki's life; however, with the economy playing havoc with her new art gallery, she was virtually broke and she agreed to meet with him. Looking at him with no emotional response spoke volumes to Nikki but why turn down a good meal. As luck would have it that meal turned out to be life changing for both Nikki and Jack. For one thing, their food was laced with something designed to make them both really sick. Lucky for Nikki the worse she had was a really bad case of food poisoning requiring some time to recuperate. Jack well he wasn't so lucky -- it turned out to be his last meal. Someone was out to get Jack and by the end of the evening he was found dead by none other than Nikki in the trunk of her car. Well her grandmother had warned her to stay away from the deadbeat.

Dallas, Tony, and Austin were partners in a private investigation company called "Don't Mess With Texas." They mostly did cheating spouse cases where they got the goods for the betrayed spouse. But their true mission was to help prevent miscarriages of justice. They learned the hard way that justice is rather fickle and circumstantial evidence is most often the key in criminal cases where sometimes the innocent get incarcerated -- as did the three of them. They made it out of prison but their time in jail left their personal lives in shreds and each learned to cope quite differently. Dallas learned that you can be betrayed by those closest to you and the way to avoid getting your heart trampled on a second time was to stay uncommitted. So far that was working for him. But that was until he met Nikki. Truly, it wasn't an auspicious first meeting but let's say Nikki definitely made a lasting impression. And because it was quickly becoming obvious that the police were putting their money on Nikki as the killer Dallas felt he had to step in. Their case was full of holes and unanswered allegations but Dallas was going with his gut reaction which told him something more sinister was going on which was supported by some very strange events involving Nikki's gallery, friends, and home. As the danger to Nikki escalated Dallas was compelled to keep her close to him for her safety but who would know that in doing so their hearts would be in jeopardy.

Okay who names a P.I. agency Don't Mess With Texas -- Christie Craig that's who. Along with her requisite talent for the most engaging characters and laugh-out-loud dialog this story challenges right to the end. If you're not already a fan this story will get you on board.