Discovering Temptation

 

Texas Stallions 1

Discovering Temptation Abigail Carter arrives in Temptation, Texas, wondering what her recently deceased father was thinking when he left her his prized cattle ranch. Now, as the sole heir of Paradise Ranch, Abby must figure out how to manage and run the day-to-day operations. Luckily, experienced cattle rancher Tyler Boyd steps up to help her with the assistance of his brothers, but Abby’s dreams quickly come crashing down around her as a serial killer marks her for death, stalking her at every turn. The sexy cowboy puts aside his own safety for the alluring Abby and tries to keep her safe from the evil hunting her, but when the killer places him at the top of his hit list, everything they've come to love could end in murder. Can the love of a strong cowboy help her discover her hidden passions and ultimately save her life? Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings. Genre: Contemporary, Western/Cowboys Length: 43,422 words

 

DISCOVERING TEMPTATION Texas Stallions 1

Morgan Fox

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

DISCOVERING TEMPTATION Copyright © 2012 by Morgan Fox E-book ISBN: 1-61926-500-1 First E-book Publication: April 2012 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Discovering Temptation by Morgan Fox from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Morgan Fox’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Fox’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

 

DEDICATION There is no way to truly thank someone for giving you the world, but I will do my best. Eric, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever known. You are the hero of my dreams and the inspiration for every romantic story within my imagination arsenal. Thank you for standing beside me. My life is forever better for having you as my best friend and lover. Special thanks to the talented Lydia Mazza and Andrea Ashby. Without you, my stories would be incomplete. Thank you for everything. I also want to thank my dear friend Sophie Oak for inspiring and guiding me along the journey of writing my first Western romance. I appreciate you so very much.

 

DISCOVERING TEMPTATION Texas Stallions 1 MORGAN FOX Copyright © 2012

Chapter One Abigail Blake stood at the gates of Paradise Ranch and wondered what her recently deceased father was thinking when he left his land to her. Ten years had passed since she’d seen her old man. She didn’t have a clue where to begin with all the necessary attention this piece of family property required. “Oh, dear Lord,” she said with a heavy sigh, her stomach full of knots, and shoulders stiff with tension. “This place is likely to kill me.” Duke Blake’s once-prized ranch was a dilapidated heap. With just a quick glance, she’d noted the never-ending sections of broken fence, and the underbrush that seemed to have overtaken most of the perimeter and walkways. She sucked in a breath as she studied the house in the near distance and its desperate need for restoration. Several shutters around the windows had come loose and were barely hanging on. The once-beautiful, rustic cabin was now old and weathered. She crinkled her brow and pinched the bridge of her nose, remembering the financial disarray she was assuming as the heir to the estate. Before Abby arrived at the ranch, her father’s attorney had

 

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shared with her the financial records. First thing she had to do was find someone who would help her make heads or tails of the mess. Record keeping was not her thing, nor was balancing budgets or housekeeping, and certainly not ranching. She barely remembered how to sit on a horse, let alone how to ride one. Yet now she was the sole owner of over thirteen hundred acres of prime cattle and horse land in the majestic Texas Hill Country. Kicking open the gate with her dust-covered tennis shoes, Abby trudged her way up to the ranch house, dragging her red designer suitcase behind her. The dirt road was blanketed in hard rocks and white soot. Thick, green brush hid the border of the road, leaving her to walk in the middle. How had her father been able to live in this predicament for as long as he did, and why had he been so stubborn that he’d never asked for help? Abby didn’t hate her father. She just didn’t understand how a man who claimed to love her never fought to keep her, or why he hadn’t asked her to return to Paradise to be with him. What he didn’t seem to realize was that it wouldn’t have taken much more than knowing she was needed for her to pack up everything she owned and head back to Paradise Ranch. Sadly, she’d always been waiting, but Duke Blake never came. Toward the end of his life, she’d heard that he didn’t have the good health needed to maintain the ranch’s upkeep any longer. A fragile man consumed by cancer, Duke never hired more help than he felt he needed, and most of the men he hired were used to tend the livestock. He was the only one who took care of ranch property. Even when she was a child, her father had been that way about the particular duties he assumed on his land. Swallowing the grit that built up in her throat, Abby shuddered as she realized that responsibility now fell to her. “What have I gotten myself into?” she asked, groaning as she took the first step onto the rickety porch.

 

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Her city-loving mother would shit fire if she could see the state in which Abby planned to live. Estranged from her father since before she was sixteen, Abby spent the last ten years living in Dallas with her debutante mother, Cybil Burnett. Remarrying as fast as she could, her mother jumped headfirst into the glamorous world of city life. Being the wife of a prestigious neurosurgeon was exactly what her mother had always dreamed of being. How she’d ever ended up marrying Duke Blake, Abby hadn’t the faintest idea. Her mother never wanted to talk about it. She only said that it was the biggest mistake of her life, which led Abby to wonder if she was even happy being a mother at all. Cybil didn’t seem concerned with anything or anyone except herself. However, making sure Abby kept her distance from anything that her father might want for her was a key component in her mother’s life. Cybil fought tooth and nail to protect Abby from being like Duke Blake. If Abby showed interest in anything remotely related to country living, her mother would restrict her from it before she could even blink. Abby couldn’t take horseback riding lessons, couldn’t join the Future Farmers of America, couldn’t attend the Mesquite Rodeo, or venture down to the Fort Worth Stockyards. The leash Cybil used to keep Abby from living her own life choked her nearly to death, sending her into a teenage rebellion that had her dating boys that she had no business being with. The anger she felt toward her mother was managed through smoking, coming home after curfew, hanging out with people she knew her mother wouldn’t approve of, and doing whatever she could that would infuriate snobby-ass Cybil Burnett. At one point, pissing off the overbearing woman was all Abby could think about. The worst part of all was that her passion to drive her mother crazy ended up being her own downturn. With a laundry list of bad choices lying at her feet, Abby accepted the opportunity to live at Paradise Ranch in hopes of starting over, away from her

 

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mother and Jackson Cole, her most recent ex-boyfriend and biggest mistake. The six-month, casual relationship she’d had with Jack had become a nightmare of events. Stalking her at every moment, she’d wake up to find a single rose lying on the pillow beside her, but she’d locked her doors and windows and no one but her had the key. Among other things, Jack was a career burglar, and night after night he would break into her apartment to watch her sleep, leaving a rose whenever he left. He’d also call her at all hours of the night to make sure she was home and alone. His jealousy made him a violent and frightening man. She hoped he would finally leave her alone now that she’d moved away from the city and left no trace of where she’d gone. She hadn’t even told her mother, and that felt good. Finally standing on her own, doing exactly what she wanted to do, felt damn good. Opening the door to the ranch house, Abby froze. The home interior was nothing like the outside. “Oh, thank God,” she said with a smile in her voice. “Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” Stepping further inside, Abby took in the freshly cleaned oak hardwood floors, dark granite counters, and perfectly arranged brown leather sofas and rustic wood coffee and end tables. Everything was dusted and well taken care of. If she knew anything about her father, it was that he would never allow the place he hung his hat to be anything but pristine. That was the main reason she was so shocked by the condition of the ranch property. Smiling, she whispered, “So maybe he did hire a little help after all.” Toeing the door closed, she studied the room. A flood of childhood memories raced toward her. The hours she’d spent staring out the window in search of her father appeared more dreamlike to her now.

 

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Then, as if she was listening to the Wicked Witch of the West’s theme song, her mother’s voice slammed into her skull like a fierce wrecking ball and reminded her that she was never allowed to do anything on the ranch that might dirty her hands. Cybil wouldn’t approve of such behavior for a young lady, so that meant she had to remain inside unless her mother felt the urge to go into town. When she wasn’t in school or studying, Abby spent most of her time daydreaming about a life on the ranch, her long blonde hair blowing in the breeze as she trotted around that vast hill country on the most wild and untamable horse. She pictured a massive, midnightblack beast that only responded to her commands and never permitted anyone else to ride him. Daily she envisioned herself riding beside her father, investigating the property for trespassers, damage done by the frequent storms and whatever adventures she could devise. Every day, she thought about what it would’ve been like if only given the chance to be like her father. While sitting on the ledge of the front window, every so often she’d spot her father on horseback, looking like a Western movie star as he meandered around the property. He was born to manage these lands, and knowing that so much of her father was still here, Abby couldn’t resist the opportunity to learn more about the man that had given her life, since she’d never had the chance to while he was alive. As strange as it was, Abby knew that her father was too busy to come up to Dallas to see her, and Cybil would never in a million years give her permission to travel south to see her father. Time is no one’s friend, and before she even realized it, ten years had flown by and her father had suddenly fallen ill and passed away. Riddled with guilt, Abby wanted so badly to know more about Duke Blake and working these lands, and maintaining this ranch was the best way for her to do it. Sure, it was going to be lots of hard work, but she was strong, only twenty-six, and she believed she was just like her old man. This was her chance to find out, a chance to discover not only who her father was, but who she was as well.

 

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**** Settled in as best she could, Abby stepped out of the house and onto the front porch. To her surprise, she was confronted by her father’s oldest and dearest friend, Jared Durant. He had also been the only person her father trusted to manage the livestock and, judging from his appearance now, she assumed he still was. She smiled broadly at the man she recognized from her childhood. The soft twinkle in his brown eyes told her he was happy to see her, too. Looking at him now, salt-and-pepper hair and a few deep wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, she wondered if her father had aged as well as he had. “Jared, it’s so nice to see you.” He tilted his cowboy hat and said, “It’s very nice to see you, too, Ms. Abby. I hope you’re doing well.” “Yes, I’m doing okay.” She glanced around. “Are you the only one who’s still here?” Frowning, he nodded. “I’m afraid so. Once your father passed, everyone he had working for him decided to leave. Most folks feared that you wouldn’t come out and manage things like Duke had. They just assumed get out while they could.” She sighed, understanding the fears presented by change. “Not you, though. You stayed.” Offering a soft smile, he told her, “I loved your father like a brother, Abby, and I promised I’d stay on board and help out where I could until you got here.” Her heart nearly stopped as she thought he was telling her he was leaving, too. “Until I got here? You mean you won’t stay?” “Well, that really depends on you, Ms. Abby. Are you planning on keeping the ranch or selling it?” “Oh, I’m very much planning on running it. I couldn’t go back to the city, not now anyway.” She couldn’t go back to Dallas without

 

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giving the ranch a chance, and she really didn’t want to go back and be forced to live the life her mother would thrust upon her. He smiled. “Then I’ll be here to help you, if it’s all right with you. I’ll be back early in the morning. I’ve kept things up as well as I could, but we’ll need to get more help when you’re ready.” “I know,” she said. “I’m on my way to the market, but we can chat more tomorrow if that’s okay.” “I’ll be here. Just head to the barn and you’ll find me.” He tilted his hat once more, turned, and left in his gray pickup. Abby was happy to see him and glad she wasn’t starting from scratch. Taking a deep breath, she headed for the local market to pick up some supplies and food. The twenty-minute drive felt more like twenty hours. Everything in the country was incredibly spread out, and another reminder that she wasn’t in the city anymore. When she pulled into the parking lot, she grabbed hold of a shopping cart with a very squeaky wheel. After checking out a few others, hoping to not draw too much attention to herself, she realized that every cart had an obnoxiously squeaky wheel. Finding several items she wanted and needed, she headed down the produce aisle in search of some delicious fresh fruit. There was something wonderful about eating a crisp, red apple when the seasons began to change in Texas, and fall just happened to be her favorite time of the year. “Ms. Blake?” Abby inclined her head in search of the soft voice calling out to her. Abby glanced over at a petite, bronze-skinned, dark-brown-haired woman. A soft tendril of hair fell over her shoulder. Brows pinched tight, she asked, “Do I know you?” The woman smiled. “No, but I know who you are. I worked for your father. I’m Sophia.” She reached her hand out to shake Abby’s. Instantly, she accepted the woman’s gesture of acknowledgement. Her calloused hands showed the signs of years of hard work.

 

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“It’s nice to meet you, Sophia. What did you do for my father?” Stepping back, Sophia said, “I was his housekeeper and cook toward the end, but before that I was just his friend.” Smiling softly, Abby understood that Sophia was the one she owed a big thank-you for making her move into the ranch better than she thought it was going to be. “Well, you kept the house up nicely. I truly appreciate what you did for him. I’m sure he was very grateful.” Sophia’s lip quivered just a little as Abby studied her. The lines of age enhanced around her eyes as she seemed to be fighting back her emotions. “Are you all right?” Abby asked. The woman smiled slightly, and sniffled as she nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.” Curiosity over who this woman was and what her sudden tearyeyed disposition was all about, Abby asked, “So did you know my father long?” The woman’s face lit up as if the sun itself burst out from behind gray clouds. “Yes, I’ve known your father since we were kids.” Abby reached to grab a few red apples from the basket in front of her and placed them inside her cart. “So you knew my father pretty well, then?” “Yes, I imagine I knew him very well.” Abby felt her heart squeeze tight, and she wondered if maybe Sophia could help her learn more about her father. “So do you know if he was involved with anyone?” Sophia stared back at her, the once-tender smile faded just a little, and her eyes watered. Swallowing hard, she replied, “I spent a great deal of time with your father.” She glanced down at her ring finger. The faint tan line of a ring still remained. “He meant a lot to me.” Abby’s eyes swelled, and immediately she understood just how much her father meant to this woman. “Oh, Sophia, I’m sorry.” She couldn’t help herself. Suddenly stepping forward, she placed her hand over top of the woman’s she now knew had been engaged to Duke

 

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Blake. “You could’ve just told me the two of you were planning to marry.” A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about knowing that.” Abby smiled warmly, even though she knew very little about the dark-haired, middle-aged woman. Abby trusted her instincts, and they told her that her father had finally chosen correctly. Lord knew he’d picked lousily when he’d selected Cybil Burnett. “Sophia, I couldn’t be happier that my father wasn’t alone at the end.” A sad longing filled her heart. “I wish I had been a better daughter and come sooner.” The honesty in her words stunned her. She wasn’t bitter at her father for not coming for her, and perhaps it was because she resented her mother so much that all her anger flowed toward Cybil. The moment had grown so serious, and Abby was thankful when Sophia asked, “Have you settled in okay at the ranch?” “I think so,” she said, glancing down at her basket full of fresh fruit, sponges, paper towels, and a few cleaning supplies. “I needed to stock up on some groceries and a few other things.” Abby glanced at her watch. It was getting late. “I guess I’ll have to go to the hardware store tomorrow.” “Have you considered hiring someone to help you tend to the ranch?” “Yes, but I think I’d like to check things out first and see how bad it truly is before I bring a stranger onto the property.” With a crooked smile, Sophia said, “You definitely are Duke Blake’s daughter.” Without requiring an explanation, Abby knew exactly what Sophia was referring to. Trust was not something neither she nor her father handed out easily. Trusting a woman like her mother, Cybil Burnett, only made trust even harder to obtain. Her father had simply been burned too many times by those he believed had his better interest. “Well, I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet you, Sophia.”

 

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“Temptation is a small town, Abby. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.” “I hope so,” Abby said before whispering, “It sure would be nice to see a friendly face in the crowd of those gossiping about me.” Both women giggled. “Take care, Abby.” “You, too, Sophia.” They each gave one final smile as they parted going in opposite directions. Abby headed for the checkouts. Purchasing her items, she picked up the two brown bags and made her way out of the market. Arms full of groceries, Abby strolled back to her car. The sound of crunching rocks under heavy-booted feet coming from behind her had her searching for the owner of that startling sound. Two fierce hands gripped hold of her upper arms, whirling her off balance and thrusting her to the ground. The bags she’d been carrying tore, and the groceries scattered in all directions. Moving to stand, she whimpered. Stinging pain shot up from her hands and knees. Before she could get to her feet, she was kicked in the ribs. The air rushed from her lungs. The masked man was on her before she could regain the air in her sternum to scream. Then he was hitting her again, slamming his fists into her back, stomach, and chest. She tried to block his assault, but he was too strong and fast. She fell to the ground in a heap. Yanking her up by her hair, the masked man dragged Abby across the coarse ground toward her car. The rocks and gravel cut into the flesh of her arms and legs. She kicked wildly, trying to get free of her captive. Finding her voice, she screamed. Suddenly, the man was no longer dragging her. Instead, he jumped on top of her, straddled her waist, and delivered several quick punches to her head and face. Dazed, she couldn’t see past the stars erupting in her eyes. “Please don’t hurt me,” she begged, covering her face with her arms.

 

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“Shut up,” he yelled, dragging her once again by her hair. Abby wasn’t the kind of person to just give up, but she’d also never been hit in the face by a full-grown man. Her mind may have been clouded by panic, fear, and a splintering migraine, but it was also soaring with many questions. Who was this evil person dragging her to her death? What did he want from her? Why was he doing this to her? “Hey!” shouted a deep, powerful voice. In one moment she was released by her captive and the next she watched in absolute astonishment as his massive body was flung through the air like a rag doll. In the next instance, her rescuer was hauling her attacker up by his black shirt, wailing several quick punches into his face. Stunned, she couldn’t take her eyes off of the men as they fought. Fists and feet punched and kicked at one another. Both large males looked as though they were trying to kill each other. Her attacker, clad in black, seemed to sneak in a couple of surprise hits, but it was her savior that had finally dealt a debilitating punch, making the man in black scurry off, disappearing into the thick blackness surrounding them. Standing like a warrior in the glow of the store lights, her sweet salvation towered. He possessed broad, powerful shoulders and long, sculpted arms that hung at his sides. Closed fists still showed he was ready to protect her. Tight, stonewashed blue jeans magnified a butt so firm and round she felt naughty staring at a body poorly hidden by the denim fabric. In a moment where she should’ve been frightened, terrified by what she’d encountered, all she could think about was the man that had come to save her. He knelt beside her and swept her up into his embrace. “You’re all right now,” he said as he stroked her tousled hair, combing it away from her face. “I’ve got you. He can’t hurt you now.” A wild shiver charged up her body as he wrapped his arms around her. His brawny presence and soothing, deep voice pulled her from

 

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the trenches of her frightened psyche. She found herself nestling against him, cradling as close as she could get. The wild musk scent she discovered around his neck had her eyes opening. She had to see the face of her rescuer, had to know who had arrived like her knight in shining armor. Weak and disoriented, she trembled as she eased back to gaze up at him. A nervous flutter sank to the pit of her stomach as she stared into brilliant, stormy, blue-gray eyes. The breathtaking cowboy seemed too much like a dream to be real. His dark-brown hair dipped low into the collar of his shirt, and her fingers itched to wrap around the back of his neck to feel the strands tickle her fingers. Her mouth was suddenly dry. Holding her gaze, he said, “I’m Tyler Boyd.” Her mouth hung open and the words she knew should be there just wouldn’t surface. Stammering, she asked, “I’m sorry, who are you?” The delicious smile that beamed out at her had her praying that he wasn’t a figment of her imagination. “My name is Tyler. I’m assuming you are new around here since I’ve never met you before tonight.” Nodding, she said, “Yes.” He continued smiling, caressing the side of her face. “May I ask your name?” Licking her lips, she felt a rush of heat fill her cheeks. “My name is Abby. Abby Blake.” His brows narrowed. “You’re Duke Blake’s daughter?” The way he asked the question had her curious and the sudden connection that he knew her father had her stomach twisting to know more about him. “Yes. How did you know that?” In that moment, Sophia stepped forward. “Tyler, maybe I should take Abby home.” Holding Abby’s gaze a moment longer, he nodded, and wrapped his arm around her, hoisting her gently to her feet. Never had the act

 

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ever felt so effortless. The power in his touch left her tingling in places that had no business tingling. Sophia stepped up alongside her and took hold of her arm, supporting her weight the way Tyler had. The sudden absence of his warm and caring eyes left her cold and keenly aware of just how much she enjoyed being confined in his arms. “Take care of yourself, Ms. Blake,” he said, tilting his white Stetson with his forefinger and thumb. As Sophia escorted her to a nearby car and ushered her inside, she couldn’t help but gaze back to look for the man who had sparked more than idle curiosity. She watched as he picked several things up off the ground and headed toward a white pickup truck on the other side of the parking lot. Turning to her new friend as she slid into her car, Abby asked, “What about my car?” “We’ll come back for it in the morning. No sense in having you drive home alone after what you’ve just been through. I’m sure your nerves must be frayed. I know mine would be.” Abby nodded, but actually her nerves were just fine. It was her heart and mind that left her confused and a little weary. Truthfully, Abby was afraid of everything, but at the same time she was too strong-willed to admit it. Strangely, the second Tyler Boyd showed up, all the fear she’d been consumed by faded into the night. All she could think about was the life she desired to have, but had always been too afraid to reach for. Maybe now was her chance. She longed to find a way to make things work here in Temptation, because there was no way she could go back to Dallas and face her mother. Perhaps her little run-in tonight with whoever that ski-masked villain was may have been all the encouragement she’d needed. With any luck things could really work for her here in this small town, especially if she had the opportunity to once again come face to face with a certain dark-haired man that set her blood to a raging boil. Abby licked her lips. “So who was that man that saved me?”

 

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Staring through the windshield at the dusty road ahead lit only by the lights of her car, Sophie smiled. “Oh, so you noticed him, did ya?” She giggled. “That tall drink of water is Tyler Boyd, the oldest of three brothers, who’ve been in town just a short time in search of work. He and his brothers are ranch hands.” She glanced over at Abby who simply arched a brow. “They tend to cattle, and manage the dayto-day business of owning and operating a ranch such as Paradise.” She could have choked on her tongue. They manage and help operate ranches. What was the chance of her running into him? “Do you know anything else about the Boyd family?” “Tyler’s father died unexpectedly and left the family in dire straits. Since then that young man has been trying to land on his feet and keep his family together while doing so.” Knowing that Tyler Boyd fought to keep his family together made Abby like him all the more, she asked, “How do you know so much about them?” With a warm chuckle, she replied, “Temptation is a small town, Abby, and word travels fast. Don’t be shocked if by morning everyone knows what happened to you. If you should venture out, don’t be surprised if folks stare. It’s what they do.” Abby was not use to people gawking at her. She avoided her mother’s dinner parties like the plague for that very reason. She wasn’t one for doing more than blending in. She didn’t want to report to the sheriff what happened to her, for that very reason. Suddenly, she felt like throwing up. “I’m surprised Tyler hadn’t asked my father for work.” “He did, but your father sent him away.” Sophia sighed. “Stubborn man that he was, Duke fought until the bitter end to do as much as he could on his own. Sadly, it wasn’t very much.” Abby’s mind raced and instantly a plan formed. The vision of her dark-haired rescuer flashed clear and bright. Maybe her gallant knight in a white Stetson would be interested in lending a hand to help her

 

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restore Paradise Ranch. Her father may have been too proud to ask for help, but she sure wasn’t. If she was lucky, maybe his brothers would be willing to accept employment as well. Lord knew she had her work cut out for her, and a desperate man might be crazy enough to help her fix up the once beautiful and prestigious ranch. “Sophia, do you think Tyler and his brothers would be interested in coming to work for me?” “Well, I can’t see why not. Like I said before, Tyler and his brothers are looking for steady work, and we both know Paradise can keep them plenty busy.” Abby nodded. Her heart galloped a little faster at the prospect of getting started fixing up her little piece of paradise, finally securing a real home.

 

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Chapter Two Tossing his Stetson onto the front seat, Tyler hauled himself behind the wheel and shut the door to his truck. He shoved a stiff hand through his damp hair and started the engine. For a man who was only thirty-six, he showed signs that he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Never had he imagined his life turning out as it had. The death of his father had left him hollow and closed off, and even though he tried not to feel the emotions that threatened to surface, he knew both his younger brothers, Cooper and Hunter, depended on him. As the oldest brother, the responsibility of keeping the family together and finding steady employment had always been his duty. Securing a ranch they could run and manage together that had a future had become a major obstacle. Everywhere the Boyd family explored for work seemed to be worse than the town they’d left prior. Since their father’s land had been foreclosed on by the bank, Tyler was forced to find work elsewhere. Jumping from town to town, his brothers and mother in tow, was exhausting. Down on his luck, he hated the defeating emotions that had him thinking that maybe this life was not worth living. Then suddenly, all the doubt in his mind fled the moment he held Abby Blake in his arms. When she finally gazed up at him, he nearly gasped as he stared into the most gorgeous crystal-blue eyes he’d ever seen. She was breathtakingly beautiful, even with the river of tears that trailed down her flushed face. Her blonde hair tickled his arm as the sway of her soft curls swept over his skin.

 

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Her fragile body trembled as she nuzzled against him, practically shoving herself inside his chest. It was in that instant that he knew she would be forever branded into his mind. He’d never forget her. There was something so natural about the way she fit against him and he knew this could not be the last time he set eyes on her. “Abby Blake,” he said on a hushed whisper, and then glanced to the groceries he managed to pick up that she’d dropped. He didn’t have much money, but he had a plan to see his sweet angel once more. He would replace the items that had been destroyed by her attacker and take them to her in the morning. With any hope, she wouldn’t think he was some deranged serial killer. **** The middle-aged, overattentive waitress was annoying the shit out of Dexter Ragland. Her constant interruptions were pushing him closer to his breaking point. She wouldn’t like the monster she was about to unleash. Then again, maybe a woman like her would enjoy exactly what a man like him could offer. Her sweet, motherly smile and gentle brown-eyed gaze amused him. She was like an angel staring down at the devil. If she only knew the dark secrets and desires he harbored, he’d guarantee she’d be a lot less worried if his coffee needed freshening or if he wanted anything else to eat. As if timed by the clock, the slender woman returned with the coffee pot in her hand. This time she didn’t bother asking if he wanted a refill. She simply leaned forward with the bright orange pot and began to pour. His hand immediately shot up like a bolt of lightning, clasping a fierce grip around her wrist, slowly squeezing until he watched the flicker of pain dance behind her eyes. Her shoulder-length brown hair fell forward, drawing his attention to her ample breasts. The cleavagebaring waitress attire showed a splendid body, lean legs that walked

 

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their way up to round hips, and a tiny waist. Not bad for a woman in her fifties. Grinning with a lip-quivering snarl, he said, “Did I ask for a refill?” “You’re hurting me,” she said through clenched teeth. He had to hand it to the old bird, she at least had the balls to lock gazes with him. She might have been afraid, but he knew she’d be a wildcat in a scuffle. This woman had spirit, and he found that wickedly attractive. Maybe he’d make a special return to the diner to see his little waitress before he ventured out of town. The idea excited him. Licking his lips, he replied, “Yes, I am.” He released her arm with a forceful shove. She took two steps away from him before she rounded and disappeared into the kitchen. Dex turned his attention back to the town market across the parking lot, watching and waiting for the blonde-haired beauty he’d taken a good liking to as he tossed her around the evening before. A guilty pleasure, he reveled in roughing up women and showing them what he considered a good time. Hearing their squeals of pain and whimpering pleas had him harder than a rock. There was nothing more arousing then beating a bad girl into submission. His front teeth sank into his bottom lip as he thought about his plans for the sweet piece of ass. A bit frustrated that his scheme hadn’t worked, he growled low in his throat. Moistening his dry lips, he wondered if her body was as tight on the inside as it felt on the out. He was sure that fucking her would be a thrill ride unlike anything he could find at any amusement park. Holding his cell phone to his ear, he waited for the line to answer, and shifted in his seat, rubbing the palm of his hand over his engorged cock. Remembering the way her firm, round breasts felt against his arm had him groaning. Damn, he was so fucking horny. If the bitch had cooperated, he would have satisfied his itch and earned his

 

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money. Then he’d be out of this miserable little town before anyone ever noticed. “Did you do it?” asked a gruff, sleepy voice, jarring him straight out of his thoughts. He tucked his chin down and lowered his voice. A grin tugged at his lips. “Sorry, princess, did I wake you?” “Shut the fuck up, Dex, and tell me that you did what you were paid to do.” The anger in Jack’s voice only made his smile widen. Glancing around the diner, Dex took note of anyone close enough to hear and lowered his voice a little more. “No, Jack, I didn’t, but I did rough her up a little, probably scared the shit out of her. She had help. You didn’t mention that little piece of hotness would have friends in Temptation. I almost got my head knocked off by some damn brute redneck.” The redneck fucker had been strong, and his interruption really pissed Dex off. He planned to find the cowboy after he finished his business with Abby and make him pay for his interference. A nice silver blade to the gut should work nicely. “She’s new in town, and I seriously doubt she’s made enough friends to guard her twenty-four hours a day. Now, earn the five grand you’ve been paid and take care of Abby Blake.” Grimacing, Dex closed the cell phone and shoved it back into his pants pocket. He’d take care of Abby Blake all right. He’d make sure that she knew exactly who he was as he slapped her around, tied her to the bed, and fucked her good and hard. Making her bow to his ways would be the most satisfying job he’d ever taken. Jackson Cole will get all he paid for, and lots more. Sure, he’d only paid Dex to rough her up and scare the hell out of her, but he had other plans for the sweet, strawberry-scented blonde he’d held in his arms the night before. Jack wouldn’t need to know that he’d fucked her before chasing her ass back up to Dallas. It wasn’t like Dex ever needed to see either of them again. He’d gotten his money. Now, all that was missing was the satisfying feel of her flesh beneath his hands

 

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as he reddened her skin and the tantalizing wetness he expected as he sank his cock into the depths of her slick, hot cunt. Abigail Blake was going to be his greatest conquest. **** Wincing from the pain in her ribs and shoulder, Abby’s mouth hung open as she glanced out the front window to watch Tyler Boyd’s white pickup truck heading up the gravel driveway toward her home. She gently touched her bruised cheek and black eye and prayed the makeup she applied earlier that morning would help hide the ugliness of her attack. “Sophia?” she called out, wondering if her new friend had called Tyler so she could speak with him about working on the ranch. “What is it, Abby?” She popped her head around the corner, her hands and apron coated in flour. Abby hiked her thumb over her shoulder toward the window. “Um, I think Tyler’s here.” Sophia wiped her hand on a dish towel as she strolled up alongside her and glanced out the window, swiping the sheer white curtains to the side to get a better look. “Sure does.” She smiled mischievously at Abby. “He might be here to check on you.” She winked. “If you were serious about asking him to work for you, now would be a good time.” Abby suddenly felt more nerves in her belly then she’d ever felt before. Checking her reflection in the mirror, she scoffed. She had no time to fix her hair or her makeup, as Tyler was already stalking up the front steps of the ranch house. She opened the front door. His white Stetson rested low on his forehead. He grabbed hold of his hat and removed it the moment his eyes caught sight of hers. “Good morning, Ms. Blake. I hope I haven’t arrived too early.” His buttery smooth voice had her toes curling in her sneakers. Focus, Abby. “No,” she said. “What can I do for you, Mr. Boyd?”

 

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“Please call me Tyler.” Swallowing down the lump in her throat that had more to do with seeing Tyler again and not about asking him to work for her, she smiled. “Only if you call me Abby.” Flirting before 9:00 a.m. was not her usual routine. Normally, she left that kind of effort to the later, drunker part of the evening, when alcoholic courage could assist her. He nodded with a charming smile. “Abby, I hope you don’t mind, but I brought a few things up to the house for you. The groceries and items you dropped in the parking lot last night.” “Oh,” she said with a great deal of surprise. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to do that.” She meant it, too, but she couldn’t deny that she was overwhelmingly glad he’d stopped by, and not just because she wanted his help. “I’ll just run to the truck and grab them.” He replaced his hat and went to his truck, grabbing two overly stuffed brown grocery bags. She arched a brow, not remembering buying so many things. As he approached, she held the door open for him to come inside. “The kitchen is to the left, if you wouldn’t mind just setting the bags down on the counter.” He did without question. Placing the bags on the counter, he rounded to face Abby. Her stomach plummeted to her feet as she met his dashing gaze head on. Swallowing hard, she searched for the strength to push the pounding blood from her ears. She was desperate to hear his answer when she asked him to help her fix up the ranch. “Tyler, I know, I mean I heard.” She stopped and pinched the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. She was sounding like a bubbling idiot. If only she’d practiced, maybe she wouldn’t sound so ridiculous. “I’m sorry, what I meant to ask was if you were still looking for employment? Sophia tells me you had inquired to work here when my father was alive.” He nodded, and the muscles in his jaw flexed. “I did, but your father said he had everything under control.”

 

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Abby glanced to the other side of the kitchen and saw Sophia smiling at her. The sight of her gawking at them had her anxious, so she turned and walked into the living room and thankfully, Tyler followed her. “Well, I’m sure you’ve heard that my father died less than a month ago and left Paradise Ranch to me.” He took off his hat and held it close to his chest. “Yes, I heard, and I’m truly sorry for your loss.” “Thank you,” she replied, but didn’t let it break her concentration. “Tyler, unlike my father, I very much know that things are way out of control here. I could use some help restoring the property.” She stiffened her spine. “Would you be interested in working for me?” She had expected a desperate man like Tyler Boyd to jump all over her offer, but when he didn’t respond immediately, she began to wonder if she’d overstepped her bounds. An overwhelming urge to run away kicked her square in the gut. She was no businesswoman, and this was way out of her comfort zone. She’d never imagined owning anything in her life as she’d always been in the shadow of her mother, but here she was doing her best to make things work and she’d already managed to screw up by offering employment to a man who clearly didn’t want to work for her. Could she really blame him? No. She had no skills to manage and run a lemonade stand, let alone a thousand-acre ranch. It must be obvious to an experienced man like Tyler Boyd what a mess he would be assuming if he helped her. Surely, no sane person would want that type of responsibility. What was she thinking taking on such a prodigious responsibility? “Are you all right, Abby?” he asked, tilting his head down to catch her gaze. Shaking her head as if confused, she said, “What?” He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes, staring seriously at her. “I was just telling you that I’d be more than willing to help you, but I was hoping to find a place where my brothers and I could work together.”

 

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She felt like smacking herself right in the head. How could she have been so stupid? She knew his family was a packaged deal. Damn, she really needed to chill out before she gave herself a heart attack. “Oh, right. I forgot that part. I’d be more than willing to provide lodging and pay for your brothers as well. I would truly like to get Paradise Ranch in the condition it should be. Like my father, I want to raise prizewinning horses and have cattle that other ranchers will beg for.” She smiled and then realized just how excited and overly ambitious she sounded. Tyler’s posture straightened, showing his towering height. His six-foot-four frame hovered over her as he extended his hand for her to shake. With a smile, she took it. His warm, calloused palms had her legs quivering. She could see clearly how a man built like Tyler Boyd would be perfect for hard labor. Not to mention hot, sweaty sex. Stop that! Never had a man looked more attractive to her. The light and excitement in his eyes warmed her straight to her soul. He asked, “When would you like us to start?” “There’s no time like the present.” With a subtle nod, he said, “All right, I’ll call my brothers and we’ll get set up today.” “Wonderful.” She clapped her hands together. “I look forward to meeting them and getting started.” The excitement filling her chest was overwhelming, and left her feeling slightly giddy. “One more thing, Abby,” he mentioned as he reached out and gently brushed the backs of his knuckles over her bruised cheek. She sucked in a breath as his fingers caressed her skin and she briefly closed her eyes. “Do you know who that man was that attacked you last night?” A shudder ran up her spine. The excitement had suddenly been washed away by dread and despair. “No, why do you ask?” “I haven’t been in Temptation long, but I’ve never heard of anyone being assaulted before last night. It struck me as odd that you

 

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would arrive in town and suddenly have some deranged man trying to hurt you. I thought maybe…” His voice trailed off and she knew what he was thinking. Deep down she’d thought it, too. Her ex had found her. How, she had no idea, but she doubted if it was Jackson, he’d go away quietly. Her adventures in misfortune may just be beginning. “Honestly, Tyler, I don’t know who attacked me.” She tried to smile, but the lie wouldn’t reach her lips. If she were truthful, she’d tell the man that was about to live on her property about the dangers Jackson Cole presented. If it even was Jack. She wouldn’t give Tyler a reason to not accept her offer. That might be selfish on her part, but no matter the guilt, she wasn’t going to let her ex or her mother ruin her life anymore. “When I drove through town I noticed your car was still at the market, would you allow me to go and get that for you when I pick up my brother’s?” “You don’t have to do that.” “Don’t be silly, Abby,” Sophia chimed in from around the corner. “Besides, the man just offered and we’ve got a lot of cooking to do with three hungry men to feed.” Feeling outnumbered, Abby strolled to her purse, grabbed her keys, and slowly handed them to him. Smiling, she said, “Thank you, Tyler.” “I should be the one thanking you, Abby. I’ve been interviewing at ranches left and right with no promise in sight until I met you. I won’t disappoint you. I promise.” Abby didn’t think he could disappoint her with anything he did. The touch of his rough hand as it slid into hers was as perfect as a new day. A flutter of joy filled her heart once more as he gazed down at her. For the first time Abby wasn’t hiding in the shadows. She was standing on her own and loving every minute of it.

 

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“I’d like to get started on the fence today if you don’t mind. Keeping the livestock from wondering outside the property should be my first priority. My youngest brother, Hunter, is great with horses, and will tend to the cattle. Besides helping me when needed, Cooper is a manager of sorts. If you’ve got anything you want him to look over like books, record keeping, or anything, just let me know and I’ll point him your way when I get back.” Abby’s heart fluttered. She honestly couldn’t believe her luck. She’d found the perfect ranch hands just by meeting Tyler Boyd. Who would have thought finding help would’ve been as easy as getting her ass handed to her at a small town market. “That would be great. My father wasn’t very good at record keeping toward the end, and I really can’t make heads or tails of his finances.” She followed him onto the porch, closing the front door behind her. “Tyler, I hope I’m not prying too much when I ask this, but I heard your mother was also traveling with you and your brothers?” He nodded. “Yes, my mother found work waitressing at the diner. She’s great in a kitchen, but you already have Sophia helping out, and I hear she’s quite the catch.” He winked at her. She lowered her gaze to avoid his boyish cuteness. She explained, “She was engaged to my father. I’m hoping she might shed some light on things for me.” “Shed some light on what?” The second he asked, his face paled. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have asked. I just find myself extremely curious about you, Abby Blake.” Meeting his gaze once again, she said, “Funny you should say that, Tyler Boyd. I find myself extremely curious about you, too.” They shared a tender laugh. “I grew up here, but it wasn’t what you might think a childhood on a ranch would be like. My mother was not really the ‘working the land’ kind of woman, and she never wanted a life like that for me.” He propped himself up against the front porch post and folded his arms over his chest. “And yet, here you are.”

 

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Nodding, Abby smiled. “Exactly. My mother would die if she knew what I was up to. I’m sure she’ll figure it out soon enough.” “I take it your mother and father divorced?” “Oh yes, she couldn’t get away from Temptation fast enough. She hauled my butt to Dallas and put me in the best schools money could buy, married a rich doctor, and started living the life she always wanted.” Tyler shifted his weight to the side as she made her way to stand beside him, resting her hands on the railing. “You don’t sound impressed by all that.” Abby scoffed. “Me? Hell no. I liked the land, love it really, but my mother never allowed me the opportunity to find out what I loved most about it.” “You didn’t spend any time here at Paradise Ranch with your father?” A disappointing shiver charged through her heart. “Sadly, no. My mother kept me under lock and key. I guess my father just got tired of fighting with her.” His voice dipped low as he said, “Sounds like you got tired of fighting with her, too.” He was right. Abby had gotten tired of her mother’s games, and finally given up her pursuit to see her father. It was easier that way. “I did. I was looking for an out, and when I received the information that my father passed away, he’d given that to me. I think it was his way of healing me and also sticking it to my mother.” She smiled. “She needs a good sticking.” Instantly, her eyes swelled and her hand covered her mouth. Giggling, she admitted, “Wow, I don’t know where that came from. I’m so sorry, that was completely inappropriate.” She should be mortified, but she couldn’t stop giggling. If she were being honest with herself, she was the one who needed a good sticking, and she’d gladly accept an offer from Tyler any time. A romp in the fields might be kind of fun. Making love under the stars

 

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had always been a fantasy of hers. Making love to a man who cherished her, even for just a night, would be a welcomed change. Dear God, why does my mind always venture to sex or his fine ass? I really need to stop doing that. He chuckled. “I like your smile, Abby. It’s genuine, and your eyes sparkle when you laugh or talk about your father.” All her thoughts fled as Tyler’s words bumped around in her mind. She felt compelled to kiss him, just a gentle press of the lips to see if he was as sweet as she imagined he was. She took a step closer to him. “Thank you,” was all she managed to say. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her tongue danced behind her lips. He softly touched her chin. His index finger cradled beneath her jaw while his thumb caressed her bottom lip. He slowly drew his hand away. “You’re more than welcome.” He tilted his hat and within a few long strides was at his truck, jumping in and driving down the gravel road. She was sure going to have her hands full, fixing up this place. More importantly, she was going to have her hands full trying to keep from jumping Tyler Boyd behind the barn. Smiling, she turned to see Sophia standing with her arms folded over her chest, looking like any mother would at her daughter. She grinned, and Abby knew she’d watched her and Tyler’s interaction. “He’s something else, isn’t he?” Sophia asked. “Yes, he’s very nice.” Sophia chuckled. “Wait until you meet the other two. Darling, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

 

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Chapter Three “Oh, dear God in Heaven,” Abby muttered with her mouth hanging open as she watched Tyler’s brothers emerge from the pickup truck. As promised, Tyler had driven her car back and parked it under the nearest tree. Sophia stepped up alongside her and grinned. “I told you so.” Abby cleared her throat. “Yes, you did.” Abby guessed by the age descriptions Tyler had shared with her earlier, that Cooper was the one who had driven his truck back. Dressed similar to Tyler, Cooper wore brown boots and a blue-andwhite-striped button-up shirt that he tucked into tight, dark jeans. Just as tall as Tyler, he had a serious gleam in his eyes. Hunter, on the other hand, seemed more causal and relaxed, wearing a plain white T-shirt and formfitting blue jeans, but still had the cowboy appeal of boots and a Stetson. Never had she imaged that look would have her wet and throbbing in all the most delicious places. Abby’s mouth watered. She had to admit she liked the jeans each brother wore. The tight material gave her imagination a lot to play with. She swallowed the thump in her throat as the three brothers stepped up onto the porch. “Abby, these are my brothers, Cooper and Hunter.” Both brother’s removed their hats and reached to shake her hand. The touch and feel was just as it had been with Tyler, calloused palms, with a warmth and gentleness she hadn’t initially expected.

 

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“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, gazing from Cooper’s deep-blue eyes to Hunter’s strikingly hazel green. “If you all would like to come inside, we can get started.” “Abby, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get working on that fence before nightfall. Perhaps we could discuss the details of our arrangement over dinner? Would that be acceptable to you?” A trait she admired in Tyler was his need to avoid procrastination. The perimeter fencing had been on his mind since he arrived at Paradise Ranch, and honestly, she couldn’t see the harm in allowing him to get started. It would also give her a chance to soak in just how enticing it would be to have these brothers working around her daily. She also needed the time to find a way to distract herself from it. Her blood began to boil in her veins as she stared at the three of them. Her sex drive had been activated by Tyler, but now with Cooper and Hunter present, it was moving straight into overdrive. Was it normal to lust after three brothers? Ah, no. Distance might be a good thing. “You’re absolutely right, Tyler. Let’s discuss the details over dinner. Is there anything I can do to help?” “Cooper’s going to give me a hand with the fence, but if you’d like to show Hunter to the barn, he can get started on tending the livestock and managing things on that end.” She nodded and, without hesitation, Tyler and Cooper stepped off the porch and headed toward his truck. As they drove away, she saw that the bed of his pickup was full of lumber. She felt the tug of a smile on her lips as she realized that he’d already gotten a few supplies needed to get started. She had a great feeling about their working arrangement. How could she have gotten so lucky? Meeting Hunter’s gaze, she said, “Please make sure your brother gives me the receipts for anything he’s purchased.” Hunter returned his hat to his head and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

 

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Hearing him call her ma’am suddenly made her feel as if she were older than dirt. At twenty-six, she couldn’t believe he was much older. She smiled. “Please, call me Abby.” He nodded with a crooked grin that had her feeling like she wasn’t wearing enough clothing. It wasn’t an uncomfortable sensation, but one that left her imaging how adorable Hunter would look gazing down on her as they made love. “Oh, shit,” she muttered under her breath. “Well, let’s get started. The barn’s around back,” Abby said, swallowing down her pounding heart. She tossed an apprehensive glance toward Sophia and skipped down the steps, leading the way at a quick pace. She heard the shuffle of Hunter’s boots over the gravel walkway as he rushed to catch her. She didn’t slow. Keeping her mind focused on the work agenda and not on how cute and sexy Hunter was, she went straight to business. “The livestock has been tended to by the last remaining ranch hand my father had working for him before he died. Jared’s been with my father for over twenty years. He’ll show you the ropes and help you get started.” “You don’t strike me as the ranching kind,” he said, bringing her to a complete stop. Her fist balled at her sides as a defensive wave flooded her system, squelching her need to be pleasant. What did he mean by that? She didn’t like the tone he used. It was the same kind of tone her mother used when judging her. “What would you know of what does and doesn’t look like a rancher? Do you think, because you can ride a horse and rope some cattle, you are the expert on ranching? Don’t tell me, where you come from, people walk around wearing a sign that says what they do for a living.” He chuckled. “Wow, you might be a rancher after all. With sass like that, you should’ve been on the bull-riding circuit.”

 

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She arched a brow, her shoulders relaxing just a bit. She blew out a lung full of hot air. “Did you ride bulls?” Smiling proudly, he confessed, “Yep, I rode back when I was a kid. Tyler and Cooper always had to work the ranch, but papa let me rope and ride. He said I was a natural. I loved the thrill that came from holding on to an animal that could crush you with just a flick of its neck. Riding bulls was quite the rush.” She scanned her eyes over his lean and toned body. He wasn’t as muscular as his brothers, but he certainly wasn’t anything to stick her nose up at. “Did you ever get hurt?” “Lots,” he said with his eyes rounding, and then began to slowly walk toward the barn. “I’ve broken my collarbone, my arm, and several ribs. My poor mother always looked as though she was having a heart attack when I left for the rodeo, but papa, he didn’t seem to fret at all.” “You don’t really resemble what I’d imagined a bull rider to look like.” He gently touched her arm, drawing her attention back to him. They stopped walking, and she met his dazzling green eyes that seemed so captivating in the midday sun. “What do you think I should look like then?” She froze. The words playing back in her mind as she realized her mistake. Just moments ago she’d gotten angry with him because he said she didn’t look like a rancher. Here she was saying she didn’t think he looked like a bull rider. Open mouth, insert foot. “I guess I really am a little naive when it comes to this style of living. Please don’t think I meant any disrespect to you, Hunter.” He shrugged. “It’s okay, Ms. Abby. I’m only trying to get to know you.” She smiled softly and nodded. “Well, Hunter, the first thing you should know about me is that I prefer it if you called me Abby. No ma’am or miss is required. I’m not a formal person. I grew up with a woman who treated me like I was too fragile to do anything but sit

 

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around looking pretty. I enjoy getting my hands dirty, and I want to make an honest go out of ranching. Because I don’t know much about it, I’m hoping you and your brothers will help me.” The wind blew her hair into her face and, before she could swipe the strands back, Hunter had already done it. His fingers gently caressed her cheek, tucking the loose hair behind her ear. “I’d like that very much, Abby. I’ve learned that the land is a magnificent place. There is nothing else in the world like feeling the freedom of riding a horse on open terrain. Their power literally flows through you, and when a horse and rider truly trust one another, the sensations will set your hair on fire.” She couldn’t help but smile. His enthusiasm and passion for horses was infectious. The deep sparkle in his eyes as he stared at her had her breathless and just as excited to be a part of that life he pictured. “I haven’t been on a horse since I was very young. I don’t even remember how to ride.” His eyes widened. “Well, we are gonna have to change that. In fact, before I get started, I think we should get you up on a horse.” “Oh no, I couldn’t do it by myself.” “You won’t be, Abby. I’ll be with you. Your first ride will be with me, and then I’ll bet you’ll want to try it out all by yourself.” She felt like her heart was fluttering above her as she walked shoulder to shoulder with Hunter. He was so easy for her to talk to and share her fears with. She had no problems letting him know what she did and didn’t like. Even so, his reaction to her was gentle, like he’d had experience dealing with emotionally derelict women his entire life, which worked out nicely for her. She couldn’t believe all the wild and crazed emotions whirling around in her head. One moment she was as sweet as honey, and the next she was a spitfire ready to skewer anyone who got in her way. Fear had done that to her. Fear of failure, fear of returning to her mother in Dallas to admit she’d made a mistake.

 

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God, please don’t let taking over Paradise Ranch be a mistake. As they approached the barn, Hunter reached forward to open the door and immediately froze. He turned to keep Abby out of the barn, but it was too late. She wiggled in around him, and as soon as her eyes settled on the horrifying scene, she screamed. Hunter’s arms were around her in seconds, his soft, soothing whispers filling her ears, but the image of the three slaughtered horses had been permanently branded into her mind. “Oh, God, Hunter, who would do such a thing?” Her voice and body trembled. “I don’t know, Abby, but I need to get you back to the house.” Hunter took a step back, trying to escort her out of the barn, but she resisted with a solid foothold. “Wait, what about Jared? He should’ve been out here. Where is he?” Gazing up, she watched as Hunter’s eyes danced around their surroundings. Glancing back down at her, he said, “Let me take you outside so I can search around better. I really don’t want you to have to see this. It’s not exactly the way I want you to fall in love with ranching. This shouldn’t be what you remember of your first day.” Normally, she would have fought him. She’d argue that she was strong enough to handle anything, but she knew it would only be a front. Inside she was a mess, a trembling heap of emotional knots. She feared that someone had hurt Jared. Finding him dead was something she knew she’d never get over. She nodded, stepped around Hunter, and pressed her back up against the wall of the barn. The time that passed as she waited for Hunter to return felt like forever. Her thoughts darkened with each passing moment. Was the person responsible for attacking those horses still here? Would he hurt Hunter? Had he killed Jared? Then from around the side of the barn, Hunter appeared escorting two saddled horses. Jared’s body lay slumped over on one. “Oh, God,” she cried, running over to them. “Is he okay?”

 

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“He’s been beaten up pretty bad. Here, let me help you onto the horse so we can ride back. Jared needs medical attention, and I’m afraid waiting for me to ride for help might take too long.” Without a moment to spare, Abby stepped up beside him and put her foot in the stirrup, and Hunter helped her saddle up. Nuzzling up behind her, he set the horses to a steady gallop, holding the reins to both his and Jared’s horses. Hunter kept his arm tucked around her, securing her in front of him. The trip back to the house had taken a great deal less time on horseback. Sophia rushed down the steps and straight to them. “What happened?” she cried. “Someone attacked Jared and killed three horses,” Hunter said matter-of-factly. “We need to get him to a doctor.” “Put him in my car. I’ll take him.” Sophia rushed back inside and grabbed her keys and purse, while Hunter dismounted and placed Jared in her car. Sophia spared no time jumping behind the wheel. Abby went to get off the horse, but Hunter was there in seconds telling her to stay put. He mounted the horse once more. “We need to go tell my brothers what happened, and I’m not leaving you alone.” He kicked the horse into a full run and Abby waited for the fear to settle into the pit of her stomach. It never did. Instead, she felt the rush of the wind on her face and the security of Hunter’s arms surrounding her. He might not have bulging biceps and a powerful block frame, but he sure could make her feel safe and comfortable. Even after what she’d just witnessed. As the horse came to a stop alongside the perimeter fence, Tyler gazed up and locked eyes with her. Instantly, his expression shifted. “What’s wrong?” Hunter explained what happened when they reached the barn. Tyler and Cooper immediately tossed their tools and supplies back into the truck.

 

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“Hunter, take Abby back up to the house. We’re going to check out the barn.” “Wait, why do—” Tyler’s cold stare had her biting her lip. “Abby? Are you really going to tell me you want to see all that again?” No, she didn’t want to see all that, but it didn’t change that she hated the fact that Tyler was rescuing her again. She chewed the inside of her mouth and glanced away. Seething frustration churned in her gut. Tyler and Cooper drove off in the direction of the barn and Hunter took her back up to her house. She stormed up the steps and slammed the door shut behind her. “Abby,” Hunter softly called out as he opened the door. His tone was both concerned and bordering on lecturing. She forced her hands to her hips. “Don’t Abby me. You don’t know me well enough yet,” she spat, and then ran her hands through her hair. “I want to know why these things keep happening to me. I want to know why I was attacked the other night at the market, and why someone would want to hurt Jared and those beautiful animals. Why, damn it, why?” Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Hunter stepped in front of her, his hands gripping her shoulders. “Abby, I don’t know why, but you can’t fall apart over this. For all we know, it’s a random incident. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you.” “That’s easier said than done.” Her heart shattered as soon as she spoke those words. Not only was she completely terrified that this was not a random act, but now she was sure that someone was out to hurt her. Whether physically or emotionally, someone was out to ruin everything she wanted out of a new life. The tears she fought to contain erupted, and she collapsed into Hunter’s arms. ****

 

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“Holy shit,” Cooper breathed. “Who would’ve done something like this?” Tyler grimaced, balling his fists. His mind darted back to the night he saved Abby from an attacker. Had that bastard followed her home? It was too much of a coincidence that the day after her attack this happened. The sudden urge to protect her was all consuming. She wasn’t going to like it, but he wasn’t letting her leave the house alone. Ever. His jaw ticked. “Cooper, put a call out to the sheriff. This needs to be reported, as well as the attack on Abby last night.” Cooper’s eyes rounded. “Abby was attacked?” Tyler sighed and said, “Yes, I’ll explain later, but right now we need to handle this so we can get the animals disposed of.” Cooper nodded. Stepping outside of the barn, he told his brother, “Let’s get back up to the house. We’re done for tonight.” Tyler wanted to get back for one main reason. To make sure Abby was all right. He knew what she’d gone through the night before, and seeing Jared injured and those mutilated animals couldn’t have helped ease her mind. Surely, she was already putting the pieces together that this could’ve been done by the same man who attacked her. He parked his truck in front of the house, and he and Cooper walked inside. Hunter was sitting next to Abby on the brown leather sofa, his arm draped over her shoulder. Her face buried in his chest. Tyler’s gut knotted. He didn’t know why, but seeing her comforted by another man truly bothered him. “I’m going to make that call to the sheriff,” Cooper said, stepping into the kitchen. Tyler couldn’t take his eyes off of Abby. He stepped around the coffee table and knelt in front of her. “Abby, are you all right?” She gazed up at him, her eyes red and swollen from tears. She sniffled. “No, I’m not all right. I’m freaking out,” she whimpered and then covered her face in her hands.

 

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Tyler glanced over at Hunter and with a stiff nudge of his chin, he told his brother to move. He did, leaving the room in the direction of Cooper. Tyler gently pulled at her fingers so he could see her face. The fear he saw flickering in her eyes made him want to kill the bastard who’d hurt her. Again. He didn’t quite understand the emotions that compelled him to protect her, but he didn’t ignore them. Instead, he embraced them. “Abby, I need you to be honest with me. Who was that man who attacked you?” She shook her head. “I don’t know.” Sighing, he knew for some reason she wasn’t being truthful. “Is there anyone who would want to hurt you?” Her lower lip quivered, and she wouldn’t speak. She was breaking. Not that he wanted to push her, but if he didn’t, he’d never know who was after her. Watching her expression told him that she knew exactly who would want to hurt her. He could see her fear doing somersaults behind her eyes. Gently caressing her face, he couldn’t resist touching her. “Who is it, Abby? I can tell that you have an idea who it might be. Please tell me.” In a shuddering breath, she told him, “Jackson. Jackson Cole.” Tyler frowned. “Who is he?” Finally, she looked up and met his gaze head-on. “My ex.” Great, a stalker ex-boyfriend who can’t let go. “Is he the only one it could be?” She bit her lower lip and nodded. Tyler stiffened his spine and demanded, “Abby, you are not to leave this house alone. Until we find out who is doing this, it’s safer for you if you have an escort around the property.” He waited for a moment, silently bracing himself for her objections, but they never came. He was relieved he didn’t have to turn into a giant asshole to make her understand what sort of danger she was in, but he almost wished she had argued with him instead of

 

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what she did. She sobbed. He pulled her up into his arms and held her. The way she fit against him had him closing his eyes and pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “Don’t cry, Abby. Please don’t cry. We’ll find this guy, and then you can go back to living the life you want here at Paradise Ranch.” She pressed her palms against his chest. “Oh, Tyler, what if I’ve made a mistake? What if I’m not cut out to do this?” “Now, that is exactly what I bet this bastard stalking you wants you to feel. He’s got an agenda, Abby, and he wants you to cave.” His hands cupped her cheeks forcing her to look up at him. Sternly, he told her, “Don’t let the fear he’s causing you lead you astray. I won’t let you give up. Do you hear me?” He couldn’t help himself. As he gazed upon her face, he found himself looking at her full, red lips, desperately wanting to kiss her. To kiss away her pain and worry. A yearning unlike anything he’d ever felt urged him to brush his lips over hers, tasting her tears along with her mouth. Her crying suddenly stopped, and he locked gazes with her. He watched as her eyes mimicked his own. She stared at his mouth hungrily. Her eyes were full of curiosity and desire. Slowly, he leaned closer to her, his hands still cupping her cheeks. The soft heat from her flesh warmed him straight to his soul. Her soft breath teased his lips as he drew near. The front door opened, startling Tyler. His eyes darted to see who had come in. Abby had retreated to the backside of the sofa as if using the piece of furniture as a shield. She was spooked. Sophia entered the room. “How’s Jared?” Tyler asked, tossing a quick glance at Abby and then back to Sophia. “I took him to Doctor Webber’s house. He’s going to stay there overnight. He had a pretty nasty bump on the head and a few defensive wounds that needed stitches, but he’ll pull through.” “Oh, thank God,” Abby said, covering her mouth.

 

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Sophia crossed the room and gave Abby a big hug. “Everything’s going to be all right. Let me take you to your room so you can get cleaned up.” Sophia turned and looked at Tyler, and he knew his expression betrayed him. Sophia was an observant woman and would comprehend that he wasn’t thrilled to have Abby removed from his sight. He didn’t have a claim to Abby, so he couldn’t treat her like he did. Even though, out of everyone in this house, he was the one who would save her from this terror. He’d be sure of it.

 

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Chapter Four Dexter eyed the alluring blonde dancing provocatively on the dance floor in front of him and licked his lips. Her tight jean shorts rode high up her thighs and split her pussy, leaving nothing to the imagination. Full, perky tits pushed out from a skintight tank top. His mouth watered in anticipation. The pads of his fingers danced around the ice-cold glass of amber liquor. Taking a sip, the savory taste of bourbon swirled around his tongue like the naughty thoughts teasing his mind and cock. The sweet young thing eyed him, swaying her hips to the country music the band played on stage, and he knew he had her hook, line, and sinker. When he turned on the charm, women couldn’t resist him. They were attracted to him like bees to honey. He grinned, knowing that the night would end just as he planned. Once his hot little number had her fill of dancing and drinking, she’d slide her cute little ass next to his and he’d work his magic on her, making her think she was the most precious thing on earth. His cock jerked against his jeans as he considered all the naughty little things he wished to do to her, hoping his nefarious desires would make her scream and beg for him to stop. Chuckling to himself, he knew that was the idea. He loved it when a woman showed resistance as his cock was lodged inside her cunt, struggling against him as if her feeble attempts would do much of anything but turn him on even more. Before he could fully enjoy the rough and exhilarating fuck, he’d amuse himself a little, enjoying the night. Abby Blake might be playing hard to get, hiding behind her cowboy dickheads, but this

 

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little vixen would offer him a chance to practice his craft. It had been nearly a week since he’d touched the flesh of a woman and took pleasure in it. He liked the power of sliding in between her legs, watching as the passion and lust he evoked turned into full-fledged terror. Yes, tonight he would have almost as much fun as when he finally got what he came to Temptation for. Soon, he’d have Abby, and he would pretend she was her until he wrung the life from her body. **** Abby stood in the middle of her bedroom, staring out the opened window. The silence that overwhelmed her was so absolute that all she could hear was the blood rushing past her eardrums in heavy, drumbeat gushes. The pounding of her heart was deafening. The approaching darkness crept inside her room like the dreaded feelings taking up residency in her mind. She wanted more than anything to hear Tyler’s words of encouragement and strength and be able to accept them. She didn’t want these events to scare her into quitting, and more than anything else, she hated that she’d said those very words aloud to Hunter. Giving up was not an option. Living with the consequences of that choice would only leave her miserable and trapped. Mother would be so pleased. For whatever reason, she trusted Tyler, and would allow him to help her figure this out. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her shoulders as if she were freezing, but she wasn’t cold. She was just the opposite, thanks to her tall, sexy cowboy. How could something as basic as having Tyler near her cause her body to react the way it did? The tumbling of excitement, pleasure, and arousal sank to the pit of her stomach each time she saw him. The same thing happened when she thought about the life she could have

 

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at Paradise Ranch. Now, with Tyler and his brothers present, her wildest dreams were coming true. No, there was no way in hell she was going to quit. If it were easy, everyone would do it. If Jackson was responsible for these horrific things, the authorities would track him down and put a stop to it. Startling her from her thoughts, Sophia said, “Here, put this on after you shower.” She tossed a white, sheer nightgown onto the foot of the bed. “It’s comfortable, and you’ll feel better.” Abby frowned. “I don’t wear those. I prefer shorts and a T-shirt when I sleep.” She always had, even when she was a kid. Sophia grimaced. “Right, well, that’s your choice.” She stepped toward the bedroom door, cocking her head in Abby’s direction before exiting. “Did you want anything to eat? I can bring you something if you’d like.” Shaking her head, she replied, “No, I’m fine.” Liar. She was hungry, but she wanted to be alone more. Decompressing from the last forty-eight hours was all she needed right now. Later, she’d sneak into the kitchen and get herself something to munch on. “All right then, I’ll leave you to it. Should you need anything, just holler. I’ll be in the room next door.” Abby nodded and turned to head into her bathroom and closed the door. Pressing her back against it, she slid down until her rear hit the floor. Pulling her legs up, she wrapped her arms around her knees. She decided that tomorrow would be the day for fresh starts and clear heads, but tonight, she’d allow the last of her panicked tears to fall away. **** Cooper leaned over the back of the chair in the breakfast nook and demanded, “Tyler, tell us what the hell is going on.” He had to know what they were up against. He knew Abby had been attacked, had seen the bruising around her eyes and mouth, and saw the slaughtered

 

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horses for himself. Not to mention the wounded ranch hand, who had been beaten bloody and left for dead. “I really think you owe us a damn explanation. What have we gotten ourselves into?” “You’re right,” Tyler snapped, pacing the floor in the kitchen, jabbing his hand through his dark hair. “I should’ve shared what was going on. I just don’t know where to begin.” Hunter kicked out a chair at the end of the table and sat down, his hazel eyes narrowing as he locked gazes with Tyler. “How about you start at the beginning?” Tyler blew out a harsh breath. “Last night after I dropped Mom off at the diner, Abby was attacked in the parking lot at the market. I fought the guy and stopped him from hurting her, but I didn’t chase after him, which I probably should’ve done.” “The hell you should’ve,” Sophia snapped angrily, rounding the corner into the kitchen, her hands darting to her hips. “You have no idea what that monster could’ve been up to. We’re all lucky neither you nor Abby got seriously hurt.” Damn, she sounded just like their mother. Cooper eyed Sophia. His voice naturally softened as he asked, “Is Abby all right?” He couldn’t explain his concern for the beautiful, vibrant blonde he’d just met. There was something about Abby Blake that caused more thudding inside his chest than just the beating of his heart. His mind seemed just as frazzled as Tyler’s, but he fought a hell of a lot harder than his older brother to conceal it. Sophia nodded. “Yes, the young girl’s got spirit. She’s a little shaken, but she’ll be fine. She’s built tough like her father was.” Relief flooded his system even as a strange urge to charge into her room to see for himself consumed him. With a slight head nod, he said, “Good.” Immediately, he turned his gaze back to Tyler. “Then what happened after the man took off?” “Nothing,” Tyler said. “I collected a few things that Abby had dropped in her struggles, and Sophia took her home. That’s it.”

 

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Cooper grimaced. “I see.” He scratched the two-day growth of dark whiskers on his chin. “You didn’t call the sheriff last night to report the incident. Why not?” “Shit, I don’t know,” Tyler said with a heightened level of annoyance in his voice, his face deepening with color. “I guess in my mind, I handled it. Her attacker was gone, Abby was safe, and I chalked it up to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” “Well, apparently, there’s more to this story than we once believed,” Sophia pointed out. “I haven’t asked Abby directly, but I get the feeling this monster has it out for our girl, and she may know exactly who it is.” Tyler’s eyes flashed red. “Sophia.” He spoke her name with a harsh sound that made Cooper’s head whip to the side to see why his brother’s tone had grown so serious and defensive. She arched a dark brow. “Well, I’m sorry, Tyler, if that bothers you that sweet Abby might have a dark past chasing her, but after what happened last night, I would assume you’d be thinking the same thing.” Tyler’s lips pressed tight, and Cooper knew that look. He’d seen it a hundred times before whenever Tyler knew something that nobody else did. Cooper, paused a moment. “Tyler, what do you know about this man who attacked Abby?” A nasty glare shot his way as Tyler began pacing the floor again. His long strides ate up the hardwoods beneath his booted heels. He licked his lips before finally coming to a stop with his arms folded over his chest in a defiant stance. “Abby thinks it could be her exboyfriend, Jackson Cole.” Hunter scoffed. “How long have you known? She never said a word to me when we got back. In fact, she swore up and down she didn’t know who would do this to her.” “I know,” Tyler muttered. “I don’t think she’s ready to believe that he could be responsible. She’s been denying it to me since last

 

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night. She hadn’t admitted a thing until just before Sophia returned from Doc’s place. She seemed very rattled that her ex could be the one doing all this.” “What a sick bastard,” Hunter murmured. “Besides her ex, what else do we know about this guy?” Cooper asked. “Nothing,” Tyler said quickly. “I didn’t get the chance to ask.” Cooper rounded the table to stand directly in front of Tyler. His chest swelled with urgency and the fierce need to guard the woman that was turning his mind to mush. “Well, we should find out. The sheriff’s on his way. He was on the other side of the county when I called.” As if by sheer force of will, the sheriff’s headlights lit up the front porch. Tyler turned to face them. “Cooper, I’d appreciate it if you would stay inside with Sophia and Abby. Hunter and I are going to give our statements to the sheriff. Sophia, if he needs to talk with you, too, I’ll find you.” She nodded. “Sounds good,” Cooper said, “when you get back, you both should try and get some rest. I’ll take first watch tonight, and around 2:00 a.m. one of you can relieve me so I can get a few hours of sleep before morning.” Tyler agreed, and slapped a firm hand on his youngest brothers back. “Hunter will be your relief tonight. I’ll take tomorrow.” Hunter released a throaty chuckle. “How did I know you were going to say that?” Bumping his oldest brother out of the way, he stepped around him and onto the porch. Tyler was close on his heels. The front door closed and Cooper glanced over to Sophia, who was making her way to the refrigerator. She grabbed a bottle of beer, popped the top, and took a big gulp. He arched a brow, watching her. His mother never touched alcohol, and seeing Sophia chug back on a beer like one of the guys seemed strange.

 

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As she pulled the bottle from her lips, she made a gasping sound, and propped her rear against the countertop. Immediately, she locked gazes with him. “What?” she questioned. He pushed his bottom lip over his top and shook his head. “Nothing,” he said, but really his thoughts were crazed with curiosity about the older woman, and he felt compelled to know everything about her. “How well do you know Abby?” She inclined her head and shrugged her shoulders. “I just met her last night, but I knew her father for years.” Let the interrogation begin. “Did you work for him?” Sophia held his gaze for a long moment before she answered. “Yes and no. I was engaged to Duke Blake, but he died before we could marry.” He swallowed hard. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” She shrugged her shoulders once more. “It doesn’t matter now, but what does matter to me is making sure his daughter is safe. I’m counting on the three of you Boyd brothers to help me make sure she remains unharmed by that monstrous pig. You’d all be up shits creek if it wasn’t for that girl, and I hope you remember that.” Sophia finished her beer, tossed it into the trash, and headed back down the hallway toward the bedrooms. Once she reached her room, she closed and locked the door behind her, leaving Cooper staring after her. Cooper felt like a kid who had just been scolded and punished, but he understood what Sophia was saying. He and his brothers hadn’t had a steady job in months, and money was tight. If Abby hadn’t offered to give them lodging and a chance to work on the ranch, by the end of the week, they would’ve been sleeping in their truck. He pushed back the sheer curtains in the den and glanced out the window to watch his brothers talking with the sheriff. The house was eerily quiet. While his brothers remained outside, he’d walked the house a dozen times, checking all the windows, doors, and closets. He was determined to keep Abby as safe as he could. Tomorrow, he’d get

 

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his father’s gun and keep it close by. He wasn’t about to end up like poor Jared. A short time later, both Tyler and Hunter marched through the door, and the sheriff drove off. The brothers looked as if all the blood had been drained from their faces. Neither one made any remarks as they locked the front door behind them and headed for their bedrooms. Cooper would’ve been annoyed if not for the fact that he knew how tired they were. He still had a few hours left before he could close his eyes. So he grabbed a few magazines out of his duffle bag, helped himself to a hot cup of coffee, and sat down at the kitchen table, slowly thumbing through the pages. He froze as he heard the sounds of creaking wood. Cooper slowly rose to his feet, grabbed the butcher knife from the kitchen block, and hid in the dark corner. A quick glance down at his watch told him it was well past midnight, and everyone should be asleep. The rasping breathes that moved from his lungs in quick succession dried his lips and mouth. He felt like he’d eaten a wad of cotton. His heart dropped into his stomach as a gorgeous, long-haired blonde tiptoed her way into the kitchen. Her shorter-than-short shorts crept high up on her thighs and a skintight tank top cupped perfectly unbound breasts. He licked his dry mouth and wondered how long he could stand there admiring Abby without appearing to be a pervert. His cock tingled and pulsed with delight. Damn, the things just looking at her did to him. He decided that he’d ogled her long enough, cleared his throat and stepped free of the shadows. On a startled gasp, she turned, gripping the countertop, pulling the fabric of her shirt tighter over her breasts. Instantly, his eyes gazed down to see the hardening peaks of her nipples through the thin material. He shifted his stance as his erection grew more prominent. He let out a soft groan as he stared at the sexy woman.

 

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His eyes darted to lock gazes with her. “Abby, it’s just me, Cooper.” He slowly placed the knife back into the butcher block. “I’m sorry if I scared you, but I wasn’t expecting anyone to be up.” Her hand pressed firmly over her chest as if to keep her heart from bursting through her rib cage. “What are you doing walking around with a knife?” she hurriedly asked. “My brothers and I will be taking shifts until the sheriff can find whoever it is that keeps harassing you. I took first watch.” “Oh,” she breathed. “Why are you up? I figured you’d be hibernating in your room until morning.” Her brow furrowed. “Why would you say that? Do you think that I’m just a sniveling little girl who can’t handle what’s going on? Do you think I need rescuing from you and your brothers? Do you think that I couldn’t survive without you?” Damn, how had he managed to turn an innocent comment into a full-out brawl with her? That was not his intention, but still, watching her get fired up only made her look wildly hotter. Shit, he hadn’t noticed exactly how beautiful she was until now. He placed his palms up in surrender. “Whoa, that’s not what I meant at all. I just figured you would want some peace and quiet this evening. You’ve been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours.” “Oh,” she murmured. The red color in her face slowly receded. “I’m sorry. I seem to get defensive a lot faster these days.” He closed the distance between them. “Why is that?” Pressing his lips together, he looked at her long and hard, waiting for her to tell him what she had hiding behind those sultry blue eyes. **** Abby studied him, wondering how she could’ve gotten so lucky to have three men under her roof that resembled rough-riding cowboy gods instead of ordinary men. Cooper’s broad shoulders filled her

 

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vision as he stood uncomfortably close. She wished she had grabbed her robe before leaving her room, since her nipples were showing a clear sign of her arousal and desire. She inhaled deeply and the scent of his body reminded her of fresh, new-fallen snow. His smooth olive skin seemed untarnished by hours spent in the sun. Her heart raced as she admired the intensity in his gaze. She couldn’t think straight with him standing so close to her. One deep breath and surely her breast would rub up against his chest. She took a side step toward the refrigerator and created much-needed space. “Um, what were we talking about?” she asked, trying her best to keep her composure. He turned and leaned against the countertop and folded his arms over his chest. “Why are you so defensive?” How could she possibly expect him to understand? She always believed that no one would truly understand what she had gone through living with a woman who only saw dollar signs and cared what society thought. How could she explain, without sounding like an ungrateful brat? “Look, it’s not important. I really just came out here to grab a drink and something to eat.” “So you think your life is too complicated for a redneck like me to understand, then?” His tone with her had changed, making him sound annoyed and a little angry. She choked on her words. “No,” she quickly retorted. “That’s not what I think at all.” Well, technically, wasn’t that exactly what she was thinking? “I just don’t think that the story of my life and an overbearing mother is worth listening to.” His sexy blue eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you let me decide that?” Abby watched him curiously. The heavy stare she witnessed told her he was dead serious, and the way he didn’t seem to want to budge from her side made it all the more obvious that he wasn’t planning on leaving without hearing her pathetic story.

 

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“Look, it’s my own cross to bear, okay. I have mommy issues.” her eyes rounded as she emphasized the word mommy. “I’m not one for being paraded around like some freaking doll, and that’s exactly what my mother did to me. I was forced to live in her shadow and was critiqued at every turn. Nothing I did was ever good enough in her eyes.” She sighed hard, hating that her mother had had so much power over her. “I’m just tired of being questioned about every damn decision I make.” “Your mother sounds like a real”—pausing, his eyes darted up to hers, and with a crooked smile, he finished his thought—“gem.” Abby smiled at his polite description, which really meant something else altogether. “You could say that.” “If I’m reading you right, taking over this ranch means a lot more than just hard work. This is basically a new start for you.” Relieved that Cooper understood her, she relaxed a little, reached into the fridge, and pulled out a can of soda. “Yes, that’s exactly what this is.” The can hissed as she popped the aluminum top. “Then having some lunatic wreak havoc on your plans must really piss you off?” With a long hesitation, Abby finally admitted, “It does, more than I think any of you could possibly know. If the person attacking me is Jackson, I hope the cops find him and put him away. He’s the worst sort and my own damn fault.” “How do you mean?” She took a sip of her soda and leaned against the cabinet beside her. “My mother despised men with long hair, tattoos, and earrings. She hated anything that wasn’t proper.” Abby grinned from ear to ear, remembering the day vividly. “When I met Jackson, he was the perfect man to drive my mother crazy, and boy, did he ever. She freaked the moment I brought him over for dinner. I made sure she was having one of her late-afternoon tea parties when I did. She practically keeled over right there at the table.”

 

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Grinning like the devil, he said, “So Jackson looked like a real badass then?” She nodded. “Sadly, he didn’t just look it, he was it. I later discovered that he had a criminal record. When I found out just how awful he was, I tried to break things off, but he didn’t give a damn what I said. He was determined to be in my life whether I wanted him in it or not.” “So your carefully calculated plan backfired?” Carefully calculated was nothing like what she’d done when setting all of this into motion. What an idiot she’d been. “You can say that, except there was nothing strategic about what I did. It was purely based on hormonal stupidity.” She sighed hard. “Now Jackson may have found me here in Temptation, but I haven’t a clue how that’s possible since I haven’t told anyone where I was going.” Cooper shrugged. “That’s actually an easy one to figure out.” Her eyes widened as he said, “Abby, he had you followed.” He moved to stand in front of her again, pinning her back against the cabinet. This time as he approached her, he reached out and took hold of her shoulders. His thumb gently massaged her skin. “If he didn’t want to let you go, what makes you think he wasn’t watching your every move?” Her jaw dropped open, and she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand as his words sank in. “Oh, God, I hadn’t thought about that.” Cooper’s arched brow disappeared under his golden-brown hair. “It’s going to be all right, Abby,” he assured her, rubbing her arms. “Tyler and Hunter both gave the sheriff their statements tonight, and I’m sure Tyler filled him in on your ex-boyfriend. Of course, I don’t think he knew much more than his name, but if this guy is the kind of trouble I think he is, it shouldn’t take much to identify him.” She slumped forward just a bit, once again feeling a little defeated. “Now, don’t go and let a jackass like Jackson Cole get you into feeling like it’s the end of the world. He can’t hurt you as long as one of us is with you.” He cupped her face in his hands. His deep,

 

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ocean-blue eyes drilled into her, warming her soul just as the touch of his palms warmed her skin. “I know I can speak for my brothers when I tell you that we won’t let anything happen to you.” He gently pulled her against him and wrapped her securely into the confines of his arms. “If you need anything, Abby, my brothers and I are here for you.” One of his strong hands rested at the nape of her neck, while the other spanned across her back, pressing her against him. Everything around her seemed to fade away except the heated feel of his touch through her shirt, burning into her skin. His warm breath danced inside her ear, causing her belly to shudder with nervous excitement. She should’ve immediately pushed away from him the moment her thoughts turned primal and hungry, but instead, she simply eased back as his embrace loosened. The faint scent of coffee on his breath brushed over her face as she glanced up to meet his gaze. She couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by her situation. The emotional sensations were so natural, it was easy to allow the brothers to be near her, to hold her, and to protect her. Here she was in a house with three gorgeous men who just happened to want to keep her safe from a nasty ex-boyfriend. In some strange way, they all seemed to care for her. The compassion of the brothers left her speechless. She studied him. His eyes darted to her lips as if preparing to sample her mouth. Her stomach lurched as he dipped his head lower. She froze, unwilling to part from the possibility of feeling Cooper’s mouth pressed against hers. She shouldn’t want him to kiss her, but she did. The soft sweep of his lips over hers felt like a kiss she might’ve received from a good friend, but the heat in his eyes told her there was something else hiding deep inside those illustrious blues. Was he testing her? Did he want to see if she would reject the idea of his kiss? Obviously, she hadn’t.

 

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His hands moved to cup her face, and with another brush of his lips, the innocent kiss no longer possessed the same friendly feel. This time, it was all-consuming, building into something that had her heart racing and her arms folding around his neck to keep him from moving away. She tasted the coffee flavor that swirled on his tongue, and it, coupled with the clean scent of his body, had her toes curling as he possessed her lips. Kissing her deeper, he pulled her closer. She was captivated by the warmth of his caress and the power she felt as he ruled over her. In moments, she was hauled off her feet. The strength of his hands massaged her buttocks and instinctively her legs wrapped around his waist. Lost in the kiss, she hadn’t realized that Cooper had moved with her in his arms. Her back was suddenly pressed against the far wall in the kitchen. Deepening the kiss, his hands explored her body, caressing the underside of her breasts. She rocked her hips over his engorged cock, grinding against him. The feel of his body pressed against hers had the blood heating in her veins, the breath catching in her lungs. Her hands roved all over his shoulders, back, and chest, reveling in the firm muscles and strength she felt radiating from every impressive inch of him. Then her can of soda slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a loud thump. Some of the contents leaked from the can. Startled, she pushed back and quickly looked away. Her cheeks burned with heat. “Set me down,” she murmured, and wiggled her way out of his hold. Once firmly planted on the ground, she reached for a dishtowel to clean up the mess. Picking up the can, she dried the small area. Her belly knotted as she stood and met Cooper’s penetrating and lust-filled gaze. Her mouth bruised and tingling from his kiss, she

 

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whispered, “I should probably go to bed. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” His hands dropped to his sides, and she moved around him. She was a little embarrassed that she’d allowed herself to lose control with him, but at the same time she knew she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t wanted it. For whatever reason, she had. A need to be accepted for who she was trampled away any thoughts that kissing him had been a mistake. She turned to face him once more before leaving the kitchen. “Cooper.” She spoke his name softly, and he inclined his head in her direction. “Thank you for listening. It means a lot to know you’re here.” He offered her a soft smile. “Anytime, Abby.”

 

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Chapter Five The next day, when Abby woke rested and feeling better than she ever thought possible, the house was already filled with the scents of breakfast. She could hear the banging of hammers just outside her window. The brothers had already started working, and she hadn’t even gotten out of bed. She groaned, wondering if the events of the last two days had actually happened, or if it was all some kind of dream. She stepped to her window and pulled the sheer curtain back. Hunter’s adorable face beamed at her from the side. Nope, it wasn’t a dream. He was fixing the shutters that had fallen, his hazel eyes sparkling with the light of the morning sun. Looking past Hunter, she caught sight of Tyler and Cooper working on the front fence. Her heart jumped as she studied them. The power of Tyler’s body filled her vision just as the memory of Cooper’s kiss warmed her deliciously. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Hunter’s crooked smile, and opened the window. “You Boyds don’t waste any time, do you?” He held the hammer in midair, pausing only to respond to her. “No sense in allowing a perfectly gorgeous day to slip by. I was told to keep an eye on you, so that’s what I’ve been doing.” He winked, staring a little over her shoulder. As she glanced back to lock onto what he was looking at, her mouth formed a giant O. His gaze landed on her bed. She whipped her head around to glare at him. “Have you been watching me sleep?” A strange flutter filled her belly and tingled straight between her legs. Grinning, he said, “When I wasn’t hammering.” Bang. Bang.

 

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Her mind suddenly went straight to the metaphor of his comment. All she could see was his toned, sexy body pressed on top of her as he slowly fucked her into oblivion. His cock sliding vigorously inside her pussy as she clawed at his firm ass, rocking her hips, driving him deeper. She swallowed hard and shook the naughty thoughts from her head. I really need to stop doing that. She went to close the window, but he grabbed the frame before she could. “You sleep like an angel, by the way. I’ll meet you in the living room and you can help me with the shutters until Cooper gets back.” The mention of Cooper’s name had her cheeks heating and her lips throbbing in memory. She pushed the window back open. “Why’s Cooper coming back? Isn’t he working on the fence with Tyler today?” Hunter arched a curious brow. “Tyler said he wanted Cooper to get started on your father’s books. He needs you to show him the financials so he can start managing the records.” Of course. She could slap herself. Stop getting so worked up over that kiss. It was nothing. “Oh,” she breathed. “Right, the financial records, perfect.” Again she went to close the window, but Hunter stopped her. “By the way, you look very pretty when you wake up.” She gasped. Stunned, she instantly touched her head and realized what a mess her hair was, and then darted into the bathroom to brush her wild bedhead, pulling it back up into a ponytail. Hunter called out after her in a sarcastic tone, “Don’t worry, I’ll close your window.” His chuckle could be heard all the way into the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, Abby strolled out of her room, dressed and presentable. She looked nothing like she had when she rolled out of bed. She swallowed, licking her dry lips as her eyes finally found Cooper. He was already standing in the kitchen, sipping coffee that she assumed Sophia had made along with the best-smelling breakfast.

 

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“Good morning,” Cooper said warmly as his gaze settled on her. The corner of his mouth lifted into a devilish grin. She couldn’t slow the fast beat of her heart. Her eyes slowly darted to his mouth, and then to his eyes, which reminded her of how easy it was to let a man so enticing kiss her. Stop thinking like that. Clearing her lusty thoughts and throat, she replied, “Good morning.” She paused, stepping over to watch her friend cook. “Wow, Sophia, that smells amazing.” “I’m glad you think so. Now, grab yourself a cup of coffee or water, and find a spot at the table. I’m going to bring you over a nice plate of food. Then you and Cooper can start working on your father’s records.” She returned to the stove with a black plate in her hand and started spooning out eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Abby sat down and Cooper pulled out the seat beside her. On the table in front of him were her father’s financial journals, and in front of her appeared a steaming plate of food. It didn’t take her but a second to grab her fork and start digging in. When Cooper caught her off guard with that kiss, she’d forgotten all about being hungry, but once the aroma of Sophia’s cooking slammed into her nostrils, she remembered all too well that she was starving. Pouring syrup all over her pancakes, she jabbed her fork into the soft, warm breading and shoved it into her mouth, closing her eyes as the warm, buttery, maple goodness rolled around in her mouth and slowly slid down her throat. When she opened her eyes, Cooper was staring at her in the same heated way he had done the night before. “Did you enjoy that?” Nodding with a growing smile, she repeated the act. “I’m glad. I realized after you left the kitchen last night that you never did get anything to eat.” She shrugged her shoulders, not caring that she’d gone to bed so hungry. She was making up for that now. Cooper chuckled.

 

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“All right, well, while you enjoy your breakfast, I’m going to stroll through these books.” Cooper opened up the last few pages and noticed that the numbers were not adding up correctly. Then he began sorting through the stacks of invoices matching things up. She watched him as she finished her breakfast. His eyes scanned the pages quickly, bouncing from the journal, making notes as he went along. His studious appearance was simply arousing. What she wouldn’t give to have a brain that could do math as quickly as his seemed to be doing. She couldn’t manage her own checkbook, let alone the finances for a thousand-acre ranch. Finally, he gazed up at her. “Your father’s records are really not that bad. He was good enough to keep everything together, and even though he didn’t enter them here”—he pointed at the journal—“he still kept the invoices together. He left you pretty well off, considering.” “Of course he left her well off,” Sophia chimed in from the kitchen. “Duke loved his little girl. He wouldn’t leave her to maintain this ranch without a little financial help.” She leaned around the corner and winked at Abby. Abby dropped her fork on her plate. “Sophia, did my father talk about me?” “All the time, my dear,” she said with a smile. “He wanted so badly for you to join him on the ranch, but each time he tried to call you or send you a letter, your mother would either hang up on him or return his letters unopened.” Sophia sighed. “Your mother desperately tried to keep you away from Duke. It broke his heart that he couldn’t have you close.” “Why didn’t he just come to Dallas to see me?” “He did. Your mother said you were away at some camp each time he made the trip up to see you. She wouldn’t even let him in the house.” Yep, that sounds like my mother. Even knowing that her mother was guarding her so tightly, she just couldn’t imagine that her father

 

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wasn’t able to find a way to have seen her. “Did he not think about getting an attorney to fight her?” “Oh, he thought about that, too, but your mother was always one step ahead of him. She threatened to sue him for Paradise Ranch. When they were going through the motion of divorce, she wanted sole custody of you, but he wouldn’t agree to that. So, she threatened to sell off Paradise Ranch to the lowest bidder if he didn’t give her what she wanted. After a long, drawn-out legal battle with her, he agreed to give her custody of you, but only because he wanted to leave this place to you. He had hoped that once you got older and were no longer under your mothers stronghold…you’d come find him.” Abby’s eyes watered. “I didn’t think he wanted me.” Sophia stepped closer and knelt beside her. “Now that is simply not true. Your father loved you more then you’ll ever know.” Abby’s heart broke a little more over her father. She knew her mother was a troll of sorts, but she hated thinking that her father would’ve given her up so easily. Why hadn’t he fought harder? Why did Paradise Ranch mean more to him than she did? Sophia rose and moved over to a dark-brown chest in the living room. She hoisted up a box, opened it, and pulled out a stack of letters that were bound by twine. Sophia placed the box and stack in front of Abby. Her eyes swelled at the number of letters addressed to her. Each postmarked letter had “return to sender” written in big block letters. “Your father wrote you weekly for nine years, and if he hadn’t gotten sick, I’m sure he would’ve continued. Everything you ever want to know about your father is in those letters.” Abby’s heart squeezed in her chest as she stared at the letters written in her father’s hand. She wanted so badly to tear into them and discover just who Duke Blake really was. She also wanted to know why he’d abandoned her, but she couldn’t bring herself to open the letters. It was too much right now. Her head had to be clear when she

 

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read them, and she needed to be alone. The number of watchful eyes on her was just too much. “Thank you, Sophia,” she murmured. The front door opened and the sound of booted footsteps filled the room. All eyes shifted as Tyler rounded the corner into the kitchen. As soon as he saw Abby, his entire expression changed, and he didn’t seem to care who noticed. “How’d you sleep?” he asked matter-of-factly. “Good,” she said with a shy smile. “I almost didn’t get up, but thanks to Hunter, I had an alarm.” Tyler’s expression was stoic. “The sheriff’s supposed to be here around ten this morning. He said he’d be by with an update.” Abby glanced at the clock above the stove and realized the sheriff would be arriving soon. She stood, pushing the chair back with her legs, and grabbed the box filled with her father’s letters, clutching it to her breast. To Cooper, she said, “I’ll just put these away and then we can finish up.” “Actually, I’m good. Most of what I need to do I can handle alone, but once I’ve gotten everything worked out and all the invoices totaled up, I’ll show you how to manage the journals. We’ll need to back each other up so that you always know what’s going on with the books.” Her eyes widened as she thought about the math she’d have to do, and he must have noticed her concern. “No need to worry about a thing, Abby. I’ll teach you all you’ll need to know and it will be no big deal once we get it all cleaned up. You’ll see.” Abby nodded with a smile. Tyler watched her every move as she approached him, just as she watched his. The intensity of his stare left her flesh warming with bursts of fever. Stepping around him, she felt her pulse begin to race as she gently brushed against his firm arm. Tyler did that to her. She liked how he was able to distract her with a simple glance, and enjoyed it even more when he touched her.

 

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Her nipples hardened at the image of his arms wrapped around her, his fingers caressing her face. When she finally reached her room, she placed the box on her unmade bed. The solid thud of Tyler’s boots thundered in behind her. She shivered as he entered her room and stalked straight over to the windows, checking to make sure they were locked. She couldn’t help but notice his apprehension riding along his broad shoulders. “Tyler? Is everything all right?” “I’m just checking the windows,” he said in a gruff tone. She scoffed. “I can see that, but you’re giving off a vibe that screams something else.” She forced her hands to her hips. “What’s going on?” He pulled his hands away from the window, turned and faced her. His strong hands balled into tight fists. “I want to know what the sheriff was able to discover about Jackson.” He inclined his head, glancing away from her eyes. “I don’t like the fact that there’s some damn freak running around town hurting people.” Abby grimaced and a shiver of dread charged up and down her spine, reminding her of what she endured her first night in Temptation. “I don’t really like that little fact, either.” Tyler’s eyes darted up to lock on hers, and he quickly closed the distance between them. He cupped her face in his uncompromising hands. “Abby, promise me you won’t leave the house without a chaperone.” A sudden wave of nervousness flared inside her and she immediately placed her hands over his. “Tyler, has something happened?” She could feel it in the marrow of her bones that something wasn’t right with him. He was keeping something to himself, but what? He audibly swallowed and gently stroked her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. His eyes were a sea of concern, but there was still a hard edge to him. She could see him fighting against it as he held her.

 

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“Last night, just outside of town, a woman was brutally assaulted and left for dead. She’d been raped and stabbed.” Abby gasped, her chest collapsing in deep, heavy sighs and gulps of air. “Oh, God,” she cried. “Who was she?” Tyler shook his head. “I don’t know who she was, but I do know that she was only twenty years old.” He pushed her hair back away from her face, not letting her go. His expression told her that he was picturing her as that poor young woman. Shit, so was she. “How did you find out?” His steel-gray eyes swept over her face in a slow perusal, finally settling back on hers. “I left for the hardware store early this morning for a few supplies, and everyone in town was already talking about it.” He paused. “I don’t want to see this happen to you.” The image of that young woman’s bloodied body flashed in her head. She trembled. “Do you think Jackson could’ve done something like this?” he asked. She wished she could say no, but she couldn’t. At this point, she simply didn’t know what Jackson was capable of. “Is she going to be all right? Will she survive?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. No one really knew how long she’d been laying there before someone finally found her.” She jumped, startled by a knock on the door behind her. The alarming conversation they were having had her concentrating strictly on Tyler and their situation. She hadn’t even heard Cooper enter the room. His voice seemed strained as he said, “Sheriff Clay Garrett is here to see you, Abby.” Nodding, she collected herself, turned and followed Cooper back into the living room. Tyler trailed close behind. Sheriff Garrett could’ve easily been a linebacker for the Houston Texans. His shoulders were so broad he barely fit through the front

 

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door. With dark-brown hair and eyes, he towered over her. She took his extended hand, giving it a firm shake. “Thank you for coming, Sheriff.” “Ms. Blake.” He nodded at Tyler, who insisted that Abby take the seat on the couch beside him. “Please call me Abby.” “All right,” he said, sitting down in the chair across from her. “Abby, I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but a woman was found this morning, badly beaten and stabbed about ten miles from town.” Her stomach knotted as her mind flooded with the image of that poor woman laying bloody and clinging to life. Swallowing back the bile that rose up into her throat, she asked, “What exactly did he do to her?” As horrible as it was to hear, she had to know what possible future was in store for her. Sheriff Garrett sighed heavily. “Ms. Blake,” he said with a fierce edge in his voice. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Abby’s nails dug into the palms of her hands. “Sheriff, I realize that you think keeping what happened to that girl a secret from me will be doing me a favor, but really all it does is make my mind wander in an area that might be even worse than the truth.” The sheriff leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. He slid the brim of his hat around in a circle, using the thick pads of his fingers. His expression darkened. Sheriff Garrett glanced down at his hands. “The woman was too badly beaten for a facial recognition. She’d been hit with something hard enough to break almost every bone in her face.” He swallowed hard. “She’d also been stabbed over a dozen times in her chest and stomach. The coroner thinks she was bound just before she was dumped on the side of the highway. Her entire body was covered in defensive wounds. The sick bastard wanted her to resist him.” The sheriff’s eyes flashed red with anger. “All of her clothing had been removed, and there were signs of sexual assault.” He glanced over to Tyler. “The son of a bitch got off on hurting her.”

 

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She clutched her stomach. “Will she be all right?” Sheriff Garrett locked gazes with her and said, “Unfortunately, the young lady did not survive her injuries. She died on my way over here. This is now a murder investigation.” He swallowed and then continued telling his reason for coming out. “Abby, we tracked down Jackson Cole, and he’s currently in custody.” She struggled to hear over the racing blood flooding her ears. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her mind numbed as she reabsorbed his words. The image she conjured in her mind had been nothing like the truth. She’d been wrong to push the sheriff. Now, she wanted to crawl under her bed and hide from the world. “So Jackson was in Temptation,” Tyler blurted out. “No, actually he was in Dallas, and according to the Dallas Police Department he has an airtight alibi for his whereabouts.” His eyes focused on Abby. “Over the last forty-eight hours, Jackson Cole never left Dallas County, and the way it looks now, he’s not the man who attacked you the other night, nor is he the person who slaughtered your cattle and banged up Jared.” Tyler gently squeezed her hand. Her mind raced with worry as the horrible events settled over her. If it wasn’t Jackson, then who was it that was terrorizing her? Why were they threatening to harm her? She didn’t have a chance to ask before Cooper angrily snapped, “Well, if it’s not him, than who the hell is it?” The sheriff’s gaze narrowed. “We just don’t know, but until we catch whoever’s doing this, please don’t be caught alone on the property. It’s important that you all know where each other is. For whatever reason, this guy has dialed in on you, Abby, and he might not stop with just harassing you and killing a few livestock, especially now after what happened to that young girl.” Hunter leaned forward behind Abby with his hands pressed against the backrest of the sofa. “So you think it’s the same guy then?”

 

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“I’m not willing to rule anything out just yet, but the simple fact that both the victim and Abby look similar and were attacked within a few days of each other, the timing is just too much of a coincidence to ignore. I hate to say it, Tyler, but had you not been there to protect Abby that night, it might’ve been her we found brutalized.” Abby’s stomach dropped to the floor and she felt like she was about to throw up. Instantly, Tyler wrapped a possessive arm around her as if he could sense her mind splintering panic. She grasped Tyler’s hand, her eyes focusing straight ahead. “Don’t worry, Sheriff. I have no intentions of being caught alone.” **** Paradise Ranch was becoming her home. After a month under the watchful gaze of her three live-in ranch hands, she finally felt like she had found her own private sanctuary. Daily, she witnessed an exhilarating transformation of not only her ranch but her heart. She grew fonder of the men that had landed in her lap. For no other reason than being wonderfully amazing men, they kept her safe from harm. Hunter had become her constant companion from the moment her eyes cracked open all through midday, then Cooper jumped in to take over, giving Hunter a chance to tend the livestock. Jared hadn’t fully recovered from his injuries, and the afternoons were best for him to teach Hunter a thing or two about raising prized cattle. In the evenings, when it was time for bed, Tyler assumed the duty of watching over her, which she didn’t mind at all. She could sense that there was something magical happening between her and Tyler, but was too afraid to admit exactly what it was. Too much was at stake with her new home, and allowing her hormones to take over her brain was something she just couldn’t risk, even though resisting the attraction to the brothers was that hardest thing she ever had to endure.

 

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Everything in her life was finally going the way she had always dreamed. Her physical and mental lusting after the brothers had been difficult to ignore, and the daily attention each paid to her had her feeling like a cherished princess. She was not accustomed to being treasured, but the brothers did an excellent job of not going overboard with their flirtations, offering her just enough of a tease to keep things interesting and fun. Cooper hadn’t tried to kiss her again since that first time, and she found that a little disappointing, but again she was the one who thought it best to keep things professional between them. “Is your mother working at the diner tonight?” she asked during breakfast. “No,” Tyler replied. “She’s not.” She’d longed to have everyone together and to meet the woman responsible for raising such fine young men. “Then perhaps she’d like to join us for dinner. You’ve all worked so hard. I’d like to celebrate with a nice, home-cooked family meal.” Cooper shrugged, eyeing his brother. “Well, after lunch I could go get her.” Abby reached over and squeezed Cooper’s hand. It was a response she hadn’t meant to happen, but the gesture seemed so natural. “That would be perfect. I bet she’d love to see all the wonderful things you’ve done on the ranch.” Tyler’s eyes narrowed. His gaze darted back and forth from Cooper to her. “Are you sure, Abby? Things are still unsettled with whoever attacked you. We can’t risk letting our guard down.” She frowned at his need to deter her from her plans. He was sometimes so much the father figure, she felt like no matter what she wanted, he’d tell her it was best to do the opposite. “Tyler, I know you’re worried, but we can’t stop living our lives just because of some jackass.”

 

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Cooper grinned. “I agree. A dinner as a family would be wonderful.” “Besides, Tyler,” Hunter chimed in. “I think Mom would enjoy visiting with us and getting to know Abby.” Smiling broadly, Abby clapped her hands together, knowing she had just gotten her way. “Great, then it’s settled. Cooper’s going to bring your mother here for dinner, and we’re all going to enjoy ourselves and have a spectacular time.”

 

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Chapter Six Tyler studied Abby as she whooshed around the kitchen, looking so at peace as she and Sophia prepped dinner. Her delightful smile was infectious. He couldn’t believe how, in such a short time, he’d come to care about her. He knew it all seemed crazy and way too fast, but he just couldn’t shake the need to be near her, to worship and claim her. His desires were so strong they swirled inside his chest. Never had he felt more overwhelmed by need. The way she gazed at him, he was sure she reciprocated his sentiments, but for whatever reason, he hesitated each time she drew near. Even as he watched over her while she slept, he hadn’t had the courage to wake her with a passionate kiss, to see if she’d welcome him into her bed. He’d spent many restless nights thinking about her, curious about what it would be like to have her beneath him as he made love to her, loving her in a way he knew would have her mind and body exploding into an abyss of orgasms. He was desperate to touch her. His thoughts were not on the innocent caresses he’d stolen over the last month but of a more intimate touch that would have her naked in his arms, his warm mouth on her skin, his tongue tasting her flesh and devouring the sweet honey from between her thighs. Damn, he wanted to taste her pussy. Learn her flavor and scent, claiming her as his. He groaned as his cock hardened at the image. Watching her as she flirted with his brothers had his gut churning as he wondered if she had feelings for them, too. Never had he seen his brothers pay so much attention to any one woman before. Sure, he

 

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knew they were grateful to her for giving them a place to live and work, but there was something more to it. Cooper, the one who was always Mr. Uptight, was more laid-back and smiled whenever he was with her. Then there was Hunter, whose boyish good looks got him into bed with just about any gal he wanted, but recently all he seemed concerned with was Abby. Even though jealousy twisted his gut, he couldn’t blame his brothers. Abby was special. He’d known that since the moment he’d first held her trembling body in his arms. He also knew that he’d never desire another woman the way he seemed to want her. Instinct blazed inside him, alarming him with feelings he’d never experienced before. Being so close to her and not being able to touch her was the most torturous thing he’d ever been through. He didn’t understand the control she had over him, but he was willing to see how far things could go between them. He prayed that she’d unleash her inhibitions soon, or he was going to have to take matters into his own hands and jerking himself off was not something he desired. He preferred a soft delicate hand, a woman’s touch, one that would perhaps use more than her hand to ease his suffering. The front door opened, and Cooper and his mother, Madeline, walked into the house. She was dressed in a soft blue dress and her long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She looked straight ahead as she entered the room and met Tyler’s gaze. He rose from the sofa and moved to hug her. “I’m glad you could join us, Mom,” Tyler whispered as he greeted her. Patting him on the back, she muttered, “It was nice to be invited, short notice or not.” With a scowl only he could recognize as annoyance, his mother arched a brow. Tyler chose to ignore his mother’s obvious displeasure that he and his siblings had had little time to spend with her over the last several weeks. He wondered earlier if she might pull the guilt trip mothers are

 

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so well equipped to use. If he was lucky, this subtle display might be the only one for the evening, but the gnawing in his guts told him that none of them would be that fortunate. Cooper grabbed hold of his mother’s hand, taking her from Tyler’s arms and led her toward the kitchen. “I want you to meet Abby, Mom.” Rounding the corner into the kitchen, they saw the makings of a feast. Tyler couldn’t believe all the work Abby and Sophia were doing to make the meal the best it could be for them. The idea of a family dinner had his heart squeezing. They hadn’t shared a real meal with their mother since before their old man had died. Abby was an angel for putting everything together the way she had, even if deep down he thought it was a bad idea to get so relaxed with a madman on the loose. Abby turned to face them with a smile. “You must be Mrs. Boyd. I’m so excited to meet you. Your sons are amazing men, and they’ve done a marvelous job with the ranch.” She offered a soft smile. “I’m so pleased to hear that. They take after their father in that regard.” “Don’t be so modest, Mom,” Tyler pointed out, stepping up alongside her. “We learned hard work and dedication from you, too.” He shifted his glance from his mother to Abby. “Is there anything we can do to help?” Abby’s warm smile touched him, tugging at his hardened exterior. “Actually, you can all take a seat at the table. We’re just about ready to eat.” Tyler helped his mother take the seat beside him, while Cooper sat directly across from her. Strategically, he placed Abby between him and his brother at the head of the table. Hunter sat on the other side of their mother, while Sophia took the seat adjacent to Abby at the other end of the table. One spot remained open for Jared, but he had ventured into town, and Tyler wasn’t sure he’d be able to return for dinner.

 

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The table was displayed as if it were a feast for an army. Freshbaked rolls, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, and a carved roast that smelled divine. If he wasn’t hungry before, he sure was now. Everything looked so splendid. Truly, the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Not only was his Abby a beautiful woman, but she could cook, the perfect combination for any man. Throughout the meal, Tyler couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Abby. The way she chewed her food, smiled, laughed, and spoke had his blood rushing through his veins at warp speed. The only thing besides Abby he noticed was the way Cooper also glanced at her. He wasn’t as concerned with his youngest brother, Hunter, who sat far enough away, but Cooper was starting to make him think that if he didn’t act soon, he might lose his chance with the woman he desired. Pinching his brows tight at the bridge of his nose, Tyler compressed his teeth, and flexed the muscles in his jaw. He was practically grinding his teeth into powder. Jealousy was evident in him now, and that was an emotion he hadn’t experienced before. He hadn’t had anything to be jealous over. He was the oldest, the leader of the family now that his father passed, he was the one everyone turned to for guidance. What did he have to be jealous over? Who was he fooling? He had everything to be jealous of. If he didn’t make a move on Abby soon, he knew for a fact that Cooper would. Tyler glanced down, clenching the fork tight in his left hand. His eyes slowly drifted to his mother’s forearm. The sleeve of her dress had slid toward her elbow and no longer covered her arms fully. His eyes narrowed as he stared at his mother’s pale-white flesh. Light-golden-brown bruises marred her skin. He took hold of her arm gently. “Mom, what happened to your arm?” She twisted out of his grasp and fixed the material so it slid back into place. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just some stranger that wasn’t happy to have his coffee freshened.”

 

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His eyes rounded. “That doesn’t look like nothing to me,” he snapped. “It looks like he grabbed a hold of you and tried to rip off your arm.” She folded her arm down onto her lap. “Tyler, please don’t make more out of this than it is. I’m fine, really. I haven’t seen him since that night, and it’s not like he’s some deranged stalker or something.” Silence fell over the table as all eyes shifted around the room. The gears began to move inside his mind. The word “stalker” knocked around an assortment of thoughts. He wondered if it was possible that this man could’ve been the one they were looking for. Could this stranger be the one that attacked Abby, Jared, and that poor woman? Tyler was beginning to think it was highly possible. Currently, nothing should be ignored. Tyler twisted in his chair to better face his mother. “Mom, what did this man look like?” She shrugged. “I guess you could say he was attractive. He had movie-star good looks.” She eyed her son. “He was built a lot like you, Tyler, strong frame, but he had blond hair and his eyes were so dark that they appeared almost black.” She bit her lower lip. “He did have creepiness about him, but I just chalked that up to him being mysterious and new in town.” “When did this happen?” Cooper asked. Her gaze shifted to Cooper. “I don’t know. I can’t be sure of the exact day, other than it happened weeks ago, right about the time you started working here.” Tyler’s eyes darted to Abby, and he knew she was putting the pieces together as well. “We should tell the sheriff what Mom just told us. This might be the lead we’ve needed all along.” Abby nodded. His mother frowned and asked in a tone that screamed impatience, “Wait, what’s going on here? What are you talking about?” Hunter wrapped an arm around the back of his mother’s chair. “There have been some events that have happened in town over the

 

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last month that have some people on edge,” he told her calmly. “A few people have been attacked, and the sheriff hasn’t had much luck finding out who’s been doing it.” “Attacked? You know something about these attacks going on?” she asked, her brow narrowing. “Yes,” Abby said. “My first night in town, I was assaulted in the parking lot at the market. If Tyler hadn’t come along, who knows what would’ve happened to me.” Tyler stared at Abby as she spoke, his gut knotting as the memory of that night flooded through him. He wanted to reach out and take her hand, but somehow managed to resist temptation. “Abby wasn’t the only one, Mom. There have been others, and sadly a woman was killed.” She covered her mouth as she gasped. “Oh my word,” she muttered. “I heard that a few girls were attacked, but killed? Why haven’t you told me sooner? Is this why I haven’t seen any of you recently? Are you afraid he’s going to come back?” Tyler took his mother’s hand. He knew she would be afraid for them. That was part of the reason he hadn’t wanted to tell her how connected to the situation they were. “We didn’t want to alarm you. I asked the sheriff to keep an eye on you, and he promised he would.” She scoffed. “So that’s why there’s been someone at the diner every night checking on me. You were afraid this guy might come after me?” Hunter whispered, “We didn’t want to take any chances.” Cooper reached over and took Abby’s hand. The moment Tyler watched his brother touch her, he wanted to bat his damn hand away, but it was his own fault for not moving sooner. What the hell was he thinking? He needed to take a chance and stop acting like a damn pussy. So what if she rejected him? He’d still keep an eye on her, and protect her. That would never change. Cooper said, “We think he is really focused on Abby, but with the three of us here, there’s been no sign of him at all this month.”

 

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“Except the murder of that poor woman,” their mother reminded them. Abby said softly, “That happened a month ago, Mrs. Boyd, and she was murdered outside of town.” Her eyes narrowed as if fire was preparing to spring from them. She darted her gaze from Abby back to Tyler. “I don’t like this,” she yelled, staring at him. “Job or no job, I don’t like this one bit. What happens if this monster comes back for her?” His mother’s accusing tone had Abby’s eyes widening. “What if he gets tired of waiting for her to be alone and he ends up killing one of you instead? I won’t risk my sons over something she’s done. It’s not your responsibility to be her bodyguards.” Abby pulled her hand away from Cooper’s and sat back in her chair with her arms folded in her lap. She glanced down, her lips quivering. “Mother,” Tyler scolded. “Abby hasn’t done anything to deserve this. It’s not her fault this sick bastard attacked her.” His mother shook her head. “I don’t want my boys ending up like their father. I couldn’t bear it if you did.” She tossed her napkins onto her plate. “I won’t allow you to be here anymore. This is not the life I want for my boys.” Cooper pushed his plate away in a disgusted manner. “We’re nothing like Father, so don’t compare us.” “And don’t tell us what we are allowed to do,” Hunter snapped. “You don’t really have the right anymore to dictate what we do. We’re here for several reasons, but mostly we’re here because of Abby. We owe her.” “You don’t owe her anything,” their mother spat. “You can find a job elsewhere.” Tyler had had enough of his mother’s ranting and was ready to end the conversation. His temper flared. “I’ve heard enough.” A fierce growl roared from his voice. The deep rasp had everyone looking up at him as he stood. The scraping of the chair behind his legs was loud

 

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enough to sound like a bomb exploding. “Mother, as much as I love you, you are no longer the one who makes decisions for this family.” His gaze grew more heated as he watched his mother prepare to interject, but wisely reconsidered. “We will continue working at Paradise Ranch. This is where we belong and, no matter what you believe, Abby Blake saved us from destitution. We will fulfill our obligation to get this property up and running like the prized ranch it once was whether some lunatic is out there or not.” He grasped his mother’s hand. “Never once did fear stop Father from doing what he believed, and damn it, it won’t stop us either.” He looked over at Abby. “Thank you, Abby. This was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Please excuse me.” He stepped away from the table and right out the front door. He didn’t want to leave the room, but he knew if he didn’t, he would end up saying more than he should. Anger had gotten the best of him. Remaining calm until the last moment had been a trait he picked up from his old man, and it truly came in handy, because whenever he did speak his mind, everyone listened. Looking up into the starlit sky, he wanted more than anything to have some peace and tranquility in his life. He worked his ass off for his father only to lose everything and basically had to start over. He’d foregone finding any kind of steady relationship for fear that he simply wouldn’t have time. Now, as he stood on the porch of Paradise Ranch, he prayed that his fate had finally changed. Abby Blake was more than just his employer, she was a woman he could see spending the rest of his days with. She was genuine, warm, caring, and so damn sexy. It was well past time for him to start living his life for himself and stop worrying so much about his mother and brothers. He was ready to start having a life, desperate to achieve a life as a rancher, lover, husband, and maybe if it wasn’t already too late, a father. Leaning against the porch railing, he closed his eyes and remembered the fear his mother had for them. He knew his mother to be an angel with a big heart, and there was no question that she loved

 

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them. He also knew she only wanted the best for her sons, but he couldn’t allow her to hurt Abby with her coarse, hateful words. The creak of the front door told him someone had followed him outside. The scent of his mother’s soft floral perfume surrounded him. “I’m sorry, Tyler,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to say those hurtful things.” Yes, she did. She spoke from her heart, even if it was out of fear. He knew his mother too well. She brushed her hand over his back in a loving caress. “I’ve watched the way you look at her,” she murmured. “I can see how much you care for her.” He waited for the bomb to drop. He couldn’t meet his mother’s gaze. For the first time in his life, he wanted something for himself, and he didn’t want to think about how it would impact his family. He knew that was what his mother was thinking before she even said a word. “You can’t risk screwing things up, Tyler. Your brothers are counting on you. If you really plan to stay here, then you need to keep things professional between you and her.” He knew that, too, but damn it, he was tired of living with everyone else’s needs being more important than his. He struggled with how to change that, giving himself his own identity, and reveling in his own desires. Anger caused his blood to pump harder through his veins. “Even without looking into your eyes, I can see those gears turning, Tyler. Don’t jeopardize a good thing. I know it won’t always be this way,” she said, rubbing his shoulder. “Just a little more time and we could land our own ranch again.” “Mother,” he muttered. “What if I don’t want another ranch, what if what I want is here?” “What are you talking about? We’ve always wanted another family ranch we can be proud of.”

 

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He turned, meeting her gaze. “No, Mother, I want more than just to work the land and be with my brothers. I want a life of my own.” She shook her head, her eyes widening. “Have you already slept with her?” “Would it really matter if I had?” “I think perhaps you’re thinking with your other head, son, and not the one that holds your brains. You can’t be serious about her. You’ve only known her for a short while.” The muscles in his jaw flexed. “Don’t worry about it, Mom,” he said. “I’ll take care of things like I always do.” “What is that supposed to mean?” his mother snapped, her hands digging into her hips. “Exactly what I said.” He groaned angrily. “Now, go inside and tell Cooper you’re ready to go home. It’s late, and we’ve got an early day tomorrow.” Tyler left her staring after him as he stepped off the porch and into the blackness surrounding him. A plan formed in his mind, one that would finally have him achieving all the things he’d always wanted out of life. The first on his list was Abby Blake.

 

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Chapter Seven In the near distance Abby could see Tyler working on the fence toward the side of the pasture, Cooper was still up at the ranch house and Hunter was in the barn. She’d taken a slight detour on her way to the house after spending time with Tyler, checking things out around the perimeter. She was practically in the middle of all three and felt safer than possible as she covertly made her way over to the one spot on the property she’d never forgotten about. The partially isolated spring was the one place her mother hadn’t restricted her from as a child. The crisp, clear water was incredible for quick dips on hot days, and Texas had plenty of those. Kicking off her shoes, she glanced around before slipping off her jeans and underwear, pulling her shirt over her head and quickly unfastening her bra before submerging herself into the cool spring. The refreshing feel of the water over her skin robbed her of breath, but not nearly as much as when she spotted Tyler heading her way on horseback. She ducked as low into the water as she could without going fully under and hoped he wouldn’t see her. The last thing she needed was to be caught naked in front of him. She was already having a heck of time keeping her thoughts from traveling down the dirty road of sex every time she saw him. Her luck was once again challenged as Tyler headed straight for the spring. Within a minute, he was dismounting his horse and kneeling at the spring, splashing water over his face and dunking his red bandana in the water, wiping the back of his neck with it. Then he

 

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caught sight of her clothes and gazed over the body of water, meeting her surprised stare. “Well, I see you found the spring,” he said, not bothering to hide his lust-filled need. His gaze dipped low on her chest. “You know you’re not supposed to be alone, Abby. However, you’re in luck as I plan to hang out with you for as long as you’re here.” A wide smile tugged at his sexy lips. “Naked or not.” Her heart fluttered as he stood. “I wouldn’t mind it if you stayed,” she whispered and hadn’t intended for her words to be heard aloud. She gasped as he looked back at her, and his eyes darkened with longing. She recognized it because she felt it, too. They’d played the flirting game since they’d met, and it was becoming increasingly harder to fight. Her heart raced, and her breathing became shallower. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” He held her gaze for a long moment. “So, what does that mean, exactly?” He folded his well-defined arms over his chest. A nervous flutter sank to the pit of her stomach. What she wouldn’t give to have the courage to tell him to strip off his clothes and jump into the water and ravage her body until they both came in a blaze of glory. The image that fired in her mind had her pussy throbbing with desire. Staring down at the dark, cool water surrounding her, she said, “Nothing.” Lie. Lie. Lie. Damn, she was a coward, and she hated that intimacy with a man that wasn’t a dark, manipulating brute was near impossible for her to accept. Thanks, Mom. Your nurturing support did wonders for my selfesteem. “Nothing,” he said, repeating her words as he began unbuttoning his shirt. “Then you won’t mind if I jump in and cool off. I’d go to another spring, but it’s clear on the other side of the property and I’m afraid I could melt before I got there.” Her eyes sprung open wide. Oh God, he was actually taking off his clothes, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. “Tyler, I’m not sure

 

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that’s such a good idea.” Her eyes immediately locked in on her discarded clothing, and so did his. She knew that her expression screamed, “I’m naked!” but he didn’t seem to mind. “Oh,” he said with a sly grin, and unbuckled his pants, sliding the jeans down long, muscular legs. “Don’t be shy, Abby. I guess to even things out, I should be naked, too. I don’t want you to feel awkward.” Down went his boxers. Somewhere between lust and fear, she was glad he hadn’t just walked away. Staring at his erect penis, she couldn’t speak. Finally, tearing her eyes away, she gazed up at his magnificent body, tall, lean and mouthwatering. He was the most perfect man she’d ever seen. Slick heat poured from between her legs and an arousal unlike anything she’d ever experienced fired inside her. “Tyler, this is so not a good idea,” she replied. Excitement and panic warmed her blood. Was it possible to sweat while submerged in water? Splash. He disappeared under the water in seconds, surfacing with a burst of breath that surged from his lungs. With both hands, he pushed his damp hair away from his face. “I think it’s a perfect idea. I’ve always enjoyed swimming, and finding a beautiful, naked woman to enjoy it with is simply a bonus.” “Tyler.” She said his name, but it wasn’t exactly a question. She honestly didn’t know what to say to him. Even though her mind was telling her that this was going to be a colossal mistake, her wild thoughts were also telling her that there was nothing more she wanted than to have Tyler Boyd make love to her. In the blink of an eye, he was a breath away from her. His arms floated in the water dangerously close to hers. The once stormy, bluegray eyes she’d noticed the night he’d rescued her were now richly darker. His lips were slightly parted, and her body urged her to take a chance, to taste the lips that looked exquisite. Her chest tightened as he drew near. “Are you afraid of me, Abby?”

 

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Yes. “No,” she said quickly. Lie. Lie. Lie. She was terrified of him. He wasn’t like the men she’d dated over the years. Finding a man like Tyler to love couldn’t be her luck. Love? Who said anything about love? “No, I’m not afraid of you.” His arms circled around her, pulling her body up against his. “Then why are you trembling?” Because you make me want something I could never have. “I’m cold.” Cold was the last thing she was feeling as she found herself pressed against him. The bulge of his cock probed her pelvis, making her shudder even more. There was no mistaking the desire she witnessed within the depths of his eyes. His body felt so right, so perfect touching hers. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I first saw you, Abby. I can’t seem to think about anyone else, but you.” “Oh, God,” she breathed as panic squeezed a little firmer around her stomach. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. He cupped the side of her face while his other arm stayed securely wrapped around her waist, keeping her locked in close to him. “I dreamed about you like this, and when I saw you heading this way, I only prayed it wasn’t my imagination.” She narrowed her eyes. Sudden warmth filled her heart. “You fantasize about me?” He smiled softly and admitted, “Every night. I can’t get you out of my head, Abby. I want you. I want you so damn much.” No one had ever dreamed about her before. No one had ever said the things he said to her. The tone he used truly made her want to believe he meant every word. She had a desperate need to believe him. Maybe, if he kissed her, she could feel the difference between meaning it and just another lie. She was accustomed to identifying lies. Maybe, she could allow one little, harmless kiss between them to satisfy her curiosity. Sighing, she whispered, “Kiss me.”

 

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Tyler’s gaze danced between her lips and eyes. His hand caressed the side of her face. Then slowly, he dipped his fingers into the damp strands of her hair and his mouth captured hers. Instantly, her arms wrapped around his shoulders and neck, and her legs rose up to wrap around his waist. The need to keep him from breaking the kiss became more alarming than her need to breathe. So much for a harmless kiss… Drowning in desire, she opened for him as his tongue plundered the depths of her mouth. His wild, cinnamon flavor had her tongue and lips burning for more. She was practically drinking him up. The hand that had once cradled her face was now tenderly massaging the underside of her breast. Groaning from the possession of his mouth on hers and his hands on her body, her nipples hardened further. A wild shiver shot through her as his thumb danced over the hardened tip. Gripping her waist, he raised her out of the water enough to suckle her breasts, sucking and gently tugging at her nipples. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she arched her back, pressing her breasts out for his exploration. She threaded her fingers through his hair, cradling him against her as his lips trailed sweet kisses over her ribs, until he closed his warm mouth over the aching peak. Tugging gently on her hard nipple with his teeth, he languidly circled his tongue around it, swirling in a tantalizing fashion. Lowering her back down into the water, he pressed kisses along the column of her neck and jaw, and then he took possession of her mouth. “Oh my God,” she whispered in wonder. Grinding his hips, his hard cock rubbed over her clit and her head kicked back. “Tyler,” she muttered in a daze. “What are you doing to me?” “I thought it was obvious,” he said, groaning. His hands were all over her body, and his mouth and cock were a wicked tease of things to come. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. She was prepared to erupt into a full-fledged scream as he cradled her

 

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breast with his large hand, keeping her close to him as he lowered his head and sucked her other nipple between his lips. As if testing her, he slowly trailed his fingers down her body, between her breasts, past her ribs and belly, until his fingers pressed in between the folds of her pussy. She cried out as the thick pad of his thumb circled around her clitoris, tormenting her deliciously. The last person to touch her so intimately had been herself. Having Tyler breathing heavily into her ear as he sank two fingers inside her cunt, circling her clit, had every thought fleeing her mind in a maddening rush. Moaning, she arched her back and slowly rocked her hips, fucking his fingers. “Oh, Tyler,” she muttered breathlessly, “That feels so good.” All she could do was feel the explosion of pleasurable sensations that flooded her body. “I’m going to come,” she cried, gripping his arms for support. She gave a strangled moan and was clawing up his back as the first wave of her orgasm hit her. She leaned back, taking his thick fingers deeper as he moved in and out of her pussy. Breathless and desire-drenched, she swallowed hard against the lustful needs racing through her. She forced herself to keep from reaching down, finding his cock only to impale herself on it. Admittedly, she was desperate to feel him deep inside her, but she wouldn’t be the one to hurry the passion he aroused in her. She was determined to enjoy the momentary connection they shared. Then Tyler grabbed her ass and hauled her right up against him, grinding his hips and cock over her sensitive pussy. She gasped as he kissed along the column of her neck and collarbone. All the while, he teased at her slick entrance with his cock. “Abby,” he moaned in her ear. “Oh, Abby, I want you so much.” At any moment she could’ve told him to stop, but stopping wasn’t what she truly wanted. Fucking him, riding his hard cock until he made her come with her eyes rolling back in her head was exactly

 

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what she wanted. Perhaps her sexy cowboy needed a little encouragement. “What are you waiting for?” she whispered against his ear. Her fingers tugged at the damp strands of hair at his neck as she softly nibbled on his earlobe. She didn’t want to wait any longer. She couldn’t wait any longer. Locking gazes with her, he reached between them and positioned his cock at her entrance and slowly thrust upward, sliding inside her. The tantalizing skill he used to enter her had her fingers digging deep into the flesh of his shoulders. Never had anyone eased inside her with such tender patience. It had always been fast and unyielding fucks, and only one person left the bed satisfied. Not Abby. Tyler moved inside her with the kind of sweetness a man might use with a woman he truly cared for or even loved. So different from the powerful, virile man she knew him to be. He took such care with her. The deep passion she observed in his gray eyes had a stinging pain firing inside her chest. All she could think to do was kiss him, and kiss him she did. Immediately, her tongue dove deep into his mouth. She couldn’t get enough of him. Her mind was on fire with so much need, she could hardly breathe. Everything about the situation seemed surreal, like at any moment she might awaken from the best sexual dream of her life. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she prayed that the wondrous feel of Tyler Boyd’s cock sliding deep inside her pussy, his mouth on hers, was very real. Her eyes rolled back in her head. He felt so good filling her, touching her, his lips against hers. All the daydreaming she’d done about him, wondering what kind of lover he’d be, had been answered. He was exquisite. The most skilled lover she’d ever known. He responded to her body as if they had been lovers for an eternity, knowing exactly where to touch her and how to do it.

 

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Breaking the fevered kiss, she groaned. He held her hips, rocking back and forth, his pace more determined. She used her legs to impale herself back down on his cock, riding him with more fervor. The increasing pleasure the position evoked had her tingling with another wild orgasm. Crying out, she clung to him, and came in a hot gush. The earthshattering orgasm was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Her body was suddenly limp and exhausted, but that didn’t stop Tyler from continuing to pleasure her. His pace quickened and she found herself enjoying every second of it. Thrusting deeper, he came inside her, a hot explosion that had him growling like a feral beast. Breathless and panting, they held each other. Within a short span of time, that awkward feeling she had feared would occur dropped into the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t hold him forever. Eventually, she’d have to look him in the eyes, and when she did, she figured he might no longer see her as the woman she was, but more or less an easy piece of ass. Why had she allowed this to happen? “Abby?” Tyler murmured. She nodded slowly and eased back, releasing her hold from around his neck and dropping her legs from his waist. “Are you all right?” She gently pushed away from him and floated back a few feet. “You should leave first,” she told him. “It would be best if we’re not seen leaving the spring naked together.” For a long moment, he simply stared at her. His eyebrows narrowed. “Right,” he agreed. “I’ll go around toward the front, so you can head around the back toward the barn.” “That would be a good idea.” A solid lump formed in her throat, making swallowing feel near impossible. Tyler swam to the edge, but just as he reached the side, he pushed away and moved right back toward her. Taking her into his arms once again, he kissed her hard. His mouth devoured hers. No time in her

 

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life had any other man kissed like that before. He made her feel more than desire. He made her feel loved. Separating on a gasp of air, he smiled at her, his thumb caressing her swollen bottom lip. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and within seconds, exited the spring and dressed as if he were rushing from danger. He hopped on his horse and didn’t look back. She watched as he rode off. Once again, Abby had failed to make the right choice. She should’ve sent Tyler away immediately. She should’ve been more firm with her intentions. Now, she was going to be faced with seeing him every day, wishing she hadn’t just let him fuck her. Not only that, but she’d let him use her just like she allowed everyone else in her life to do. Her heart was now involved. Frowning, she muttered, “So much for starting over. I guess it really is impossible to teach an old dog new tricks.” Closing her eyes, she sank to the bottom of the spring and wondered if she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life.

 

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Chapter Eight Abby snuck away from the spring like she’d just stolen a television right out from her neighbor’s living room. She rode her horse as quickly as she could toward the barn. Her every thought was getting to her bedroom quickly without being seen. She was desperate to bury her head and pray no one would know what she’d just done. As much as she enjoyed every moment with Tyler, the way he touched her, looked into her eyes, felt deep inside her, sex with him had been an enormous mistake. How could she have been so reckless to allow that to happen? A sexual relationship with a man she just met was nothing compared to how she would manage the ranch if things suddenly turned sour between them. What the hell would she do then? Honestly, she hadn’t a clue. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Hunter as he waved at her. He was saddled up on a dark horse, and looked as charming as any man could that commanded a powerful animal. She veered in his direction. She couldn’t afford to act differently after what she’d done. So, she did her best to seem natural. Good luck with that. “Hey, Abby, what’s got you heading out this way?” Before she could answer, Hunter was already studying her, glancing over her wet hair and damp clothing that clung to her body uncomfortably because she hadn’t had a towel to dry off with. “Oh, I see. You took a dip in the spring. I can’t blame you. On a day like today, when it feels like it’s a hundred degrees outside, a cool spring soaking would hit the spot.”

 

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Forcing a smile, and hiding her apprehension, she said, “I should probably get back to the house and find some dry clothes.” Hunter chuckled. “Give yourself a few minutes out here in this hot sun and you’ll be dry in no time.” He had a pleasing laugh that had her wondering why a man as attractive as he was seemed to be without a girlfriend. For all the conversations they’ve had, he never mentioned that he was in a relationship. For whatever reason, she was glad for that fact. She wasn’t sure why she felt that way, but she did. Still, Hunter didn’t strike her as the kind of man who would be single for long. He was too damn sexy to keep from catching a woman’s eye. She shifted in her saddle as she considered her feelings, and silently, she scolded herself. She’d just been intimate with his brother, and now here she was glad that Hunter didn’t have a girlfriend. What the hell was wrong with her? “Are you all right?” Hunter asked, narrowing his gaze. “You look a little distracted.” “I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I think I’m just a little tired.” And I’m a lot embarrassed and ashamed because I just had sex with your brother and I’m curious as a cat to know what it would be like with you. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she tried to regain her focus. “How is everything coming along with the livestock?” “Great,” he said with sincere enthusiasm. “Jared’s been a big help, even with his bumps and bruises. I can see why your father trusted him so much. The man’s a natural.” “Funny you should say that. I thought the same thing about you.” Lustful longing filled his gaze as Hunter offered her a crooked smile. “You did, huh?” The way his voice teased her, reminded her again why he wouldn’t be single for long. The man was a god among men, strong and wooingly wicked. The sparkle of his hazel eyes was too captivating to look away from, and she couldn’t help but enjoy his playful flirtations.

 

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Her nipples hardened as a wild shiver shot through her. Goose bumps lined her flesh. “Careful, Hunter,” she warned. “I wouldn’t want you to get a big head over it.” “I would never,” he told her with a lopsided grin. “Why don’t you spend the day with me and see for yourself just how things are done around here? I’d love to show you all the progress Jared and I have made in such a short time.” As much as she wanted to do just that, she couldn’t. She was still dying to retire to her room and hide until she no longer felt ashamed of her actions and believed she had the courage to face Tyler once more. “Maybe another day,” she replied. “Perhaps we can later in the week.” He nodded, looking a little disappointed. With eyes like his, a true window to his soul, she could see the emotions shining through like a beacon in the night. It stung to see his discouraging expression. “All right, Abby,” he agreed, and moved his horse closer to hers, taking hold of her reins. His hand cupped over hers, sending an electric jolt up her arms. “Just remember, I do expect you to follow through on your word. I’d hate to have to tie you to my horse, trapping your body against mine, just to make sure you kept your promise.” She stared at him, her throat dry. What could she say to that? Did she even want to say anything? The sudden image of his arms around her as her back was pressed against his chest, his warm breath brushing over her neck and ear, and his lips dangerously close to her flesh had butterflies swirling around in her belly. He winked at her and slowly trotted back toward the barn, leaving her there with sexual images and a heart rate that resembled the beat of a galloping horse. Licking her dry lips, she turned back into the direction of the house. Now, more than ever, she wanted to bury her head under a stack of pillows and pray no one found her, because she

 

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was in serious trouble, the kind of trouble that would have her dreaming of nights being pleasured by more than one brother. Oh my God! **** Hunter waited a long time before turning around to see Abby heading toward the house. He’d watch her until she entered the protection of her home. Then she’d be safe inside with Sophia, and he wouldn’t have to worry about her any longer. He glanced down at his watch. Cooper would be finishing up his daily chores with Tyler, and soon he would be heading inside to review the financial records with Abby. Traditionally, he wasn’t a jealous man, but for the first time in his life, Hunter wanted to trade his cattle driving skills and horse wrangling ability for a brain that would equal, if not surpass, his brother’s. He hated that Tyler was the impetuous hero type, while Cooper was the attractive brainiac. All he was known for was being the youngest Boyd brother, the pretty boy of the family that no one took seriously. In everyone’s eyes, he knew they considered him a kid. He was twenty-five, a year younger than Abby, but that didn’t change the way he felt about her. It wasn’t an age he hoped she saw in him, but a determined man who cared about her. He enjoyed their conversations and appreciated that she treated him no differently than his brothers. He studied her daily. When she didn’t think anyone was looking, he was. He couldn’t help himself. She captivated him. No, he wasn’t a weird stalker type, but he was a man who truly admired her for the strong, independent woman she was. Watching her learn to manage her ranch and overcome each new challenge was damn hot. Shit, he respected her alone for attempting to start over with a new life. Adding a psychopath to the equation made things entirely more interesting—stressful, and a little frightening perhaps, but was still intriguing.

 

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Abby had an inner strength and beauty he’d never seen in another person. Even when she had the distraction of his brothers on her mind, she made time for him. Lying to himself about her feelings for Tyler and Cooper would be silly. He knew better. He’d sat back and watched long enough to pick up on the subtle hints of attraction. Not to mention accidently stumbling upon her and Cooper as they kissed in the kitchen and again, as luck would have it, he’d caught sight of her and Tyler in the spring. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Grinding his teeth together, Hunter knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on. He couldn’t offer her what his brothers could. He was simply able to offer her his heart, and if that wasn’t enough, well then, he guessed he had nothing at all she’d want. With competition like his brothers, he was totally screwed. Rounding the rear of the barn, he spotted Jared. He was inspecting something along the back wall, near the rear entrance into the rustic barn. “What’s up, Jared,” he asked, hopping down from his horse to inspect the same location. Jared shook his head. “Oh, it’s probably nothing, and with all that happened around here, I might be looking for things that aren’t really there.” Hunter narrowed his eyes and looked down at the ground. He saw a few heavy boot prints that hugged along the side of the barn and led straight to the side entrance where the private horses were kept. The prints left traction marks like combat tread, not the smooth surface of a cowboy boot. Hunter walked along the path, scrutinizing every detail, following that tread right to the location of where Abby’s horse was kept. Instantly, his gut twisted, and he glanced up in a flash to see how far Abby had gotten. She was almost to the house. He could see her in the near distance.

 

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Hunter’s voice was tight with tension. “Jared? Did you saddle up Abby’s horse this afternoon?” With a stiff lip, Jared shook his head. “No, I assumed you did.” Quickly, Hunter ran for his horse, charging after Abby as fast as he could. Whoever had been in that barn may have done something to her horse or, worse yet, her saddle. A fall from a bucking horse could kill her. While in the rodeo, he’d seen fierce men trampled to death by their horses. He’d even seen a man’s neck bend at an angle it never should’ve. His heart raced, and his mind splintered with dread. As he approached her, he witnessed her horse beginning to buck and sidestep. Pressing harder into his own horse, he pushed the massive animal as much as he could to run faster. He had to reach her before she was thrown. Over and over again in his mind, he watched her toppling from the horse, landing in a heap, unmoving. No, he wouldn’t let that happen. Not to his Abby. His Abby. He liked the sound of that. The fates had been on his side. Just as he reached her, her horse flailed up, sending Abby off balance, but Hunter was there to catch her. With one arm, he pulled her over the top of his saddle and moved clear of her bucking horse. Stopping several feet away, he let her down gently and quickly dismounted. Wide-eyed, she breathed hard, panting and clutching her chest as she stared after her horse. The saddle was no longer upright on its back but hung to the side, preparing to fall away. Hunter pulled her into his arms. “Abby, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” She trembled. “What happened?” A nervous shudder made her voice sound frail. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he explained, “My guess is that our mystery jackass sabotaged your saddle. I’ll check it out myself, but Jared and I found boot prints that lead straight to your horse’s stall.”

 

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She gazed up at him, her eyes glistening with unspent tears. “You saved me from falling, Hunter,” she said in wonder and then pushed up on her toes to press a grateful kiss to his lips. “Thank you.” Brushing back her tousled hair with his fingers, he held her face sweetly in his hands. His heart had never felt so used, racing from fear, adrenaline, and now pure, passionate need. “I never want to see you hurt, Abby. You’ve come to mean too much to me.” Without thinking, he claimed her lips, kissing her the way he’d wanted to. Without reservation, she accepted it when he took her mouth, and allowed him to slide his tongue deep, fighting against hers. She tasted of sweet honey and sugar. He didn’t care who saw him kiss her. He wasn’t about to let another moment pass where he didn’t show her how much he cared for her. The thought of losing her tore a hole through his heart. His cock grew hard the moment she writhed in his arms. Her nipples abraded his skin right through his shirt as he held her tightly against him. Groaning, he pressed his erection over her pelvis, arching his hips as he deepened the kiss. What he wouldn’t give to be buried deep inside her, feeling her body envelop him. He’d longed to experience a night of passion with her, to show her just what a man like him could do if given the chance. He’d make her come so hard and good she’d never think twice about wanting to leave him. Suddenly, her hands shoved firmly against his chest, breaking the kiss. Breathless, he met her wide-eyed stare. He could see the redness flooding her cheeks and knew instantly that she was shocked by her response to him. Shit, he was excited as hell that she’d kissed him back and moaned as he ground his hips against her. He guaranteed if they had been alone and near a bed, he would have been fucking her in no time. The way they reacted to one another felt right, but the questioning glare in her eyes told him that she’d had too much time to consider all

 

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the reasons why they shouldn’t be together instead of all the reasons why they should. Stepping back, she muttered, “I gotta go.” Then she turned and rushed into the house. Staring after her, he wanted to kick his own ass. Damn it, what had he done wrong to make her run away like a scared child? Had he been insensitive to kiss her? Was she too traumatized by her near fall? Shit, he didn’t know. Women were too complicated, and he didn’t have experience with females who made his body crave as it did. He felt lost and frustrated. Prior to the alarming look in her eyes and the tension in her body, he’d felt her respond to him, sharing in the pleasure of their kiss. Then something snapped, and everything changed. He didn’t know what, but he was sure going to find out. He promised that it wouldn’t be the last time he kissed those sumptuous lips and felt her soft body pressed up against his. **** With her head cradled in her hands, Abby cried, “Why is this happening to me?” She slid her body down to the floor at the foot of her bed, and pulled her feet up in front of her. The aching pain in her head felt like a knife slicing into her temple. Her life was in danger, and she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. All she could truly think about was the fact that in a month’s time she’d managed to kiss three different men, two in the same day, and to add icing to the cake, she’d had sex with one of them. What was she doing? Why was her life spiraling out of control, and why was some deranged man trying to kill her? What had she done to provoke such aggression? Just when she relaxed enough to feel safe, she’d gone and turned herself into a wanton, leaving all hope of keeping her head free from chaos?

 

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She lacked self-control where the Boyd brothers were concerned. The worst part of it was that she enjoyed each encounter and secretly desired more. This wanton behavior was so unlike her. Until now, sex hadn’t been that great in her past, and it wasn’t something she desired. She assumed her life would be laced with men like Jackson Cole, horrible men who merely used her for their own reward. Perhaps that was why this lunatic was focusing on her. It was her natural ability to attract psychopaths. Unable to ignore it, her heart did a funny little thing when she kissed the brothers. Feelings she hadn’t experienced before surfaced. The powerful connection she had with all three surprised and frightened her, all at the same time. They made her feel cherished and desired, as if they truly cared for her. She was desperate to believe that, wanted to so badly she could taste it, but once again the fear of rejection and defeat settled over her, rocking her straight to the fiber of her being. How could she expect three men she’d just met to want to be with her, when her own father hadn’t fought for her? Tears stung her eyes. Glancing to the bench that rested below her bedroom window, she saw the box of letters that Sophia had given her from her father. Her hands itched to feel the parchment beneath her fingertips, smell the worn paper, and witness the faded ink of time lost. She wasn’t ready to read what her father had written to her all those years ago, but she knew if she was ever going to learn about Duke Blake, she didn’t really have a choice. He’d left her those letters for a reason, and maybe he’d had foresight enough to help her figure out the course of her life. If there was a time she really needed his guidance, it was now. Her door suddenly flew open, starling a scream from her. Tyler stood, his broad shoulders filling the doorframe. His eyes hurriedly scanned the room for her and when he spotted her sitting on the floor, he rushed over, grabbed her by her arms, and hauled her up off the ground. His powerful arms surrounded her, pulling her snugly against

 

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his hard, muscled body. A long moment passed before he cupped her face with his hands, making her meet his panic-stricken gaze. “Abby, what happened? Were you hurt?” He studied her, glancing over her body, his fingers skimming gently along the skin of her face. She shook her head, swallowing hard. “No, Tyler, I’m not hurt. Just a little freaked out.” “Abby, I saw your horse buck up, and then you disappeared. I’d thought you’d been thrown.” He touched his forehead to hers. His ragged breath brushed over her face. “I’d be lost if something happened to you.” She shuddered at the thought. Why would he be lost without her? How had he come to care for her as much as he seemed to? Everything was happening so fast around her, she could hardly breathe. Glancing over her face, he met her gaze and the passion combined with his sincerity had her pulse pounding through her veins. Slowly he took her by the hand, closed the door to her bedroom, and led her straight into her bathroom, again closing the door behind them. She didn’t say a word when he turned on the shower. Licking her dry lips, she wondered if he would leave her to clean up, but her question was quickly answered when he faced her and slowly began unbuttoning her blouse. With great attention, he slid the material over her shoulders and down her arms, reaching behind her to unhook her bra. She shivered as his fingers gently brushed over the skin of her arms, pulling the garment free of her body, exposing her breast to him. Her breath caught in her throat, watching his eyes widen as he stared adoringly at her. She gasped as he reached up with both hands and began exploring and caressing her breasts, much slower than he had done in the spring. He was taking such care with her now, almost as if he feared she would break if he squeezed too hard. The mounds felt heavier and more sensitive as he held them, massaging them. She sucked in a breath as his thumb circled over the

 

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hardened tip, but it was nothing like the feel of his warm, wet mouth as it clamped down on the peak, suckling her, teasing her with passion-filled licks. “Oh,” she moaned. Her fingers threaded through his hair as her head and eyes rolled back. She held him against her. All the while, his mouth wickedly pleasured her flesh. “My God, Abby,” he said, groaning against her skin. “You are so incredibly beautiful.” He nuzzled her breast, shifting to lick and suck her other nipple. His hands moved to the waist of her jeans, unbuttoning them, and slowly shoved the material, along with her panties, to the floor. Kneeling in front of her, he stared up and locked gazes with her. “Raise your leg up, Abby. Place your foot on the edge of the sink.” “What?” “You heard me. Place your foot on the edge of the sink.” “Tyler, I don’t know—” He closed his eyes as a fierce growl sprung from deep within his chest. “Abby, do as I ask…please.” With her racing heart and ragged breaths, she did as he desired, raising her leg, resting her foot on the edge of the bathroom counter. Tyler licked his lips. “That’s my good girl.” Slowly he leaned forward. His breath brushed over her pulsing clit. With his thumbs, he spread the folds of her pussy, and with ease slid his tongue over the nub, flicking his tongue back and forth as he did. She moaned as he began sucking her clit gently. His warm mouth and tongue lashed the sensitive bead over and over again. She gasped the moment his thick finger pushed inside her slick cunt. He worked his finger in and out, and she found herself rocking her hips, deepening the penetration. He introduced a second finger, and the tight feel of his strong hands on her body had her gripping her breasts, squeezing her erect nipples. Her body was on fire.

 

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His mouth on her clit, fingers in her pussy, she thought she might die. A wild shiver rippled through her. She was about to come. “Oh, God, Tyler,” she cried. “That feels so good. Don’t stop.” Her fingers wove through his hair, holding him against her throbbing pussy. Instinctively, she spread her legs as wide as they would go and with wicked and delightful suction on her clitoris, she began to come, riding his fingers. “That’s it, Abby. You’re so beautiful when you come.” **** When Tyler no longer felt the quivering in Abby’s pussy, he withdrew his fingers and stood. Shedding his clothing, he took her hand and led her into the shower. She was pliant like putty in his arms as he held her under the warm, pulsating water. Leaning her back against him, he let the water soak her hair and roll down her body. With a handful of her bodywash, he began lathering her breasts, arms, and stomach, washing away all the grime of the day. Then he grabbed the shampoo and conditioner and washed her gorgeous mane of blonde hair. Emotions he knew were dangerous to explore threatened to take up residency in his mind and heart. The way he worried about her, desired her, everything he felt for her was bordering on sentiments he hadn’t shared with any other woman. His throat felt tight as he admitted, “I’ve never done this before.” “Done what?” Her head lulled from one side to the other. He wasn’t ready to reveal his true feelings, so with a smile and a hearty groan, he confessed, “I’ve never washed a woman so thoroughly and enjoyed it this much.” He bucked his hips forward, pressing his erection against her lower back. She giggled softly and shivered against him. “Good to know.” Gazing down at the tender white skin of her neck and shoulder, he bent down and placed several kisses along her flesh. It was easy to get

 

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lost by desires when she was standing naked and sumptuous in front of him. His cock pulsed as he trailed his fingers along the curve of her back, over the round globes of her ass, and around her hips. Cupping her pussy, he worked his fingers between her thighs, and she instantly raised her leg to the edge of the tub. With his other hand, he reached around to cup her chin and encouraged her to incline her head so he could claim her lips. He sucked the tip of her tongue deep into his mouth. The sweet taste of her, coupled with the tantalizing flavor of her pussy, had him grinding his erect cock between the cheeks of her ass. She arched against him as if offering herself to him, and he growled low in his throat with approval. His fingers pressed into the flesh of her thigh as he enticed her to spread her legs wider and then he gently pressed her forward, making her lean against the wall in front of her as she arched her back more prominently. The soft arch of her spine, the feminine curve of her ass, teased his eyes with delight. Unable to wait any longer, he slowly guided the head of his cock between her legs, finding her cunt still slick with her orgasm. Grinding his teeth, he gently filled her pussy. The soft fluttering moans that escaped her had him pressing as deep as he could go. The slickness of her cunt enveloped his shaft as he sank into the depths of her wetness. “Damn,” he groaned. “Your pussy’s so tight.” Every muscle in his body strained. His fingers massaged into the soft skin of her hips, holding her as he plunged into her body. His need for her grew wilder. “Abby, you feel so fucking good.” He couldn’t help himself. Everything about her was maddening. His mind fractured into a million pieces as he loved her body, reveling at the sound of her pleasuring cries. He thought that at any moment the world itself might explode around him if she continued to buck against him, taking his cock even further inside her. She

 

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matched his speed and then set a faster pace, encouraging him to be more aggressive. He obliged, increasing his thrusts and intensity. He was quickly losing control. “Yes, Tyler,” she cried. “That’s it. Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.” His need for her assailed him, sending his body spiraling out of control. He was going to come soon. Any man who watched a woman’s desire erupt as Abby’s was doing wouldn’t be able to hold his orgasm long. The way she writhed and felt was enough to make his balls squeeze tight and his cock to harden like steel. “Oh, God,” she screamed just as her pussy began to spasm around his cock with her release. That was the moment he could no longer contain the overwhelming pleasure she gave him. With a few more thrusts of his cock inside her quivering pussy, he detonated, rising up on his toes to come in a shudder wave of satisfaction. He was undone by everything she was, and he couldn’t get enough. Still lodged deep inside her, he reached for her, pulling her up so that he could wrap his arms around her. She was warm like the sun as she stood pressed against him. Her breathing was as raspy as his own. The moment his body relaxed and he felt that hers had, too, the emotions he had for her surfaced with a vengeance. The one thing that was most on his mind was what she was thinking. How she was feeling, and what she would say if he told her he had fallen in love with her.

 

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Chapter Nine Dexter regarded the ranch impatiently as the sun finally disappeared beyond the hills, leaving only the ghostly gloom of the approaching night sky. Dark clouds swelled angrily overhead and the faint scent of rain lingered on the winds that blew with increasing force. He grinned, knowing the storm that approached was going to be nearly as fierce and destructive as he was. He could see his plan unfolding in his mind as he sat perched upon a sturdy branch in the tree, studying the movements of the occupants through the vast rear windows of the house. He’d waited long enough to make his presence known, spending days and nights mentally recording the habits and routines of Abby and her cowboys. He’d even followed the dark-haired older woman to the market, and more than once waited in the wings. At any moment, he could’ve taken her, ripped her apart with his bare hands, but he didn’t find her nearly as interesting as he found Abby. The day before, he’d managed to sneak inside the ranch and rummage through Abby’s personal belongings, helping himself to a sexy pair of red-and-black thong panties. He’d only wished they’d been recently removed so he could smell the headiness of her pussy. Inhaling the scents of lavender and vanilla from the pillow she rested her head on had caused his pulse to race. Abby was feminine and sweet, and he couldn’t wait to sink into the depths of her body with his knife and cock. With the tip of his index finger, he stroked the sharp edge of the knife. This was the blade he intended to use when he gutted the youngest of the cowboys as he came outside to secure the livestock

 

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for the evening. He only had to wait a little longer, and he knew he’d have his chance. **** Abby shuddered as Tyler held her in his arms. After they’d gotten out of the shower and slipped beneath the covers on her bed, they simply held one another. The feeling of having someone hold her the way Tyler was doing felt so strange, but incredibly right. Why now after all this time did she finally feel at peace with a man? Because you’re in love with him. The realization stunned her, robbed her lungs of breath. Suddenly, fear and panic trampled about in her mind, but quickly faded as she glanced over at him as he lay gazing at her. His eyes were a soft sea of color she swore she could swim inside. With him, she felt secure and powerful and strangely unencumbered. It had been a lifetime since she had felt so safe, so at ease. Nuzzling against his chest, she believed for the first time that she had a life of her own, and one she intended to keep Tyler a part of. Determined to fight for what she wanted, she silently promised that she’d have no more nights of being afraid to let a man who cared about her, truly cared about her, into her heart. She wouldn’t waste anymore time blubbering about her terrible childhood and overbearing mother, and she wouldn’t let it bother her that her mother still hadn’t shown her face since she arrived in Temptation. More importantly, there would be no more nights wondering what her future held. Right now, what she cared most about was the man looking at her so adoringly and letting the love blossoming inside her heart fill her soul completely. “I know my brothers are attracted to you, Abby, and I’d be a fool if I didn’t admit that I know that you feel something for them, too.”

 

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Eyes wide, her stomach lurched, and her throat constricted. The brakes had been forcibly applied on her poetic thoughts. She hadn’t pictured herself lying in bed with Tyler as she discussed her feeling regarding his brothers. Nor had she ever imagined having this conversation with him at all. Fantasies and wicked desires were one thing, but putting her emotions out there for all to witness was something else entirely. “What?” she managed to say, needing another moment to organize her thoughts. He sighed, glancing up to stare at the ceiling, his arm tucked behind his head. “I feel like you and I could have something special here. However, I won’t be a fool and assume you feel the same way.” He ran a hand through his damp hair and shifted on his hip to face her, leaning on his elbow for support. “Abby, you must know that I want you. I want you so damn much that you’re all I think about…and I’ll do just about anything to prove it.” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He knew that she had feelings for his brother, and yet, he still wanted her. How was that even possible? “Tyler?” “You don’t have to say anything.” He scoffed and let his weight fall back onto the pillow. “Shit, maybe I’m crazy and it’s all in my head, but I swear I could want you forever.” She rolled to her side, wrapped her arm over his chest, and kissed him. Now was her chance to open up about what had been bombarding her mind and heart. He had admitted to her that he wanted her. She had to stick to her guns and start living the life she believed she wanted and deserved. “Tyler, I do feel something for you, and I have since we met.” She stroked the side of his face, his eyes softening to a light gray. “I shouldn’t want you. I shouldn’t have allowed this to go on.” She laughed. “Actually, I never should have allowed you to get into the spring with me this afternoon.”

 

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He shrugged. “I was determined.” Smiling, she told him, “I noticed.” The playful tone faded as all her heartfelt emotions came to fruition. “I also noticed that I’m pretty weak when it comes to you and your brothers. I can’t explain it, but I feel something for all three of you.” Tyler’s hands dropped away from her face, and he glanced away from her. “Am I the only one you’ve—” “Slept with? Yes,” she quickly answered. He studied her for a moment. His gaze dove deep into hers, as if trying to read her thoughts. The fierce expression surrounding his eyes and mouth had her heart racing just a little faster. “Do you want to—” Her brows sprung up. “Have sex with your brothers?” She gasped, wondering where this conversation was headed. He nodded. The truth might seem awful and perhaps make her appear a little promiscuous, but what would lying do? If she wanted honesty from him, then she knew she needed to be honest in return. Besides, she needed to stop being afraid of the passions that called to her. She had to stop allowing fear to keep her hidden away and trapped, unable to live her life as she so desired. Swallowing hard, she admitted, “I’m sexually attracted to both Cooper and Hunter. I’ve tried to ignore it, even after they kissed me. I can’t help how I feel, and I can’t explain it.” She witnessed a flash of pain and anger dance in his eyes. He started to turn away from her as if he planned to leave her side, but she gripped his arm, forcing his gaze back to her. “There’s something else you should know, Tyler, and maybe I’m setting myself up for disappointment by telling you this, but…I want more than sex from you. It’s true that I have physical desires for your brothers, but it’s nothing compared to what I want with you.” His gaze narrowed, and he swallowed, brushing the backs of his knuckles over her cheek. “I want that, too, Abby. I want a future with

 

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you.” His voice cracked as he asked, “Can you dismiss your sexual curiosity for my brothers?” She wanted to say yes immediately, but couldn’t. Yes, she loved Tyler and wanted a relationship with him, but she still couldn’t fully ignore her strange lustings for Cooper and Hunter. It was her turn to glance away. “I wish I could tell you that I could, but as hard as I’ve tried to distance myself from that connection I feel with all three of you, I’ve only managed to make the need stronger.” “I see.” There was no condemnation in his words, but it didn’t stop her from feeling its hidden force. This time, when he moved away from her, she didn’t try to stop him. The space beside her no longer held the warmth of his body. The sudden chill had a shiver charging up and down her spine. She pulled the covers tighter over her body as she watched him sitting at the edge of her bed, his hands in his hair as he leaned his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry, Tyler. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but I don’t want to lie to you, either. Your brothers mean a lot to me. They’ve taken care of me, became my family, and became men I admire.” “Men you want to fuck,” he said with a growl in his voice. She felt the sting of jealousy buzz in the air and slap her as if it had been the open side of his hand. She sucked in a gulp of breath. The air was suddenly unable to fill her lungs. He might have sounded harsh, but he spoke the truth. “Yes, Tyler, the men I want to fuck.” He rose to his feet, his naked body set aglow by the flickering lightning in the distance. “How can you want me and them? How does that even work? I don’t want to share you, Abby, especially with my brothers.” He spun around, arms folded over his chest. The broad stance had him seeming larger as she gazed up at him. The muscles of his back flexed as the waves of tension filled his body. She could see the strain wreaking havoc on him. She might not have been able to

 

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see his face, but she knew it would be one that would have her pulling the comforter closer around her, keeping her protected from his fury. She didn’t fear he would strike her, he never would, she knew that, but she didn’t want to throw herself in front of a moving train, either. Better to be safe than sorry. Tyler stalked into the bathroom and returned wearing his jeans. Looming in the doorway, he glanced over at the box that sat in front of the window. Moving with determination, he grabbed the box of her father’s letters and brought them to her. Setting the box down between her spread legs, he reached down and ripped the comforter from around her and gripped hold of her breast, while his other hand wrapped around the nape of her neck, forcing her to face his. His mouth fell upon hers with so much passion and fury she couldn’t help but feel the excitement of his touch blazing through her body, burning her flesh. His power and aggression glided along her spine and had her humming with renewed life. If disagreements with Tyler ended like this, she hoped he would have them with her regularly. Breaking the kiss, his warm breath on her face, he told her, “Stop stalling and read your father’s letters. Maybe he can offer us a little insight to what we’re supposed to do next.” He kissed her again, biting her bottom lip as he eased away. “I’m going to lock down the ranch for the night, but don’t bother getting dressed. I’ll be returning to your bed this evening.” He took her mouth hard, and this time her lips felt swollen and raw from his touch. She reveled in his desires for her and appreciated that he wasn’t afraid to show her she meant something special to him. With his shirt tossed over his shoulder and his boots in his hand, he left her room, but not before he glanced back at her for a long, heated moment. She didn’t cover herself up. She loved that his eyes seemed to possess her so thoroughly. The wild excitement of his touch and stare made her wonder what other little things she would

 

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discover about the cowboy who had won her heart and enticed her body. **** Hunter growled low in his throat as he watched his oldest brother leave Abby’s room. It was obvious by Tyler’s appearance that he’d been intimate with her again. The jealousy that had fueled inside of him earlier roared to the surface. Damn, why did his brothers have to have all the finesse and luck? Just once he wanted to beat his brothers out and not fall second or third to them. Being the youngest sometimes sucked majorly. He wasn’t normally the kind of guy who gave up easily, but staring after his brother, knowing she’d chosen to be with him, he figured he didn’t really have any other option. That’s the second time in one day where he spied Tyler having sex with Abby, or at least he believed that’s what they were doing. Waiting for Tyler to return from his room with a smug, satisfied grin on his face was not something he cared to see. So instead of waiting for his brothers to join him, he slapped his hat on his head, stalked to the back door and left. The air was thick and sticky with humidity and so heavy it felt as though his lungs wouldn’t fill with breath. He glanced out into the near distance. The gloomy, gray sky appeared to be closing in specifically on the ranch. At least that’s how he felt. It might have just been an approaching storm, but it felt more like a hurricane of hellfire and winds. Groaning in frustration, Abby’s face once again filled his mind. Shaking the thought away, he tried to focus on securing the livestock and not on how he wanted more than anything to be the one making love to her. He wanted to be the one she called out to as he caressed her body and kissed her sweet mouth.

 

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Mounting his horse, he rode off as quickly as he could in the direction of the barn. A flash of lightning lit the darkening sky drawing his attention up. A startling pain shot through his head and neck as something hard struck the side of his face, knocking him from his horse, dropping him roughly to the ground. Blinking back the pain that thrashed around in his head, he rolled from his chest to his back, struggling to understand what had just happened. He hadn’t fallen from his horse since he was a child. After all, he was an expert rider, and the only possible way he had managed to tumble off that horse was if something helped him. A sudden realization that someone had struck him had him swallowing hard, blinking his eyes even faster to see who was around him. Struggling to move, his chest was tight each time he tried to inhale. His searching eyes finally found a dark figure moving closer to him, crouching down beside him. The faint outline of a broadshouldered, towering man knelt alongside him. The shiny shimmer of silver twisted around in his hands. Hunter knew immediately that the man beside him held a blade that could easily gut a wild boar. He swallowed the rising bile in his throat and prayed he had the strength to fight back. Staring up at the man in black, he knew it was the one who had come to hurt Abby. He wasn’t about to let anything happen to her, and he certainly wasn’t about to let anything happen to himself. “Well, what have we here,” the gruff voice of the man in black said. “I think we have a young cowboy who’s fallen off his horse.” He chuckled. “You mustn’t be a very good rider if you can’t even stay on your saddle.” “Who are you,” Hunter asked, his fingers digging around on the coarse ground for anything he might use to defend himself. “Don’t you know already? I’m the man that plans to kill your precious Abby…but don’t worry, little Hunter, I plan on killing you, too.”

 

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The blade of the taunting silver knife raised in the air directly over Hunter’s chest, just as he managed to grab a rock the size of his palm. With all his strength, and just moments before his attacker could strike, Hunter whirled all his weight and struck the man in the head with the rock, knocking him back on his ass. Hunter scurried to his feet and charged for the barn. He knew his way around well enough to lose the man who sought to kill him. He just hoped he had enough strength to kill him first. **** Royally pissed off, Dexter rose to his feet, breathing hard, and fuming like a dragon. He spit blood from his mouth. Dragging his tongue over his teeth, he felt that a few had come loose. Surprisingly, Hunter had managed to strike him and get away, but not for long. He was going to make the little fucker pay for what he’d done. Sure, he had already planned to gut the son of a bitch, but now he planned to make his pretty face one that no woman would ever care to stare at again. Frankenstein’s monster would be seen as a beauty queen when standing next to Hunter Boyd. He stepped back into the shadows of the trees and made his way toward the barn. Spending days and weeks planning his attack on Paradise Ranch had given him plenty of time to make arrangements for situations like this. Now that Hunter was in the barn, his plan was moving forward as predicted. All that was missing was his other brothers. The barn was ready for detonation…a blaze of orange and golden flames would easily fill the night sky, and no amount of rain would put out the fires that were sure to rise up from the numerous accelerants he’d applied. There was no place to hide. No place they could run to get away from him. He was going to kill them, and then the fun would truly start.

 

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He smiled as he considered how long he’d been waiting to see Abby Blake up close and personal. She was going to be the most exquisite creature he’d ever had the pleasure of seducing, and not in the romantic sense, of course, but more along the lines of showing her all the horrors she brought upon herself. Tracking her may have started out as a simple contract assignment, but it quickly became something more to him as he’d spent so much time observing her, getting to know her and understand her. She was a lot like him, and he intended to make every ounce of their likeness work to his advantage. He’d enjoy breaking her down only to have her beg him to end her life. He worshiped the idea of making her suffer for being what she was, punishing her for being a spoiled and selfish whore. Abby Blake was no different than his filthy trash of a mother. Dexter hated women who used their bodies to get what they wanted, using a phony smile, a subtle but playful laugh and touch. He despised the damsel-in-distress routine. Everything about her was screaming for him to punish her, and punish her he would. Just like he punished and tortured to death his own mother. Like suckers, the Boyd brothers had done exactly what she wanted them to do, but he was soon to show them what a mistake they had made. Soon he would show them who the true master of their fates really was. **** “Where’s Hunter?” Tyler asked as he returned to the living room, dressed and ready to lock down the ranch for the evening. His mind was solely on returning to Abby as quickly as possible, as well as discussing a few things with his brothers. He knew this was going to be a conversation that had his guts knotted and his fists clenching. He had an idea about what he should do about Abby’s

 

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desires. He only hoped his brothers would understand what he was doing. Glancing up from the stack of papers on the table, Cooper eyed his brother. “He was just here.” “He must’ve already headed out.” A loud boom of thunder shook the house and dishes that rested in the hutch against the wall in the dining room. Quickly shuffling the papers into an organized pile, Cooper rose to his feet. “Then I guess we should get our asses in gear.” Tyler opened the back door and stepped off the porch, Cooper close behind. “I really need to talk to you and Hunter about something.” “What?” “It’s about Abby, and I really don’t think I can repeat, it so it’s best we do this with Hunter present, preferably not in the house where others can hear.” Cooper arched a dark brow. “Is everything all right?” “Yes and no.” “I wish you hadn’t said a damn word to me, Tyler. Now I feel like I need to dig the secrets out of you before they drive me nuts.” He glared at his brother. “What’s wrong with Abby? Has she decided she doesn’t want you after all?” He laughed and then stopped when Tyler glared at him as if to rip off his head. “Chill out, I’m just kidding. As much as I’d love to steal her away from you, I know she’s more into you then any of us.” Tyler looked away and mounted his horse. The tightness in his throat made him feel as if his neck were caught in a vise. Cooper saddled up beside him. “Is that it? She doesn’t want you?” He shot a glance to his brother, hating how damn smart Cooper was. He was going to make him repeat this shit to Hunter. Tyler growled and with clenched teeth, confessed, “She wants you and Hunter, too…sexually.” Cooper froze, pulling his horse to a halt. “What?”

 

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“She has desires for you both, she might have more feelings for me, but she can’t seem to get the idea of fucking you two dumbasses out of her head.” Brows raised, Cooper asked, “How do you feel about that?” “I’m not thrilled,” he admitted. “But I think I’ve come up with an idea on how to make all parties happy.” Cooper chuckled. “No offense, bro, but making love to Abby would make any man happy.” Tyler whipped his head around. “Don’t make me kick your ass.” “I’m just saying that if your plan includes us sleeping with her, then I’m in. I find her amazing, and honestly, I can’t get her out of my head.” “Do you love her, Cooper?” He hesitated a moment, then explained, “I love her, but I’m not in love with her. Face it, bro, there’s something very special about Abby, and I know you’re in love with her, so I’ve sort of put myself out of the running. Hunter on the other hand…” “I know,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I’ve seen the way he looks at her.” Cooper nodded. “It’s a lot like the way you look at her, but—” “But what?” he bit out. Cooper’s horse began to gallop a little faster toward the barn and Tyler was right beside him. “Abby looks at you the way you look at her, and it’s not the same way she looks at me and Hunter. I’ve been around long enough to know the difference between love and lust.” “Then I don’t feel so bad for asking you what I’m about to ask you.” “What’s that?” Cooper asked. Pausing a moment, Tyler glanced straight ahead as he said, “I want to give Abby the fantasy she craves.” He cleared his throat, his stomach churning with acid. “I want you, me, and Hunter to make love to Abby…together.”

 

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Chapter Ten Abby sat on her bed with her legs crossed, her father’s letters spread out in front of her. Each letter started out the exact same way with “My dearest daughter.” She felt her throat constrict and her eyes sting with unspent tears. As she read the first letter, she realized that her father truly did love her and hated that her mother had taken her away. As she read the tenth, twentieth, or even the hundredth letter, that message never faltered. In fact, she could sense his frustration about not being able to see her. Every letter apologized to her for not being the father she needed but confessed that he was desperate to figure out how to be. He’d also told her about the ranch and discussed ways to make it great once again. He hoped she would want to be a part of it as it had been such a major part of him. He shared where he’d hidden his money so Cybil would never find it if ever she truly tried to steal the ranch as she had stolen Abby. He was a man of the land, and this land had been what he wanted to share with his daughter, what he wanted to leave as a legacy for her to love and cherish as he had. It was too important to allow her mother to rob Abby of it. Paradise Ranch was a sanctuary away from the world that raced by with a vengeance. He’d wanted this land to be a place where she would love to raise her own family and settle down as he had tried to do so many years before with Cybil. The honesty in his letters had her sobbing just a little harder. Duke had explained that when he’d met Cybil, she was rebelling against her parents, and he’d stupidly done what any young man would do when offered a chance to make love to a classy, beautiful

 

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woman. He hadn’t realized that one night would mean a marriage and a child with a loveless woman. Her father had made it clear in his letters that the best part of the entire ordeal had been Abby, and no matter how much he suffered with a horrible marriage, he’d never change a thing if it meant he couldn’t have his daughter. Her lips trembled as she read his heartfelt words, and they circled her heart as if he were speaking them directly to her. The cloud of darkness that she’d harbored around her heart began to melt away. The words from the page felt like a warm, tender hug from her father. As she read, she discovered that his failing health had actually started sooner than she was lead to believe. After reading and absorbing all the details, she wanted to cry like a baby. He’d battled daily, with no one’s support, until Sophia had appeared in his life. She had been a blessing for her father, and Abby felt her heart grow a little fonder of the woman who had never considered doing anything else but helping Abby. Now she understood why. Sophia had truly loved her father, and her father had loved her. Even though Abby now understood that she was his pride and joy, and no matter how much time had gone by, her father still placed Abby above all else. His letters told her so, and the love she felt pouring off the page was heart wrenching. Sadly, she wished she’d gotten to know her father firsthand instead of through his letters, but at least she had these to learn about the man she had been angry with for so long. That anger quickly faded with each word she read, with each page she turned. He was the father she’d always needed, and it wasn’t his fault she’d been stolen from him. It was her selfish mother’s. A thunderous explosion nearly rocked Abby off the bed. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she jumped to her feet, running from her room at full speed into the living room. Sophia stood at the back window, her hand covering her mouth. Jared rushed through the back door in a full run toward the barn. “Oh, dear God,” Sophia cried.

 

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Abby hurried up beside her, “What’s happened?” “The boys,” she stuttered. “They went to put the animals up for the night. The barn’s on fire.” She pushed away from Abby and ran for the phone. Holding it to her ear, she froze, eyes swelling. “The phone’s not working.” “Oh, God, what are we going to do?” Abby felt her world disintegrating around her. “I’m going after Jared. I’m sure Tyler will need our help.” She headed for the door at a sprint and as she reached for the knob, the door was flung open, knocking her to the floor. Standing above her was a tall, blond man with black, soulless eyes. His wicked smile and evil glare had her stomach rolling. Instantly, she knew who loomed above her. Her killer had come to call. Scurrying along the ground like a crab, she moved away as quickly as she could and rose to her feet. “Who are you?” “You can call me Dex,” he said to her with a deep, throaty chuckle. “I see no harm in telling you who I am since I have every intention of killing you just like I’ve already done to your ranch hands.” “No!” Abby cried, her knees shaking and buckling underneath her. She gripped hold of the chair beside her for support. “Not Tyler. Not the boys.” “I’m afraid so. It was most easy. Once they all stepped inside the barn…BOOM!” He clapped his hands together for emphasis. Abby felt the flutter of panic and fear rise up in her chest. She didn’t want to believe that Tyler was gone. Couldn’t grasp that Cooper and Hunter could be hurt or dead. It was all too much. “Why are you doing this?” He tsked under his tongue and shook his head. “Haven’t you figured anything out, Abby?” Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “If I had, I wouldn’t be asking you,” she said, her teeth clenched tight, fighting for an ounce of courage.

 

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He stepped closer, closing the door at his back. “Your precious Jackson hired me, but after spending so much time enjoying the catand-mouse game with you, I found myself infatuated and unable to walk away.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I just couldn’t end things by simply trying to frighten you back to Dallas.” “Frighten me? You mean to tell me that Jackson wanted you to scare me so that I would give up on my father’s ranch and return to him?” Fury filled her soul. “I would never do that. Not now, anyway.” She ground her teeth as the bubbling of anger and strength swelled inside her. “I hate Jackson Cole!” she screamed. “And I hate you!” She ran toward the hearth and tried to pull her father’s shotgun off of the mantel, but he was on top of her, yanking the gun from her hands, tossing it to the ground along with her. Sophia charged toward them but quickly halted her actions as he held a knife to Abby’s throat. Glaring at Sophia, Dex told her, “Unless you want to see your sweet little Abby sliced to bits, I suggest you have a seat on the couch and don’t fucking move again.” Abby shook. She wanted to get away from him, but the fear of death had her frozen to the ground. “What are you going to do to me?” He ran the tip of his blade down her neck, skimming over her skin lightly, down between her breasts, and then he began circling her nipple with the blade, pressing a little harder into the fabric of her tank top. Closing her eyes, she whimpered, waiting for him to thrust the knife into her breast, ending her life. However, the fatal blow never came. Opening her eyes, she stared up at the beautiful face that was consumed by so much evil and hatred. She could see into the depth of his black, soulless eyes. She felt her mouth dry as he began to lower his face down to hers, planning to taste her lips with his poisonous mouth.

 

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Before he could reach her, she turned her face away and caught sight of something she had never expected to see. A gun was mounted underneath the end table beside her. Her father was aiding her from beyond the grave, and a flood of renewed power and strength filled her body. She was finally prepared to take back her life. She already decided to take a chance on love, and now she had decided to push fear out of her heart and take a stand to save the lives of those she cared most about. She strained her neck as Dex’s mouth trailed wet kisses down her cheek, jaw, and neck. Slowly she extended her arm and slowly pulled the gun out of its mounted holster. With all the muscle she had, she slammed the butt of the gun into the back of his head. With a groan, he collapsed on top of her. Covered in soot, Tyler burst through the door. Cooper, Hunter, and Jared scampered in behind him. “Abby,” Tyler shouted, running over to her, lifting Dex’s limp body off of her. Urgently, he pulled her up and cradled her into his arms. “Did he hurt you?” His gaze was quick as he searched over her, his hands skimming her body. “Are you all right?” “Tyler, stop fussing over me. I’m fine.” She cradled his face in her hands. “What happened to you?” “That asshole happened,” he said coldly, kicking his booted foot into Dex’s ribs. “If Hunter hadn’t smelled the gas and been waiting for us the moment we arrived in the barn, we’d be dead right now.” “What about my animals…did we lose them in the fire?” Her voice shook as she thought about the horrific image of her precious animals. “No, Hunter evacuated them pretty quickly.” “Oh, thank God.” She wrapped her arms around Tyler and held him close. She felt like everything had been a dream, a terrifying nightmare. “What do you want to do with him?” Cooper asked, kicking the other side of his ribs.

 

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“Hunter, do you have any rope handy?” “Are you kidding?” He grinned and walked into the front room, opened up his bag, and pulled out enough rope to tie Dex up. “Excellent. Strap his murdering ass to a chair, and when the sheriff gets here, we can hand him over and get him the fuck out of our home.” Sophia moved closer. She held a kitchen butcher knife in her hand. “Not if we haven’t already killed him.” “Easy, Sophia,” Tyler said as he reached out to take the knife from her. “He’ll get what’s coming to him.” Tyler arched a brow as he glanced up to see the flashing lights of Sheriff Garrett and several of his deputies arrive to take Dexter Ragland into custody. Sophia simply shrugged. “I called from Abby’s cell, but it doesn’t mean we still can’t kill him before the sheriff walks in the house.” Abby knew exactly how Sophia felt. The bastard had held a knife to her throat and implied that he had every intention of murdering and raping her. Chills surged through her body as she realized just how close she’d come to ending up like that young woman he’d sexually assaulted and stabbed, eventually ending her life. Dexter Ragland hadn’t stirred an inch since Abby landed a fierce blow to the back of his head, and that relieved her greatly. Not for one more second did she want to see the vileness within his eyes staring at her as if mentally trying to peel away the flesh from her bones. The emotional emptiness she’d witnessed within the depths of his soul hadn’t been hard to comprehend, but seeing it firsthand, feeling it as he touched her, startled her more than she would’ve liked. Just as the emotions settled over her, her mind began to ponder all the “what-ifs.” What if her father hadn’t placed that gun under the table? What if Dexter had stopped her before she’d been able to reach it? What if Tyler and his brothers hadn’t escaped the barn in time? The questions were endless.

 

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Sheriff Garrett entered the house, his body looming like a man determined to save the day. His eyes immediately found Dexter. Within a few long strides, he was standing in front of the unconscious man, cutting the rope that held him to the chair, hauling him to his feet, and dragging him to the ground. Placing his knee on his back, he wrapped Dexter’s arms behind him and quickly placed the metal cuffs on his wrists. Two other deputies entered and lifted the now-stirring Dexter to his feet and dragged him off toward the squad cars. Sheriff Garrett turned to face Abby, his eyes softening as he gazed at her. “Did he hurt you?” His eyes swept the room. “Any of you?” Abby shook her head. “No, we’re all good, just a little rattled.” “I can’t even begin to tell you how lucky you are, little lady.” The sheriff placed his hands on his hips, looking very authoritative and dangerous in his own right. “Dexter Ragland has a long history of assaulting women. When he was a teenager, he was brought up on charges for brutally killing his mother, but the case was dropped due to a technicality.” Abby’s throat felt tight. She didn’t want that to happen again. What if he came back for her? What if he finished what he started? The sheriff must’ve read her thoughts. “We’re doing everything by the book here. We need each of you to come down to the station in the morning. We want to know each of your accounts of what happened. My deputies are reading Mr. Ragland his rights and taking him to the station.” Abby spoke up. “Dexter also told me and Sophia that Jackson Cole was the person who paid him to come after me to begin with. I want to see Jackson brought up on charges as well.” “We actually made the connection between Dexter and Jackson a few hours ago. We checked Jackson’s phone records since he was under suspicion and we had a court order to do so. Dexter Ragland’s cell number appeared over a dozen times over the last two months.”

 

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Abby nodded with a smile, squeezing her arm around Tyler’s waist, using him as an anchor for all the things she knew she’d fought for. “We’ll be there in the morning, Sheriff,” Tyler said. Sheriff Clay Garrett turned toward the door, but before he twisted the knob, he cocked his head to glance back at everyone. “By the way, Doc was called, and he’ll be out here soon to check on each of you. Don’t hesitate to call should you need anything.” He closed the door behind him and joined his deputies outside. Abby felt the weight of the day slide away from her shoulders the moment Dexter had been removed from her house. All the evil he harbored inside dissipated like the rain storm outside. She didn’t have to be afraid of anything anymore. She prayed. The front door flung open as if a hearty gust of wind had blown it open. All eyes settled on the one person Abby had no desire to see, especially not now. “Where the hell is my daughter?” Cybil Burnett called out as if she owned the place. The strong scent of her designer perfume filled the room, and Abby rolled her eyes and sighed. She stepped around Tyler as if he were trying to shield her form the Wicked Witch of the West. “Hello, Mother,” Abby said without any inflection in her voice. “Oh my God, Abby,” she wailed, her hands digging into her hips. “What the hell is going on around here? Why are there police here? Why did you come back to this god-awful place?” “This is my home, and I have every right to be here.” Cybil stalked into the room, her three-inch heels slapping against the hardwood flooring. Her red silk dress swished against her stocking-covered legs. “Why would you want to be in the middle of nowhere when you could live in the city and have everything you’ve ever wanted?” Everything she’d ever wanted? Really? Did her ignorant mother never listen to her? Of course she didn’t. That’s why Abby could

 

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never talk to her. The woman simply only listened to herself and never anyone else. “Did it ever occur to you that this is really what I wanted? To live the life my father would’ve wanted for me had you not manipulated and weaseled your way into getting what you wanted. You were practically the cancer that killed him.” Cybil gasped in an overexaggerated manner. Her hand rested over her chest as if appalled. “Don’t talk to me like that, Abby. I’m your mother.” Abby wanted to burst into laughter. Cybil Burnett was only her mother in the sense that she’d carried her for nine months. Never had the woman showed any love and affection toward her and that had her feeling more like a possession rather than a beloved daughter. “I’ll talk to you however I damn well please. You’ve done nothing for me, but make me realize that I should’ve been with my father all along. You never should’ve kept him away from me.” “Don’t do this, Abby. Don’t ruin what’s left of our family.” “If anyone has ruined anything, it’s you. You trapped my father into getting you pregnant and then robbed him of his child. He loved me. I know that now.” “Your father was never there for you. I was,” Cybil spat. “No, Mother dear, you’re wrong.” She stepped closer, standing toe-to-toe with her mother. “He came for me, he wrote me letters, all of which you did your best to keep from me. He is the parent who should’ve raised me, and thanks to him, I now have a chance to live the life I should’ve always had the right to live.” “Abigail Blake, you are being selfish. Now pack up your things this instant. I’m taking you home.” Cybil reached out and grabbed hold of Abby’s arm. She pulled away so quickly Cybil stumbled. “You no longer have any say in what I do with my life. In fact, it would be best if you and I didn’t see or talk to one another for a while. I need time to live my life without your negative and selfish influences.” Abby narrowed her eyes. “You’re not welcome at Paradise Ranch until you can become the mother I need. A selfless,

 

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caring mother who doesn’t care more about material things, and understands that love and family are truly the most important part of life.” Tears stung Abby’s eyes. “It’s too bad my father had to die to teach me that lesson, because I sure would never have learned that from you.” Abby spun on her heels and stood beside Tyler, their hands interlocking. The moment she touched him, she felt the strength she’d grown to love about him fill her heart. He was the one she would grow old with and the one she would always rely on. She believed deep within her heart that Tyler was the person she could count on to help battle the evils that could be found around the most insignificant corner. Cybil’s eyes swelled. “Abby?” she whispered. Tyler was the one who spoke. “It’s best if you leave, Mrs. Burnett. Abby’s already made her feelings known. It would be best if you did as she asked before I’m forced to escort you out.” “You would never,” Cybil bit out. Grinning broadly, Tyler said, “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. It would be my greatest pleasure to toss you out on your bony little ass.” He took a step forward. “Now, do I really need to ask again?” Cybil gasped, turned, and fled. Abby suddenly felt a sense of relief that had eluded her for years. She’d stood up to the woman that had kept her down her entire life. All was finally as it should be. She was going to love being at Paradise Ranch, and she was going to love being with Tyler even more. “Thank you, Tyler.” Abby pressed to her tiptoes, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “You never stop amazing me.”

 

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Chapter Eleven Time was flying by at Paradise Ranch and everything was changing for the better. Abby and Tyler spent every available moment together, making love and making things wonderful at the ranch. A tickle in her heart and belly had her smiling broadly. She had a surprise for Tyler, and she couldn’t wait to tell him. Never had she imagined being so happy, so fulfilled. Abby showered and put on her bed clothes. As she returned to her room, Tyler was lying naked on the bed, a devilish grin spread across his face. She’d never get tired of seeing every glorious inch of him laid out like a banquet only she was privileged to sample. “Did you finish early today?” she asked, her heart fluttering as she read the desire exploding in his eyes. “I did, because I have a surprise for you.” As giddy as a child, she hastened her steps toward the bed and prepared to crawl onto the mattress, but he quickly stopped her. “Wait,” he demanded, his eyes casting a warm glow over every place he looked along her body. “Take your clothes off first. I want to look at you.” A strange but exhilarating feeling tumbled around in her belly, but without question, she did as he asked, slowly slipping out of her white tank top and blue cotton shorts. “Now stand back, I want to see all of you.” Again she did as he requested, feeling sexy and desired as his eyes filled with a passion she had never witnessed before. “Now, come here and lay beside me.” He patted the bed, and as soon as she was nestled against him, he raised up over top of her. The

 

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muscles in his arms flexed as he supported the weight of his upper body and cradled in between her spread thighs. His cock brushed over her clit and had her shivering with need. “I’ve made a decision about us, Abby.” She bucked her hips, almost forcing his hard cock to slip inside her wet pussy. “What have you decided, Tyler?” She arched up and nipped at his chin. “I’ve decided to make all your fantasies come true.” He kissed her and pulled back to look at her. Her belly rolled with newfound nerves and a thrill of excitement. What did her cowboy lover have in store for her? “What fantasy are you referring to, Tyler?” She licked her dry lips, her body warming deliciously as she imagined the wicked things he had planned. He lowered himself and took her firm nipple in between his lips, licking and sucking until she was moaning, arching her back to give him as much of herself as he could devour. “I’ve decided to let you know what it would be like to have me and my brothers make love to you…together.” He bent to kiss her once more, but she quickly pressed the palms of her hands to his chest. Her eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? Are you teasing me about this?” He arched a brow, his expression still soft and playful. “Love, I’m not teasing you, and you know exactly what I’m talking about. You told me about your desire to be with three Boyd men, and I want you to have this experience.” She began to speak, but he quickly silenced her as his words grew more serious. “Now don’t get me wrong. This will be the last time you will ever fuck another man. After tonight, I’m the only man who will be making love to you. The only man you will pleasure.” He cradled her face in his hands. “Tonight you get to live your fantasy, but you need to do it on my terms.” She stared at him. “I really don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”

 

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“You don’t have to say anything. I’ve arranged everything. All you need to do is enjoy the ride.” He reached under the pillow beside her head and pulled out three blindfolds. “My terms are simple. You, Cooper, and Hunter must wear blindfolds at all times. No peeking.” She gasped as he reached to place the blindfold over her head. “Wait. You’re serious about this.” “It’s what you want. Secretly, I can’t wait to see you reach pleasures unbound.” “So that’s why you only have three blindfolds.” He smiled wickedly. “I have a fantasy, too, Abby. I want to see you come in the most enticing way. I want to feel your pussy squeeze my cock as you shudder with more pleasure then you ever thought possible.” Her cunt throbbed. He bucked his hips forward, and with little effort he slid his cock inside her. She squeezed her eyes shut, and she felt just how drenched with arousal she was. Slowly thrusting inside her, he teased, “I think my girl likes the idea.” She grasped hold of his shoulders and shuddered as his cock massaged the sensitive spot inside her. Tyler felt incredible as he held her, pressed tightly against her. This was what had her heart pounding in her chest. Nothing else could make her heart feel more complete and so full. “Tyler,” she breathed. Her fingers wrapped around the back of his neck and lowered him enough to claim his lips. She kissed him softly, but then let the fever of passion take over, consuming her. Her mouth possessed his, devouring him like a fine wine. Her eyes drank in Cooper’s naked body as he strolled into the room, visually capturing the hard ridge of muscles on his chest and arms, the sexy narrowing of his waist, and the hardening cock that hung between well-sculpted legs.

 

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Tyler sank his cock deeper inside her, drawing her eyes back to him. With a sexy grin, he arched a brow and lowered her mask to cover her eyes. She heard Tyler as he handed a mask to Cooper and asked him to slide onto the bed beside her and put on his mask. She felt Cooper’s weight press down on the bed as he moved up alongside her. She swallowed hard as everything inside her began to tingle with restless temptation. Tyler’s hips never stilled as he continued fucking her even as Cooper lingered nearby. She wondered if Hunter would soon join them, but her question was quickly answered as she heard him say, “Damn, can I join?” Biting her bottom lip, she once again heard Tyler as he handed a mask to Hunter. “Put this on.” Hunter groaned. “But I want to watch.” “That’s not the deal, and if you don’t like it you can leave.” Tyler was stern as he spoke to his brother. “Now are you staying or are you going?” She held her breath as she waited for Hunter’s response, silently pleading that he would do as Tyler ordered. He did, and she felt a sense of relief flood through her. Then she realized she was naked in front of three men. Two of the men she had never been with intimately but was desperate to be with. She sighed as Cooper’s hand found its way to her breast and began massaging the mound, his thumb teasing her nipple. Then his mouth was on her. He didn’t seem to care that Tyler was making love to her. He was ravenous as he sampled her breasts, sucking her nipples and caressing her breasts with his tongue. Her mind began dreaming up all the ways she wished to be pleasured by three men. She’d envisioned this night time and again as she dreamed. Temptations unlike anything she’d ever experienced were now inches from her body. She knew what she wanted and

 

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wasn’t sure how to verbalize to Tyler what she hoped for in this night, in this fantasy come true. Tyler pulled out of her and leaned over to whisper into her ear. “I’m going to ready your body so Cooper can fuck that pretty little ass of yours, but I want it first. Are you all right with that, Abby?” “Yes,” she all but screamed. She wanted to experience this with him, wanted to experience everything she could, but she also needed Tyler to be gentle with her. She’d had anal sex with other men before, but they’d fucked her hard and fast and sometimes hurt her. She enjoyed anal play with her dildo, but she wanted to love it more using Tyler’s cock. “Please go slow, okay?” He kissed her ear, her jaw, cheek and then her lips. “I’ll be everything you need,” he told her. The deep growl in his voice dipped into her ear and sent waves of pleasure straight to her cunt. Her pussy grew wetter, and her nipples hardened almost painfully. Continuing to lay on her back, Tyler pushed her legs up, opening her wide for him. His fingers parted the folds of her pussy, and she moaned as his tongue raked tantalizingly over her swollen clit. Slowly, he shoved one finger, then two inside her, and stretched her wonderfully. She shivered as his fingers pulled free of her body and the cool feel of lubricant slid between the cheeks of her ass. Smearing the lube with his fingers, he gently pushed his finger inside her rectum. She was tight, and did her best to relax. The foreign feel of him inside her was both alarming and enticing. She wanted this, had for so long, the jolt of sexual awareness was almost too much to handle. Slowly, Tyler sank his finger in and out of her asshole until he used another finger to ready her. The tightness and discomfort she had first felt was almost gone. Now it was just the exhilaration of being wicked and naughty that had her drenched and ready for pleasure. She almost leapt of the bed, as Tyler ran her fingers over the firmness of her dildo. She should’ve been embarrassed that he’d

 

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found it, but she wasn’t. She was thrilled and she was ready for all the pleasure he could offer. Spreading her cheeks with his fingers, he pressed the lubricated head of her dildo inside her asshole and slowly began fucking her with it. She couldn’t control herself, gripping hold of her breasts. She pulled at her nipples. Her body was on fire. If he gave her a moment, she could easily come as he teased her body, but he wasn’t about to let her off the hook so easily. Surely, he was ready to give her the fantasy she wanted, but he wasn’t ready to see her come just yet, and to prove that, he stopped, pulled the dildo from her ass, and said, “Cooper, I want you to lay flat on your back with your knees bent over the edge of the bed.” Without question or hesitation, Cooper did as Tyler requested. “Abby, Cooper’s going to fuck that beautiful, tight ass while I fuck your pussy.” Her eyes swelled under the mask, and she felt her entire body warm. Tyler reached out to help her move and helped position her over the top of Cooper. Cooper held one hip as she imagined him guiding his cock into her ass with the other. Slowly she sank down and let the fullness of his dick fill her rectum. Flush against his hips, she sighed. “Good girl,” Tyler muttered, his mouth capturing her breasts, nipping at her nipples. “Now lean back on your arms.” She did. “Hunter, get up on the bed and kneel beside Abby.” “I can’t see a damn thing with this mask on,” Hunter said with a groan. “Stop complaining or I won’t let Abby do what I know she’s dying to do to you.” Abby licked her lips and knew exactly what Tyler had in store for Hunter. Her body was buzzing from the sexual energy radiating from all three of them. She could hardly breathe. Once again the bed shifted, and she felt Hunter brush up alongside her arm. Before she even realized what was to happen next, Tyler slid his cock all the way to the hilt into her pussy.

 

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Tyler told her, “Abby, Hunter is beside you. Turn your head and take his cock into your mouth.” A wild flutter swirled inside her belly as she turned her face toward him and, with her face, searched for his cock. Her tongue licked over his flesh. With one hand she gripped his cock and eagerly rubbed the head over her lips and teased the crown with her tongue. He tasted sweet and tangy. The musky scent of his skin enflamed her senses. Just as she sucked Hunter’s cock deep into her mouth, Tyler surged forward and controlled the pace in which he and Cooper fucked her. Never had she felt so full. Her body stretched so wonderfully. She moaned as the pleasure soared higher and higher. Everything felt so perfect, so right. Her body tingled as if Tyler was the only one pleasuring her in every way, all at once. He had managed to make her fantasy come true, and in doing so made her only want him more. “Oh God, Tyler,” she moaned. “This feels so good.” Her pussy tingled and pulsed as she grew nearer to release. The sweat from their bodies mingled with her own. Cooper’s fingers dug into her hips as Tyler’s clung to her waist. He drilled his cock into her, his body flexing under her fingers as he held her. As her body trembled, she sucked Hunter’s cock deeper and harder, swirling her tongue all around his firm length. She tasted his pre-cum and knew she could have him begging her to finish him. She cupped his balls, taking his cock as deep as her throat could manage. He groaned like a wild animal as she teased and tormented him. No matter how badly she wanted to prolong the passion blasting out at her from all three men, she couldn’t hold on much longer. Tyler’s cock was gliding over the spot that had her eyes rolling into the back of her head. Shuddering, she pulled the skin over his shaft tight and worked Hunter’s cock into her mouth, her tongue moving like a whip over the sensitive flesh. Almost immediately he cried out, his hips bucking forward as hot semen shot to the back of her throat.

 

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Licking her lips, she settled back into position with her hands resting behind her, Cooper’s cock still sliding wickedly into her ass, while Tyler pleasured her pussy, his fingers stroking her clit, his cock rubbing deliciously inside her. Then the first wave of release hit her. Coming harder then she’d ever come, she let Tyler possess her, thrusting harder and faster as she came. Cooper growled, his fingers squeezing tighter around her as he bucked up, coming inside her ass. Tyler soon followed, plunging deeper several more times before joining them. Out of breath, Tyler slowly eased out of her and helped her off of Cooper, then like rag dolls they fell onto the bed, collapsing on top of one another. She wasn’t sure how long they lay like that, but when she’d woken only Tyler laid beside her. He had her pulled tightly into his arms, his warm breath on her neck as he tucked in close. She must have dozed off and wondered if she’d dreamed the entire thing. As strange as it was, the mask had made it seem as though Tyler was the only one touching her, loving her, talking to her. He was simply everything she needed and couldn’t believe how much she was in love with him. She never wanted to spend another day without him beside her. “Tyler, are you awake?” Nibbling her ear, he nuzzled against her neck and began raining tender kisses down her cheek, neck, and shoulder. Then he pressed his hips forward and she felt the growing erection against her rear. “Yep, I’d say you’re awake.” She giggled and loved the joy that filled her heart. Biting her bottom lip, she asked, “Since you were so gracious to let me live out my fantasy, what fantasy can I grant of yours?” He moved so quickly, he robbed her of breath. Hovering over top of her he stared into her eyes, the soft gray deepened with need. “You can marry me.”

 

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She gasped. He wanted to marry her. Her chest felt tight as she replayed his question over and over again in her mind. Her first impulse was to throw her arms around his neck and scream “yes” as loudly as she could, but she had something they needed to talk about before she would give him her answer. “I need to ask you something first.” “Ask away.” Without a moment to spare, she asked, “Do you want children?” He arched a curious brow. “I’m in love with you, Abigail, and there is nothing more I would like than to have you bear my children. My only condition would be that you marry me first.” She couldn’t help but laugh at their situation. She was afraid that they’d already seemed to put the cart before the horse. “Well, you won’t have to wait long, Tyler Boyd.” His eyes opened wide. “What do you mean?” “I’m pregnant,” she told him. Her heart swelled and her breath hitched in her chest. “We’re going to have a baby, Tyler.” A slow, illuminating smile sprung up from the corners of his mouth. He cupped her face in his hands. “You’re pregnant.” It was a statement of complete excitement, not a question. “My Abby is going to have my baby.” He kissed her all over, her eyes, nose, forehead, lips, and cheeks. Every inch of her that he could reach was covered by his tender and loving kisses. She giggled, loving Tyler more than she’d ever loved anything in her life. “You were right, you know.” He froze midkiss, pulling back to look into her eyes. “As much as I love being right, refresh my memory as to what I was right about.” “You said that maybe my father’s letters could offer a little insight to what we’re supposed to do next, and they did just that.” He arched a brow. “They did?” “They sure did. In fact, after reading his letters, I realized just how lucky I was to find you. With all the things I’ve been through in my life, I honestly never believed I’d find love, but I have.” She wrapped

 

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her arms around his neck. “For the first time in my life, I’m head over heels in love with a wonderful man who puts my needs and desires ahead of his own. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for being everything I need, and so much more.” “Thank me? I don’t want your thanks, Abby. I want your love, and I want your answer.” She smiled. “Oh, right. I almost forgot.” She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “Tyler, nothing would please me more than being your wife.” He stroked her hair, his fingers trailing sweetly around her face. “Good, because I plan to marry you as soon as we get the marriage license. I don’t want to wait another moment to begin our lives together.” “I don’t want to wait, either,” she told him, her heart pounding with so much love. “You’ve made me so happy.” Her eyes watered. This was the moment she’d prayed for since she was a little girl. Coming to Paradise Ranch had been exactly what she needed. Digging deep inside herself, she found the strength to be the woman she’d always wanted to be. Thanks to her father, she’d been given the chance. Even in spirit her father was with her, helping her, guiding her like a guardian angel. Now, as she stared into Tyler’s eyes, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that her life was complete, and nothing could ever take that away.

THE END WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MORGAN.FOX.AUTHOR

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Morgan Fox currently resides in Texas and has been writing paranormal romance for as long as she can remember. As a teenager she wrote dozens 6of short stories about love, loss, danger, and of course the seductive paranormal bad boy. A graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas, she was raised in Florida but navigated to Texas as quickly as she could. Most days, you can find Morgan on her computer diving headlong into her fierce imagination, where anything can happen. When not writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys cycling with her husband and reading all kinds of romance novels. Finding time for all the things she loves can be challenging, but with a supportive husband all things are possible

Also by Morgan Fox Ménage Amour: Cowboys and Werewolves: Craving Silence Ménage Amour: Moonlight Shifters 1: Seduced by the Moon Ménage Amour: Moonlight Shifters 2: Tempted by the Moon Ménage Amour: Moonlight Shifters 3: Enticed by the Moon Ménage Amour: Moonlight Shifters 4: Ravished by the Moon

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

 

 

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