“Why?”
“Because you—both of you,” he added, resting a hand against her belly, “will always be family. Because I love you.”
“I love you, too. God, Oliver, I love you so much.”
He kissed her again and again and she lost herself in his touch, his taste, his smell. God, he smelled so good. Renee had no idea how much time had passed before the car made a wide turn, startling her back to her senses. “Where are we going?”
Oliver gave her that smile that, had she been standing, would have weakened her knees. “We’re going home.”
Finally.
Home was with Oliver.
Epilogue
“Up next on ESPN, June Spotted Elk has an exclusive interview with the Princess of the All-Around All-Stars Rodeo, Chloe Lawrence, about how the All-Stars are about to break big.”
Pete Wellington’s head popped up from the report on cattle prices he was working on. Not that there were many cattle left—but even if there were, at these prices, he’d never be able to pay the mortgage off. “What the hell?”
He caught a glimpse of the one woman who could make his blood boil with nothing more than a smile. Because Chloe Lawrence was smiling at the screen and his blood hit boiling in 0.2 seconds.
The camera cut to June, the world-famous bull rider. “Bull riding brings in the big money. How can the All-Stars compete with the Total Bull Challenge?”
Pete’s eyelid began to twitch as the camera cut back to Chloe. She flipped her rich auburn hair over her shoulder, the rhinestones on her shirt—unbuttoned just far enough to hint at the tantalizing curves of her breasts—sparkling in the lights. But nothing outshone her smile. That damned woman simply glowed. “For starters, I’m hoping to get you to ride on our circuit!” The women laughed. “We’ll be introducing more women competitors,” Chloe went on.
God forgive him, she was nothing short of perfect, which only made his ridiculous attraction that much worse. How many people tossed and turned at night because she haunted their dreams with that smile, those lips, that body? How many woke up hard and aching for her?
Probably too many to count. Pete took comfort that he wasn’t alone.
But no one else saw her for what she was. The rest of the world bought into her stupid cowgirl persona.
He didn’t want her. Hell, his life would be that much better if he never heard the names Chloe or Lawrence ever again. Pete’s body might crave hers, but his brain knew the truth.
Chloe Lawrence was no cowgirl. She was nothing but a thieving, cheating liar, from a long line of cheats and thieves. The Lawrence family were little more than con artists and criminals. They’d stolen Pete’s rodeo, his family ranch—his entire life.
Now she was ruining his rodeo. The one her father maintained that Pete’s father had lost fair and square in a poker game. But Pete knew better.
When it came to Chloe Lawrence and her damned family, Pete Wellington had one goal and it had nothing to do with the way he ached for her.
He wanted his life back. And he was going to start by getting his rodeo back.
Even if he had to steal it out from under her nose.
* * * * *
If you loved this family drama and sensual scandal, pick up these other titles from Sarah M. Anderson!
A MAN OF HIS WORD
A MAN OF PRIVILEGE
A MAN OF DISTINCTION
PRIDE AND PREGNANCY
NOT THE BOSS’S BABY
Available now from Harlequin Desire!
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The Love Child
by Catherine Mann
One
“Spread your legs wider, please, Mr. Mikkelson.”
Isabeau Waters rocked back on her heels, staring up the length of the Mikkelson oil magnate looming over her.
She’d spent countless hours in the company of naked and near-naked men in her profession as a media image consultant. But never in her job had she revamped the wardrobe for a man who tempted her quite so much, for so long, as Alaskan mogul and rancher Trystan Mikkelson.
Measuring his inseam? Heaven help her.
Kneeling on the plush carpet in the luxurious office space, Isabeau adjusted her grip on the measuring tape. She worked her way up his long, denim-clad legs until her eyes were level with his...leather belt. So close she could read the inscription on the Iditarod sled dog racing belt buckle.
Exhale.
Think.
Be a professional.
This job was high-paying and high-profile. The merger of the powerful Mikkelson and Steele family businesses into Alaska Oil Barons, Incorporated, had dominated
