“I appreciate the offer, but—”
“I’m sure you’d do great on your own, but take it from me, it’s nice having more instruments in the mix. Makes for a richer experience.” He smiled. “Go big or go home, dude.”
CJ laughed. “You have a point. This is my Hail Mary pass. I could use the help.”
“Excellent. I’ll announce it for you, too. What’s your name?”
“CJ Andrews.”
“I’m Drake Cutler. Let me introduce you around, CJ.”
By the time he’d met the band members, established the key and tuned his guitar, it was time.
Izzy was out there, standing with Kate and Rafe about five or six yards from the gazebo. The rest of the Buckskin gang was arranged around them in a loose semi-circle. They likely wouldn’t stop her if she tried to bolt, but the configuration made him smile.
Drake did a bang-up job introducing him and the song, making him sound like a local celebrity.
As the band played the intro, CJ focused on Izzy, stepped up to the mic and began to sing. Onlookers wandered over and the crowd grew, some inching closer to the gazebo, but he could see over them. His vision narrowed until there was only Isabel Marie Ricchetti, the mother of their child, his soul mate, his kind of rain.
Then…magic. Izzy walked slowly toward him, slipping through the crowd until she stood directly in front of him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She stood very still, her gaze locked with his. And those beautiful brown eyes told him all he needed to know.
How he finished the song was a mystery. He must have, because generous applause crashed around him. He lifted the strap over his head and leaned the guitar against the gazebo railing as he descended the steps and gathered Izzy into his arms.
He kissed her salty lips and she hugged him so tight he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t care if he passed out. He didn’t care about a damned thing except this moment when the woman he loved was squeezing him as if she’d never let go.
He could kiss her forever, but the muted voices of the many people surrounding them finally convinced him to lift his head and murmur the first words of his new and vastly improved life. “We should probably move.”
Her smile trembled. “Where would you like to go?”
“Anywhere you go.”
“What if I stay here?”
“In front of the gazebo?”
She shook her head. “In Apple Grove.”
“I don’t get it.” He didn’t care if he did or not. She could talk all the nonsense she wanted when she looked at him with stars in her eyes.
“I’m leaving Naomi in charge of the shop and coming to live here. I—”
“Wait!” Panic gripped him. “You can’t leave your shop! You’ve given your life’s blood to it. If you abandon it to be with me you’ll—”
She placed a finger over his mouth. “I’m not abandoning my shop. I’m putting Naomi in charge of it and opening a second one here. Expanding my business. Naomi suggested it and at first I thought she was crazy but—”
“She is crazy. Your home is in Seattle.”
“My home is with you.”
“But—”
“I may not love this town and the ranch as much as you do, but I have a feeling it won’t be long before I do. And I know I love you and the person you are when you’re surrounded by the people who love you, too. I want more of that. Lots more of that. I also want a home in the woods with my cowboy and my baby. When I open a coffee shop on the square, I’ll have it all.”
“You’re making my head spin.”
“What about your heart? How’s it doing?”
He took a shaky breath. “It’s full of love, but my head is…I’m having a tough time believing that—”
“Believe it, Cornelius Jasper Andrews. We’re going to live happily ever after in Apple Grove—me, you and Cleo Marie.”
He choked up. No words existed for the incredible joy she’d just given him. “Izzy…”
“I’m here.” Cupping his face in both hands, she rose on tiptoe and kissed him softly. “You’re my kind of rain.”
Coming August 2020!
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When bachelor cowboy Nick La Grande volunteered to stand on the auction block to raise money for Raptors Rise, he never expected the winning bidder to be hairstylist Eva Kilpatrick. But she has a definite plan for putting all his rippling muscles to good use in TRUE-BLUE COWBOY, book four in the Buckskin Brotherhood series!
But Wait, There’s More!
Reviews mean a lot to me. They increase book visibility and encourage readers to check out my series. If you enjoyed BABY-DADDY COWBOY, consider leaving an honest review on your favorite retailer site. If you already left a review, thank you!
* * *
Saddle up for all the stories in the Buckskin Brotherhood series!
Want more sexy cowboys? Then say hello to the McGavin Brothers of Eagles Nest, Montana!
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Praise for Vicki’s cowboy series
“Vicki Lewis Thompson has a reputation for putting enough sizzle between the pages to actually create steam.”
Fresh Fiction
“This modern cowboy tale expertly balances sex and emotion with a touch of humor. It’s one of the hottest western romances of the year!”
RT Book Reviews
“Once again Ms. Thompson’s writing is crisp and straightforward, with an uncanny ability to weave the beautiful western landscape of the Grand Tetons into the storyline. Overall a hot, sexy read.”
Harlequin Junkie
Also by Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Buckskin Brotherhood
Sweet-Talking Cowboy
Big-Hearted Cowboy
Baby-Daddy Cowboy
True-Blue Cowboy
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The McGavin Brothers
A Cowboy’s Strength
A Cowboy’s Honor
A Cowboy’s Return
A Cowboy’s Heart
A Cowboy’s Courage
A Cowboy’s Christmas
A Cowboy’s Kiss
A Cowboy’s Luck
A Cowboy’s Charm
A Cowboy’s Challenge
A Cowboy’s Baby
A Cowboy’s Holiday
A Cowboy’s Choice
A Cowboy’s Worth
A Cowboy’s Destiny
A Cowboy’s Secret
A Cowboy’s Homecoming
* * *
Wild About You
Werewolf in Manhattan
Werewolf in the North Woods
Werewolf in Seattle
Werewolf in Denver
Werewolf in Alaska
Werewolf in Las Vegas
* * *
The Nerd Series
Nerd in Shining Armor
The Nerd Who Loved Me
Nerd Gone Wild
Gone with the Nerd
Talk Nerdy to Me
Nerds Like It Hot
My Nerdy Valentine
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Vicki Lewis Thompson’s love affair with cowboys started with the Lone Ranger, continued through Maverick, and took a turn south of the border with Zorro. She views cowboys as the Western version of knights in shining armor, rugged men who value honor, honesty and hard work. Fortunately for her, she lives in the Arizona desert, where broad-shouldered, lean-hipped cowboys abound. Blessed with such an abundance of inspiration, she only hopes that she can do them justice.
Connect with Vicki online!
VickiLewisThompson.com
[email protected]
Baby-Daddy Cowboy Page 19