Brothers of Miller Ranch Box Set

by Natalie Dean

  All in all, he couldn’t have asked for a better eighteen months.

  “You sure you’re all right?” Dani asked again, reaching up to poke his cheek. “You’ve got your thinking face on.”

  “What’s wrong with thinking?” he shot back.

  That was his girl all right. After all their time together, she’d learned to read his face like a book. There was no point in ever trying to keep anything from her; she could almost always tell at a glance when he was plotting.

  Not that he needed to keep secrets from her. He believed in communication, and given Dani’s depression, there were hundreds of times that they had to talk things out to get on the same page. It was just that… well, sometimes it was nice to have a trick up his sleeve.

  Or in his pocket.

  He swallowed hard at that, forcing his thoughts away lest she read his mind like the mythical creature she was.

  “Nothing’s wrong with it, per se. But it’s weird that you have that face when we’re just going to a party. Who thinks at a barbeque? You’re just supposed to eat too much and make generic small talk with relatives you won’t see for several years.”

  “What can I say? I got a lot on my mind.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like how I got so lucky to end up with a beauty like you on my arm. I’m gonna have to fight off my cousins with a stick.”

  She blushed at that, quickly changing the subject as she looked out of the window. Just as he had hoped. Even after all of their time together, she still would flush and sputter when he complimented her. Her brothers all warned that he was going to give her the biggest head, but he didn’t care. If he could remind her every moment that she was magnificent, he would. Anything to counteract that dark, mean voice inside of her she told him about.

  And it wasn’t like he was giving her empty compliments. She was absolutely stunning every day, but when she got extra special dressed up for him, she was just impossibly beautiful.

  He glanced at her again out of the corner of his eye. She was wearing a pale, lilac dress made out of several layers of chiffon. It floated gently around her figure, and she wore a pair of old-fashioned thigh highs with the line up the back.

  He forced his mind away from the image of her thick thighs in them and drifted over the rest of her. Her copper hair was done up in victory rolls and she had a classic face of makeup on. Little pink sunglasses completed her look, reminding him of a classic pinup girl, but so much more.

  How was it that even after all of this time, he was as intensely attracted to her as he had been from the start? He didn’t know, but he certainly wasn’t complaining. The only time it was an issue was when they were alone and the soft beauty of her body grew into too heady of a temptation.

  “Why are your cheeks pink?”

  “No reason,” he replied quickly, forcing his eyes back on the road.

  But she shifted in her seat beside him, crossing her legs and her fingers snapping something several times. It took him several seconds to realize that she was playing with one of the straps of her garters, making it hit her thigh repeatedly to make the dramatic sound.

  “You’re evil, you know that?” he accused.

  “I’m just trying to distract you,” she said innocently, fluttering her lashes at him.

  If there was one thing he had learned in his year and a half with his girlfriend, it was that she loved to tease him whenever she could.

  “So you won’t be nervous about your family.”

  “You truly are a martyr.”

  “Anything for the man I love.”

  His heart thumped at that. Another thing he didn’t think he’d ever get used to. She loved him.

  Him.

  Not Ben, the eldest and largest inheritor of the Miller dynasty. Not Bart and all of his muscles and glory. Not Bradley and his genius. She loved Benjamin Miller and Benjamin Miller only.

  What a world.

  They arrived at the ranch before he could get too overwhelmed with that thought, Ben pulling up with Dani’s parents and her brothers driving the family truck. They all parked without much difficulty considering the fleet of cars that were sitting there and headed toward the main house.

  From there things started to pick up, with the women of the family helping Ma load things out onto the tables under the massive tent they had set up outside while the men proceeded to start up the grills. Normally, such a stark gender separation would never happen at a Miller event considering the broad range of personalities and interests, but he had enlisted his family in making sure they kept Dani occupied.

  “Hey there, little brother,” Bart said from where he was working the large, open grill that Grandpa Miller had made. “You look nauseous.”

  “I feel nauseous. What if she hates this?”

  “She won’t,” he said with a solid nod. “That girl had issues with being an outcast in the past, right? Nothing will make an impact on her more than making a statement in front of every single family member you can.”

  “Right. Right. I mean, it’s no dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant.”

  “Hey, that was for my lady. This is for yours. That’s like expecting Missy’s wedding to be the same as Chastity’s was.”

  Benji snorted at that. “I don’t think I could imagine two women with more different styles than those two.”

  “Right?” Bart laughed. “Sometimes I see Chastity helping Missy with planning our wedding, and Chastity has this look on her face like she’s trying not to get a headache from all the pastels.”

  “Missy sure does love those pastels,” Benji agreed with a nod.

  When he first found out about her preferred wedding colors, he’d been surprised. For a woman with muscles that rivaled his and a scowl that could intimidate a coyote, she apparently went cuckoo for anything having to do with unicorns and pretty, soft colors.

  “That she does. And I love her. Anyway, enough about me. Are you ready for this? There’s no going back.”

  “Yeah, I’m well aware.”

  “Funny how we all kind of found a lady in order, isn’t it?”

  “Uncanny, maybe.” Benji sighed and his hand went to his pocket, the weight there grounding him to the moment. “Say, is there anything that needs to be done that involves a lot of heavy lifting and not much brain?”

  “Hah! Yeah, I think Pa is cutting wood in the back. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a hand.”

  “Great.”

  Benji gave his brother a nod and then headed around the house. Sure enough, Pa was there, chopping wood like any sixty-seven-year-old was wont to do. Benji mostly just ended up hauling it around to the grills and fire pit out front, but at least it got his mind off things.

  By the time he was all done, everyone was out, about and mingling. He caught up with Dani and Keiko, who were both smiling and sipping some punch. Then his mother was saying a prayer and everyone was lining up for grub.

  It really was some impressive spread, enough to feed the hundred some-odd Millers and cousins that were present. Benji was pretty sure that even their adopted family from the east was there, descended from someone generations ago that he didn’t quite remember the story of. Something about a train robbery and a mute? He’d have to ask his Ma later.

  There were ribs, and brisket that had been cooking since the previous day. Collard greens, ham, corn on the cob, potato salad. Salmon, kebabs, all sorts of squash. It was better than Thanksgiving, although that also was partially due to the massive platter of wings that they had ordered from Chester’s favorite wing place in the city.

  Benji had dropped a very pretty penny on the gathering, but it was worth it. Or at least, it would be if it all turned out how he wanted.

  He filled his plate even though his stomach was churning, nerves simmering just under his skin. Somehow Dani managed not to notice it, but that was probably because she was staring at all of the food in wonder.

  It was cute that she never seemed to get used to the wealth and all the things that he took f
or granted. It made him appreciate things more, never letting him forget that it would be so easy to have nothing.

  He led her to a table in the center, right where he planned it, and soon they were all digging in.

  There was lots of good conversations and jokes, but Benji was only half paying attention. His mind was ahead of himself, waiting until before the desserts were brought out.

  It was with a glance to his brothers, who gave him a nod, and then he stood up.

  “Benji, what are you doing?” Dani asked, looking up at him in confusion as he clinked his fork against his mug.

  But he just winked at her, taking her hand in his and pulling her to her feet. She stood, flushing as she realized all eyes were on them.

  “Uh, Benji?”

  Well, he could tease too. He stood there for a moment, staring at that beautiful face, before he finally sank to one knee.

  The response was instantaneous, cheers rose up from everyone around them while Dani’s hand went to cover the shocked gasp that escaped her mouth.

  “Benji…” she whispered, eyes so wide that he would have chuckled if it were any other moment.

  “Danielle Touhey,” he started, trying to keep his voice steady. “You have made the past year and a half of my life more amazing than I ever thought possible. I wake up every morning happy to see you, and I go to bed at night happy to dream of you. You’ve helped me grow as a person. To be better, kinder, and more appreciative of everything I have.

  “And I want to share all that I have with you. Because you make everything more. Better. I want our entire future to be bound up together until I forget what it was ever like to be lonely.”

  Goodness, his heart was thundering, and his mouth was going dry, but he pressed onward. Dani was crying now, eyes watering as she looked down at him.

  Still holding her hand, he reached into his pocket with his free one. Opening the little box he pulled out, he held up the ring to her.

  It was a simple band, but one that was completely her. Made of platinum, there was only a single stone in the center, and it was an emerald just like her mother’s. It was the birth month that they shared, and she had always told him she didn’t get the hype about diamonds.

  “Dani, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  “Oh my gosh, yes, Benji. Yes!”

  He slid the ring onto her finger, and she practically hauled him up by his collar. He barely managed to steady himself before she threw her arms around his shoulders and crashed her lips to his.

  It was just as dizzying as it had ever been, and he gripped her just as eagerly. His heart soared and he couldn’t believe it, even as more whoops and hollers sounded from all around them.

  When they finally did part, he was breathless again and so was Dani, looking up at him as tears streamed down her face. The pure joy in her eyes made her radiant, and he wanted to bask in the glow of her for the rest of his life.

  And she’d said yes, so there was a pretty high chance of that actually happening.

  Giddy with it all, he bent down and gave her another short kiss before everyone closed in on them. Soon the couple was inundated with screams and hugs and congratulations, but Benji refused to let any of the well-wishers separate them.

  Eventually, things started to settle again and Benji looked over the massive crowd with the love of his life by his side. A lot had changed since they’d met, including him, but he knew without a doubt, he was no longer the forgotten middle child he’d thought he was.

  No, he was Benjamin Miller, soon-to-be husband of Danielle Touhey, the strongest, most beautiful woman he knew.

  What kind of better fate could he ask for?

  I hope you enjoyed Her Rival Cowboy! If you didn’t read the first two books of this series, Her Second Chance Cowboy and Saving Her Cowboy, now’s a great time to read them. They’re about Benji’s older brothers’ love stories and both have stellar reviews! Currently 4.8 stars on book one, and an astounding 4.9 stars on book two!

  Her Fake-Fiance Cowboy Protector

  Brothers of Miller Ranch Book Four

  Book Description

  They had to fake an engagement to protect her. He just wanted to keep her safe. If only it were that simple…

  The second to youngest of all the Miller brothers, Bradley has always been a bit of the odd one out. Good with numbers, but not especially with people. Alright with his hands, but better at reading and singing. While his brothers played sports, he got into theater. But with his brothers finding love one right after the other, he’s beginning to wonder if maybe they know something he doesn’t.

  Stupid. Lazy. Dumb. Useless. Sophia’s been called it all, but she’s still fighting. On the run from her past, she won’t stop until she’s free. Until she’s able to live a life truly on her own.

  But who even is Sophia Hernandez? Molded into something else since she was seventeen years old, she barely remembers that girl she used to be.

  Then she meets Bradley Miller. And her world is turned upside down…

  Out of nowhere, like a knight in shining armor, Bradley shows up and runs off the man who has been haunting all of her dreams.

  Together, maybe the two of them can defeat the shadow lurking over Sophia’s life. But doing so means trusting again, and some things are too impossible a task.

  1

  Bradley

  “And here’s to you, the best friends I could ever ask for. Your passion, and your even heads, help temper me to be a better man. The type of man who might just deserve Michelle.”

  There was a round of applause and Bradley lifted his glass, toasting along with his friends at his friend Christian’s bachelor party. It really was a nice toast, but he couldn’t help feeling a little… detached from the conversation.

  It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy for Christian. The guy had been his friend since junior year of high school and was one of the good ones. He was also the last of Bradley’s single companions, and that was leaving him feeling… strange.

  Normally Bradley never really cared about being in a relationship, or romance, or anything like that. He had dated in college, but that had turned out to be such a debacle that it had turned him off from the whole idea entirely.

  Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t have plenty to do. Ever since halfway through his online college classes, he’d taken over a lot of the family accounting. As the months passed, more and more responsibilities were put on him until he was just as much a part of his family’s financial and investment planning as the experts they kept on the payroll.

  And he didn’t mind his busy schedule. He liked being so vital to the Ranch. Sure, Ben may have been the lead for everything, but Bradley was the one who made sure the bills were paid enough for the eldest brother to keep right on doing his leader thing. He’d been content in that, knowing his value and building on it with each year. He didn’t need a relationship.

  But then his brothers started finding women, one by one until only he was left. Well, there was Bryant too, but the youngest brother of his brood was so busy catting around that he certainly didn’t lack for any sort of company.

  At first Bradley hadn’t given much thought to Ben and Chastity’s relationship. Maybe it would last, maybe it wouldn’t, but he liked that his brother seemed more cheerful. Then a mysterious bombshell had turned up on the ranch one day and ended up getting together with Bart. That… Bradley had never seen coming. He found himself watching in a surprised daze as Ben proposed to Chastity. Then even Benji had started dating the youngest daughter of the only other ranch in a fifty-mile radius.

  Should Bradley try to find someone? Was it shallow that he even cared that he was the last of the respectable Miller brothers to be single? He wasn’t sure, but it probably wasn’t the right time to think about it during his friend’s bachelor party.

  “You okay there, Brad?” one of Christian’s cousins asked. Jacob, maybe? Bradley couldn’t quite recall.

  “Bradley,” he corrected. “And I’m fine.
Just a lot on my mind.”

  “Ah, you got a missus who’s pressing you for a ring?”

  Bradley shook his head. “Nah, nothing like that.”

  The man nodded and clapped his back. Bradley couldn’t help but bristle. While he was never anti-social, he didn’t really like strangers infringing on his space and acting overly familiar. It felt… fake?

  Maybe it was left over from high school. Bradley had always been the quiet one of the Miller boys, and it wasn’t until he’d gotten involved with the drama club that he’d sort of come out of his shell.

  But his quietness had never stopped other people from trying to befriend one of the Miller sons. They would be cheery and so nice to him, then turn around and make fun of or bully his friends who were also in theater.

  He’d ended up in quite a few fights that probably didn’t have to involve fists, but invariably did. It wasn’t that Bradley liked violence, it was just that he burned so hotly, from his head to his feet, and he had to defend his friends.

  “I hear you’re some sort of financial whiz, is that right?”

  Bradley shrugged. “I get by.”

  “I’d say. Christian said you managed to organize his whole party for less than a couple hundred, and that you took care of it all. Sounds like you two are real pals.”

  “We were in theater together,” Bradley answered, finishing off his glass of whisky neat and standing up.

  Arranging the bachelor party accommodations had been easy. It had been a pretty easy task, he’d called in some favors, offered some of the overflow from Ma’s garden, and cash on the spot. He’d rented out half of the local tavern along with several of the rooms upstairs for the fifteen of them to drink, play pool, darts, and sing along to terrible country karaoke. Not that Bradley didn’t like country; he loved older classics such as Johnny Cash and Gordon Lightfoot. He just didn’t always appreciate hearing how his friends sang those familiar melodies.