by Tina Leonard
“Thought you were going to kiss her there for a minute,” Mason said
Bandera watched the rearview mirror. Holly was getting on the back of her cousin’s giant motorcycle. Even from this distance, it was easy to admire her nice long legs. “I never kiss women who practice seduction on the rebound,” he said.
The motorcycle was coming up behind them, traveling at a good clip. It passed them, and Holly waved, her long hair flying out from underneath the helmet. Watching the motorcycle carefully, he passed, wondering why it was slowing. Holly waved at him, her eyes alight with mischief; she raised her fingers and shot something through his open window.
He snatched it from his lap.
Mason sat up to stare over the seat at the lacy white missile. “It’s that thing the groom is supposed to throw to his groomsmen,” Mason said, shocked. “Whoever catches it is next to get married.” He recoiled as if the satin-and-lace circle might fly his way. “I’ve known grown men who wouldn’t even be in the same room with a garter!”
Bandera met his brother’s wide gaze in the mirror, his heart thundering harder than it ever had in his life. The satin felt slippery and unusual between his rough fingers.
“You caught it,” Mason said. “I hope you’re ready.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tina Leonard loves to laugh, which is one of the many reasons she loves writing Harlequin American Romance books. In another lifetime Tina thought she would be single and an East Coast fashion buyer forever. The unexpected happened when Tina met Tim again after many years—she hadn’t seen him since they’d attended school together from first through eighth grade. They married, and now Tina keeps a close eye on her school-age children’s friends! Lisa and Dean keep their mother busy with soccer, gymnastics and horseback riding. They are proud of their mom’s “kissy books” and eagerly help her any way they can. Tina hopes that readers will enjoy the love of family she writes about in her books. Recently a reviewer wrote, “Leonard has a wonderful sense of the ridiculous,” which Tina loved so much she wants it for her epitaph. Right now, however, she’s focusing on her wonderful life and writing a lot more romance! You can visit her at www.tinaleonard.com.
Books by Tina Leonard
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
748—COWBOY COOTCHIE-COO
758—DADDY’S LITTLE DARLINGS
771—THE MOST ELIGIBLE…DADDY
796—A MATCH MADE IN TEXAS
811—COWBOY BE MINE
829—SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
846—SPECIAL ORDER GROOM
873—HIS ARRANGED MARRIAGE
905—QUADRUPLETS ON THE DOORSTEP
977—FRISCO JOE’S FIANCÉE†
981—LAREDO’S SASSY SWEETHEART†
986—RANGER’S WILD WOMAN†
989—TEX TIMES TEN†
1018—FANNIN’S FLAME†
1037—NAVARRO OR NOT†
1045—CATCHING CALHOUN†
1053—ARCHER’S ANGELS†
1069—BELONGING TO BANDERA†
BELONGING TO BANDERA
Tina Leonard
THE JEFFERSON BROTHERS OF MALFUNCTION JUNCTION
Mason (38), Maverick and Mercy’s eldest son— He can’t run away from his own heartache or The Family Problem.
Frisco Joe (37)—Fell hard for Annabelle Turnberry and has sweet Emmie to show for it. They live in Texas wine country.
Fannin (36)—Life can’t get better than cozying up with Kelly Stone and his darling twins in Ireland.
Laredo (35), twin to Tex—Loves Katy Goodnight, North Carolina and being the only brother with a reputation for winning his woman without staying on a bull.
Tex (35), twin to Laredo—Grower of roses and other plants, Tex fell for Cissy Kisserton and decided her water-bound way of life was best.
Calhoun (34)—Loves to paint nude women and he’s finally found Olivia Spinlove, the one woman who holds his heart.
Ranger (33), twin to Archer—Fell for Hannah Hotchkiss and will never leave the open road without her.
Archer (33), twin to Ranger—Sassy Aussie Clove Penmire came all the way from Australia to Texas and took his heart.
Crockett (31), twin to Navarro—He was the first artist in the family! And he wants everyone to know it.
Navarro (31), twin to Crockett—Fell for Nina Cakes when he was supposed to be watching her sister, Valentine, who is the mother of Last’s child.
Bandera (27)—Spouts poetry and has moved from Whitman to Frost—anything to keep his mind off the ranch’s troubles.
Last (26)—The only brother who has become a new father with no hope of marrying his child's mother. Will he ever find the happy ending he always wanted?
Many, many heartfelt thanks to my friends, the Gal Pals and the Scandalous Ladies, for being an endless source of support and enthusiasm. Georgia Haynes, thank you for being such an awesome proofreader and cheerleader.
Much love to Lisa and DeanO, for being my best friends.
As always, thank you to the wonderful people at Harlequin and eHarlequin for giving me a career—especially Stacy Boyd, for keeping me focused and working!
Finally, many thanks to all the readers out there who have enjoyed the Jefferson bad boys—your support has meant so much to me!
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
Chapter One
Effort separates the quitters from the rest— Maverick to his sons when they wanted to quit studying the great classics and read comics instead
“What I think,” Bandera Jefferson said, “is that he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. Ernest Hemingway, in a not too kind moment, if you ask me.”
“What are you blabbing about?” Mason, Bandera’s oldest brother and head of the Jefferson family, demanded.
“I’m talking about our moved-to-town, much-missed next-door neighbor, Mimi. If she, as the new sheriff, wants you to be her deputy, you’d probably be the happiest you’ve ever been, because the path of the sword has always been your way.”
Mason grunted. “That soliloquy was philosophical and annoying all at once. And incorrect, I might add.”
“I took the road less traveled,” Bandera recited. “Frost, of course. I’ve been looking through Maverick’s old books, and did you know Dad liked to underline famous quotations?”
“Which is why you have a healthy respect for them. That doesn’t mean you know what you’re talking about, though.” Mason put his hat on before getting into his truck. “Famous quotations are only useful if you abide by their advice, Dad’s notwithstanding.”
“Where are you going?” Bandera demanded.
“None of thy business,” Mason said, “quoting me, in my favorite conversational tone, Butt-Out-Ski.”
“I don’t like it. It’s too lowbrow, not that I ever really understood the terminology of low and high brows. Where does a brow come into the picture, anyway?” Bandera murmured, his voice trailing off as he stared into Mason’s truck. “Hey, you’ve got a duffel in there! Stuffed full.”
Bandera remembered all too well the months that Mason had recently spent Lord knows where, leaving his younger brothers to run the family ranch, affectionately known as Malfunction Junction. “You can’t go off and leave us again! We’re bone thin at our place as it is. The ranch needs you. We need you.” He frowned, staring at his brother, who clearly wasn�
�t listening to him. “This is because of Mimi and that deputy stuff, isn’t it? Mason, listen. If you don’t want to run for deputy, tell her you’re not interested. Tell Mimi you’ll help with her campaign and that’s it. No more adventures. Say, ‘Mimi, our high jinks are at an end. You and I are no longer wayward kids.’ Quoth Bandera, from a trough of desperation, on an unseasonably hot Texas day in June.”
Mason shook his head. “I need to talk to Hawk, and maybe Jellyfish.”
“The phone’s in the kitchen,” Bandera said helpfully. “Or you can use my cell if yours is dead.”
“Gotta be in person.” Mason cranked the truck engine.
“A duffel means more than one or two days.” Bandera blinked, thinking fast. What if Mason decided not to come back for months? His brother was under a lot of stress. It wasn’t just the ranch—it was Mimi, too. Mason had never fully retrieved his heart from Mimi’s clutches, and Mimi asking him to be her deputy wasn’t sitting well. For Mason, it was temptation of the highest order, the thought of working daily with the woman he couldn’t get off of his mind.
“Don’t you leave this driveway,” Bandera said. “I’m grabbing my stuff and going with you.” Someone had to bring Mason back from the edge of madness.
“No.” He began backing up the truck. Out of the window he said, “You need to stay here. There’s work to be done.”
But there was a brother to lose. There wasn’t time to call a family council, and Bandera knew an emergency when he saw one. None of the other brothers would allow Mason to go off like this, not with him acting all secretive. A day or two of ranch-work minus two brothers was better than six months of Mason being off in the wilds, nursing his obtuse heart.
“If you move from here,” Bandera said, standing up to his brother for maybe the first time in his life, “I will follow you in my truck. You will see me in your rearview mirror like a hound from hell on your tail.”
Mason sighed, putting his vehicle in Park. “You’re an idiot.”
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me,” Bandera said.
“And if you recite one thing while we’re gone,” Mason said, “I promise to do you some type of harm.”
Bandera loped off to get his stuff. In the hallway of the main house, he ran into his brother Crockett. “I just discovered Mason in the midst of another Houdini,” Bandera said. “Not much time to talk, but go out there and stall him, okay? Just in case he decides not to buy my threats.”
“What?” Crockett looked out the window.
“Just go keep him occupied!” Bandera ran up the stairs. He tossed jeans, boots, socks, a passport just in case—
His youngest brother, Last, came into the room. “Running away from home?”
“No, but I think Mason is. He’s got his duffel in the truck and he’s heading off to see Hawk.” Bandera threw a toothbrush into his bag and dug around in his drawers for other things he might need.
“Why?” Last asked. “Can’t he just call him?”
“Apparently not. Which is why I’m riding shotgun. Unless you want to go?”
“No, thanks.” Last backed up. “I’ll pack a cooler for you.”
“Thanks.” Running down the stairs and crossing the lawn, Bandera jumped into Mason’s truck. “Crockett, you’re a good man.”
Crockett shrugged his shoulders as he leaned his forearms on Mason’s window. “I’d go with you, but someone’s got to work around here.”
Mason grunted. “’Bout time you did something.”
Crockett slapped his brother’s hat down over his face. Mason moved it back into position.
Last slammed the truck bed after he put the cooler in. “Here’s snacks. Stop and get more ice.”
“Jeez.” Mason looked at Bandera. “We’re only going a few hours down the road. Do you think you’ll need much more survival gear?”
Bandera pulled licorice strings from his pocket. “I’m good to go on the road less traveled. Frost, of course, again. I really like the wintry old poet.”
“Damn it!” Mason gunned the truck, making Crockett jump back and Last hustle to the side of the driveway. “I swear I’ll strangle you with your licorice. And then you’ll die by your own sword.”
“I can tell it’s gonna be fun,” Crockett called. “Goodbye, Huck Finn! See ya, Tom Sawyer!”
“Just a regular bunch of comedians,” Mason mumbled as he pulled away from the ranch.
“So what’s the adventure all about?”
“Maverick, our long-lost father,” Mason said. “Why else would I need Hawk’s detective talents and the help of his erstwhile loony sidekick, Jellyfish?”
“Jelly isn’t loony,” Bandera said. “He’s existential, man.”
Mason grunted.
“So what does Maverick have to do with anything? What do you think you can find now that you didn’t before?”
“Nothing. But Hawk will be better at turning over rocks and running through dead-end signs than I was. I’m hiring him. Or them. Professionalism is what we need.”
“Whatever.” Bandera looked out the window as they passed the many miles of their ranch. “Mason, maybe we should just accept the fact that we’re never going to know what happened to Dad.”
He knew it was the wrong thing to say the second he said it, and Mason’s silence was loud with disapproval. Only Mason could communicate censure so effectively without making a sound. Bandera sighed as he took in the picturesque view speeding past his window. “We have one pretty spread of land. I’m going to miss Malfunction Junction.”
“We’re only going to be gone a few days,” Mason said. “It’s not like you need your teddy bear or anything.”
“I wouldn’t make fun of sleeping with teddy bears,” Bandera said. “If you were sleeping with your little Mimi-bear, you’d not be off trolling after the past.”
“Lovely,” Mason said. “Why don’t you find your own bear and keep your nose out of my business?”
“Because I like your business,” Bandera replied. “It’s much more interesting than mine. All I know about my corner of the world is that I like it the way it is. Women only bring chaos, though I can sometimes appreciate a little lowbrow chaos.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I like my women on the rowdy side,” Bandera said. “Not too sweet, not too sour. Not too good and not too bad. Like a white frilly dress with a polka-dotted thong underneath—hey, look at that!”
Bandera craned his head to see the woman on the side of the road waving a large sign. She was wearing blue-jean shorts and a white halter top. If he didn’t know better, he’d think the halter had polka dots on it, big ones. “Probably a car wash,” he murmured. “Slow down, Mason.”
“No,” Mason said. “There’s no time. This is going to be a fast trip. It’s an information-seeking venture, not a woman hunt. Nor do I need a car wash.”
They whizzed past so fast Bandera could barely read her sign. The blonde flashed it at him, holding it up high so that he got a dizzying look at her jiggling breasts. White teeth, laughing blue eyes and legs so cute he was sure the fanny she was packing had to be just as sweet. “Stop, Mason!”
His brother stomped on the brake, sighing. “Why couldn’t you have stayed home?”
“That woman’s sign says she needs assistance,” Bandera said righteously, although he really thought it had read I’m Holly.
“And Lord only knows we never leave a lady without assistance.” Mason glanced into the rearview mirror. “I sense trouble in a big way.”
The lady bounced up to Mason’s door. “Hi,” she said.
“Howdy,” Mason and Bandera said together. “Can we help you, miss?” Bandera asked.
“I’m waiting for my cousin,” she said. “Obviously, you are not him.”
Mason was silent. Bandera took off his hat. “Did your car break down, miss?”
“No.” She smiled, and dimples as cute as baby lima beans appeared in her cheeks. Bandera felt his heart go
boom!
“My cousin is coming to pick me up,” she said. “That’s why my sign says I’m Holly.”
“I’m confused,” Mason said to Bandera. “Nowhere on her bright white placard do I see the word assistance. Or even help!” He sent his brother a disgusted grimace.
“My cousin and I haven’t seen each other in a while,” Holly said. “He might not recognize me.”
Bandera stared at her high-piled blond hair with fascination. It had pretty twinkly jewels among the strands, which matched the iridescent sequins scattered on the white halter top.
“Okay,” Mason said. “You’ll have to pardon us. We need to be getting along. Normally, we don’t stop for ladies holding signs, but we thought you needed help.”
“Actually, I do,” she said. “I could use a kiss.”
Bandera’s jaw dropped. “A kiss?”
“Sure. I’d like just one kiss from a cowboy before I leave Texas.” Her blue eyes laughed at him. Mason was far closer to her than he was, and that was a durn shame if she was wanting kissing.
“Why?” he asked.
“I’m feeling dangerous,” she explained, “since I just left my wedding after I caught my fiancé in bed with my best friend.”
“Ouch,” Mason said.
“Precisely. So I called my cousin from the church phone, and this is our meeting place. But now that you’re here, I’m thinking a girl ought to be kissed on her wedding day,” she said, looking at Bandera.
Bandera’s heart gave a funny ding inside him. She sure did have kissing on the brain.
“So you’re a bride on the run,” Mason said. “Haven’t we had one of those in our family?”
“That was a groom on the run,” Bandera said dryly, giving him a pointed look. “Plural, actually.”
“I’m not running, I’m going on a well-needed sabbatical,” Holly corrected.
“Actually, you have an itch to get as far away from your fiancé as possible,” Mason theorized.
“You understand me totally. I am trying really hard not to cry,” Holly said. “You might have noticed my hair is done. My gown was chiffon and sequins—this is the top, the skirt I discarded—and I left the ring on the condom box I found on the kitchen counter.”