by Tessa Layne
Applause and cheers broke out, and Jason risked a glance at his father. Even his father showed the barest hint of a smile. He’d take that over a scowl any day.
Mike raised his glass. “To the brides and grooms.”
“To the brides and grooms,” the guests answered.
“Please stay as long as you like,” Mike continued. “We’ll have music and dancing until the chickens wake up.”
Jason snaked a hand around Millie’s waist and gave a tug. “Barreling room, wife. Now.”
With an eager smile, she nodded. “Do you have a present for me, husband?”
Like delinquent teenagers, they stole around the corner, and sticking to the shadows, crossed the barnyard to the crushing pad, winding their way through the equipment to the barreling room. Jason paused hand on the handle, and cocked his head. Someone was in there.
Millie’s eyes grew wide, and she covered her mouth, shoulders shaking from laughter. “Someone in there?” she mouthed.
Jason nodded, placing a finger to his lips. It was probably his fucking brother, Austin. The question was, who? And right now, who cared? He held out his hand, and they made their way back through the crushing pad.
“I know a place,” Millie said, once they were outside. “Let’s walk up to the vineyard.”
A sliver of a moon hung low in the horizon, just above the last glow of daylight. One by one, stars popped out as they made their way up the hill. When they reached the heart of it, Millie stopped and turned. “This is where it all started.”
“I thought it started at the grocery.”
“But that morning, I decided to add a case of wine to the gift basket.”
“I bought it,” he blurted.
“The gift basket?”
“You looked so dejected when you checked on it and saw no one had signed it. I hated seeing the sadness on your face. So I bought it. Best decision I ever made.”
Her hands went to the buttons on his shirt. “Best decision I ever made was kissing you that day.”
“Why did you? You were going to tell me and never did.”
She chewed on her lip. “It’s corny.”
“I love your corny.”
“When I was seventeen, I had a dream about my wedding day, and I was wearing a dress like this. I woke up with the kiss from my future husband on my lips. And from that day on, I always thought that I’d know who my soulmate was when I kissed them. Corny, huh?”
“Totally corny. And I love it.” He wrapped his arms around her to fiddle with the ties on her dress. “And what did you learn when you kissed me?” He murmured in her ear, dropping a hot kiss on her collarbone.
Her voice grew husky. “That you’re the best kisser ever.” She let out a purr as he pulled down the zipper exposing her back all the way to the sweet curve of her ass. “And that I never wanted to kiss anyone else.”
“Good answer.” He slipped a hand inside her dress, giving her ass a gentle squeeze. “Now give me a kiss and slip out of that dress.”
THE BEGINNING OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Jason’s triplet brothers Nico, Austin, and Declan are trouble with a capital T. Read on for a snippet of a sexy new bad boy trilogy landing on your e-readers in the very near future.
Mr. Pink
Austin
You know why banned books are always best-sellers? Because everyone wants what they can’t have. Macey McCaslin is off-limits. So far off-limits my brother Jason, might kill me if he found out about us. He thinks I’m nothing more than a skirt-chasing manwhore not worthy to lick the dirt off her sexy little feet. And I’m definitely that, but ask me if I care? Because Macey’s pussy is so sweet, I’m not staying away.
Find out more here.
And while you’re waiting for Mr. Pink… check out Tessa’s other books
PRAIRIE FEVER – Pre Order Now
Playing doctor has never been so sexy.
Confirmed bachelor Gunnar Hansen, has successfully resisted the matchmaking efforts of Dottie Grace and her posse of granny wannabe’s. There’s no room in his life for love, or for starting a family of his own. Not when his hands are full running Hansen Stables and heading up the board of Prairie’s new medical clinic. But everything turns upside down when the socialite who ditched him at the altar years ago turns out to be Prairie’s new doctor.
Four years ago, fresh out of medical school, Suzannah Winslow took a gamble on a sweet-talking cowboy who left her high and dry… and pregnant. With her residency behind her, and an offer to become Prairie’s first and only physician, she can finally provide her daughter with stability she’s longed for. She has no interest in taking a second chance on a silver-tongued cowboy full of empty promises. Even if his smile still melts her panties.
But Gunnar has other ideas, and when he mounts a full-scale campaign to win back the woman he lost, will little Lula Beth become his unlikely ally or the wedge that drives them apart for good?
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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN…. COWBOYS OF THE FLINT HILLS
PRAIRIE HEAT
PRAIRIE PASSION
PRAIRIE DESIRE
PRAIRIE STORM
PRAIRIE FIRE
PRAIRIE DEVIL
PRAIRIE FEVER
The Heroes of Resolution Ranch
A HERO’S HONOR
A HERO’S HEART
A HERO’S HAVEN
A HERO’S HOME
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to one of my dearest friends in the world – Kara. You lived and breathed this book with me, encouraged me through all the changes, bounced ideas, and offered your unqualified support when I thought I might lose my mind. This book could not have been written without you.
For their winemaking expertise, my heartfelt gratitude goes to Kevin Hodges and Mark Jacobs of Cellar Rat Wine in Kansas City – thank you for all the great wine, for answering all of my geeky questions, and brainstorming with me the myriad of scenarios I tried out for this story.
To Michael Amigoni of Amigoni Winery in Kansas City, thank you so much for letting me tour your facility, answering all my questions about winemaking, harvest, Brix, and growing. The lovely Cabernet Franc rosé was part inspiration for Millie’s wine.
To the magical Sarah Fox at Sand Reckoner Winery in Wilcox, Arizona. Thank you for patiently explaining the Pét-Nat process – it’s always great to meet a kindred spirit over the phone. And thank you especially, for making a wine that captured my imagination the second I tasted it. I’d never tried a Pét-Nat, let alone even heard of it, before Tana brought a bottle along to our pedicure date. I knew over a year ago that I was going to write this book, and that day, I knew that Millie’s wine had to be a Pét-Nat. And to the thousands of wine-makers across this country who put their heart and soul into their vines and bottles, who are passionate about their growing regions, and presenting delicious wine reflective of the terroir, my heartfelt respect goes to each of you.
To my faithful readers in the Prairie Posse thank you for all the virtual chocolate, red wine and hawt cowboy pics to get me through this book. I adore you all.
To Mr. Cowboy, Tiny, & Teenager – thanks for managing laundry, errands, cooking and cleaning, with a smile on your face when I disappear into the writing cave. You have my heart, always.
Lastly, to the wounded veterans who struggle every day. I am in awe of your resilience and your drive. You inspire me to tell the best stories I can, and to do justice to your service through my writing. And to the veterans I spoke with who chose to remain nameless, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your willingness to share your stories – the beautiful and the ugly. This story is for you.
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