COWBOY ROMANCE: Devon (Western Contemporary Alpha Male Bride Romance) (The Steele Brothers Book 2)

by Amanda Boone

  20.

  The wedding went off without a hitch. Sara Jane and Justin were married and it was a beautiful affair. Even hungover, they both had never looked happier. I’d even managed to get the right chair covers to the reception area in time. Everything was going as planned, the cakes were beautiful, and everyone was having a good time. Everyone but me.

  Mrs. Wilkens’s words played in my head until I was tempted to shove my head into the band’s drum kit. Women were going to be lined up behind Devon, and I was going to have to watch him pair off with one of them eventually. It would be my fault because I’d pushed him away. On the other hand, if I hadn’t pushed him away, then I could’ve gotten even more attached and the split would’ve hurt even more. Maybe the first time wouldn’t turn me into my mother, but the second time might.

  As I spotted Devon from across the reception, I couldn’t help but feel like it couldn’t get worse. When I saw him, it felt like one of his horses had kicked me square in the chest. He smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I just acted like an idiot and stared.

  I was debating about what I should do when I saw Devon’s eyes narrow and his jaw set in the way that meant he was pissed. I followed his eyes and sucked in a large breath.

  My worst nightmares were coming true. I pinched my arm and winced when it hurt. I was definitely awake. Shit.

  In the entranceway stood Max James, my ex-boyfriend and amateur porn director. He looked more ragged than I’d ever seen him, with wrinkled clothes and ruffled hair. My feet started moving, and before I knew what I was doing, I was charging toward him.

  He spotted me almost immediately and met me halfway. “What the fuck is your problem? You have no idea what you’ve done. You think you’re safe in this little shithole? I’m going to ruin you all over again.”

  I held up my hands and took a step back, right into Devon’s imposing form. I glanced back at him and my breath caught in my throat. He was stunning in his tux, but the anger playing at his face was enough to have heat pooling at my core. I forgot about Max until Devon spoke.

  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get the fuck out of here.”

  “Who are you? Mind your own business, buddy.” Max grabbed my arm and yanked me toward him. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. Emailing my bosses that I was going to be sued for uploading revenge porn to the internet? Sending my parents letters? Spreading rumors in Dallas about me? I don’t know how you did it, but I’m going to wipe the floor with you, Amanda.”

  “Let’s carry this outside. This is my brother’s wedding reception, and I’d like it if we didn’t ruin it.” Devon stepped forward and lowered his voice. “And if you don’t get your hands off her right now, I’ll rip your skinny little head off your skinny little body.”

  I looked up at Devon. “You did all of that?”

  His eyes flashed to me and a grin twisted his lips for a moment. “Outside.”

  Max looked around angrily and seemed to realize an opportunity. “I think we’ll stay inside. I’d love to tell all of these people about what a slut—”

  Devon’s fist went sailing into Max’s face, and then Max was unconscious on the ground. I covered my mouth with my hand and stepped away from him.

  “You hit him.”

  Devon bent down and picked up Max’s body. “Yep.”

  Justin appeared. “You good, brother?”

  “Oh, yeah. I just have some trash to take out. Carry on with your party, man.”

  I rushed after Devon. “What was he talking about? You did all of that to him? For real?”

  Devon shoved Max into a bush next to the building and pulled a piece of paper out of his own pocket. “I did. I also found out that the laws have changed a lot regarding revenge porn. Max here broke the law. The sites that picked up your video from the first site have all taken your video down, and I’ve got someone looking into the original site. Max is now working for a woman who didn’t find what he did very cute.

  “He was fired, his parents don’t seem too happy, and from what I hear, most of his crowd in Dallas went PC. They are saying that what he did was horrendous. He’s a pariah.”

  “W-What?”

  He shoved the paper into Max’s front pocket. “Yep.”

  I couldn’t keep up. The words he was saying didn’t make sense. “How did you—”

  “I have connections in Dallas from the ranch and the rodeo circuit. It wasn’t hard to take the little shit down.”

  “But, why?”

  He just stared at me. “Seriously? I care about you, Amanda. It pissed me off that he hurt you and got away with it. You deserved to be free of that shit.”

  “But what if he tells everyone in town?”

  He tapped the paper with his foot. “This little paper is going to make sure that he doesn’t. It’s a cease and desist. I informed him that if he mentions anything to anyone ever again, you’re going to use any and all money I have to sue his ass black and blue. There’s also a personal letter from me, letting him know that if he comes near you, I’ll make it my life’s mission to destroy him and everything he loves.”

  I closed the gap between us and kissed him like I’d been thinking about for days.

  21.

  I hadn’t ever added the fact that Devon was a good man into my equation. I’d gone over everything I thought a possibility and worked out different outcomes for myself. In some, Devon acted like Max and told Martinsville that I’d starred in a porn. In others, I fell madly for Devon and he was an asshole, just like my father, and I spent my life being a complete psycho. It never occurred to me that Devon was kind and would never be Max. Or that Devon would do the sweetest things for me because he wasn’t like my father. He wasn’t in it for the sweaty sex. He cared for me.

  We skipped the rest of the party. He drove me to his new house, where the construction had just finished up, and we sat on his new porch.

  Somewhere along the way, Devon lost his bowtie and I’d stashed my heels in his truck. The curls in my hair were flying everywhere, and it was so hot that we were both already sweating.

  Devon threw his jacket over a porch railing and took off the rest of the remaining clothes on his upper half. It was distracting, but I had things I had to say to him.

  “I missed the entire first half of the reception. I was supposed to give a speech, but I was getting a lecture from Mrs. Wilkens.”

  I winced. “Not you, too. I got mine last night.”

  “She told me a lot about you, and things started to make sense.”

  My cheeks heated, and I looked out at the wide expanse of land in front of his house. “She’s a crazy old lady. What does she know?”

  He laughed. “I don’t know. I think she’s pretty smart. She also told me to stop having monkey sex with the windows open. Apparently it makes Henry self-conscious.”

  “Oh, god.”

  Devon leaned back against a post and nodded. “It was a pretty interesting conversation.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m sure she told you about my mom and that I’m terrified to become her. Did she say that’s why I pushed you away? Because I was scared I’d fall for you and end up mourning the loss when you leave for the rest of my life? Did she tell you that at first I avoided you because I was so scared you’d tell people about that video, but that after I got to know you better, I never really thought about it again?”

  His smirk was wide. “Nope. She just told me that I wouldn’t be a real man if I didn’t fight harder for you.”

  I glared at him. “You tricked me.”

  He laughed. “It worked. I’m not going anywhere, Amanda. I like you a lot. I’ve been chasing after you for nearly a year.”

  I closed my eyes and begged my eyes to remain dry. “You bought me tame chickens.”

  “Yeah, I did. They’re really annoying. They like to be follow me around and rub against my ankles.”

  I laughed, and the tears came with it. “I’ve been miserable without you around.”

&
nbsp; Devon gently pulled me into his side and kissed the top of my head. “Me, too. I’d planned on us christening every room in this house, and then you went and dumped my sorry ass.”

  I slapped his leg. “I didn’t dump you.”

  “It felt like you dumped me.”

  “We weren’t even going out.”

  He lifted my face until I was forced to meet his eyes. “Maybe that was the problem. Maybe I didn’t show you how serious I really am about you. Be my girlfriend, Amanda. Let me show you how much I want to stick around.”

  My head bobbed up and down without any consent from my mind. I didn’t feel the overwhelming panic anymore, though. I felt butterflies in my stomach and desire lower, but no panic. I nodded again once my brain was on board and pressed my lips against his softly.

  “How about we get to work on that plan of mine?”

  “What plan?”

  He stood up and lifted me into his arms. “That plan to christen this house.”

  I laughed and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Hmm… I’m not sure. What’s in it for me?”

  He pushed open the door and stared down at me with darkening, honey eyes. “The handcuffs are in my truck.”

  Warmth flooded my body, and I grinned. “What are you waiting for?”

  The End.

  Get the prequel…

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  Q: This is a crime that is not punishable if committed. What is it?

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  ***Thank you for reading this story***

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  *** Here is a sample from The Steele Brothers Book 3 - Avery ***

  The Steele Brothers: Avery

  1.

  Oh, God. What am I doing?! I leaned against the front desk counter at the library in my best provocative pose. It was insane and I was going to make a fool of myself. I just couldn’t seem to help myself.

  Amanda Trent was sitting at the back table with her boyfriend, Devon Steele. Lately, wherever Devon went, Avery Steele went. Avery had come into the library every day to drag Devon back to work.

  I was going to be ready that day, I’d sworn. He hadn’t noticed me once. Sure, he’d been polite and nodded as he walked by, but he hadn’t actually noticed me. I didn’t know if he even recognized me.

  I adjusted my stance and my foot got caught in the long skirt I was wearing. My arm slid right off the counter and I tumbled to the ground in a pile of sad librarian mess. To add insult to injury, after I hit the ground a book fell and hit me in the head. I groaned and debated just crawling around to hide behind the counter.

  “Are you okay, Maggie?” Amanda offered me a hand and winced. “That looked like it hurt.”

  I let her help me up and tried to hide the fact that my hip did hurt. I felt stupid enough without having to nurse an injury. “It’s just not my day.”

  She nodded. “It’s a Monday. I just had a client demand I order brown balloons. Brown balloons. Have you ever seen brown balloons look good?”

  I pulled a grossed-out face and shook my head. “What’s the party for?”

  She tried to stop a laugh but failed. “Her mother-in-law’s birthday party.”

  The library door opened and a warm breeze blew through the old building. I held my breath and waited. For nothing. It was just the mailman. I blew out a big sigh and forced a smile to my face.

  “Hi, Paul.”

  He handed me a stack of mail and grinned. “When are you going to let me take you to dinner, Maggie?”

  I laughed. “When your wife gets back in town. She promised that she’d make that bread she’s famous for. The kind with the raisins?”

  “I’ll tell her you’re excited for it. Say hi to your dad for me.”

  Amanda stared at me after he left. “Who’re you waiting for?”

  I jumped about a mile in the air and blushed. “What?”

  “It looked like you were hoping that was someone else coming through those doors. Someone special. Anyone I know?”

  I wasn’t ready to admit to anyone else that I was a crushing idiot and that I hadn’t changed as much as I’d like to think I had since high school. “No one. I’m going to run to the back to grab something. Just yell if you need me.”

  She didn’t look less suspicious, but she backed away. “Should I yell if no one comes in?”

  My already red face blossomed into color even more. “No, thank you!”

  I raced to the back and leaned against a bookcase. I took a deep breath and held it. I concentrated on feeling the heat in my face gather in my hands. I’d heard that would help control a blush. Instead, I just ended up feeling like some kind of Hogwarts reject.

  “Get it together, Maggie. You’re looking like the kid they all think you are.” I shook myself for a few seconds and took a few more deep breaths.

  “Maggie!” Amanda’s loud whisper shocked me. “Get up here!”

  I panicked and rushed toward the front desk. “What is it?”

  I turned the corner from the back and spotted Avery walking in. For some reason, my response was to drop to my hands and knees and crawl toward the desk. If I hurried, I’d make it in time and he wouldn’t see me. I was a moron. I wanted him to pay attention to me, but there I was crawling across the floor like an idiot so he wouldn’t notice me. ***Click here to continue reading***

  Paranormal & Shifter Romance Collection

  If you want more detail or to jump directly to one of the books, go to the Table of Contents, by clicking here.

  Surrender to the Alpha Publishing

  Tempted by the Dragon

  Dragon Shifter Romance

  Tempted by the Dragon

  Chapter One

  News of the dragon in the Wyndwae province spread across the countryside like a blaze from the mouth of the beast itself. In a week’s time it reached the inn of The Dancing Mer on the southern coast, and there it found Mairead Curran, slayer of monsters.

  Of Mairaed there were many legends. It was whispered that she had vanquished at last the beast of the Breywood, whose jaws had been the end of three dozen men. Bards sang of the arrows that had laid waste in fire and steel to the lair of the manticore and slain the basilisk in the western mountains.

  Of her beauty too, they sang. She was tall for a woman, and long-limbed, her auburn hair streaked with copper and tawny gold by long days beneath the southern sun. They said men traveled the lengths of continents to lay their spoils at her feet in hopes of her favor.

  This last, at least, was quite untrue. Mairead herself had started the rumor, well aware that men who could afford to travel continents sought princesses to wife, not women who battled monsters, but it pleased her to let people think it was otherwise. As for the rest, well, it was true as any story which had passed through a hundred hands can be.

  When news came of the dragon, Mairead was sitting at a table in the fire lit common room of the inn, with a tankard of mead in her hand, debating the relative merits of the bow versus the sword with Vreden, who had once been a knight of renown. He was aging, grey in the dark hair at his temples, but his sword arm was still strong. Mairaed’s own bow leaned against the wall at her side, her quiver with it.

  “Perhaps,” she said, giving Vreden a look from over the top of her tankard, “you receive some measure of satisfaction from taking the heads off of beasts at close range. I, however, am content to make my name from the safety of distance. Were I one to choose practicality over pride, I would have joined that illustrious company of men who found themselves within
reach of the Breywood beast’s many sharp teeth.”

  Vreden’s eyes narrowed, but the bang of the wooden door swinging wide to admit a cloaked and hooded stranger interrupted him. Every gaze in the room turned toward the newcomer, who was pulling the hood down from over his hair, his cloak dripping rainwater onto the floorboards. He shook the dark fall of hair back from his face, and Mairead felt his eyes move over her and the others at her table. When he swept his cloak back over his shoulder, she could see the insignia of the king’s message riders on the shoulder of his tabard.

  “Buy me an ale to take the chill from my bones,” he offered the room at large, “and I will share some news which has only today come in from the Wyndwae.” His eyes caught on Mairead’s again. “I believe it will be of some interest to you.”

  Mairead rose from her chair with a whisper of leather against wood and sauntered over to the bar, setting a coin down on the sleek wood of its top with a clack.

  “There is your ale, then.”

  He took the tankard the innkeeper set before him and drank deeply before he spoke again, inclining his head in thanks.

  “There is rumor,” he said, leaning against the bar on one elbow, his dark eyes looking into her own, “that a dragon has been sighted in the north of the Wyndwae.”

  Mairead’s snort was decidedly unladylike.

  “There has not been a dragon seen in Lyndoun in half a century.”

  “And yet there is one now. My brother saw it with his own eyes, a great black shape against the full moon.”

  In his eyes there was no deceit, and Mairead considered his story as she tipped her own tankard back, mead flowing sweet across her tongue and warming her throat.