“Did you have anything to do with that?” she asked.
“Depends on if you’re going to be mad or not.”
Her eyes widened. “Mad? Oh Ross, how could I be mad?” She started to sniffle and he produced a tissue from his pocket. He’d prepared.
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know if there were any programs or not. He wouldn’t tell me anything because I’m not related to your sister. But I gave him a blank check to do what he needs. You and your family will have to approve anything, of course. But I thought if there was a chance…”
Holly was dabbing her eyes like crazy. “You didn’t have to do it. I love you no matter what—but I love that you did this for her. Dr. Brown said it may not work and not to get my hopes up. But it’s a start.”
He opened her office door and pushed her inside, barely getting it closed before she threw her arms around him and kissed him. He held her tightly against his body, loving the way this woman felt in his arms.
Perfect. So perfect.
“If you don’t stop, I’m going to push all that paper off your desk and use it in ways it was never meant to be used,” he told her when they came up for air.
She giggled. “I might like that. But maybe not first thing on a Monday when everybody just found out we’re dating.”
His body throbbed. “Some night when everyone’s gone home then.”
“Oh yes. Mmm, I’m imagining it now.”
“Don’t put that in my head, Holly. I’ll be stuck in here for hours because I won’t be able to walk around without an erection.”
She sighed and put her arms around his torso, hugging him close. He stroked his hand down her back, willing himself to cool off.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too.”
He leaned against the door, Holly in his arms, and knew that everything was exactly as it was meant to be. He was a Blackthorne, filled with a daredevil spirit and a drive to succeed, but also bred to make fine whisky.
He was opening up his own motorsport company. Building his garages. Consulting for the racing division. But mostly, he was loving this woman in his arms. Because she made everything possible.
The mighty Ross Blackthorne had fallen.
And he was enjoying every minute of it… for the rest of his life.
THANK you so much for reading ROSS! If you enjoyed this story and want more like it, be sure to check out the other books in the 7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes series. And if you’re new to my books and want to try something else, be sure to check out my free downloads!
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He ripped her heart out once before.
She vowed she’d never fall again.
Until she has to pretend she still loves him…
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She gave him her innocence and he shattered her heart. But now he’s back. And this time he’s not letting go….
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Author’s Note
Astute fans of NASCAR might notice some mistakes. I tried very hard not to make them, but the sport is complicated and I’m not perfect. For simplicity’s sake, I didn’t go into the different series or how Ross got into Monster Energy (the biggie). I imagine he came up through the ranks like most. I tried not to go into details, mostly because a casual reader likely wouldn’t be too interested, but I wanted what I included to be as accurate as I could make it.
If it’s not, I apologize.
I am not personally a gear head like Ross is, but I do love cars. Especially fast ones. I can appreciate an exotic sports car even if I can’t afford one. I’ve sat in a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. Not Ross’s Ferrari, though. That is a rare and expensive beast.
If you don’t know much about NASCAR and want to know more, just start Googling. It’s quite fascinating. And if you ever get to go to a race, trust me, it’s as loud, gritty, and exciting as I described in the book. I discovered that at Talladega one October….
Excerpt from PHILLIP by Cristin Harber
“Oh God.” Her hand clutched her chest at the sight of Phillip Blackthorne—the king of shenanigans and skirter of responsibility, the only man she’d ever loved. He was a paradox of playfulness and deep, hidden emotions. A flood of embarrassment and anxiety nearly took her to the ground.
Brock strode forward, greeting all in his professional tone.
Phillip came alongside his brother, greeting only her. “Ashley.”
Her name on his lips made her weak. She needed to hold on to the disaster that surrounded them, remember that this was who he was, and what happened when he was around. But her heart nearly screamed.
“Phillip.” Tears burned her throat. “Hello.” She didn’t know why she ached or how to make that pain go away.
“It’s been a while.” His jawline had sharpened over the years, but his dark, playful eyes remained the same, dancing and daring her to hide anything from him.
But something in him had changed beyond surface level. She didn’t know what and shouldn’t care. Their differences needed to keep her from him.
“It has,” she admitted. Heat rose to her cheeks as did a tornado of emotions. She had been angry and a coward when she’d run off the stage at Harvard. She’d also been weak and far too easy to influence. All the years she’d thought about apologizing to him, wondering about the possibility of what they could have been, but knowing, despite her immature means, the breakup had been the right decision.
Ashley swallowed but then came back to the here and now. She was surrounded by everything she needed to know about Phillip’s irresponsibility. But this time, his recklessness had nearly killed her. Just like her mother had said, Phillip was a risky disaster. And her mother, famously, was never wrong.
Brock abruptly turned toward the reporter and camerawoman, reminding Ashley they were still there. As if the acknowledgment gave Lori permission, she launched at Brock with a tirade of questions. Always unfazed, he shifted the conversation and the reporter’s line of sight away from her and Phillip and the damage to an unmarred tent wall with large plastic picture windows that overlooked the green.
Phillip cocked his head, stepping to Ashley’s side. “Small world.”
“Small world,” she managed, tight-jawed.
The corners of his lips quirked. “You don’t look happy to see me.”
Oh, the jokes. His irresponsible quips came roaring back. “That might be the understatement of the summer.” Her teeth tapped, a mixture of nervous energy and sudden irritation—both at him and herself. “I’m not thrilled to see you.”
“Consider me shocked.” He smirked. “Would you like to scurry off? I think Brock has this handled, and you’re so good at running away.”
Her molars ground together. “This is the wrong time to turn us around on me.”
“There is no us. Remember?” He crossed his arms. “You decided that years ago.”
“A lot of good that did me.” She was a strong woman. Perhaps stubborn, somewhat too strong for her own good, but she likened her resolve to steel in so many situations. Unmoving. Unyielding. Steel was the strongest metal known to man, impact-resistant and unscathed when pulled in opposite directions. Right now, that was what she needed to be.
Phillip dabbed at a cut above his eyebrow, masking a small wince.
“Are you—” She made herself stop. He had a small cut when he could’ve killed people. That was what she needed to focus on.
“Ashley,” Lori called, snari
ng her attention.
The camera swung toward her and Phillip, and worry creased Brock’s forehead. But she was a professional—even if petrified of public speaking—and he knew she would handle herself under pressure. They’d worked together, fixing problems behind the scenes before, though nothing of this magnitude. Ashley straightened her shoulders and stepped toward the camera, reminding herself to be steel, and listened for what Lori would ask next.
“There she goes, leaving again,” Phillip muttered under his breath.
Brock seemed to sense the brooding trouble and loudly, if not smoothly, pulled the camera’s attention back toward him.
That was her cue to get rid of Phillip. With an elegant turn, she whispered, “Go away.”
“Not yet.”
Ashley wanted to shake that smug, cocky half-grin from his face. Instead, her hands clenched, and she muttered, “To think, I forgot how I hated you.”
Phillip cackled as though that were what he was hoping to hear. “Glad to see nothing has changed.”
Gah! She hated this… feeling, whatever it was.
Lori cleared her throat.
Ashley focused on the waiting microphone. Embarrassment rocketed up her spine, flushing heat across her face. Her stomach turned as Lori repeated her question, and Brock, again out of the frame, mouthed, “We’re still live.”
* * *
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7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes Series
Meet the Blackthorne men, each one as hot, fast, and smooth as the whisky that built the family fortune, and the yachts and race cars that bear their name. From proud Scottish stock, Blackthornes never lose. But, one by one, the seven sexy men in this family are about to risk everything when they fall for strong and beautiful women who test their mettle in life…and love.
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes
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Devlin (Book 1)
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Jason (Book 2)
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Ross (Book 3)
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Phillip (Book 4)
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Brock (Book 5)
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Logan (Book 6)
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Trey (Book 7)
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Lynn Raye Harris is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the HOSTILE OPERATIONS TEAM SERIES of military romances as well as 20 books for Harlequin Presents. A former finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and the National Readers Choice Award, Lynn lives in Alabama with her handsome former-military husband, two crazy cats, and one spoiled American Saddlebred horse. Lynn's books have been called “exceptional and emotional,” “intense,” and “sizzling.” Lynn's books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
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Ross
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes (Book 3)
Copyright © 2019 by Lynn Raye Harris
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All Rights Reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-941002-45-2
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Contents
Preface
About This Book
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Author’s Note
Excerpt from PHILLIP by Cristin Harber
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes Series
Also by Lynn Raye Harris
About the Author
Copyright
Ross: 7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes (Book 3) Page 17