part0011

A year in godforsaken Storafalt, Wyoming? No big deal…or so traveling tutor Veronica Silver tells herself. She needs hands-on experience with a special group of students to qualify for a grant, and her assigned passel of ranch kids are special cases, all right. Ronnie loves a challenge, but pitted against a small town’s far-too-active grapevine and a woeful lack of amenities, she worries she won’t be able to hack it.

With the education system in Storafalt sorely lacking, rancher John Lundstrom thought hiring a private tutor would ease some of his considerable stress. What he didn’t expect was a powerful mutual attraction with Ronnie or her steadfast refusal to let him properly court her. She’s on a one-year assignment and wants no entanglements when it’s time to go home to North Carolina.

An unplanned pregnancy and Ronnie’s ensuing deception spins the Lundstrom ranch into a major upheaval. John refuses to let Ronnie run away with his daughter, but he may be forced to compromise when her homesickness threatens to drive a wedge between the two lonely hearts once and for all.

Landon adjusted the screen of his laptop back to shift the glare from his glasses at Phil’s request. “Thanks for putting up with me,” Landon said. “I know this was last-minute, but it’s the last tour date of the year. I just want to make sure N.C. State is the place for me before I send those forms in.”

Phil reached for the knot of his tie and loosened it.

Landon’s gaze dipped down to watch the rise and fall of his Adam’s apple as he undid the loop. He’d always found the column of a man’s neck to be unbelievably sexy—as sexy as fingers and lips. His compulsion was to sink his teeth into the flesh between neck and shoulder and taste the salt on Phil’s skin and make the other man writhe. Fortunately—or unfortunately—there were nearly two thousand miles between the two of them, and Landon couldn’t act on his impulse.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Phil said. “If a flaming queer like me can survive there, I’m sure a cowboy can.”

Landon forced a chuckle. “I wouldn’t say flaming .”

One corner of Phil’s foul mouth quirked up. The man could make anything sound dirty without even trying.

“Well, maybe not. I’m not exactly subtle about it, though, much to Ronnie’s embarrassment.”

Landon stomach lurched at that e-word and his own smile fell away. “Why is she embarrassed?”

Phil loosened the top button of his shirt and put his back against the kitchen chair. “She’s not embarrassed by what I am, but how I present myself. Ron’s a prude, and I’m unfiltered. Oopsie .” His laugh was dirty and sibilant, and made Landon’s balls tighten against the unforgiving fabric of his jeans.

“So, how is that uptight chick?” Phil asked. “I haven’t talked to her in a couple of weeks.”

“Starting to show, but hiding it. I guess I’m the only who’s noticed since I’m the only one who knows to look.”

Phil forced a breath through his lips and made them sputter, then raked his hair back from his face.

Landon itched to run his fingers through the thick, black mane, to hold on tight, draw him closer. He tightened his hands into fists and tried to think chaste thoughts.

Not about shoving his hands into Phil’s slacks to make him pay attention to Landon. Not about squelching that curiosity he’d had since he’d laid his eyes on him back in August: top, bottom, or versatile .

“If Ronnie finds out I told you, she’s going to scalp me and leave my pretty head on a stake for the world to see as an example,” Phil said.

Yeah, you’re pretty. So much prettier than the rough-and-tumble cowboys I know. Half the time, Landon couldn’t tell whether he was fucking them or fighting them if he closed his eyes. He pushed the laptop screen back a little more and discretely adjusted his cock. “Trust me, I haven’t said anything to anyone, and that’s been insanely difficult. This isn’t just some random baby, you know?”

“Not random at all. She’s your sister.” Phil’s gaze flicked downward to something on his screen. “Conference call. Gotta go. See you tomorrow. Be where you’re supposed to be so I don’t have to strut my lazy ass all over RDU to find you. If you give me a hard time, cowboy, you’re gonna pay. Bye.” He disconnected.