The fishing trip turned out to be more exciting than they'd expected, what with Jackson getting a lure embedded in his hand and the unexpected trip to the local emergency room. Yup, they'd certainly made a lasting impression their first day here together. Although they'd bonded over the situation in a way fishing might not have done.But Killian believed they still needed a brothers-only get-together where they could sit around, drink a little, and hash out all the bullshit. He and Lexie had cut their honeymoon short because he'd gotten a line on a ranch for sale dirt cheap. The man hadn't even had a chance to stock it before his bride decided she didn't want to live in Kansas. He'd sold the land and his brand new house to Killian at an unbelievable price. What a mad whirl that had been, closing the deal, moving into the house, trying to get everything organized. He'd wanted to be set at the ranch when all the brothers were in Red Creek for the week they'd agreed to spend together.H

Killian shaded his eyes and looked up at the Kansas sun casting its warm rays down on the pastures and the ranch buildings. Everything was bathed in gold, a symbol, he thought, of his life now. The soft breeze carried the sweet smell of hay and grass and the familiar aroma of horseflesh. When he let his gaze roam over the ranch house, the barns, and the other outbuildings, he had to pinch himself to believe it was really all his. The dream he'd always believed too far beyond his reach was actually a reality.And then, of course, there was Lexie, a woman he loved desperately. From the first moment he'd seen her, he knew she was the one. At first, he'd been afraid to think of forever with her, reminding himself that he was one of four offspring of a man who sired sons out of wedlock. Who'd betrayed his marriage vows. But then his mother had convinced him she had to hold tight to the fact she'd been supremely happy with his father whenever they were together. And that a wandering dick wa

Killian looked around the waiting area at the hospital's Emergency Room and hoped they weren't going to make this a regular stop on their schedules. Much of the blame for this trip landed on his shoulders. He should have known better than to let the greenhorns up on the horses. But the animals were very tame, no spooky habits, and he'd figured a slow walk couldn't hurt anything.Hah!Showed how much he knew.All he'd wanted was an afternoon with his newly discovered brothers, a chance to eat good food and drink beer, and to maybe show off his ranch a little. They'd all agreed they should take this time to do a little bonding. So far, they were mostly bonding over disasters.He'd taken the responsibility of calling Zoe, sucking it up as he related the situation, and telling her where they were. To her credit, she didn't scream or cuss him out over the phone. She just thanked him for calling and said she'd be right there. But he heard the underlying tones in her voice, a mixture of a

Lexie asked herself daily how she ever could have gotten so lucky as to have Killian fall in love with her and marry her. She'd fallen for him the moment he walked into Heart Starter, although her cautious heart had tried to put the brakes on. Now, well, she didn't even want to think of what her life would be like without him.Are you crazy, girl? Dithering and blathering when you have a near naked hot man who wants your body, and who loves you to distraction? Get your shit together.She kicked off the ugly but comfortable shoes she wore at work. Then, wetting her lips, she unsnapped her jeans and pushed them down her legs, wiggling her butt as she did so. Then she stood there in a thong matching the red bra, nothing more than a scrap of satin barely covering her mound. Discovering Killian had a thing for a bikini wax, she'd made it a habit to maintain it so no curls peeped out from the edges of the little triangle of fabric."Christ!" he growled. "Come here, Lexie. Let me run my to

They were both up early in the morning, despite the stresses of the day before and the absolutely incredible but exhausting sex of the previous night. Killian interviewed prospects for ranch hands while Lexie worked a full day at Heart Starter. He'd thought about what he wanted to say all the while he showered, while he dressed, and while he fixed their coffee. Now, when he sat down at the table with her, he carried the envelope from the Savannah Art Show Committee, dropping it on the surface between them. It was dumb luck he'd been the one to take the mail in the day it came. Otherwise, lord only knew if she'd have said anything to him.Lexie stared at it as if it might bite her."Are you ever going to open it?" he asked at last.She shrugged. "Maybe, although I'm sure it's a very polite rejection.""You won't know until you look."He wished he could infuse her with the kind of self-confidence she lacked where her art was concerned. He knew she'd never completely recovered from t