Must Love Cowboys: This steamy and heart-warming cowboy rom-com is a must-read! (Once Upon A Time In, Carly Bloom [pocket ebook reader .TXT] 📗

“Hi, Mom. Are you guys headed out?”

“Alice, we have a situation.”

Scenarios began flashing through her mind. Had they been in a wreck? Were they at the emergency room? Maybe they’d just forgotten to unplug the coffeepot. She pulled her keys out of her pocket. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re already halfway to the airport, and—”

“Is it car trouble? Do you need me to come and get you?”

“No, honey. We’re fine. But the doggie hotel called.”

Oh great. The “doggie hotel” was where her parents usually boarded Gaston, their enormous Great Pyrenees. And he was a royal pain in the booty.

“What did he do?”

“Now, Alice. It isn’t always Gaston’s fault—”

“Yes, it is.”

“He’s being bullied.”

“Bullied?”

“He had a run-in with another dog. Honestly, who could get along with a Labrador?”

“Pretty much anyone. Labradors are literally known for their cheerful dispositions.”

“Can he stay with you? It’s only for a few weeks.”

Alice sighed and squeezed the bridge of her nose. Gaston was huge. Spoiled. And he was a walking blizzard of hair and dander. But she didn’t want her parents’ vacation ruined.

“Fine. But no matter how much he begs, he’s not getting into my bed.”

Someone bumped into her, and she turned to see Beau Montgomery—eyes twinkling—putting his hat on. He’d clearly overheard that last statement. And now he was going to say something stu—

“I’m sure there’s an ordinance against that, Allie.”

Chapter

Four

Gerome Kowalski’s study in the ranch house was the official business office of Rancho Cañada Verde, even though Gerome sat behind the desk less and less. He and Miss Lilly had stepped back from running the ranch, and now their daughter, Claire, and her husband, Ford, were the ones operating things.

Claire handled the marketing part of it, because Rancho Cañada Verde was more than just a ranch. It was also a brand, and its products were on shelves in grocery and department stores. They even had a ranch store in downtown Big Verde that sold everything from kitchenware to clothing and luggage.

Ford managed the ranch itself, with the help of Beau and Bryce. As foremen of Rancho Cañada Verde, they’d stepped into their father’s boots. He’d been the foreman for twenty-seven years before retiring with their mom to a condo in Corpus Christi, where they spent their days fishing—bought a boat and everything—much like Gerome and Lilly spent theirs traveling around the country with a little travel trailer in tow.

People moved on, sought new experiences. But Beau and Bryce weren’t like that. They were happy to stay right here on the ranch where they’d grown up, living in the very cabin where they’d been raised.

Beau stared through the windshield at the Kowalskis’ big wraparound porch. How many Popsicles had he licked on those steps while his daddy and Gerome had talked business inside? Hell, he’d tried to steal his very first kiss right there beneath the windchimes.

Claire had socked him good before acting like she was going to barf. He’d been fourteen and thought he was a full-grown man. Claire had been seventeen—much closer to being fully grown—and she’d had a good right hook. It had taught him a valuable lesson.

Real men don’t steal anything, and that includes kisses.

Claire still occasionally stuck her finger down her throat and pretended to gag if he so much as looked at her wrong.

This ranch was his past, his present, and his future. If he had his way, he’d be buried beneath the ancient live oak up on Comanche Hill.

He climbed out of the truck just as Miss Lilly came out with a broom. “Good afternoon, boys. There’s fresh coffee in the kitchen, and I think there might be some leftover cinnamon buns on the counter.”

Beau flew up the steps, pausing briefly to give Miss Lilly a kiss on the cheek. “Your buns are absolutely delectable, Miss Lilly.”

A broom connected solidly with his buns. “You’d better not let Gerome hear you talking like that, Beau Montgomery.”

“You know darn well that Gerome would agree,” he said. “And how do you know I’m not Bryce?”

That was a silly question. There were only five women alive who could instantly tell him and Bryce apart, and Lilly Kowalski was one of them. The others were their mom, Nonnie, Claire, and, for some godforsaken reason, Alice Martin.

“For one thing, Bryce has more sense.”

True, but ouch.

“For another, you’re a shameless flirt. Even old ladies like me aren’t off limits, and that’s a disgrace.”

Beau winked at her, and then he nearly laughed as he watched her trying not to grin. Bryce walked up and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Is this person bothering you, Miss Lilly?”

“Never,” she said. “Now get on inside, both of you. Gerome and Ford are waiting.”

“Gerome?”

“Yes, he has something important to discuss with you boys.”

Beau and Bryce glanced at each other. They loved Gerome like a father, and it would be good to see him. But what could the “something important” be? The warm scent of sugar and cinnamon greeted them as they walked through the door, and they followed their noses straight into the kitchen, where three cinnamon rolls sat on a plate.

Bryce grabbed two before Beau could stop him, cramming one into his mouth. Then he looked at his brother with satisfaction and bulging cheeks.

Beau grabbed the remaining roll. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”

By the time they got to the landing, the cinnamon rolls were history, and they were met by Gerome’s booming voice—a welcome sound after the man’s brush with throat cancer two years ago—and Ford’s softer tone. The study door was open, so they walked on in.

Gerome stood and held out a hand. “Howdy, boys. I hope you don’t mind me sitting in on your meeting with Ford.”

Beau grinned and shook Gerome’s big, warm hand. His grip was strong, and even though he was in his late seventies, he was an imposing figure. Nobody minded a bit that he was sitting in on a meeting about the ranch that