The Mechanics of Mistletoe - Liz Isaacson Page 0,95

you’re finally going to make me an honest man.” He chuckled, glad when she laughed with him. The mood lightened, and Sammy read a couple more notes before looking up at him.

“This is not a lame gift.”

“It kinda felt like it,” he said.

“It’s not a puppy,” she said dryly.

Bear burst out laughing, and he opened his door and got out of the truck. He went around to her side and opened her door for her. She didn’t slide out, because Bear crowded into the space there and put his hands on her waist as she turned toward him.

“I love you, Sammy,” he said.

“I love you too.” She leaned forward, and Bear kissed her, this wonderful, kind, talented woman who had chosen him.

Read on for the first couple of chapters of the next book in the Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers series, THE HORSEPOWER OF THE HOLIDAY.

I hope you enjoyed Bear and Sammy, seeing more of Three Rivers, and going to a new ranch. Reviews are welcome and appreciated.

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Sneak Peek – The Horsepower of the Holiday Chapter One

“Just come on,” Ward said, finishing up the dishes. “It’ll be fun. It’s Winston Lunt, and he’s funny.”

“Really funny,” Ace added, though he didn’t look up from his phone.

Ranger Glover looked back and forth between his two brothers, neither of them looking at him. He had enjoyed the comedy of Winston Lunt in the past; he just didn’t feel like leaving the house.

He supposed he’d already left the house, as he currently sat at the table in the ranch house down the road from the homestead, where he lived with two of his cousins.

“And he’ll only be in town this weekend?” Ranger asked.

“Yes,” Ward said. “I need to go, Range. Suck it up and get your smile ready.” He didn’t look over his shoulder this time, and Ranger knew why.

Victoria Smith. The woman had broken up with Ward six days ago, and he’d been moping around the ranch since.

Ranger wasn’t sure why. Ward had only been dating her for a couple of months. Maybe only six weeks. No matter what, it wasn’t very long, and he honestly hadn’t seemed that interested in her.

Ever since Bear had started dating Sammy—and now they were engaged—it was like all the Glovers realized there was a big world out there, with people to find and love.

Ranger knew that, of course. He’d gone out with a few women in the past, but no one really special in a while. Even if he did go to the new comedy club in town, he knew he wouldn’t meet anyone who interested him nearly as much as Oakley Hatch did.

And you won’t run into her, he told himself. Or maybe you will.

Oakley went out a lot. With a lot of different men. At the same time.

She’d wanted to start a relationship with Ranger a month or two ago, but he’d told her no. He still kicked himself for that at least once a day. And at least once a day, he told himself he’d done the right thing. He wasn’t going to share his girlfriend with another cowboy. The idea that anyone would do that was ludicrous, in his opinion.

“Fine,” he said. “I could use a laugh.”

“Yes, you could,” Ace said dryly.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Ranger asked, slicing a look at his youngest brother.

“It means you’ve been pining over that stock ∂car racer,” Ace said.

“First off,” Ranger said. “I have not been pining. And secondly, she drove in the Formula One circuit, not NASCAR. Two different things, Ace.”

“Just the fact that you know that is disturbing,” he said with a grin, finally looking up from his phone.

“It’s not disturbing,” Ward said. “He likes her, Ace. Of course he’s going to know things about her.”

“Yeah,” Ranger said. “Like the three men she’s dating right now.” He wanted to go back to the east wing at the homestead, change into his gym shorts and a T-shirt, and put something on TV.

Not car racing.

Anything but car racing.

“Are we ready?” Ward asked, joining them at the table. “I can drive, and I’ll even buy the first round of sodas.”

“You’ve got a deal,” Ace said, standing.

Ranger got to his feet too, and he said nothing as he followed his brothers through the house to the front door. Ward led the way, and Ranger did love and respect his brother. They worked together closely on the ranch finances, and there was nothing better than an