get a thousand honey chicken biscuits?”
“I did. As well as some other asked-for stuff.”
“You’re a good man.” Trace yawned and shifted, trying to get comfortable.
“I try.” He let the kids pass out the food. “Want me to take Daisy?”
“Go ahead and eat first.”
“I’ll take her.” Pop stood up and took the baby, nuzzling her.
“Cool. There’s something I need to give you.” Brent dug in his pocket. “You know how I said you were right? It ain’t a job?” He refused to let the butterflies get him.
“I know. We were frustrated, babe. I get it.”
“Yeah, well, I figure the temper I got, I’ll spout off again, but I don’t ever want you to wonder where you stand.” He pulled a little box out of his pocket.
Trace blinked, but it was Allison who gasped, the little sweet sound making Brent smile, easing his nerves. This was right, doing this now, in front of their family.
Sometimes it took a big old storm to know he was doing the right thing, to see what was important. Brent opened the box, showing off a simple gold band. “So. Will you marry me? Be my partner?”
“You know it, cowboy. I’m all in.” Trace never looked away, never hesitated, and Brent realized it had been that way from the first day. Trace had been all in, for him, for the kids, for all of them.
Even the damn goats.
He blinked a little to get rid of the sting, then put the ring on Trace’s hand. “Me too, baby. Me too.”
Everyone was silent for a minute, and then Jakob stood up and came to the end of the bed, little face so serious. “Good job, Daddy. You did good.”
“Thank you, kiddo. I thought so.”
“We’re going to be real-life sisters, Suzy. Just like you said.” Caro’s voice was pure awe.
“Uh-huh. I know. Real-life sisters forever and ever.”
“Well, damn.” Pop clapped his hands. “Let’s have breakfast, huh?”
“Romance is dead, eh Pop?” Trace teased, and Jack rolled his eyes.
“My chicken biscuit is getting cold, and Jakob and I have work to do while you boys sit here and cool your heels.”
Trace hooted, and Brent unwrapped his sausage, egg, and cheese. Life did go on.
He saw the ring on Trace’s finger, solid and shiny and looking like it had never belonged anywhere else.
It did go on, and they rebuilt the broken bits so they were stronger for the next storm, thank God.
That was how it worked when you had a ranch to run.
Together.
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Spurs and Shifters
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If you liked Ranch Manny…
A little bundle of joy means big changes.
Hoss McMasters has a working ranch, a bull riding career, a nosy momma, and a best friend he’s been in love with since he can remember. He’s a busy, happy cowboy, living the good life.
Then one morning he discovers a baby on his doorstep.
Well, Hoss does what any reasonable man would do—he calls his momma and his buddy, Sheriff Pooter, and they head to the clinic to see if Doc knows of any suddenly not-so-pregnant girls.
In the meantime, Hoss and his best friend, Bradley, have their hands full trying to care for an infant, run a ranch, and deal with the sudden confession that Bradley doesn’t hate Hoss for coming out to him in high school. In fact, Bradley’s been trying to catch Hoss’s attention for damn near a decade.
Get Two Cowboys and a Baby now
Once upon a time, Trey Williamson and Ap McIntosh had quite the whirlwind romance—but that was before family tragedy left them the guardians of five kids. Their lives have changed quite a bit over the last six years, but Ap is still on the rodeo circuit, doing what he does best in an attempt to feed all those extra mouths.
That leaves Trey back on the ranch, isolated and overworked as the kids’ sole caregiver. Something has to give, and when Ap comes home, they’re reminded how hot they burned once upon a time. But is it a love that can withstand wrangling over time, money, and the future? They have to decide what kind of family they want to be… and whether what they share can stand the test of time.
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About BA
Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her grandbabies, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA's personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friends, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting romance, to fiery ménages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head, insisting her cowboys get their happily ever afters.
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Also Available from BA
Gay Romance
The Banished Series
In Wulf’s Clothing • River’s Edge
The Border Crossing Series
Bombs and Guacamole • Ammo and Enchiladas
The Cereus Series
Cereus: Building • Cereus: Opening • Cereus: Training • Cereus: Rescue
Leaning N Series
Commitment Ranch • Finding Mr. Wright • Come Back Around • Whiskey to Wine • Come Back Around • This Old Wind
Love is Blind Series
Ever the Same • Real World
Midnight Rodeo Series
Welcome to the Pack • Tails and Whiskers • Above the Fold • Brownie’s Sway
The Recovery Series
Refired • Slip
The Release Series
The Terms of Release • The Articles of Release • Catch and Release
The Road Trip Series
Racing the Moon • Steam and Sunshine • Under Pressure • Walking on the Sun
Roughstock Series
Blind Ride • And a Smile • File Gumbo • Back to Back • Pulled from All Sides • Coke's Clown • Shutter Speed • Leading the Blind (coming in 2021)
The Sanctuary Series
Just Like Cats and Dogs • What the Cat Dragged In
The Spirit Quest Series
Crossing the River • Chasing the Moon • Breaking the Ice
The Stormy Weather Series
Rain and Whiskey • Tropical Depression • Hurricane
Two is Never Enough Series
Claiming Their Mate • Needing to Breathe
Wildcatters Series
Oil and Water • Eye of the Dragon
Standalones
Adding to the Collection • Back Forty • Best New Artist • Boots, Chaps, and Cowboy Hats • Boys in the Band • Calling His Bluff • Cowboy in the Crosshairs • Cowboy’s Law • Deconstructing Channing • Fighting Addiction • Forged in Magic • Happy Endings • His to Save • Latigo • Living in Fast Forward • Long Black Cadillac • Mud, Movies, Bullets, and Bulls • Nature Call • Old Town New • Private Dances • Rainbow Rodeo • Rough in Wranglers • Say Something • Seashores of Old Mexico • Setting His Sights • Smashing the Spotlight • Soft Place to Fall • Stetsons and Stakeouts • The Wounded Warrior • Things that Go Bump in the Night • Trial by Fire • Truth or Consequences • Two Cowboys and a Baby • Two of a Kind • Unearthed • Upside Down • Wolf Run
With Julia Talbot
Absinthe • Dropping In • Link to the Crescent • Moonshine
With Jodi Payne
The Collaborations Series
Refraction • Syncopation
The Cowboy and the Dom Series
First Rodeo • Razor’s Edge • No Ghosts • The Soldier and the Angel
The East Meets Westerns Universe
Wrecked • Flying Blind • Special Delivery
The Triskelion Series
Breaking the Rules
Standalones
Heart of a Redneck • Land of Enchantment