Rock Star Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Book 6) Read online

  Preston spread his legs in a wide stance and folded his arms across his chest. Maybe that would make her realize he wasn't going anywhere.

  Suddenly, the door was jerked open and Freckles took up the same stance. They glared at each other and then she said, "Cowboy, you can just get on your horse and gallop out of here. I don't do cowboys anymore—ever! You could grovel on your knees and it wouldn't change my mind. You're a lowdown, no good, lying womanizer!"

  "Are you finished?" he asked calmly.

  "No. I'm just getting started."

  "Tessa is not my dream girl. At one time she was, but not since I met you. I never told you about her because there was never anything to tell. She was my teenage fantasy that lasted into adulthood."

  "It doesn't matter because I'm nothing like your dream woman. I eat like a horse and never gain weight, so I'll probably always be skinny. I'm not shy and sweet like Tessa. I don't have any dimples except on my bu–. And I hate monster trucks. So there. Get in your rental car, or is it a truck, and get the hell out of Dodge."

  He moved his gaze sideways to see Red still in the window watching them, but now wearing a grin. Preston shook his head, stared back at Freckles, and said, "Victoria Amelia Genevieve Martinique, will you marry me and add one more name to your repertoire?"

  Freckles unfolded her arms, lifted a thumbnail to chew on it, and said, "Okay."

  Epilogue One

  Sean finished his first song and after the roar of the crowd died down, he said, "As most of you are aware, this is my last concert."

  For several minutes there were boos from the audience. Finally, he was able to speak above the unhappy voices. "Later tonight, I'll be turning the mic over to Lanny Arias, the band's fantastic new lead singer. In fact, as you already know, Endangered Species' latest song is performed by Lanny, and it's moving up the charts fast. But for tonight, I'm going to sing the song for a special reason; I wrote it for my beautiful wife, Tessa. And even though Tessa and I have only been married six months, we've known each other since our teens, and I have to tell you, she's the best thing that ever happened to me.

  The crowd roared and applauded.

  "I also want to thank all my fans who have been so welcoming to my wife and for the awesome gifts and cards you've sent."

  There was more applause.

  "So, maybe I should bring Tessa onstage?"

  The crowd went wild.

  Sean grinned. "Yeah, that's how I feel about her, too" He motioned offstage. "Come on, honey. This song is nothing without you."

  As Tessa walked across the platform, Sean's heart burst with pride. She looked beautiful, but petrified, and when she reached him, he bent and kissed her cheek.

  The crowd cheered!

  He said, "Tessa is shy and she only came onstage because I wanted the world to meet the woman who rocks my world."

  When the crowd started shouting "Tessa…Tessa…" her eyes widened and Sean laughed. He said, "Honey, do you have anything you want to say?" He held the microphone toward her and winked.

  She winked back and said into the mic. "You're in trouble when you get home."

  The fans loved it and changed their chant to "You're in trouble…you're in trouble."

  Everyone in the band was laughing as Tessa headed back offstage and the drummer did a roll that ended with the clang of a cymbal.

  Sean lifted the microphone close to his mouth while watching his wife walk away, grinned, and said, "Promise?" He set the mic in its stand.

  Suddenly, he lifted one hand and pointed to the drummer, who hit another roll to start the band's latest hit. The bass thumped some really low notes and Mark, the lead guitarist, came in with a rift. The keyboardist and rhythm guitarist joined in and Sean did a short lead duo with Mark. The music mellowed and he sang Heaven for Me. When he reached the chorus, the audience joined in.

  She's the gal I've always known came from heaven just for me.

  Oh, how can I make an angel believe…how can I make an angel believe…

  In the beautiful family we were meant to be.

  After the last chorus ended amidst applause and shouting, Sean leaned close to the microphone and said, "Thank you, Tessa, for sharing your life with me."

  Epilogue Two

  Preston walked from his veterinary clinic to the home in town he had purchased not long after his marriage to Freckles. It was a large Victorian that they had fallen in love with and were slowly restoring. One of the first things they'd done is build a dog run and small kennel in the backyard. Freckles had told Preston in no uncertain terms that there was no way she was going to give up her dog and cat sitter business. He'd just grinned, handed her a notepad and pencil, and asked her to draw the plans for the kennel. The joyous smile she'd given him had made him want to give her the moon. Where Freckles was concerned, he'd do anything for her.

  As he rounded the corner of his street, he was met by a sight that made him take a mental snapshot to be remembered over the years. Freckles was walking—he counted—seven dogs. The smallest was Biscuit and the largest was Grover, a Siberian husky, and she had them in order by size. The dogs saw him and strained against their leashes. Freckles picked up the pace. When she reached him, she said something that made him stick an audio with that mental snapshot. She said, "I know how my babies feel. I couldn't wait to get to you, too." She grinned and stood on tiptoe to smash a passionate kiss on his mouth.

  He sighed and said, "Victoria Amelia Genevieve Martinique Tanner, I love you."

  Epilogue Three

  Introduction to Toby Tanner's Story

  Toby did some fancy footwork before twirling and dipping the cowgirl in his arms. The live band at Boot Bustin' Barn this week was really good. He'd always loved good music, good food, and good women, with women being first on his list.

  The cowgirl named Patti who was visiting friends in town, snuggled up to him when the band ended the Garth Brooks hit, Friends in Low Places, and leaned to whisper in his ear, "I'm here for two more days. It's too bad we didn't meet sooner. Maybe we can spend some time getting better acquainted before I leave?"

  If ever Toby had heard a pick-up line that was it. The woman was beautiful, curvy, sexy-as-hell, but he wasn't interested. For the past six months, his love life had gone steadily downhill. The fact that his twin brother Preston was now married and always had a grin on his face, when he'd had the reputation of being somewhat of a stick-in-the-mud, and his good friend Tessa had also married and wore the same shit-eating-grin, had Toby reevaluating his life. And damn but he was tired of superficial relationships with women.

  He inwardly sighed and said, "Darlin', you're gorgeous, but I'm in no frame of mind to be any fun." He pointed across the room. "Now, that cowboy over there at the billiards table, the one wearing the red shirt, his name is Grady Granger, and he's one hell of a good time. He's probably more of what–"

  The cowgirl jerked backwards, squinted at him, looked over at Grady, looked back at him, and said, "You are one big A-hole, mister," before stomping on his instep and walking away in a huff.

  Toby grimaced, shook his head, and thought, Grady, I gave it my best shot.

  Dovie watched the interaction between the tall, handsome cowboy and the equally tall and pretty cowgirl. She was surprised when the cowgirl leaned back with a look of surprise and then stomped down on the guy's foot. He must have said something pretty awful to garner that response, since the girl had been all over him before.

  Reaching for her journal, Dovie jotted some notes by the light of the candle burning on her table and sighed. She was a people watcher and writer of a popular blog. For the past two weeks she'd been traveling Colorado doing research on the cowboy lifestyle and blogging about it with humor and insight. She had interviewed a couple of cattle ranchers, a former rodeo queen, a western two-step dancers' club, and a female wanna-be country and western singer, but it had been while she was stopped at a rest stop with her window rolled down, that she'd heard a conversation that changed her itinerary and pointed he
r back in the direction she'd come. The conversation had been between two cowgirls.

  "Julie Sue, I think we should visit Dora and her sister Jolene, in Paxtonville."

  "Why? What's in Paxtonville?"

  "Don't tell me you don't know."

  "I don't feel like playing word games. You need to spell it out, girlfriend."

  "Some pretty famous people live there."

  "Yeah, how do you know?"

  "I read the blogs and rag mags, and besides, Dora told me. Are you ready for the list?"

  Julie Sue sighed and said with disinterest. "Yeah, shoot."

  "Okay. There's that famous rodeo star, Dirk Branigan."

  "Really? Who else?"

  "That gorgeous model who's old now, but still handsome; Sage something-or-other. His wife is also kinda well known as the writer, Mims Murphy."

  Julie Sue was looking more interested.

  Her friend continued, "There's also that other writer Maxwell Henry who writes all those suspense novels and some romances, too. I think his wife is a poet. And then there's that artist who paints all that mystical stuff. The one that's really reclusive. And, are you ready for this?"

  Julie Sue cocked her head and waited.

  "Sean Barfield lives there with his wife."

  Julie Sue squealed. "Sean Barfield! I love his music! His latest song, Heaven for Me, is a crossover into country and western." She grabbed her friend's arm. "Are you sure all those people live there?"

  "I'm only telling you what Dora told me. We've got a week to kill, so why not stop in and visit Dora and Jolene?"

  "Okay. I'm convinced. Let's go."

  At the time, Dovie had thought, I'm convinced, too.

  Dovie was brought back to the present when the waitress who'd introduced herself earlier as Sally, stopped by her table again. "Can I get you a refill on that coke?"

  "Ah, no ma'am, but thank you."

  Sally smiled and moved on to the next table and Dovie slipped her journal into her purse using her good arm and looped the strap around her prosthetic one. Next, she pushed her chair back and reached for her cane to balance herself as she stood. As she turned around, a man stumbled backwards a little and then righted himself.

  "I'm so sorry!" she gasped and looked up into the eyes of the gorgeous cowboy who'd pissed off the sexy cowgirl.

  His slow smile did things to Dovie's stomach and she quickly glanced away. A long time ago she'd learned to quell any attraction to men. They simply weren't interested in a woman who was missing her left arm below the elbow and right leg above the knee, thanks to genetic Meromelia. She felt so flustered she didn't know whether to turn back around to her table or try to go around him.

  He laughed and said, "My brother says I'm the biggest klutz ever born and I'm beginning to think he's right. I'm sure sorry about almost squashing you."

  Dovie exclaimed, "Oh, no. It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention. I'm the one who should be apologizing."

  The cowboy's grin turned lopsided. "It's sweet of you to take the blame, but I'm not buying it. How about you let me buy you a refill of whatever you're drinking to make up for my klutziness?"

  Dovie's throat closed up and she couldn't breathe. Men never asked to buy her a drink, especially hot looking ones like him. "Umm, I was just on my way out. Thank you, though."

  "Then let me see you safely to your car."

  Her eyes widened and he lifted his hands. "I swear I'm a pillar of the community. I'll even get Sally the waitress and Justin the owner of the bar to vouch for me. Hell, everyone in town knows me. They'll all tell you I'm the local vet."

  Dovie sucked a breath. "You know everyone in town?"

  "I do."

  "Do you think you could get me an interview with a man named Sage Tanner and his wife Sarah. I think he's a famous model and his wife is a writer. You see, I have a blog site and I'm researching the cowboy way-of-life. I heard some ladies talking about him and I did a little internet research and found out that the Tanners own a ranch outside of Paxtonville. I'm only asking for a half hour of their time. I was going to call their ranch tomorrow, but if you could pave the way for me, it would be much appreciated." She was blabbering like an idiot and shut her mouth.

  The cowboy ran a hand through his mahogany hair. He seemed to think about her request for a second and then gave her another lopsided grin. "I might be able to help you out."

  "Really!"

  The girl with the cane gave Toby such a brilliant smile he almost took a step backward. Her eyes had slanted upward and were the color of espresso. In contrast to her white teeth, the effect was stunning. A pretty rosy hue colored her cheeks and her hopeful expression was more than he could stand. Hell, she could ask him to get her an interview with the governor and he'd do his damndest to do it; an interview with his parents—no sweat.

  He tried to affect a serious expression. "Give me your phone number and I'll call and let you know whether they agree."

  She chewed the corner of her lip and Toby enjoyed watching the sight. He saw Sally walking past and said, "Hey, Sally, am I the local vet?"

  Sally glanced from him to the woman, and back to him. She said dryly, "You were still the doc last time I took Rambler there. Has anything changed?"

  Toby laughed. "Nope. I hope you've cut back on the table scraps."

  Sally quickly averted her eyes and walked away.

  Toby said, "And by the way, my name is Toby."

  The woman kept gnawing on her full bottom lip and Toby kept enjoying the sight. She reached into her pocket and retrieved a business card. "My name is Dovie Juniper. Like I said, I write a blog." She handed him the card. "My phone number is on there. I'll be in town for three or four days. I'm available anytime for an interview. If you can get one, I'll be sure to put in a plug for your vet business. Now I've really got to head out. Thank you, Toby."

  Toby inclined his head. "Ma'am, like I said, I'll see you safely to your car." He waited for her to move past him.

  In the parking lot he followed her to a nondescript van. She turned and said, "Thank you, again."

  "Ma'am, I'll stay until you're safely driving down the road."

  She pushed the fob on her key ring to unlock her door and he opened it. She said, "I need to lay my cane in the passenger seat."

  "Yes, ma'am. I'll do it for you." He placed one hand on her back to steady her and held his other hand out for her cane. She seemed to hesitate before handing it over. When she lifted her left hand against the door frame, her sleeve slipped backward, and that's when he noticed her hand and arm were prosthetic. Damn!

  She saw the direction of his gaze and must have noted his surprise, because she stiffened and said, "My right leg is also prosthetic. But I assure you, I'm perfectly capable of getting into my own car."

  "I didn't think otherwise," he replied. He waited for her to climb into her seat, but she suddenly appeared flustered and when she lifted her good leg into the van, the prosthetic one seemed to give, and she started to topple.

  In an instant, Toby grabbed her up and held her in his arms. "Whoa," he said.

  His face was so close to hers his eyes were drawn to the tiny mole at the corner of her right lip. His gaze moved upward to eyes that looked like they were about to overflow with tears.

  "Please put me down," she whispered.

  For a second, he couldn't move. He just wanted to kiss that mole and then move his mouth to those full lips. He mentally shook himself and gently set her in the driver's seat. She reached to close her door, but he said, "I've got it, Dovie."

  She started her van and backed out of the parking space as soon as he shut her door. He watched until the vehicle was out of sight and then headed for his truck. Although it was Saturday night, he'd lost all interest in having a good time.

  Author's Note

  I think I wrote this story in record time because every day I couldn't wait to get started on it. In the middle of the night I'd wake up with an idea and have to follow it through so as not to forget.
>
  I had no intention of making the story a double romance, but when Freckles entered the picture, I knew she was perfect for "stuffy" Preston. And I'm so happy that Tessa finally woke up and realized that she and Sean would be very happy together.

  I guess the next hero whose story should be revealed is "life-of-the-party" Toby. Since Toby is such a free spirit, maybe he needs someone with a more serious nature; someone who hasn't led such a storybook life. After all, he has grown up on a fabulous ranch; always done well in school, both academically and in sports; gone to college to become a veterinarian, and is now co-owner of a practice with his brother; and always has women chasing him. Maybe Toby needs a wakeup call. Maybe he needs to see another side of life, one that's not so perfect. Maybe he needs to meet a lady who hasn't had the advantages he has, a lady who's physically challenged and shies away from him. Maybe he needs to experience a lot of frustration in getting this gal's attention. I love "maybes."

  For those of you who haven't read Dream Kisses, the first book in this series which is the story of Sage and Sarah Tanner, the parents of Toby and Preston, I have included an excerpt. Another contemporary romance series that I loved writing is called Oasis, and I have also included an excerpt from book one, Stranded in Oasis.

  Happy reading and don't be shy. Visit my website and drop me an email: www.vernaclay.com

  Dream Kisses (excerpt)

  Romance on the Ranch Series

  One: Male Model

  Mims Murphy followed Sissy Johansen, chief editor and co-owner of Imaginings Publishing, through an ornate door and into a large photo studio on the fiftieth floor of a high-rise in New York. Sissy had insisted that Mims meet the cover models for her upcoming book, Dream Kisses. After writing five novels with Imaginings with moderate returns, she had finally scored big on her sixth, a chick-lit romance. Because of that success, Sissy had contracted with her for three books in a "Kisses Series": Dream Kisses, Honey Kisses, and Baby Kisses. Based on readers' exuberance, the books were expected to be hits.