Home on the Ranch

by Tanya Michaels

  Home at last?

  Jace Trent is the definition of unsettled. But it’s a lifestyle he’s beginning to outgrow. So when Layla Dempsey returns home to Cupid’s Bow, Texas, it seems like fate. His best friend’s little sister is all grown up and so are Jace’s feelings for her. Everything changes, though, when he realizes that Layla’s been keeping a secret from him—his six-year-old daughter, Addie.

  Jace is furious at Layla’s betrayal. He’s missed so much of his daughter’s life! Yet how can he stay mad when a future with Layla and Addie is right in front of him. Jace will do anything to gain Layla’s trust—even pose shirtless in her cowboy fund-raising calendar—because he’s not letting the two of them walk out of his life again.

  “Layla?” He frowned in concern. Then he paled. “Oh, God.”

  The dawning suspicion in his expression made her feel as powerless and nauseated as if she were watching a car accident happen. No no no no. Her lungs constricted. For a split second, she thought she might actually pass out.

  “How old is she, exactly? How old is your daughter?”

  She wished she could pass out. The oblivion of unconsciousness would be a blessing right now. The sweetness of strawberries in the back of her throat suddenly tasted like every nightmare she’d ever had.

  Jace shook his head in denial even as his eyes narrowed in accusation. “She’s not...mine, is she? I sound like a crazy person. Of course she’s not! You would have told me.”

  “I’m sorry.” Tears began to spill over her cheeks. “Jace, I am s-so, so sorry.” Then she was out of the booth, nearly crashing into a waitress.

  Dear Reader,

  If this is your first trip to Cupid’s Bow, Texas, welcome! I’m so glad you made it—and don’t worry, each of the stories in my fictional small town is a stand-alone read that can be enjoyed on its own. (But I hope you’ll be inspired to check out some of the other Cupid’s Bow books!)

  For those of you who have been to Cupid’s Bow before, thank you, thank you, thank you for taking this journey with me. I have loved your online reviews, your comments on Twitter and your Facebook questions about when the next Cupid’s Bow book would be released.

  This is my final book in the series, so I was delighted to have a plot that allowed me to revisit so many familiar characters. The very first Cupid’s Bow book introduced Sheriff Cole Trent, and we met his younger brother, perpetual bachelor Jace. Now Jace Trent is a little older, a little wiser and ready to follow his heart. However, the object of his affection—a longtime friend who’s only recently returned to Cupid’s Bow—seems intent on avoiding him. Single mom Layla Dempsey has always adored Jace, but she has a secret to keep. If he finds out the truth about her daughter, will Jace ever forgive her?

  I’d love to know what you think of this last Cupid’s Bow story! Please join me on Facebook or Twitter to chat about this book and to stay updated on my future releases.

  Best wishes,

  Tanya

  HOME ON THE RANCH

  A CUPID’S BOW,

  TEXAS REUNION

  Tanya Michaels

  Tanya Michaels, a bestselling author and eight-time RITA® Award finalist, has written more than forty books full of love and laughter. Tanya is a popular event speaker, an unrepentant Netflix addict and a mother of two. She lives outside Atlanta with two teenagers who inherited her quirky sense of humor and a spoiled bichon frise who has no idea that she’s a dog.

  Books by Tanya Michaels

  Harlequin Western Romance

  Cupid’s Bow, Texas

  Falling for the Sheriff

  Falling for the Rancher

  The Christmas Triplets

  The Cowboy Upstairs

  The Cowboy’s Texas Twins

  Harlequin American Romance

  Hill Country Heroes

  Claimed by a Cowboy

  Tamed by a Texan

  Rescued by a Ranger

  The Colorado Cades

  Her Secret, His Baby

  Second Chance Christmas

  Her Cowboy Hero

  Visit the Author Profile page

  at Harlequin.com for more titles.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002

  The heart of my Cupid’s Bow series is community, and I couldn’t have written this book without the community of women who helped me through the hardest year of my life. Beth, Jane, Lara, Maggie, Melissa, Missy, Sally, Susan and Trish—I love you guys! Special thanks also to Johanna and Pam. And to Wade Wilson, for always making me laugh.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Excerpt from Home on the Ranch: Her Cowboy Hero by Pamela Britton

  Chapter 1

  “Mama, don’t leave me!” The little girl’s wail was dramatic enough that diners at nearby tables whipped their heads around to investigate.

  Ignoring glances from former neighbors and acquaintances, Layla Dempsey sat back down. “We talked about this, Addie. I just need an hour or two to visit Uncle Chris in the hospital—which is a very boring place. Instead of waiting there, you get to watch a movie and color pictures with Gena.”

  Addie’s blue eyes widened, and her lower lip trembled. “But I don’t know Gena. She’s a stranger.”

  Layla shot an apologetic look toward her cousin, praying that Addie wasn’t about to alienate their biggest ally in town by shrieking Stranger danger! at top volume. Please, God, no epic meltdowns today. Though she loved her six-year-old daughter unconditionally, Layla’s nerves were already shot from coming home to Cupid’s Bow. And your daughter is picking up on all that tension. If Addie was on edge, Layla was partially to blame.

  Deep breaths. Layla reached inside her giant purse—more backpack than pocketbook—and pulled out the “twinkle jar.” It was a plastic bottle she and Addie had filled with water, liquid soap, multicolored glitter and a few sparkly beads. Layla had superglued the lid, and now the bottle functioned almost like a lava lamp. Addie could turn it this way and that, watching the beads slowly travel through the dense liquid as the glitter shifted in soothing, ever-changing formations. The bottle often helped distract Addie from her anxiety.

  In a reassuring tone, Layla said, “I know you don’t like unfamiliar situations, but this restaurant today was new, right? You’d never been here before and you didn’t know if you would like it.” She nodded toward the girl’s empty plate. “Wasn’t the food good?”

  Addie almost smiled, the corner of her mouth still smeared with barbecue sauce. “Yummy.”

  “And Cousin Gena’s house is unfamiliar, but you’re going to like her, too.” It might have been better if Layla had driven to the house to get her daughter settled in, but Gena lived clear on the other side of town and Layla had spent enough time behind the wheel today. They’d compromised by meeting for lunch close to the hospital. “She’s not only family, she was my best friend growing up.”

  Gena nodded. “I have scrapbooks with lots of pictures of your mom. Want to see what she looked like when she was your age?”

  After a moment’s thought,
Addie nodded.

  “And maybe you can scope out my house,” Gena coaxed, “to help me decide the best place to go in case of a bad storm?”

  “You mean like a tornado?” Now Addie was hooked. Ever since a tornado drill her first week of kindergarten, she’d been morbidly fascinated. For the past few months, she’d carried two children’s books about twisters everywhere she went and watched the opening scenes from The Wizard of Oz on a near-daily basis—but she lost interest in the movie the minute Dorothy touched down in Munchkinland. On the occasional afternoons when Layla had to bring her daughter to the photography studio, Addie kept herself busy by looking up tornado facts on kid-friendly educational sites. At first, Layla had tried to discourage the fixation, but since memorizing and reciting statistics seemed to calm her daughter...

  “Do you have a basement?” Addie asked.

  Gena shook her head. “Afraid not.”

  “What about a room with no windows? Like a big closet. But not upstairs. Down is safer.” As she relayed these facts, her voice grew more confident, the earlier panic in her expression gone.

  “There aren’t any stairs at my house,” Gena said, “so we’re good on that count. But I’d love your opinion on whether the walk-in pantry or laundry room would be better.”

  “You need my help.” Addie reached for her jacket, clearly eager to get started.

  The relief that flooded Layla was so strong she felt almost giddy until she remembered where she was headed and why. “You be good, Addie Rose.” The girl’s car seat and backpack were already waiting in Gena’s Mustang. “I’ll see you by four o’clock.” Probably sooner, but better to be early than to have Addie fretting because her mother was late.

  “We’ll be fine,” Gena said. “My neighbor has a daughter her age, and I’ve always survived babysitting.”

  “I owe you big-time.”

  Her cousin winked at her. “Add it to the tab.”

  How would I ever begin to pay that? Gena had done her countless favors over the years. As kids, they’d been as close as sisters—and often mistaken for siblings. They had similar builds and the same naturally curly brown hair. Layla studied the image of the three of them reflected in the exit door. Addie, standing between them, was cut from the same genetic cloth, her mother in miniature form, except that Addie Rose didn’t have the hazel eyes that ran in the family. She’d inherited her dad’s blue eyes.

  Layla’s palms went clammy, her stomach tightening. She hurried outside, wanting the cool autumn air against her skin. The guilty secret she’d kept from everyone, even Gena, was a fever that always burned worse here in Cupid’s Bow. At seventeen, when she’d lied about the identity of Addie’s father, she’d been in a panic, not wanting to ruin his life just as he’d left for college, his future wide open. She hadn’t stopped to consider the long-term viability of her deception. Instead, she’d seized her parents’ bitter divorce as an excuse to flee Cupid’s Bow, choosing to live with her dad and staying out of town for as long as possible.

  Given a chance to do it all again, would she make different decisions?

  As a teenager, she’d loved Jace Trent with all her heart—their families forcing them to marry for the baby’s sake might have held some fantasy allure. But, one hot summer night notwithstanding, Jace hadn’t felt the same way about her. A forced marriage would have caused him to resent the hell out of her, and she’d seen from her own parents how much two spouses could come to hate each other. Besides, her big brother Chris would have beaten his best friend to a pulp if he’d ever learned who got her pregnant. Seducing Jace had been her idea; she hadn’t wanted to be the reason a lifelong friendship ended.

  I could always tell Chris the truth while I’m here. Based on the medical updates from Layla’s sister-in-law, it would be months before Chris was in any shape to land a punch. Her rodeo champion brother had fallen off a bull, his worst injuries sustained when the bull stepped on him. She was anxious to see with her own eyes that he was recovering.

  Layla made it to the hospital in a matter of minutes, but dread slowed her movements as she walked toward the entrance. Would she run into her mother here? Layla would prefer to have that reunion privately, to avoid another scene like the one at Chris and Suzanne’s wedding reception three years ago.

  Had Mom finally forgiven her daughter’s disloyal abandonment or how Layla had shamed her family by getting knocked up in high school? Hoping for the best, Layla walked through the automatic doors.

  She wrinkled her nose at the vaguely chemical smell and the overly bright decorating touches—orange padded benches and neon murals on the walls. Following Suzanne’s directions, she took an elevator to the third floor and turned down a corridor. Even before she reached the enclosed waiting room, Layla glimpsed familiar faces through the floor-to-ceiling glass. Former rodeo champion Jarrett Ross paced the small room, looking uncharacteristically pale beneath his year-round tan; he and Chris were close friends despite the many times they’d competed against one another. The two handsome black men seated on opposite benches were the Washington brothers, Hugh and Quincy. She’d heard Hugh had walked away from rodeo life after getting married, but Quincy held current state records in bronc riding.

  All three men turned toward her when she entered the room, and Layla quickly found herself at the center of a group hug. Tears stung her eyes. Despite the life she’d worked hard to build for herself and her daughter in Austin, there were so many people she missed here in Cupid’s Bow.

  Rising up on her tiptoes, she kissed each Washington brother on the cheek. “How’s your mom?” Rita Washington was Layla’s all-time favorite high school teacher and had continued to email her even after Layla moved away and gossip spread about her disgraceful pregnancy.

  Quincy rolled his eyes. “On my case to find a nice girl and settle down.”

  Hugh shook his head. “Getting married doesn’t stop the lectures. She’s on my case to give her grandbabies.” He winked at Layla. “Doesn’t help that your brother and Suzanne have adorable twin babies. It’s giving Mama ideas.”

  Poor Suzanne, trying to take care of four-month-old daughters while worried about her husband in the hospital. Still, she’d tried her best to sound positive when she updated Layla on the phone. “He’s young and strong and surgery went well. Cupid’s Bow has a new physical therapist who’s incredible—she’s worked with other rodeo cowboys. Not to mention, she married one.”

  Layla poked Jarrett in the side. “I hear you’re a newlywed. Congratulations!”

  His lips quirked in a half smile, but the fleeting grin didn’t ease the tension in his face. He shifted his weight, looking as uncomfortable and fidgety as Addie Rose when she’d been in the car for longer than ten minutes.

  “Are you okay?” Layla asked, unnerved by his expression. “Has there been news on Chris, or—”

  “Your brother’s fine,” Jarrett hastily assured her. “I mean, not fine, obviously, a bull stepped on him and he has four broken bones and spinal—”

  “Dude,” Quincy said under his breath.

  Jarrett winced. “Sorry, Layla. I’m rattled. I really hate hospitals. Maybe I should excuse myself, go get a cup of coffee or something.”

  “Decaf,” Hugh suggested. “You’re jittery enough already.”

  “Want to come with me?” Jarrett asked her. “Suzanne just went back to talk to the doctors, so it’ll probably be another five or ten minutes before any of us are allowed into the room.”

  “Is my mom here, too?”

  Hugh shook his head. “She was here yesterday but she sounds like she’s coming down with a cold. Suzanne told her she should stay home and rest today. Claire’s barely slept since last weekend.”

  “I bet Suzanne hasn’t, either,” Layla said, swamped with sympathy for her sister-in-law.

  “That’s why we come by every day,” Jarrett said, “to let her run home and take a nap without C
hris being left alone. And Hugh and his wife have been babysitting the twins as much as possible.”

  “We all wish we could do more,” Quincy added. He was known for being the mischievous Washington brother, but at the moment, he radiated somber sincerity.

  “My brother’s lucky to have such good friends.” Trying to inject a little levity, Layla added, “And such good-looking friends. Y’all know you’re abnormally hot, right?”

  Quincy smirked. “We know...but feel free to expand on the topic.” The other two men laughed.

  Relieved to have lightened the mood, she turned back to Jarrett. “Guess I could use some coffee, too. Got up pretty early. Hugh, Quincy, should we bring anything back for you?” She asked the question over her shoulder, already moving toward the door—until she collided with a well-muscled chest.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  The blood went ice-cold in her veins as she registered Jace Trent’s voice. She forced herself to turn, meeting a pair of blue eyes that were the exact shade of her daughter’s. Those eyes crinkled as Jace smiled, apparently oblivious to her sudden urge to throw up on his boots.

  She tried to make her lips form an answering smile, but instead heard herself blurt, “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Chapter 2

  Startled by Layla’s unwelcoming tone, Jace rocked back on his heels. “I’m visiting your brother?” He didn’t usually sound uncertain of his own statements, but everything about the brunette standing in front of him left him off-balance. The last time he’d seen her had been at Chris and Suzanne’s wedding. She’d been withdrawn, which Jace had attributed to an unflattering bridesmaid’s dress and arguing with her mom, but now Layla was downright hostile.

  She was also gorgeous.

  She’d been a pretty teenager, but she’d been skinny and often at war with her curly hair, trying unsuccessfully to tame it into conformity. Now it spilled over her shoulders in spirals he wanted to tug between his fingers. In a pair of jeans and a black knit top that clung to womanly curves, she—