He hadn’t known Fitzgerald had family, so finding out Caroline Graham was his great-niece was a tad of a surprise, but no big deal. Other than Caroline, no other Fitzgerald family members mentioned in the obit lived here. He couldn’t imagine that old tightwad leaving his ranch to any of them. And even if he did, there was no way anyone would up and move to Texas just because they inherited a rundown ranch, especially if that person knew nothing about ranching. Yup. Whoever ended up with Singing Springs would be thrilled to unload it, and Travis wanted to make sure that person unloaded it right into his hands.
He let himself in the back door of his brother’s office, stopping long enough to grab a bottle of cold water from the kitchen, then headed for the reception area.
After removing his beige straw cowboy hat, he leaned over the reception desk to give Jason’s secretary a wink. “Hi, Mags. Is little brother available?”
“Hey, handsome,” Margaret said then sighed. “If only I were twenty years younger and not married…”
Travis slapped his hat across his heart. “My bachelor days would be over.”
She smiled and nodded toward the closed door down the hall. “He’s on the phone. I’ll let him know you’re here. I’d offer you something to drink, but you seemed to have helped yourself.”
He rolled the dewy bottle on the back of his neck. “Can’t decide if I want to drink this or pour it over my head. Man, it’s a killer out there. What about KC? Is my lovely cousin around?”
Before Margaret could respond, Jason’s door opened. “I thought I heard a reprobate out here. Stop flirting with my secretary and c’mon back. I’ve got a date with Lydia tonight and you know she hates when I’m late.” He ducked back into his office, leaving the door ajar.
Travis groaned. “I’m coming.” He looked at Margaret and hitched his thumb toward the door where his brother had just been standing. “He been in this bad mood all day?”
She shook her head. “Nope. He was quite pleasant when KC headed out about thirty minutes ago. Your cousin’s got perfect timing. She always knows to clear out and avoid the Montgomery brothers when something’s brewing.”
“Lucky me. Wish I knew her magic.”
Travis entered his brother’s office and closed the door behind him. He dropped onto the thick leather sofa running along the office wall then set his hat crown-side down on the cushion beside him. He draped his arm along the back of the sofa. “I hope you’ve got some good news for me. I’ve had a bitch of a day.”
“What happened?”
“One of the Webster kids spooked a new stallion I’d just unloaded. The bastard almost trampled me, John and a couple of hands before we could get him under control.”
Jason frowned. “I’d think your foreman’s kids would know better than to get near a stallion, especially one I suspect was antsy to begin with. Which kid?”
Travis’s mouth cocked up on one side in a grimace. “Rocky. He had a classmate visiting, and I think he was trying to impress him. But after John and Nadine get done with him, I suspect his ears will be ringing for the next week.” He gave a small chuckle. “And I’m getting my stalls mucked out for free for at least a month, maybe two.”
“I hated mucking stalls.”
“So I remember. What’s the good news?”
Jason took a seat closer to the sofa. “Well, I’ve got good news and bad news.”
“Great. Bad news first then.”
“Fitzgerald had KC prepare his will about a year ago, so his estate won’t be going to the state to resolve.”
Travis scowled. “I was afraid of that,” he growled. “So what can you tell me now?”
“All the beneficiaries have been notified and the will duly probated. It was fairly straight forward. I don’t foresee anyone challenging it.”
“So don’t keep me waiting. Who do I need to talk to about buying Singing Springs?”
“Dr. Caroline Graham.”
TEXAS FANDANGO
Whispering Springs, Texas Book 3 © 2014 Cynthia D’Alba
Two-weeks on the beach can deepened more than tans.
Attorney KC Montgomery has loved family friend Drake Gentry forever, but she never seemed to be on his radar. When Drake’s girlfriend dumps him, leaving him with two all-expenses paid tickets to the Sand Castle Resort in the Caribbean, KC seizes the chance and makes him an offer impossible to refuse: two weeks of food, fun, sand, and sex with no strings attached.
University Professor Drake Gentry has noticed his best friend’s cousin for years, but KC has always been hands-off, until today. Unable to resist, he agrees to her two-week, no-strings affair.
The vacation more than fulfills both their fantasies. The sun is hot but the sex hotter.
TEXAS TWIST
Whispering Springs, Texas Book 4 © 2014 Cynthia D’Alba
Real bad boys can grow up to be real good men.
Paige Ryan lost everything important in her life. She moves to Whispering Springs, Texas to be near her step-brother. But just as her life is derailed again when the last man in the world she wants to see again moves into her house.
Cash Montgomery is on the cusp of having it all. When a bad bull ride leaves him injured and angry, his only comfort is found at the bottom of a bottle. His family drags him home to Whispering Springs, Texas. With nowhere to go, he moves temporarily into an old ranch house on his brother’s property surprised the place is occupied.
The best idea is to move on but sometimes taking the first step out the door is the hardest one.
Loving a bull rider is dangerous, so is falling for him a second time is crazy?
TEXAS BOSSA NOVA
Whispering Springs, Texas Book 5 ©2014 Cynthia D’Alba
A heavy snowstorm can produce a lot of heat
Magda Hobbs loves being a ranch housekeeper. The job keeps her close to her recently discovered father, foreman at the same ranch. She is immune to all the cowboy charms, except for one certain cowboy, who is wreaking havoc on her libido.
Reno Montgomery is determined to make his fledging cattle ranch a success. Dates with Magda Hobbs rocks his world and then she disappears, leaving him confused and angry. He’s shocked when he learns the new live-in housekeeper is Magda Hobbs.
When a freak snowstorm cuts off the outside world, the isolation rekindles their desire. But when the weather and the roads clear, Reno has to work hard and fast to keep the woman of his dreams from hitting the road right out of his life again.
TEXAS HUSTLE
Whispering Springs, Texas Book 6 ©2015 Cynthia D’Alba
Watch out for chigger bites, love bites and secrets that bite
Born into a wealthy, Southern family, Porchia Summers builds a good life in Texas until a bad news ex-boyfriend tracks her down. Desperate for time to figure out how to handle the trouble he brings, she looks to the one man who can get her out of town for a few days.
Darren Montgomery has had his eye on the town’s sexy, sweet baker for a while but she’s never returns his looks until now. He’s flattered but suspicious about her quick change in attention.
Sometimes, camping isn’t just camping. It’s survival.
TEXAS LULLABY
Whispering Springs, Texas Book 7 ©2016 Cynthia D’Alba
Sometimes what you think you don’t want is exactly what you need.
After a long four-year engagement, Lydia Henson makes her decision. Forced to choice between having a family or marrying a man who adamantly against fathering children, she chooses the man. She can live without children. She can’t live without the man she loves.
Jason Montgomery doesn’t want a family, or at least that’s his story and he’s sticking to it. The falsehood is less emasculating than the truth.
On the eve of their wedding, Jason and Lydia’s well-planned life is thrown into chaos. Everything Jason has sworn he doesn’t want is within his grasp. But as he reaches for the golden ring, life delivers another twist.
a D'Alba, Hot SEAL, Black Coffee
Hot SEAL, Black Coffee Page 11
