The sheriff rubbed a hand over his bristly jaw and lifted a mahogany-colored eyebrow in the direction where Wyatt had limped off.
“That man has a million different buttons. They’re all bright red with flashing warning signs on them. Who could resist giving them a poke?” Rodie lifted his chin in silent challenge. “You got a problem with me giving the city boy a hard time, kid?”
I shook my head in a silent no and laced my thumbs through a couple of my belt loops. “I don’t mind you ruffling his feathers as long as there’s a purpose behind it. He’s been through enough. And no one can argue it’s my turn to look out for him.”
Rodie reached out a wide hand and gave me a solid thump on the back between my shoulder blades. I stumbled a little under the force and gave him another look out of the corner of my eye.
The sheriff crossed his arms over his chest as we both watched my brother pace agitatedly back and forth in short, angry lines by the rear of the vehicle. “There’s purpose behind everything I do.” Rodie shrugged and moved toward my brother. “You ever wonder what he would be like if someone came along and tempted him enough? If he could let go of even a fraction of the control he holds onto so dearly?”
Control was so deeply embedded in my older brother, imagining him without it was like imagining me without trouble nipping at my heels. I never thought it was possible.
“Wyatt is the brother who always manages to resist temptation.” I watched the older man watch my brother and wondered what exactly I’d missed—and when I’d missed it—that was going on between the two of them. I was starting to speculate that Wyatt’s reluctance to come back to Wyoming had something to do with the unmistakable tension radiating between the two powerful men.
Rodie chuckled softly under his breath as his eyes narrowed on Wyatt struggling to get the tailgate open. “There’s a first time for everything, and the first taste of something tempting is always the sweetest, most memorable.”
I tugged the brim of my hat back down to cast my face in shadows as I bit back a grin. As Rodie reached for Wyatt’s suitcase, the two of them immediately started bickering back and forth once again. Wyatt’s outrage and irritability seemed different as he squared off against the sheriff. It wasn’t the same aimless, misdirected anger he’d been wallowing in since the shooting. He seemed focused and intent on not letting Rodie get the upper hand.
I was happy to see my brother. I could breathe easier knowing I was close by to give him a helping hand when needed. I was glad all my family was in one place. There were so many exciting things to look forward to. My older brother, I think, had finally met his match, and there was no way I was going to do anything but watch this all play out like a spectator at the world's biggest game. Hell, I might even offer Rodie a tip or two, because no one knew just how stubborn and difficult my brother could be . . . except me.
They were both trained fighters. Men used to being in charge. So I doubted the two of them going toe-to-toe was going to be anything but brutal.
But then again love wasn’t love if it didn’t leave a mark.
www.jaycrownover.com
Thank you so much for reading. Regardless if this is the first book of mine you’ve picked up, or the twenty-fifth . . . I appreciate both your time and attention so much.
This series opened a lot of new doors and brought around a handful of new readers, which is honestly so rad. It’s always been my goal to write stories about all different kinds of characters, heroes, and heroines, and so many different types of love stories. Thanks to all of you awesome readers, new and old, I get to reach that goal with every new release. Seriously . . . every single person holding this book in their hands right now . . . YOU made me a better author and a better ME. Thank you for that, and thank you for being here.
Thank you to every blogger, reviewer, reader who helped get the word out about this book and any of the ones that came before and after it. Telling one other reader how you felt about a story is such a huge deal . . . I bet most of you don’t even have a clue just how important and vital your thoughts on the books you love are. Trust me . . . taking two minutes to drop a review can make or break a book . . . so review to save an author today! I know it is often a thankless task . . . so here I am thanking you from the bottom of my heart.
I need to give a huge shout-out to my assistant Melissa and my amazing beta team. With each new book I put in their hands, I’m blown away by how much better it is when they are done with it. Brutal feedback isn’t always fun, but I have learned along the way it is necessary. So, Mel, Sarah, Traci, Pam, Karla, and Meghan, here is one of many endless thank yous for all that you do . . . even on those days when I want to throw my computer through a window.
If you don’t know I have the best professional team in the biz helping me make these books beautiful, then you haven’t been paying attention. I wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t for Mel, KP, and my agent Stacey. I want to quit life and reality pretty much twice a week. Luckily these ladies keep me on track and motivated pretty much every single day. I’m a mess, they bat cleanup.
Hang makes the best most beautiful covers . . . period.
Elaine is my most favorite editor in all the land . . . she’s rad . . . it’s a fact.
Wander is incredibly handsome in real life and knows how to take some of the sexiest, most alluring shots . . . end of story.
Beth is vicious, incredibly smart, totally cunning, and makes me look like a much more skilled writer than I really am . . . she’s the best copy editor/editor I’ve ever worked with . . . no joke.
Christine is a peach. She works incredibly fast and is always calm and collected when I freak out over last-minute changes. She loves books and romance almost as much as I do. We’re kindred spirits and my books are beautiful on the inside because of her . . . for really realz.
If you want the best book possible, holler at them when it comes time to publish!
Cover design by: Hang Le www.byhangle.com
Photographed by and Copyright owned by: Wander Aguiar Photography www.wanderbookclub.com
Editing by: Elaine York, Allusion Graphics, LLC/Publishing & Book Formatting http://www.allusiongraphics.com/
Proofreading & Copyediting by: Bethany Salminen www.bethanyedits.net
Interior Design & Formatting by: Christine Borgford, Type A Formatting www.typeAformatting.com
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Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series, the Saints of Denver series, the Point, and Breaking Point series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy-haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays, as well as live music and terrible TV shows. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
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