by Vivian Arend
“You shouldn’t look at me like that,” Maggie complained in a whisper as she leaned closer. “Not when we can’t go home for another hour.”
“I can show you the best make-out spots in the garage. Or at least the ones we kept catching Troy using. I never fooled around in the shop.”
“Never?”
He drew an X over his chest and offered her a dirty grin. “But I’m totally willing to change that, just for you.”
The heat between them wasn’t fading. Every day it burned brighter and hotter as they learned more about each other. How to please each other, and how to be a couple, not just in bed, but out of it. They shared their joys and fears—they’d talked about everything from his mom to debating which house to keep. Big decisions, small ones. All of it made richer because they did it together.
On the far side of the house from where they sat, someone laid on the brakes hard enough the protesting squeal echoed into the backyard. Clay turned his attention toward the noise, curiosity rising as a door slammed shut then the vehicle raced away, gravel spraying as the engine roared.
The mystery was answered a moment later when Clay’s baby brother rounded the corner, hands shoved into his coat pockets as he slowly strolled in. What appeared to be a red handprint marred his cheek, but Troy wore a cocky smile as he sauntered up to where his nephew sat.
He pulled a small football from under his jacket and presented it to Tanner. “Here you go, killer. Start practicing so you can wow them with your moves down the road.”
“Looks like your moves made an impression on someone.” Mitch pushed past him, grinning pointedly at Troy’s cheek before taking a pit stop at the snack table to grab a handful of pretzels.
Troy curled his lip. “Screw….” he glanced down at Tanner, “…drivers.”
“And hammers. Maybe a few flyswatters.”
“Mitch. Give him a break.” Anna paced by on the other side, eyeing him curiously. “Although if there’s anything you want to talk about…”
“Nope. Nada. Everything is fine and dandy.”
Clay kept out of it. Maggie squeezed his fingers and whispered to him. “You guys really are shitty liars in this family.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I guess we are.”
Clay didn’t know what was going on with Troy, but somehow he figured his brother would find a way to come out on top. He always had before, and if he did need help? There were a lot of people around with willing ears.
Everywhere else he looked he saw good things. Mitch and Anna, thick as thieves. Len and Janey alternately giving each other googly eyes then teasing each other like they had for years.
Katy had Gage to help her with their coming challenges.
Keith Thompson finished wiping the sticky mess off his grandson then placed the little boy on his feet, carefully keeping hold of his hands as they walked together to the sandbox.
There had been some tense moments there, but the family was intact. In fact, they were stronger than ever, and Clay had never been more grateful.
Maggie settled into his lap and draped her arms around his neck. “You’re wearing the most beautiful expression.”
“It’s called family. Between them and you, I’ve got everything I’ve ever needed.”
I hope you enjoyed Clay and Maggie’s story. The final book in the series is A WILD RIDE. There's more to Troy Thompson than meets the eye!
You can receive updates on new releases including free vignettes by signing up for my newsletter HERE.
Thompson & Sons
Rocky Ride
One Sexy Ride
Let It Ride
A Wild Ride
If you want a bit of a lighthearted escape, try DreamMakers, co-written with Elle Kennedy. Red-hot Rangers running a dating consultant firm? Oh, yay! Warning—these are HOT.
All Fired Up (FREE)
Love Is A Battlefield
Don’t Walk Away
If you want more small town romance with family sagas, check out Six Pack Ranch, which starts with Blake and Jaxi’s story—the cowboy and the girl next door!
Six Pack Ranch
Rocky Mountain Heat (FREE)
Rocky Mountain Haven
Rocky Mountain Desire
Rocky Mountain Angel
Rocky Mountain Rebel
Rocky Mountain Freedom
Rocky Mountain Romance
Rocky Retreat
Rocky Mountain Shelter
Rocky Mountain Devil
Rocky Mountain Home
About the Author
Vivian Arend has been around North America, through parts of Europe, and into Central and South America, often with no running water. When challenged to write a book, she gave it a shot, and discovered creating worlds to play in was nearly as addictive as traveling the real one.
Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of both contemporary and paranormal stories, Vivian continues to explore, write and otherwise keep herself well entertained.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Let It Ride
Copyright © 2015 by Vivian Arend
ISBN: 9781941456026
Edited by Anne Scott
Cover by Angela Waters
Proofed by Sharon Muha
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations.
First electronic publication: May, 2015
www.vivianarend.com
Table of Contents
Let It Ride
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Copyright
