LUCAS
Bad Boys of Dry River, Wyoming Book 1
Susan Fisher-Davis
Erotic Romance
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
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A Secret Cravings Publishing Book
Erotic Romance
Lucas
Copyright © 2015 Susan Fisher-Davis
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63105-472-3
First E-book Publication: January 2015
Cover design by Dawné Dominique
Edited by Sue Toth
Proofread by Renee Waring
All cover art and logo copyright © 2015 by Secret Cravings Publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
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Dedication
Thank you Daniel Lerro with Dan Lerro Photography for the amazing cover shot.
Thank you Josh Phillips for that “bad boy” look. You both did an amazing job.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dan-Lerro-Photography
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LUCAS
A Bad Boys of Dry River Novel
Susan Fisher-Davis
Copyright © 2015
Chapter One
Emily Walters kept her eyes trained on Lucas Taggart throughout the town meeting. She watched as he stood and left the room, drawing the eyes of most of the townspeople attending. All of the seats were full and people stood leaning against the walls. For a few more minutes, she sat there, looking toward the door he’d disappeared through before she quietly rose and followed him.
The new stop light at the intersection held no appeal for her. She’d only gone to the meeting on the chance Lucas would be there. Emily needed his help and she didn’t know if she would ever get another opportunity to talk with him. According to his mother Rose, Lucas would be the perfect man for what Emily had in mind. What if he didn’t come back inside and left before she had a chance to talk with him?
Not giving herself time to change her mind, she quickened her steps to catch up with him. Grabbing her coat, she practically ran out the door. The snow slapped her in the face as she ran down the concrete steps. Emily pulled her knit cap down over her ears and her coat collar up around her neck. She came to a stop and looked to the right, then to the left. Seeing him, she ran after him. The wind started howling, blowing snow around to the point she lost sight of him again.
She let out a bloodcurdling scream when he stepped from behind a pick-up truck. Her hand covered her heart. Taking a deep breath, she gazed up at him.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry,” he scowled.
When he reached out a hand to her, she jerked back from him. Unsettled by the look on his face, she raised her chin at him. “It’s all right.” He gave a terse nod and started to walk away from her. She had to
act fast. “Wait! Please.”
He spun around and looked at her with a tight-lipped expression. “What is it?”
Emily shivered, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or from this tall, brooding man. He towered over her five foot seven by at least eight inches. The snow was covering the brim and top of his black cowboy hat, the shearling coat hanging open to the cold. His dark eyes peered at her. His nose was straight and sat above a gorgeous set of lips. The scruff on his lower face and jaw only added to his good looks. His dark hair touched the collar of his coat. He raised an eyebrow at her when she didn’t answer him. Sighing, he turned from her.
Emily spoke quickly. “My name is Emily Walters. Your mother told me you were back in Wyoming to settle down again. I…I need your help and I have an offer to make you.”
Emily had met Lucas Taggart only once before in her life. She’d been seven at the time and he’d been a skinny boy of twelve and working on her grandfather’s ranch. It was the first time she fell in love. She was in the barn every day Lucas was there. He worked there during the summer months. She’d been riding her pony when it threw her. As she laid on the ground crying, Lucas came riding by. Instead of laughing at her, he helped her up, put her on his horse, and rode her back to the ranch. She had a broken arm to show for it, but she’d fallen in love with Lucas. Her father took her down from the horse and glared at Lucas.
When Emily tried to thank Lucas, her father told her not to talk to that “bad boy.” She’d looked over her father’s shoulder at Lucas and saw the sad look on his face. She’d never forgotten it.
They never met again. She remembered asking her grandfather about him and he told her Lucas was always in trouble with the other boys he ran with. She never saw him again until the town meeting tonight, but she knew he’d just recently moved back to Dry River after a five-year absence.
Lucas looked at her. “Say whatever you have to say. I’ve got things to do.”
“I want you to marry me,” she said softly.
His head snapped back as if he’d been slapped. He narrowed his eyes at her.
“I’ll give you half my ranch if you marry me. In name only,” she continued quickly.
He didn’t utter a word, just stared at her. She went on. “The ranch I’m talking about is Whispering Pines.” When he hissed in a breath, she knew he was aware of the large ranch. “It’s not the biggest, but it’s close. The horses raised there are the best Quarter horses money can buy. They have excellent bloodlines and are in high demand.” She raised her face up to him. “Well?”
He frowned and shook his head. “I know who you are now and what ranch you’re talking about but I’m sure there are a number of men willing to marry you,” he narrowed his eyes. “I’m not one of them.”
Emily touched his arm, stopping him. “No man will marry me because they’re terrified of my ex-husband, Adam Walters. He’s powerful. There’s not a man in Dry River who isn’t afraid of him.”
She raised her face to look at him. The expression on his face told her everything she needed to know. She shivered as she turned from him. No one was going to help her. Adam was going to get to her again, after all. She shook her head.
“Never mind. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
Emily quickly headed back into the town hall. She should have known. No one would go up against Adam Walters. They were too afraid. She didn’t know what she’d been thinking. Asking a man she’d met once, twenty years ago, to help her. Feeling the tears beginning to fall, she walked toward the rest room when she entered the town hall. Staring at herself in the mirror, she had no idea what she was going to do. She’d have to figure something else out. Lucas Taggart had been her last hope and now since he refused to help her, she was on her own.
* * * *
Lucas stared at the spot she’d been standing. He’d opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He wasn’t sure what he would’ve said anyway. Emily was a beautiful woman, but she was right. No man would marry her with Adam Walters as her ex-husband. Lucas knew who and what he was, a man who intimidated people into giving into his demands. He was in prison for extortion and embezzlement. Lucas shook his head. Walters must be getting out and it was the reason behind her wanting to get married. She wanted protection from the bastard. Lucas shook his head. What was in it for him? He grunted. Half a ranch, that’s what. A very prosperous horse ranch. Something he’d always wanted. His own place. He was so tired of moving from place to place. Sighing, he silently moved back into the town hall to find Emily Walters.
He entered the room and glanced around but didn’t see her anywhere. Lucas stayed at the back of the room and waited for the meeting to end. Maybe then, he’d be able to find her. The door beside him opened and Emily stepped in quietly. She glanced over to him and he could see the blush stain her cheeks. When she made a move to go to her seat, he lightly touched her arm and nodded for them to go out. She hesitated but gave a slight nod.
“Is your husband getting out of prison?” Lucas asked her as soon as they entered the lobby.
“My ex-husband, yes. He’s being released next month. Early for good behavior.” She snorted.
“That’s why you’re looking for a husband? To protect you?”
Emily nodded. “I’m sure he’ll come looking for me.”
“You think having a man around will deter him?” Lucas shook his head. “If he wants to get to you, he will. Be realistic.”
“I am being realistic. He won’t step foot on the ranch if he knows another man is living there.”
“So, what…you’re never going to leave the ranch?” He smirked. “Like I said, be realistic.”
“Why did you want to talk if you weren’t going to help me?”
Lucas huffed. “I didn’t say I wasn’t going to help. I’m thinking about it.”
Emily stared up at him and waited. “What is there to think about? You’ll own half of the ranch. We’ll be in a partnership.”
“What is there to think about? Are you serious? You’re talking marriage here. I’m not looking to get married and if I do, I want it to be for life. I’d want to have children.” Lucas sighed. “If you want to do this, then it has to be a real marriage.”
Emily gasped. “We don’t know each other.”
“We’ve known each other for years, just not closely. We’d take our time getting to know each other better before we’d make it real. If I’m going to have a wife, she’s going to be a real wife,” He stared at her. “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it,” He spun away from her and started walking away when her words stopped him.
“I’ll take it,” she whispered.
Lucas spun around to face her. “What?”
She cleared her throat. “I said…I’ll take it.”
Lucas stared at her then nodded. “How soon do you need to do this?”
“As I said, he’s being released next month so as soon as possible.”
“And I get half of the ranch?” Lucas needed clarification.
“Yes. I’ll have my attorney draw up the papers.”
“Your grandfather left you the ranch?”
“Yes. I was all he had at the end. My dad passed away two years before grandpa did. I never knew my mother,” Emily told him.
Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Yes. I remember your father.”
“I’m sorry he treated you the way he did,” Emily said softly.
Lucas grunted. “He wasn’t the only one.”
Lucas was one of the “bad boys” of Dry River. Along with five others, they tore up the town from the time they were twelve. They’d been inseparable and even though they all didn’t reside in Wyoming, they were still close. They were the boys mothers warned their daughters about and fathers had nightmares about but the older they got, the more the women wanted them. There wasn’t a single woman in town who didn’t want a chance with them. Some married ones too. Now here he was contemplating marriage with a woman he’d known for years but didn’t really know at all.
His gaze roamed over her face. She was beautiful. A knit cap covered her dark hair, only her bangs showed. Her eyes were jade green with thick lush lashes, a pert nose sitting above a Cupid’s bow mouth. Shit! It wouldn’t be a hardship to go to bed with her but…marriage. Lucas ran his hand down his face.
“Let me know when you get with the attorney. I want it specified if we happen to divorce for whatever reason I still retain part ownership of the ranch.” He knew by the look on her face the thought hadn’t entered her mind. “Is that a problem?”
“No. I’ll call you in few days. Are you staying with your mother?”
“No. She recently remarried and I don’t want to be a bother. I’ll be at Cooper’s. You can call me there.” He spun on his heel and walked away from her.
* * * *
Emily watched as Lucas strode out the door as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. Not a real confidence booster. She sighed and smiled. He was going to do it. He was going to marry her. The smile left her face as she thought about a real marriage with him. She’d have to sleep with him. Shivering, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. Was he serious about wanting to stay married? Emily was only thinking short-term but a lasting marriage may not be so bad. As long as Lucas treated her well, maybe they could make it work. She sighed and moved out the doors to head for home.
When she pulled through the stone pillars, she felt a sense of pride. Her grandfather ran the ranch with an iron fist and it prospered because of it. The men loved and hated him, but there was always respect. When he died, the ranch hands grieved right alongside her. Now, she ran the ranch, and none of the men had a problem with it. They had watched her grow up. They were well aware she knew every inch of Whispering Pines. She’d only left it when she’d married Adam and she returned to her roots once he was in prison. While he was there, she divorced him.
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