Too Texan to Tame Read online

  She makes him want

  to break the rules...

  He’s back in town...

  and back in her bed?

  Rancher Vaughn Blackwood is only back home in Royal, Texas, for his sister’s wedding. Then he runs into Brielle Gunderson—and learns he’s the father of her baby. A fake engagement would secure his newfound daughter’s claim to the Blackwood legacy. But Brie has doubts about the plan even as their passion reignites. Can Vaughn change...or will Brie become the girl who got away—twice?

  USA TODAY Bestselling Author Janice Maynard

  His body was warm and male against hers.

  Just when she thought for sure he was going to kiss her, he released her and stepped back. “I’ll be free by two o’clock tomorrow. We could go for a drive.”

  “What if I drop by the guest house?” she said. A drive wouldn’t work for what she had in mind.

  “Are you propositioning me, Brie? How naughty.”

  Her cheeks flamed, not that he could tell in the dark. “Don’t be silly. You’re not so irresistible that I have to jump your bones hours after you come back to town.”

  “I’m devastated.” He put a hand to his chest jokingly, as if she had dealt him a mortal wound. “The Brie I remember was not so cruel.”

  “I have to go,” she said. “Will you be there when I show up?”

  “I’ll be waiting, Brie. Can’t wait to see what happens.”

  * * *

  Too Texan to Tame by Janice Maynard is part of

  the Texas Cattleman’s Club: Inheritance series.

  Dear Reader,

  Being a parent is never easy. I’ve often wondered how single moms and dads do it. I suspect it’s with a circle of support and a host of sleepless nights.

  My heroine, Brielle, is trying very hard to do the right thing for her daughter. She thinks the little girl needs two parents, but Brie is not at all sure that Vaughn Blackwood is daddy material.

  I hope you enjoy this tale of two star-crossed lovers who messed things up the first time around. Parenthood can make or break their new relationship, and the stakes are high.

  Things are always hotter in Texas! :)

  Happy reading!

  Janice Maynard

  Janice Maynard

  Too Texan to Tame

  USA TODAY bestselling author Janice Maynard loved books and writing even as a child. After multiple rejections, she finally sold her first manuscript! Since then, she has written fifty-plus books and novellas. Janice lives in Tennessee with her husband, Charles. They love hiking, traveling and family time.

  You can connect with Janice at www.janicemaynard.com, www.Twitter.com/janicemaynard, www.Facebook.com/janicemaynardreaderpage, www.Facebook.com/janicesmaynard and www.Instagram.com/therealjanicemaynard.

  Books by Janice Maynard

  Harlequin Desire

  Southern Secrets

  Blame It On Christmas

  A Contract Seduction

  Bombshell for the Black Sheep

  Texas Cattleman’s Club: Inheritance

  Too Texan to Tame

  Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com, or janicemaynard.com, for more titles.

  You can also find Janice Maynard on Facebook, along with other Harlequin Desire authors, at Facebook.com/harlequindesireauthors!

  For Caroline and Anna.

  You two are the best mothers I know. :)

  Love always,

  Mom

  Contents

  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

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Excerpt from An Unexpected Scandal by Jules Bennett

  One

  Vaughn Blackwood would do just about anything for his baby sister, Sophie, even if it meant returning to Royal, Texas. Again. He’d been back far too often lately. A New Year’s Eve ball—because Sophie had begged. Before that, for his father’s funeral. And, of course, the reading of the will. Hell, that had been a disaster.

  His father’s legal adviser, Kace LeBlanc, was Vaughn’s age, give or take. But if LeBlanc had any sympathy toward the heirs who had come up empty-handed, he hadn’t shown it. After all, the guy was a lawyer. He probably wouldn’t bleed if you cut him.

  LeBlanc wasn’t a bad guy, but he sure as hell was a pro at handing out bad news. Buckley Blackwood hadn’t left his dear children so much as two pennies to rub together. His entire estate had gone to Miranda Blackwood, the second of Buckley’s ex-wives.

  The whole situation was a travesty of justice. Just because Vaughn didn’t want anything from his father didn’t mean it was okay for his siblings Kellan and Sophie to get the shaft.

  He gripped the steering wheel, absently noting the familiar landmarks as he got closer to town. In between his bouts of indignation, other feelings simmered uncomfortably. Vaughn hadn’t adored his father. No warm, fuzzy childhood memories lingered. But he’d never wanted the man dead. In fact, when he first heard the news that Buckley “Buck” Blackwood had passed, Vaughn actually felt something twist in his chest. A sharp pang of regret. The bittersweet knowledge that some fences would never be mended now.

  Then he’d attended the will reading and had been sharply reminded of why he and the old man were never close. His father had been a hard-nosed son of a bitch. So it wasn’t entirely surprising that even from the grave, Buck was manipulating and shortchanging his own flesh and blood.

  Vaughn had done his damnedest to avoid all the inheritance drama back home. As far as he was concerned, Miranda, the stepwitch, as they called her, could spend the old man’s riches however she wanted. It was a sweet pot of gold, for sure. First, there was Blackwood Bank—the family business. Then a series of homes all over the globe. The seven-figure fortune. And last but not least, Blackwood Hollow, the sprawling ranch outside Royal.

  If Vaughn had any regrets at all about being shut out of his father’s will, it was only the thought of never visiting the ranch again. He’d met Brielle there. Some days those memories were sweet. Other days they made him angry. And occasionally, like today, they made him ache.

  Stubbornly, he pushed all thoughts of Brie aside. She was a mistake. Relegated to his past. For his peace of mind, she needed to stay there. Vaughn had left Royal, Texas—and Brielle—a long time ago, and he had set out to make his own mark in the world, away from his father’s long shadow. He’d earned his first million buying up land in the Fort Worth area and selling drilling rights. His company, Blackwood Energy Corp., was worth $500 million by most recent estimates. Royal, Texas, might be where his life began, but Vaughn had moved on.

  He parked his late-model Mercedes—the one he kept in a fancy garage at the airport for his visits—in front of the elegant country guesthouse that would be his base for the next week or so. His hostess, Dixie Musgraves, owned this building and all of Magnolia Acres. As a longtime friend of the Blackwood family, she had supported Kellan, Sophie and Vaughn since they were kids. She had also stepped in as a second mother when their own mother died of a stroke a few years ago.

  Now, the attractive fiftys
omething redhead came out to meet him. She hugged him tightly. “I’ve missed you, sweet boy.”

  “Hey, Dixie.” Vaughn grinned, returning the warm embrace. This “boy” towered over her by almost a foot. Dixie had been a dear friend to Donna-Leigh Blackwood since before Vaughn and his siblings were born and had loved and cared for Donna-Leigh all the way to the day she died. Actually, the name had been Donna-Leigh Westbrook by then. Vaughn’s mother had taken back her maiden name as a postdivorce jab at her controlling ex-husband. The public action had made Buck seethe, but Donna-Leigh had been beyond his touch by then.

  Buck Blackwood was a distant parent on his best days, a harsh, punishing father on his worst. Since Donna-Leigh’s passing, Dixie had been the closest thing the Blackwood kids had to a nurturing figure in their lives.

  She grabbed his smallest bag. “Come on in, honey. I’ve got iced tea and beer and anything else you want.”

  Vaughn reached for his high-end leather backpack and large suitcase, following her into the house. It had been months since he felt so relaxed. Despite the many family situations brewing, it was good to be home...to be back in Royal.

  He set the luggage at the foot of the stairs. “I’m still thankful the wildfires spared Magnolia Acres,” he said. “Is everything here going well?” He sprawled in an easy chair and accepted the glass she handed him. “Thanks, Dixie.”

  “Yep,” she said. “We’re right as rain, pardon the pun. Word has rippled through town about the two fire crews you funded and sent. And that you came yourself. People are grateful.”

  Guilt curled in his stomach. “Well, it seemed the least I could do,” he muttered, grimacing.

  Dixie cocked her head and gave him the stink eye. “And now here you are. You didn’t want to come again so soon, did you?”

  He shrugged. “Not particularly. But when a man’s sister gets married, he doesn’t have much choice.”

  Her gaze softened. “Sophie will be so glad you’re here. Your brother will, too. And Darius is coming with Audra.”

  “We keep missing each other.”

  Her sympathetic gaze told him she saw his inward turmoil. “He’s a great guy. You’ll like him when the two of you have the chance to bond.”

  “I’m sure I will.” His words were deliberately bland. These last few months had been filled with too much drama. Too many surprises. Like discovering he had a half brother. He hadn’t fully adjusted to the status quo. So he decided to change the subject.

  But Dixie wasn’t going to let him act like his normal taciturn self. “Is that all you have to say?” she asked.

  “I feel bad about Dad’s will,” he muttered, shrugging. “I never wanted anything of his for myself, but why give it all to Miranda? She must have done something to manipulate Dad.”

  “Give me your glass,” she said. “You need some more tea. And maybe a scone. Low blood sugar is the only excuse I can think of for such crazy talk.”

  “She’s Kellan’s age, for God’s sake. How can you stand up for her? She’s nothing more than a gold digger.”

  Dixie handed him another drink and cuffed the side of his head. “Listen to me, you hardheaded Blackwood. Lord knows I loved your mother. She was like the sister I never had. But when Miranda hooked up with your father, the first marriage was legally over. Barely. You know it was.”

  “Doesn’t mean Miranda is a saint.”

  “She signed a prenup. Walked away after the divorce without a penny of Blackwood money. And she’s made a name for herself in the big city.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “Even though she had a heads-up before the will reading, I think Miranda was as shocked as any of you that Buck made her his sole heir.”

  He swirled the tea in his glass. “Maybe. It still seems fishy.”

  “So you’re going to join Kellan and Sophie in contesting it?”

  He looked up, shocked. “Me? No. I’ve got everything I need.”

  Dixie gave him a mysterious smile. “Maybe you do, and maybe you don’t.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, shoot. I’ve gotta run. Make yourself at home, Vaughn. There’s no one in the other bedroom. I know how you love your privacy.”

  He frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “Not a thing, sweetie. Don’t be so touchy.”

  He followed her to the porch. “Thanks for the hospitality, Dixie. I really appreciate it. With my brother a newlywed and my sister in the midst of wedding fever, it’s nice to have a place to myself.”

  His hostess nodded. “Glad I can help.” She paused on the bottom step, shielding her eyes from the sun and staring up at him. “Did you know Brie is back in town?”

  The news kicked him in the chest like a horse. Vaughn kept his expression neutral, but it wasn’t easy. “Oh?”

  Dixie grinned smugly. “About six weeks ago now. She’s opened up a private practice veterinarian clinic on Main Street. Mostly for pets. Calls it Happy Trails. Seems to be doing well.”

  “I thought she liked large animals and ranching.”

  “I wouldn’t know about that. Your daddy sure was fond of her when she worked at Blackwood Hollow.”

  So was I, Vaughn thought bleakly. But Brie had wanted and needed things he couldn’t give her.

  Again, he kept his face and his tone carefully noncommittal. “She definitely had a way with horses. You won’t find many ranch hands as gifted or as overqualified.”

  “True. I suppose she was wasting her talent working for Buckley. He never did recognize her education or her value...at least not when it came to giving her a fair paycheck.”

  “Tightfisted until the end.” Vaughn rubbed the back of his neck. Talking about his father and Brielle wasn’t helping the knot in his stomach. “I think I’ll grab a shower and go see Sophie.”

  “You’re welcome to join me for dinner. I always have plenty.”

  “Not tonight, but I appreciate it. I’ll take you up on that invitation another evening. Thanks for rolling out the welcome mat.”

  Her grin was a tad wistful. “Maybe I’m hoping I can convince you to come home for good.”

  Vaughn shook his head slowly. “Not in the cards, Dixie.”

  She waved as she walked toward the main house, tossing a last shot over her shoulder. “Never say never.”

  * * *

  Vaughn stood in a corner of his sister’s enormous living room and eyed the crowd that ebbed and flowed around him. He’d been hoping for a private word with his sister. Apparently, private moments were in short supply during the days and weeks leading up to a wedding.

  He was glad, at least, to see that Sophie looked amazing...and happy. The buttoned-up English fellow on her arm was her fiancé, Nigel Townshend.

  Fortunately, the man seemed completely smitten with Vaughn’s baby sister. It was a good thing, because if Vaughn had sensed any duplicity in the guy, he’d have been forced to beat the Brit to a pulp.

  Sophie was innocent and sweet. Far too trusting. Not only that, but Buckley Blackwood had done a number on his only daughter’s self-esteem, because he didn’t know how to parent a girl.

  Fortunately, Sophie had matured into a caring, lovely woman in spite of their father, and she deserved every bit of happiness she seemed to have found. Even so, the thought of this wedding to come made Vaughn jumpy. So much damn money and time and effort for a ceremony and a noose that experts predicted had a fifty-fifty shot at success.

  Vaughn wasn’t a pessimist. He was a realist.

  Monogamy was not a natural state for the human species. His own father had sucked at marriage. Vaughn was briefly tempted once, but the woman had wised up and ditched him after he repeatedly insisted that wedded bliss wasn’t his thing.

  Remembering the expression on Brielle’s face when she said her goodbyes eviscerated Vaughn to this day. But he couldn’t regret his honesty with her. He’d only told h
er the unvarnished truth.

  Moments later when Kellan appeared with his gorgeous Russian bride, Irina, at his side, Vaughn slammed the door on his negative thoughts and hugged his older brother. He kissed Irina on both cheeks. “Congrats on the baby-to-be.”

  Irina beamed. “We are so happy,” she exclaimed. “Your brother is a wonderful man.”

  Kellan puffed out his chest. “Keep talking, sweet wife. I want Vaughn to hear all about how wonderful I am.”

  Vaughn snorted. “Somebody’s been brainwashing her.”

  In the laughter that followed, Kellan kissed his wife’s cheek, making her blush. Then he turned his attention back to Vaughn. “Did you know that Brielle is back in Royal?”

  Seriously? This again? Why was everyone so obsessed with keeping Vaughn up-to-date about his ex-lover? He shrugged. “Dixie mentioned it.”

  Kellan lifted an eyebrow. “And?”

  “And nothing. Brie and I were never serious.” The lie caught in his throat.

  Kellan shook his head. “I’m not buying that. You were mad about her.”

  Irina pinched her husband’s arm. “Why are you being so mean to your brother? Leave him alone.”

  Vaughn was both touched and amused. “Thanks for the backup, Irina, but I can handle Kellan. We’ve been sparring partners since I was five—Kellan might have been three years older, but even then, I could hold my own. I’ve been able to bust his ass since I turned twelve.”

  “Not true,” Kellan insisted, bristling theatrically.

  Irina shook her head, rolling her eyes at both of them. “We will leave you on that note, dear Vaughn. It’s good that you are home where you belong.”

  “I’m not home,” Vaughn insisted. But it was too late. They didn’t hear him. While the other couple walked away to do more socializing, Vaughn sighed and maintained his position.

  As good as it was to see his family, this kind of crap was what he didn’t need. Come back to Royal for good? Not a chance.

  Sophie breezed across the room in Vaughn’s direction. Earlier in the evening, Vaughn had met the British fiancé briefly. But now Sophie was on her own.