He must remove her from harm’s way, even if she refuses to believe she is in danger.
In an effort to begin again after her previous boyfriend became her stalker, Math genius Teagan Manz jumps at the opportunity to leave the Atlanta city life for a more sedate existence as a college instructor. As she settles into rural life in South Dakota, she finds herself more than attracted to Declan Red Eagle, who seems to turn every woman’s head. She has no chance of catching the masterful Native American’s eye, even though she tries. Just as she is beginning to enjoy her new life, the first mysteriously threatening note arrives, sabotaging all chances of happily ever after in this town.
Declan is finally a full professor, and he couldn’t be more ready to begin the next stage of his life, but does he have time in his busy, regimented schedule for a woman? Especially one that is as vivacious and bright as sunshine on a summer morning and excites his body at the most inopportune times. Following in his Irish and Sioux ancestors’ footsteps, he plans his capture. He decides the summer break is the perfect time to explore his attraction to Teagan in a calm, orderly fashion, except there is nothing sedate about his girl. Things are not as they seem and when he discovers the first of her secrets, it turns his entire world upside down.
Suddenly, it’s time to teach Teagan that the Red Eagles always take care of their own, before it’s too late.
Teagan couldn’t believe how happy she was. Avery and Renee were turning into the best girlfriends. Both women were smart and funny. They knew their stuff and Teagan found herself wrapped up in the project they were working on, helping with the budget tweaks, the accounting foundations, and the projections program.
“God, you are a savant with numbers, aren’t you?” asked Renee.
“I don’t know about that,” said Teagan, “But numbers make sense to me. And I’m so excited about your new family lodge. I think, with some success and someone to work on the marketing, you’ll make this a profitable endeavor by the end of the first year.”
“Do you think so? I hope you’re right. I really don’t want Stryker to regret letting us go with our idea. I mean, he checked the numbers dozens of times, and we had to explain every step of the process multiple times, but I don’t want him to lose money or trust in our thinking,” said Renee.
“But if Teagan will help us, I think the one area we are weak in, the numbers tracking, we will be covered. So if it’s something you could do for us, the numbers part, then pick a salary we can afford, and let’s present it to Stryker.”
“While I’m here, I’ll do it for free. When I get back to the apartment, I’ll do it for something reasonable that you can afford.”
“Oh, I don’t think Stryker or Declan will go for that and it isn’t right.”
“It is perfectly right. I’m staying here and not paying for my upkeep so this is my payment. Please don’t fight me on this because it will make me feel so much better about being here.”
The girls agreed. That settled, Teagan spent time with Wilder in between his tagging along with Declan, Seamus, Carson, and Stryker looking over the ranch operation. It was good to reconnect after nearly six months between visits. The night before Wilder left to go home, the whole family, including Callen that Wilder had met the second night he was on the ranch, was in attendance.
“Carson wasn’t on the ranch the other day when you explained the Beefalo market. Could you give him a rundown?” asked Seamus. “He’s great at seeing the potential on the ranch. What’s feasible and what isn’t.”
“And I want to have that option if we have the pastureland for it,” said Stryker.
“Right, as I said earlier, I have about 50 acres for 20 head of cows and easily double that for Beefalo and bison. My ratio is 100 acres for 20 bison. I don’t keep many bison, twenty being my average because I just need them for breeding. We don’t often sell our bison for slaughter. Then, of course, we have to have rotation pastures. So, they can devour the available land if you aren’t careful,” said Wilder.
Carson scratched his head. “Yeah, but I can see where just the available variety will open our markets up more. The more diverse our production, the more likely we become a one-stop for cattle. I think we can fence in a portion of that far acreage we haven’t put into use. It is definitely worth looking into and giving your dad a call.”
Stryker nodded. “Yep, just what I was thinking. Not the housing acreage at the far end, but the rest. Good visit, Wilder. I’d like to come to see your operation after our parents return from Ireland.”
“Anytime,” said Wilder. “Bring this girl with you. She tends to forget where her brother lives.”
Teagan sniffed dramatically. “I’m busy, Wilder.”
“I’ll make sure she takes at least two trips a year,” said Declan as he kissed her temple.
“If I’m still here.”
Renee and Avery looked up quickly. Renee said, “But you’re committed to our project.”
“I can do that from anywhere,” said Teagan.
Stryker said in his characteristic way, “Oh, darlin’, you are already embedded in the fabric of this ranch. There isn’t any question that you’re here for the long haul.”
Teagan shook her head and said, “You never know.”
Declan leaned into Teagan. “I know.” He leaned closer to her ear. “Stop trying to upset the apple cart on purpose, little girl. Remember not all spankings are sexy.”
Teagan turned to answer him when the characteristic whole body tingle happened at the mention of his hand on her bottom. She shivered. Damn, the man was too perceptive. The heat rushed into her face and Teagan prayed no one else noticed and if they did, they said nothing. That one quietly spoken sentence settled any argument she may have used. She was so screwed.
At twenty-five, it was time that the youngest sibling, Renee Red Eagle, was treated like a grown woman. The only way that would happen is for the men in her family to allow her to stand on her own two feet.
Following a story her mother often told her, Renee decided she could get her brothers to find and fall in love with the right woman. Then she would be free to be the woman she had grown into and maybe find her own happily ever after.
Her parents left for a year of travel, so now was the time to help that true love blossom for her brothers, thereby giving her sisters and freedom. Win-Win.
The clock is ticking. The time is now. First Stryker, then Declan, then…
A USA Today best-selling author, Alyssa Bailey, loves writing about consensual power exchanges between strong, intelligent, sassy women who are not afraid to make a stand and men confident enough to give his woman space but alpha enough to keep her safe.
If she can throw a little mystery, humor, and suspense in her stories, it’s even better. Alyssa writes Regency historicals sure to make you swoon and contemporary military and cowboy love stories devised to leave you with that book hangover we crave.
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This is lovely. Thank you so much, Andrea.
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