Read Dylan: The Sons of Dusty Walker Online
Authors: Jodi Redford
Dylan: The Sons of Dusty Walker (15 page)
“I’m not leaving you guys.”
“I know that.” Oh God, he came back because he thought she didn’t believe him. “I’m sorry my issues made me ever doubt you.”
He cupped her nape and looked her in the eyes. “No, baby. You have nothing to be sorry about. And I meant that I’m staying. For good. Other than us going to Nashville so you can meet my mom, I have no reason to go back there. Luke made me an offer that’s impossible to refuse.”
She stared at him. “I don’t understand.”
“We can talk about it later.” He brushed a lock of hair out of her eye. “Do you love me?”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes and let out a wispy breath before meeting his gaze again. “Oh God, yes. I have from the very first moment I saw you.”
“Me too, darlin’. The day I crashed into you, my world tipped off its axis. I knew you would have my heart forever.” He took a deep exhale. “That’s why your answer to this next question is vitally important.”
A mixture of nervousness and determination etched into his handsome features, he got down on one knee. Her pulse danced a Macarena. He took her hand in his, his fingers shaking slightly. “I was gonna wait until I had a ring to do this, but I think fate keeps telling us something here.”
She was befuddled by his statement, until she followed his gaze to the row of chips and beef jerky next to them. Her mind flashed to the first time they met, and a blubbery laugh bubbled from her. “Yeah, I think it is.”
“So what do you say, Zoe Chapman? Will you marry me?”
“Yes.” She pulled him to his feet and wrapped her arms around him. “A million times yes.”
Hunter bounced around in a circle near their feet, wanting to join the happy-fest. Laughing, Dylan swung his son up with one arm. His face shining with joy, Dylan pressed his lips to hers, kissing her senseless. He pulled back and grinned at her. “Ready to spend a lifetime making sweet memories together?”
She hugged both of her guys, her heart swelling with an overabundance of love. “You better believe it.”
EPILOGUE
Damn hard to believe it was the thirty-first of August already. It seemed a lifetime ago that he’d sat in the lawyer’s office, unable to believe he’d just inherited a fourth of his dad’s company
and
three new brothers. A lot had changed since then. Him, for starters. For the better.
He glanced around the interior of Cubby’s. He hadn’t been in the joint since his first week in Red Creek, but he swore those old timers over in the corner booth had been there last time he was in. Probably they never left. The men nodded at Dylan and his brothers. It felt good having roots in this place, where folks welcomed ya as one of their own if you hung around long enough. Granted, he’d been too busy setting things in motion for the Walker Pendergrass Band Camp project to spend much time in town. Plus with him, Zoe, and Hunter just getting back from visiting his mom in Nashville, he was woefully ignorant of any of the juicy gossip going round. Reckon he was in the perfect place to get caught up.
Man, I really am becoming a Red Creekian.
The realization sounded pretty damn good to him.
His attention drifted to the champagne-colored land barge parked at the curb. “You’re driving Dad’s Caddy?” He grinned at Rogue, who’d spent the last week in Kansas.
“Damn right. The thing is smooth as sin.”
Jackson fiddled with the fork that sat on a napkin in front of him. “You know, Dylan, when I got your email after that first week, I thought you’d gone crazy.”
Rogue and Killian nodded.
Hell, if anyone told him the beginning of that first week that he’d be extoling the virtues of small town living, he woulda called
them
crazy. “I was under the influence, I guess.” He scratched his cheek as he pondered the reasons why. “But damned if I don’t feel exactly the same way being back here today.”
“I figured that.” Rogue crooked one arm over the back of his chair. “Figured you’d found yourself a gal.” A smirk curved his lips. “But I agree, this place grows on a man.”
Killian rested his forearms on the table. “Sure does. I mean, who knew this dustbowl in the middle of fucking nowhere would leave an impression.”
They were interrupted by the appearance of the waitress and they took a minute to place their orders. Jackson looked around the table after the waitress walked away. “So we’re all agreed? We’re going to do this thing?”
Dylan and his brothers exchanged conspiratorial glances. No doubt that’d get the regulars wondering what the Walker boys had up their sleeves.
Gotta give ‘em something to talk about.
“I’m in.” Recalling his words from the lawyer’s office, he grinned and adopted a shrug. “Got nothin’ else going on.”
Rogue nodded.
“We’ll stay the week, the four of us gettin’ to know each other, just like the old man wanted?” Jackson frowned. “Get the business sorted out between the four of us?”
“That’s the plan.” Killian curled his upper-lip in a sneer. “Live in the house for a whole week and bond with each other.” He snorted.
They all laughed, but Rogue pointed at Killian. “From what I hear around town, you found yourself someone to help pass the time.”
“Sure did.”
Dylan took in Killian’s grin.
No shit.
Must be something in the water.
Rogue looked at Jackson and Dylan. “And rumors are spreading about you two. You both fell for a local gal?”
Jackson nodded. “Afraid so.” His smile hinted that he wasn’t much upset by that turn of events.
Well this was just getting plain crazy. Dylan scratched his nape.
Definitely somethin’ in the water.
“Yep. Happy as a puppy with two tails.” That was putting it mildly. Every day he was falling more and more in love with his little angel. Both of them. He couldn’t wait for Zoe to make an honest man outta him. Seeing her walk down the aisle toward him, damn, he was already getting emotional thinking about it.
“What about you, little brother?” Killian asked Rogue, breaking through Dylan’s mental wedding planning. “Don’t tell us you’re the only Walker boy without a happy ending?”
Rogue sat quietly for a few seconds. “Well, I wouldn’t want to be the one to ruin a perfect record.” The man tried to keep from grinning, but his brothers smacked him on the back, laughing, and he let go with a smile.
They all looked at each other, matching pleased expressions on their faces.
Killian tapped his belt buckle. “Damn if I don’t feel now that we’re part of an exclusive club of some kind.”
“We are,” Jackson said. “The Walker brothers club.”
Dylan grinned at his brothers. He could almost sense their dad smiling down on them, nodding in approval.
“Old Dusty must have known what he was doing,” Killian added, “even if we didn’t think so four weeks ago.”
The waitress arrived with their burgers, fries, and pie a’ la mode, and they ate and talked about their new lady loves. Dylan decided to keep the news about them being uncles for another day. They had enough to absorb for the time being. Not like he wouldn’t have plenty time to hit them with that bombshell over the next week.
Cubby’s wife brought their bill to the table. “Well, you four are quite a sight, sittin’ here all lookin’ like peas in a pod.” Sherry cocked her ample hip. “You all decide if you’re stayin’ or goin’?”
They all four smiled.
“Hard to believe, but it looks like we’ll be stayin’.” Jackson pulled out his wallet.
“Yeah, but you three cowboys forgot about that damn bonding.” Dylan grabbed the bill and handed it back to Sherry with a couple twenties. “Come back and ask us that same question again in a week.”
That earned everyone’s laugh.
Outside they all shook hands and said they’d see each other back at the house later to start their week living and working together. Dylan couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this excited.
Oh yeah, might have been last night, when a certain sweet angel rode him cowgirl style underneath the stars. Grinning, he jumped in his truck and hightailed it for home.
Home.
Yeah, he liked the sound of that. And there was no place he’d rather be.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick-figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven’t improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.
She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star.
When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality-television shows.
Currently residing in Michigan with her husband and overgrown lapdog, she is a member of RWA national and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.
She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at
[email protected]
and visit her online at
www.jodiredford.com
.
Jodi is also on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jodi.redford.3
and Twitter
https://twitter.com/jodiredford
Now Available:
That Old Black Magic
Getting Familiar With Your Demon
Thieves of Aurion
Coming Soon:
Bad Boys Do It Better
Triple Knockout
The Sons of Dusty Walker: Jackson (Book 2) by Randi Alexander
Blurb:
When rodeo bronc rider Jackson Walker’s father passes away, he’s shocked to find he’s not the only son of Dusty Walker. His dad had three other families at compass points around the country. When a stipulation in Dusty’s will requires him to live in his dad’s house and work at his company for one week, Jackson heads to Red Creek, Kansas to get it over with, so he can get the hell back to his regularly scheduled life.
Computer engineer Rori Hughes needs to solidify her position in Dusty’s company, but the only one of his four sons available is Jackson, and Rori has a mighty low opinion of rodeo cowboys. Finding inconsistencies in the computer files, Rori and Jackson work together to solve the mystery, but their constant contact fires a red-hot desire that burns wild between them.
Spending their days at Dusty’s opulent lakeside home, and their nights together making love, they both ignore the warning signs that point to their attraction becoming more than merely sexual. Jackson’s time in Red Creek is coming to an end, but can he follow his original plan and leave town, breaking away from smart, beautiful, sexy Rori?
Read the first chapter and find out where to get your copy at my
website
.
Excerpt:
Jackson sat in his dad’s chair and opened the top file.
West Virginia coal and gas plant production specification codes…
The words didn’t even register as English. “Hell.” Jackson didn’t have enough fuel in him yet for this tedious shit. He stood, hiked up his jeans, and walked back down the hall to the small kitchen. Pouring a cup, he spotted a black ringed-binder on top of the refrigerator.
He pulled down the book and flipped it open. The first page had a newspaper article about Dusty Walker’s first day as owner of the newly re-incorporated company he and his wife had inherited from his father-in-law. “Huh.” So Dad had changed the company name. And his wife owned half, which probably explained why Dusty had stayed with her, the greedy asshole.
Jackson felt the heat of anger surface again, and shook his head. The guy was gone. Wasn’t it time to shove past this pissed-off phase and move on to…moving on?
He scanned through dozens of pages of news articles, the first half from actual newspapers, the later ones printed from online sites, all of them chronicling the rapid growth of the company under his father’s leadership. He had to admit, Dad had a crap-load of business sense.
“Hi there.” The receptionist’s voice reached him from her desk.
“Hi. Is he here?” A deep female voice had Jackson cocking his head.
“He is. Let me—”
“Wait, which one is this, now?” That sultry voice again.
“It’s Jackson, the third son. He’s twenty-five. From Oregon.” Abby didn’t bother to lower her voice. She must not realize he was just around the corner. Or did she know he was there, and just didn’t care if she appeared professional or not
“So, would you like me to let Jackson know you’re here to see him?”
“Wait, is this the rodeo cowboy?” Ms. Sensual Voice sounded disappointed.
“Yes. That’s him.” A giggle. “Is that a problem?”
Jackson set down his cup and moved a few inches to peek around the wall. His jaw dropped.
Tall, maybe just a few inches shorter than his six-feet, two-inches, even in her flat…red high-tops?
Different
. Her jet-black hair shone in the bright light as it swung thick and straight, cut just at her shoulders. Her jeans clung to her curvy hips and a booty that made him forget to breathe. The graphic printed T-shirt strained at the press of her full breasts against the front of the material.
He ducked back into the kitchen and swallowed, recognizing the heat rushing through his body as blood racing from his head to his groin. Holy hell, she was the best thing he’d seen in this town, by a long shot.
“I was hoping…” Her sexy voice switched to a long sigh. “For one of the business-type brothers, but I was in Kansas City for two weeks setting up new servers for a startup company, and I really need to talk to one of Dusty’s heirs.”
Jackson took another quick look at her. Yeah, she definitely put a rocket in his pocket.
“You should talk to Jackson. He’s a nice guy.”
Ms. Sensual Voice pressed two fingers between her eyebrows. “It can probably wait until next week. Talk to that one, instead.”
Abby shrugged. “Why?”
Jackson knew he had to make his presence known before the hottie said something that’d make her too embarrassed to go out with him. He grinned. And he would sorely like to take her out. Then take her back home, and spend the night with her. “Because…” Stepping out of the kitchen, he strode toward her, using his sure-hit cowboy gait.
She turned to look at him. Her sky-blue eyes widened and her cheeks pinked up to a sexy shade of embarrassment.
“Our guest thinks this dumb ol’ cowboy don’t have enough gray matter upstairs to understand what she needs.” And what she needed was to have those red lips of her kissed. Hard.
Read the first chapter and find out where to get your copy at my
website
.
********
The Sons of Dusty Walker: Killian (Book 3) by Desiree Holt
Blurb:
To say Killian Walker was shocked when he discovered that not only was his father not married to his mother, but he had three half-brothers in the same situation. Facing each other for the first time at the reading of Dusty Walker’s will, the atmosphere could best be described as hostile. The terms of the will didn’t help matters. Spending a week in Red Creek, Kansas in Dusty’s house and Dusty’s business was just not on his agenda of things to do. But if he wanted the money to start his own ranch, he’d have to grit his teeth and man up.
Lexie Choate had big dreams about success in the world of art. Her teachers at Savannah School of Art praised her talent and told her she was a shoo-in to win the prize of a gallery show of her own. The last thing she expected was for the man who stole her heart to also steal the prize from her. She ran back to Red Creek, to heal her broken heart and recover from her disappointment. As the owner of Heart Starter, the popular coffee shop in town, she was busy building a new life for herself, while she continued to paint in secret. Hope never dies.
When Killian walked into Heart Starter the chemistry between the two of them was instant and explosive, but neither of them was looking for anything long term. She wanted to get back into the world of art. He was planning to build his ranch and not in Nowhere, Kansas. One week, they agreed. One week to enjoy each other, then goodbye. Funny thing, though, just when you think you’ve got everything planned out, life has a fanny way of turning your life upside down.
Excerpt:
Killian paid the check then stood up and waited for her to slide from the booth. When they walked to the SUV he kept his hand on her arm. He moved it to open the door and Lexie missed the warmth of the contact at once. He again helped her into the seat and buckled her belt for her. This time when his face was so close to hers she could feel his breath on her cheeks, he leaned forward that last little bit. She held her breath, waiting to see if he’d move away again. But no, he pressed his lips gently against hers in the briefest of kisses. Still, even with that light contact, the heat it created set her blood to boiling and the pulse in her pussy pounded with long-suppressed need.
Without thinking she opened her mouth slightly and Killian’s tongue swept in like a sword of flames. The kiss was so intense it stole her breath but she never thought to break away. At last he lifted his head and looked at her with ravenous hunger. She could tell he was as stunned by the reaction as she was.
Oh, lordy!
He just stared for another long minute before closing her door and jogging around to the driver’s side. They were both silent on the drive back to her place. When he walked her up the stairs to her door he kept his hand on her as if needing to maintain contact. On the landing he turned her to face him.
“I’m not coming in, Lexie. I’d like to think I’m too much of a gentleman to act on what I want to do with you on our first date. But trust me, there will be others. So if you want me to stay away, now would be the time to tell me.”
Her heart pounded so loud she was sure he could hear it. “I want that.” The words were a whisper.
“All right, then.”
He pulled her into his arms and cupped her head with one large hand. His scent surrounded her as did the strength of his body. When he pressed her to him she could feel the unmistakable bulge of his cock even through the thick denim. It pressed hard against her mound, the contact causing a flood of moisture to her panties. Could he smell the fragrance of her arousal?
This kiss was deeper than the other, more intimate. He licked every inch of the inner surface of her mouth, brushing his tongue over hers in an erotic dance that made her weak with wanting. She clutched his arms, fingers tightening on ropes of hard muscle, the heat of his body scorching her hands. She had an insane desire to rip off his clothes so she could run her hands all over his naked body. Just at the point where she had forgotten to breathe he lifted his head. The look in his eyes told her he was as affected as she was.
“See you tomorrow.” His voice was thick with desire. “Keep my cinnamon buns warm.”
“Of course.” But she wasn’t thinking of pastry when she said that. “See you.”
********
The Sons of Dusty Walker: Rogue (Book 4) by Sable Hunter
Blurb:
A loner by choice and a renegade by nature.
Rogue is living up to his name. He’s lived life on his own terms, doing everything from team-roping in college, Texas Hold ‘em champion to founding his own company, Lone Wolf Oil.
Everything he’s accomplished has been in spite of Dusty Walker, a man who sired four sons by four women – none of them his wife. Rogue might be following in his father’s footsteps, but he is
nothing
like his father.
And he never will be if he can help it.
When he flies to Kansas for the reading of Dusty’s will, three brothers and a quarter interest in a half-billion dollar business aren’t all he finds…Rogue feels like he’s been hit by a tornado after he walks into a room a room and finds a woman in his bed. Not just any woman, either…
The last time he saw Kit Ross, she was racing off in her truck leaving him naked and hard by the side of the road. Of course, he deserved it; he’d hurt her. To say she wasn’t happy to see him was an understatement. And when he wins her ranch with a good poker hand, the game is on.
It’s not just poker that’s being played. They can’t keep their hands off one another. Rogue doesn’t know if he has room in his life for family and love. He doesn’t know if he can be trusted with people’s hearts and happiness. What if he’s more like Dusty Walker than he ever knew?
The Sons of Dusty Walker. Four brothers – one tainted legacy and a wild, wild ride.
FIND ROGUE HERE on my website
http://sablehunter.com/
and on Amazon.
Excerpt:
Stepping back out into the sunshine, he pulled his hat down to shade his eyes. Making his way across the yard, he wondered where the poker game would be held. Probably in the building he’d just left. He smiled, seeing that the accommodations were small log cabins. Whoever had designed the place hit the nail on the head with rustic appeal. Coming to his door, he started to put the key in – and noticed it was unlocked, ajar a couple of inches. With a gentle shove, he pushed it open and stepped in to the generous sized suite. His eyes roved the room, taking in the big recliner, the heavy desk – but when he came to the focus of the room, he froze. “There’s somebody in my bed,” he mused under his breath.
