At Last

By Dahlia Rose

Beau Everett loved being a horse rancher and loved Wyoming in the winter. He and his twin brother Cody ran the family ranch like a well-oiled machine. After the loss of their parents, what he didn’t like was the holiday season. Merry Christmas was on everyone's lips, and the town oozed with cheer. What he couldn’t seem to get enough of was Natasha Quinlin. She was an ebony beauty who could ride a horse in a rodeo like a champion and serve up a mean Tom Collin at the local bar and grill she owned. He wanted her to ride him like he was a prize stallion, but Beau knew he was in danger of being roped and branded by the fiery beauty.

Natasha loved Beau Everett from the time she moved to Twin Falls and saw him walking the halls of the high school. Then he was a cocky jock, and now he’d grown up into a sexy as hell cowboy that made her mouth dry. She knew the loss of his parents affected him more than anyone realized, and Natasha was determined this year to show home a few things. With her, Beau could make new Christmas memories, and that her love would be the balm for a scar that never really healed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dahlia Rose
• Release date: Nov 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370372591

Dahlia Rose

Dahlia Rose is the best-selling author of contemporary, military and paranormal romance with a hint of Caribbean spice. She was born and raised on a Caribbean island and now currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her five kids, who she affectionately nicknamed “The Children of the Corn,” and her biggest supporter and longtime love. She has a love of erotica, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and the things that go bump in the night. With over six dozen books published Dahlia has become a reader favorite. Not only because of her writing but her vivacious attitude in talking to her fans online and at various events. Books and writing are her biggest passions, and she hopes to open your imagination to the unknown between the pages of her books. http://hearttoheartwithdahliarose.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/author.dahliarose www.twitter.com/dahliarose1029

Book preview

Chapter One

Beau Everett looked at the horse standing on the other side of the corral. He’d bought the stallion for breeding, and because he was just so damn beautiful. His coat was like black ink and shined like onyx. His lines showed perfect breeding and muscle tone, and Beau knew the name Midnight Ink was apt. But the stallion was stubborn, and now they were in the middle of a stare down. Even in winter he decided to work the horse. Wyoming was known for snowstorms as late as May. That was many months to wait, and the stubbornness set in. Midnight needed to be broken.

Beau puffed out a breath and watched it mist in the cold. Today wasn’t bad, but he would prefer to take a horse and head to the hot springs in the mountain instead. Twin Falls ranch sat on a prime piece of property. The backdrop was Cloud Peak Mountain, and hot springs sat on their property. His father built the business from a small two-bedroom house to what it was now. After his parents died, he and his twin brother Cody took over the work and grew it exponentially since then. Cody managed the cattle, and Beau always loved the horses. Except for right now, since he was in a battle of wills with Midnight took center stage. He’d been working with the horse for weeks, and each day it was the same routine. Midnight refused to take the bit or be saddled.

Staring him down working for you? His brother’s voice came from behind him and startled Beau. He was so intent on the horse that he didn’t hear the boots crunching in the snow as Cody walked up.

We’re coming to a mental accord. Beau looked at his brother and grinned. It was like looking into a mirror except Beau ran his hand over the scar that was in the hairline over his right temple. At ten years old he thought he was a dare devil and tried to jump from the coral to the back of a horse. . . He missed.

It seems he may be winning, Cody teased.

I’m giving him the illusion of victory, Beau replied easily. I saw your old friend drive up. A year ago, Cody spent a couple weeks helping a woman get over the loss of her fiancé. Beau saw her get out of the car at Cody’s house a few days earlier. He also saw the look on his brother’s face and the flush on his neck. There was more there than what his twin was saying.

She just wanted to say hi, Cody answered.

Uh-huh. Beau snorted. Christmas lights in the window?

Cody cleared his throat. She likes the holiday.

Apparently. Beau grinned. Seriously, bro, I’m glad you seem to be taking that bull by the horns. You need someone in your life. I’m your big brother. I have to watch out for you.

This time Cody laughed. By five minutes. That doesn’t mean a thing.

So you say, but I am more world savvy. Beau grinned.

This year is sixteen years, Cody said suddenly.

Beau sighed. I know. Didn’t seem like that long since we lost them. I’ll get flowers on Christmas day and take them to the graveyard.

I’ll be there. One more week till Christmas, Cody said. Do you think they wanted this for us? The place looks like a sterile hospital on the holiday. Remember how Mom used to do it up? The house smelled like ham, bread and pies, and she even decorated the bunk house for the ranch hands.

Beau closed his eyes and remembered it easily. If he concentrated hard enough, he could swear he smelled her baking. Losing his parents still cut deep. Having them die on Christmas day made it even worse. He didn’t know if they’d want this for him, but there was nothing about the holiday that brought him joy anymore.

I hope Kaleena can help you enjoy it, Beau teased.

You’re a fine one to talk. By the way I went into town this morning, and Natasha said hi, Cody said and punched Beau in the shoulder. Bam, you should see your face.

His brother meant the hottest woman in Huntsford as far as Beau was concerned. They knew each other since high school, and she was always his unicorn. She moved to New York to be a photographer and then moved five years ago and bought Razzlez Bar and Grill." Upstairs she ran a studio taking pictures of babies and the residents of the town. Plus she worked at the small gazette taking pictures for the newspaper. She was a whirlwind packed into a pint size body being a mere five feet three inches to his six feet two.