Brody

By Vanessa Devereaux

This book was first published by Evernight Publishing in 2015. It has been reformatted and edited.
Welcome to Big Sky County, Montana. Take one look at the men and you’ll agree they’re just as breathtaking as the state’s natural beauty. From ranches to board rooms, in Big Sky County you’ll find men who play hard, sometimes play hard to get, but always seem to find their perfect match.

It’s almost Christmas and Brody Williams is in Riker’s Creek on a mission...to find his biological father. He has it narrowed down to three men, and when he finds which man fathered him, he needs to ask him the biggest favor of his life.

Maddie Thurston is a runaway bride with a perfectly good reason for leaving the groom at the altar. She steals a horse and heads into Riker’s Creek, ending up at a bar where there’s a cowboy who just can’t seem to mind his own business.

However, when he becomes her knight in shining armor and rides her back to her motel room, all good sense goes out the window, and the two end up spending the night together.

Will Brody help Maddie fix her broken heart and can Maddie give Brody the Christmas miracle she’s promised him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Palmquist
• Release date: Jun 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463147528

Vanessa Devereaux

Vanessa Devereaux is the bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica including Cater to Me, The Rake, Who's the Boss, and The Pleasure Room. She's also pens three ongoing series, Perfect Pairing, Big Sky County and Kalispell Shifters.

Book preview

Brody

Big Sky County

Vanessa Devereaux

Published by Coldstpream Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 Vanessa Devereaux

Smashwords Edition, License Notes.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Thank You

Social Networks

Back to Top

Chapter 1

Brody Williams took a sip of his beer while glancing over the top of the bottle in order to see each man’s face. First time he’d been to Riker’s Creek. In fact, his first time in Big Sky County, once home to his mother. It sure was beautiful with its high mountain peaks and deep lush valleys. So different from the eastern side of the state, but he was such a homegrown Montana boy that he knew every single inch of it, east side, west side, was better than anywhere else in the world.

He put the bottle back on the bar and hoped his journey here wasn’t going to be a total waste of time.

Are you going to the lighting of the Christmas tree on Friday?

At first, he thought someone was talking to him, but when he glanced over his shoulder, he noticed two middle-aged men standing at the bar with two shots of whiskey in front of them.

Sally always insists we go, so I guess the answer is yes, said the taller of the two.

Looks like we’re getting snow for the event, said the other man. He studied both men on the sly, trying to guess their ages, and if by coincidence, they might possible be two of the three men he’d traveled across the state to track down.

One of the men looked back at him. Damn, he wasn’t great at being subtle.

Brody turned back toward the bar and looked into the mirror that hung above the lineup of bottles. Maybe he could do some spying in that. He soon forgot about the men, because he’d zeroed in on a young woman who’d just entered the place. She didn’t look like the type who usually hung out at this sort of place. This bar was for cowboys and farmers, maybe the odd biker or two. This woman was all charm and femininity with curves and a pretty face. She was at the bar beside him before he knew it, her arm suddenly brushing his and her perfume bringing his senses alive. The bracelets on her right wrist jingled as she slid onto the stool.

What can I get you? the bartender asked her.

You have any tequila? The bracelets tinged again as she swept back the hair from her face.

We sure do.

I’ll have one of those for starters, she said.

The bartender exchanged glances with Brody. Both of them clearly knew what the for starters part of the sentence meant. This was a customer who wanted to forget something.

Coming right up, said the bartender.

A three-piece band began to play as she tapped her fingers on the badly scarred wood on the bar top. Brody was impressed with the way she kept in perfect time with the music. Maybe she played in a band or at least knew how to play a musical instrument.

Brody’s stomach rumbled, and he patted his belly foolishly thinking that might silence it. The bartender brought the tequila and placed it on a mat in front of the young woman.

Is it okay if I pay at the end of the evening? she asked.

Sure thing.

Sir, can I get you a refill? he asked, turning his attention to Brody.

Yeah, another one of these, said Brody, sliding the beer bottle toward him. And how’s the food in this place? Sometimes these small-town bars were a hit or miss. Either the food was just like your mother made, or it was the kind that forced you to sit on the john all night.

It’s pretty good, and I can recommend the turkey club sandwich and house fries.

I’ll take one of those, said Brody.

And another tequila shot for me, said the woman, sliding the glass toward the bartender, the bracelets tinkling again.

I’ll put that order in and be right back with the drinks, said the bartender.

Brody wanted to tell her to slow down with the liquor but it wasn’t any of his business. He didn’t need to get involved, because he had enough of his own problems. He glanced in the mirror again, seeing that a few couples had now gotten up on the dance floor as the music picked up a beat. He tapped the toe of one of his cowboy boots against the leg of the stool.

Tequila for the lady, and a beer for you, sir, said the bartender, placing the prospective drinks in front of them.

Brody took the bottle and downed two mouthfuls. He’d been told to limit or even quit drinking alcohol, but life was short. The lady downed the shot in one noisy gulp and then coughed.

He was about to pat her on the back but stopped himself in time, reminding himself not to get involved or into a conversation…or anything. He needed to focus on why he was in Riker’s Creek. No getting sidetracked or worse still, derailed from his mission.

Turkey sandwich and fries, said the bartender.

Way too much food sat on the plate he put in front of Brody, but he could always take a doggie bag with him and eat the rest later in his motel room.

You have anything else that’s perfect for making someone forget? said the woman, lifting the shot glass high in the air.

You won’t find that sort of cure in the bottom of a glass, said Brody. Shit, he’d said that without thinking. Him and his big mouth, and not to mention the shortness of his memory.

You let me decide that, she said without looking Brody’s way.

How about a nice mojito, but take it slow and enjoy the music while you sip it? asked the bartender.

Brody took the first bite of the sandwich, tasting the turkey and sliced bacon that had been surprisingly cooked to perfection.

Okay, but make it a double one, she said.

If you’re going to do some serious drinking, you should think about ordering some food or you’ll regret it in the morning.

Damn his mouth. Words were falling out without him realizing it.

You really can’t mind your own business, can you? she asked.

He normally could, but there was something about her that made him want to protect and nurture her.

The bartender put the mojito down in front of her. Everything tasting okay? he asked Brody.

Everything’s perfect. You think you could bring me another plate? Brody threw another fry into his mouth.

I’ll be right back with that, said the bartender.

I’m not eating anything…I mean if you’re thinking of offering it to me, she said.

You’re assuming the plate is for me to put food on it to offer to you. Is that it? asked Brody.

Well, isn’t it? she asked. She swirled the straw around and took a slurp.

Guess you’ll have to wait and see, said Brody just as the bartender placed the plate in front of him.

Brody didn’t do anything for a few minutes besides eat his sandwich. He always liked the act of surprise. He took a drink of beer, ate a fry, and finally took another sip of beer. He didn’t even look at her, but he knew she’d been observing him since the bartender had brought him the plate.

You are a typical man, she finally said. The bracelets made their tinkling sound again.

Really, he said.

"Oh yeah, think