City Girl Seeks Cowboy: Wilder Brothers, #1

By Cat Johnson

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...and when three women are burned by the same man and decide to do something about it, watch out.

Olivia Bennett left New York hoping to find answers, and maybe a little bit of revenge. What she didn't expect was to run into cowboy Wyatt Wilder on the side of a Tennessee mountain when he saves her and her two friends from certain disaster.

 

He's powerful, rich and handsome. He's also grumpy, self-important, overly proud and incapable of being polite. And, if she wants to be able to pay for the repairs on her wrecked RV, he's also going to be her new boss.

 

She needs the temporary nanny position caring for his daughter, so she'd better toe the line, no matter how she feels about the man. And she has all the feels.

Wyatt pushes all her buttons—the good ones and the bad. Even with her usually sunshiny disposition, biting her tongue is not easy because this hot single dad is as frustrating as he is off-limits. So why does she still want to peel off his Wranglers?

 

Welcome to Bitter End, TN, a small town that is about to feel the heat. So are the men of the town's founding family, the Wilder brothers. Because three broken-hearted women on the adventure of a lifetime stranded in the middle of nowhere can ignite plenty of passion… and maybe even spur these consummate bachelors into love.

 

 

WILDER BROTHERS: BITTER END ROMANCE

CITY GIRL SEEKS COWBOY

A grumpy rich single dad is forced to hire as his nanny the much too sunshiny stranger who just crashed, literally, into his town with her two besties. But Olivia has a secret. One that Wyatt Wilder fears could affect his entire family.

 

HER PLAYBOY COWBOY LOVER

Ethan Wilder is a charmer, a rodeo champion and a player not looking to commit for more than one night at a time. But Poppy, the new city girl in town, makes him want to change that. 

 

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD COWBOY

Opposites combust between Army veteran Linc Wilder and Eva, the city girl with an attitude as big as New York. It's best if they keep their distance, but Mother Nature has other ideas when a winter storm traps them together.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cat Johnson
• Release date: Jan 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201343279

Cat Johnson

New York Times & USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author Cat Johnson. Sign up at catjohnson.net/news to get new release and sale alerts.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

I say we cut off his balls when we find him.

At those words the RV, which had been traveling on cruise control at a steady sixty-six miles per hour, swayed precariously toward the guardrail.

Panicked, Olivia Bennet sucked in a sharp breath of air and found it tinged with all the many smells of their long road trip.

With a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel she corrected their course and settled the over-sized vehicle safely back inside the lines.

Only then did she shoot Eva a wide-eyed stare.

You don’t really mean that…do you? she asked, unsure.

Honestly, how much did she know about the woman in her passenger seat? They’d only met a few weeks ago.

Although, more accurately they’d started communicating a few weeks ago. First, by direct message, then by phone. They’d actually met in person this morning after Olivia had gassed up the RV in Albany and hit the highway for this possibly insane road trip. That’s when she’d first laid eyes on Eva Lucas—when she’d picked her up at her mobile home in Skaneateles.

Eva glanced over, her fist overflowing with a handful of the overwhelmingly aromatic, artificially flavored buttered popcorn she’d bought at the last rest stop.

Yes, I do mean it. It’s what the selfish cheating micro prick deserves. Don’t you think so? A deep furrow appeared in Eva’s forehead as she glared at Olivia with piercing green eyes.

The woman’s temper was certainly in keeping with her flaming red hair. The question was, had Eva packed a knife as sharp as her tongue in her bag?

I agree, Poppy piped in.

Olivia dared to take her eyes off the highway to glance at the young blonde seated behind Eva. You do?

Poppy nodded, sending the one long blonde curl not captured by her messy bun bobbing in front of her pale blue eyes.

Of the three of them, Poppy Van Clief seemed the most soft-spoken. Or at least, that had been the case since they’d picked her up from her off-campus housing in Ithaca early this morning.

Not that Poppy had to say anything. Her Swedish bikini model good looks did the talking for her.

Olivia found it unsettling that her two travel companions, who couldn’t be more different, agreed with each other.

Eva was a self-proclaimed bad ass bitch—according to her T-shirt—and in her mid-thirties. And Poppy was a twenty-something and valedictorian of her graduating class at Cornell University, according to her Instagram bio.

Both so different, but they agreed on one subject. Emmett Wilder.

Judging by Eva’s eyes narrowed to angry slits and the firm set of Poppy’s perfectly sculpted jaw, Emmett Wilder—that three-timing Lothario—was in for major trouble when they finally caught up with him.

Hopefully not felony level trouble. Olivia was up for revenge but not jail time.

She needed to smother a bit of the fire that was apparently raging inside her road trip partners in crime.

Let’s just see how it goes when we find him. Okay? Maybe he’ll apologize. Olivia smiled brightly, hoping a smile truly was contagious, like her grandmother—God rest her soul—had always said.

Eva grumbled something under her breath and Poppy remained silent. Olivia figured that was the best she could hope for and reached to twist the volume dial on the radio.

Nothing but static came out of the speakers. She reached down again, taking her eyes off the road for barely a second to locate the search button to find a new station. But when she looked up, it was to see a hairpin turn directly in front of them.

Instinct had her slamming her foot on the brake while over correcting with a yank of the steering wheel, which the behemoth of a vehicle didn’t respond well to.

The thirty-foot long vintage C-Class Ford RV swayed precariously, skidding sideways. The spin sent them careening directly toward the edge of the mountain road.

The only thing between them and certain death on the rocky mountainside below was one much too short and flimsy looking metal guardrail.

That realization—the size and weight of the vehicle versus that of the safety rail—rendered Olivia mute, frozen in fear with a death grip on the steering wheel.

Time seemed to slow as the RV spun.

The rocks. The road. The cliff. The road. The rocks again… Like a carousel, the view out the windshield changed in rapid succession as she watched helplessly.

The sound of the tires screeching and Eva and Poppy screaming mingled into a horrific cacophony. This would be the soundtrack of her death.

It seemed fitting.

Theirs would be a splashy death. Newsworthy. Better, actually, than going quietly. Maybe Emmet would see it on the news and at least feel guilty. Feel something. The cheating turd.

Olivia’s morbid thought was cut off by an impact that sent the three of them swaying hard to the right, held in their seats by the safety belts they thankfully had worn. The RV crashed into the guardrail with the horrible, screeching scrape of metal against metal loud enough to compete with the continued screams of her two passengers.

Then that was it. They’d stopped. All motion ceased. Olivia realized she’d slammed her eyes closed during the impact.

Wrapping her head around the fact she was still alive, she dared to open them again.

What she saw wasn’t exactly comforting. The nose of the RV had crashed through the guardrail and hung there, treating its passengers to a panoramic unobstructed view of the valley below through the massive windshield.

Oh my God, Poppy breathed out. We could have died.

We still might. Eva leaned forward just a bit and glanced down, before leaning back again—way back.

The RV was perched precariously on the edge of a cliff with not much more keeping it from tumbling down than the weight of its back end still on the roadway.

We have to get out. Olivia glanced from one to the other.

Not through my door. Eva tipped her head toward the passenger window just past her shoulder where there was nothing but blue sky and clouds.

Olivia didn’t need to look to know the front wheel was airborne. She was in a slightly better position. The driver’s side door at least faced the road. But a glance down proved the broken remains of the guard rail jammed up against the door would make opening it impossible.

Poppy glanced behind her. The door from the back of the RV, the living section, also faced the cliff’s edge. Maybe if we just like hug the RV we’d have enough room to get around.

Eva let out a snort. Yeah, and maybe we’ll grow wings.

A sudden and loud knock on Olivia’s window had all three of them screaming again.

Spinning to face the sound, she let out a breath. Someone was there to help.

Not just someone—but a walking god of a man with brilliant blue eyes shining from beneath dark brows and the brim of his black cowboy hat.

He was big and tall. Tall enough to see easily in the window of the RV and look her in the eye.

Handsome didn’t come close to describing his good looks, from the cut of his chin to the muscles of his chest barely contained in the dark gray shirt left unbuttoned at the neck.

He made a motion for her to open the window.

When she could think again, she realized the engine was still running, but sometime after almost dying she’d put the vehicle in park. Although, she was still afraid to lift her foot off the brake lest the RV rock.

That small motion could send them over the cliff. Just when a savior was here to save them.

She pushed the button to lower the window and was grateful it still worked. Maybe they could crawl out the window.

You all right? he asked in a voice worthy of the hero here to rescue them.

I think so. She nodded, glancing back at her two companions.

He tipped his head in response and hooked a thumb behind him. I’ve got a chain in the truck. I’m going to secure the vehicle before I get you out. Okay?

She followed his motion with her gaze and saw a big black pickup truck with a black and white dog seated in the passenger seat.

Perfect man. Perfect truck. Even the perfect dog. Or maybe she actually had died and this was heaven.

Either way, she liked his plan. Okay. We’ll be waiting. She forced out a laugh, but it sounded more hysterical than cute, as she’d intended.

He disappeared and she turned toward Eva and Poppy, both pale from the experience and looking as drained as she felt. We’re going to be okay.

Apparently you think so, since you’re flirting with the guy rescuing us while we’re still hanging over a cliff. Eva lifted one fiery brow.

What? I am not. The tone of her words rose so high, it made her denial sound even more false.

You kind of were, Poppy agreed once again with Eva.

Olivia opened her mouth, then slammed it shut, deciding no amount of arguing would change their minds.

Mister Handsome was back at the window anyway. Okay, the chain is secure. Can you shimmy out the window? Real slow. No sudden movements. I’ve got you tied up pretty good, but if this thing decides to go, I’m not sure that’ll stop it.

The image of them plummeting to their death in her RV should have been uppermost in her mind. Instead, the image of this man’s hands around her as he helped her out of the window had her body warming.

Then the fantasy of her wrists tied to his headboard as he hovered above her, naked, filled her mind.

Where the heck had that thought come from? It had to be all the talk about chaining up the RV.

Clearing her throat and her mind, she said, Okay.

She drew in a breath and yanked the door handle. Her hand slipped off, hurting her fingertips and putting her fingernails in jeopardy. The door was still locked. And also crushed. She’d completely forgotten.

She glanced around to see who had seen that misstep.

Of course, he had.

The door’s not gonna open. You’ll have to use the window, he pointed out, again.

The stranger reached out two big strong hands to help her down. She looked less than delicate as she hung out the window, her ass in the air and in Eva’s face, her head dangling down precariously high above the hard surface of the road.

The sensation of his hands grasping her around the waist consumed her.

Before she knew it, she was standing on solid ground. The warmth of his touch was gone and he was back at the RV, reaching up to help guide Eva out. Then Poppy.

She fought the jealousy as they took their turn being saved by the hot rescuer.

When they were all safely out of the vehicle, Olivia let out a huge breath. We’re safe.

She body slammed Poppy first with a hug, since she was standing closest. She nearly knocked her over because the girl was too tall and much too thin to not be blown over by a good strong wind.

Then she turned to Eva, saying, I’m so happy you’re both okay.

Eva rolled her eyes but accepted the hug and even hugged back. Near death experiences brought out the best in people.

She spun to face their savior, even taking a step toward him. She was about to wrap him in a hug of gratitude. A celebration of them all being alive. But the mingled surprise and horror in his expression over her incoming hug had her stopping dead. So did the step he took back, away from her.

Not a hugger then. Too bad.

Instead, she said, Thank you so much.

No problem. Her unflappable hero acted as if them almost dying and his saving them was nothing at all. Besides, dead tourists would be bad for business.

She felt the wrinkle form above her brows. That was a callous thing to say. Although maybe he was making a joke and she just wasn’t in the joking mood at the moment.

I’ll call the service station to tow this thing. They can drive you into town in the tow truck. He pressed the cell to his ear.

He told whoever was on the phone the location and the situation then disconnected and shoved the cell into the pocket of his dark blue jeans.

Billy will be right here with the tow truck. He said about fifteen minutes. Half an hour most. With that, he tipped his hat and reached for the driver’s side door handle.

Wait. You’re leaving us here? She took a panicked step toward him.

His hard gaze landed on them, still standing next to the truck. I’m late for an appointment.

They’d almost died and he was going to leave them on the side of the road because he was worried about some appointment?

What was that about? What kind of hero did that?

Oh. Um. All right. Olivia turned and got a glimpse of Eva’s raised brow and Poppy’s surprised expression.

So she wasn’t imagining it. They agreed too. Their Prince Charming was turning out to be more of a frog.

She supposed she should be grateful that at least he’d gotten them out of the RV. She owed him a big debt of gratitude for that… even if he was acting like a douche.

Darn, and he was so good looking too. Why did the pretty ones have to be such jerks?

Resigned to that fact she glanced over to where Eva and Poppy stood on the edge of the road on the passenger side of his truck.

Oh my God. Eva’s gaze was focused on the door of the truck as her eyes widened and Poppy’s mouth dropped open.

Olivia frowned. What’s wrong?

She strode over to where they stood and followed Eva’s sight line.

That’s when she saw it. The lettering on the door that had her heart pounding and her hands shaking.

Wilder Brothers Inc., Bitter End, TN

Wilder Brothers. As in Emmett Wilder. The lying cheating catfishing cad they were here to confront for breaking all their hearts.

Could the man now climbing into the driver’s seat of the truck be Emmett’s brother?

Olivia glanced at Eva to see if the woman—who might possibly have violent homicidal tendencies—had realized the same thing. Judging by her narrow-eyed glare, she had.

Just as Olivia started to really worry, a car pulled up. An older woman rolled down her window. Oh, my. Is everyone all right?

Hey, Rosie. Yeah. They’re fine. Billy is on the way to tow their vehicle down the mountain. I figured he can give them a ride in the truck.

Oh, no need for them to wait around for him. I’m heading to the café. I can take them.

He glanced their direction, as if they’d say no to an offer of a ride rather than squeezing into the tow truck with a stranger.

Olivia took a few steps forward. We’d love a ride. Thank you.

Sure thing. My pleasure. Hop in, ladies.

Thanks, Rosie. The man was pleasant enough to Rosie but didn’t give Olivia or her friends even a passing glance as he climbed into his truck.

They weren’t even buckled into the car yet when he’d already pulled away in a burst of diesel exhaust.

That man was no Prince Charming, thereby proving her taste in men had not improved with experience.

Emmett Wilder had left her with nothing but a near empty bank account and a bruised heart. But since she’d been rapidly falling in lust with the first man she met on the highway, she couldn’t even claim a lesson learned.

As she sat stewing about that, Poppy reached out and squeezed her hand.

At that, Olivia had to reevaluate her opinion. Emmett had left her—left them all—with something. Each other.

And boy oh boy, was he going to be sorry that he had.

CHAPTER TWO

H ey, Wyatt!

Can’t talk. I’m late. That was thanks to the three tourists who’d tried to take Roan Mountain’s infamous Deadman’s Curve at full speed in a vehicle as big as a house—literally. I’ve got—

Your interview with the new nanny. I know. His younger brother Ethan nodded. She’s here. She’s waiting in the office, he said, following closely behind Wyatt as he headed for the house.

Bingley, the dog, also trailed at his heels. Wyatt could handle the dog following him everywhere, but why was his brother doing it?

Don’t you have work to do? Wyatt asked, glancing back at Ethan as he pushed the door to the house open.

Ethan let out a snort of a laugh. Always. My boss is a real dick like that. Oh, wait. It’s you.

I’m not the boss. We all have equal shares in Wilder Brothers.

I’ll have to remind my boss of that. Ethan grinned.

Wyatt cocked up a brow and glared at his brother, who was looking rather amused with himself and his lame joke.

Blocking the doorway with his body in hopes Ethan wouldn’t follow him inside, Wyatt said, Thanks for greeting the nanny candidate but I’ve got it from here. You can get back to work now.

I just wanted to let you know, I approve of this one.

Oh, do you?

Ethan’s eyes brightened. Yup.

Wonderful, Wyatt said, hoping the sarcasm came through loud and clear. I’ll see you later.

With that, he closed the door unceremoniously in Ethan’s face, after letting the dog slip in past his legs.

Bingley could stay. But Ethan had to go.

At least the dog had proven to have some sense when it came to choosing good people. Especially people who were going to be around his daughter.

Judging by the women his playboy