You Belong to Me: A Copper Mills Novella

By Janis McCurry

She loves her Harley and the open road.
He doesn't believe in love.
Their passion burns white-hot… But she's just passing through.

With his fear of being left behind and her thirst for the open road, who will be the first to say You Belong to Me? Copper Mills residents agree. Bad boy Gabe Clayton is a pain-in-the-ass. He returns the sentiment. He stays for his father—and because he doesn't know where the hell he'd go.

Coming from a family of adventurers, Montana Jones can't imagine settling in one place when there are so many others to explore. Copper Mills looks like a great place to take a break and earn some cash playing her guitar. What they both think is the perfect no-strings relationship goes awry when they find they want more. Much more.

Get your copy of You Belong To Me today because everyone should belong to someone. Come Visit Copper Mills, Arizona--a small town with a heart as big as the wide-open spaces and a long history of making dreams come true.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janis McCurry
• Release date: Nov 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9798215843239

Janis McCurry

I was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, nestled in the beautiful Treasure Valley. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else. We have four distinct seasons, mountains, lakes and deserts. My sisters and I were close growing up and we all still live in Boise. We keep in constant contact and that family-style love comes out in all my books. Either there is a sister by blood or a sister of the heart in all my stories. I treasure my son and daughter-in-law and couldn’t be prouder of them. I could no more leave out a family connection than I could the romances I put in my novels. I write romance because I believe in happy endings, whether with a first-time love or a second chance love. An inveterate reader and moviegoer, I like romantic comedies, drama, and adventure themes. I write romantic suspense and contemporary novels, and the occasional paranormal light. Janis McCurry Follow me on Facebook @ Janis McCurry of Caileigh Press

Book preview

PART ONE

Wild and free

You rode into town

Stronger than me

Unafraid to belong

Montana Jones cruised into Copper Mills at around six o’clock on Sunday morning. It wouldn’t do to disturb the townspeople by roaring in on her Harley at top speed. Lizzie, her bike, wasn’t quiet … ever, but Montana kept it as low a gear as she could to downplay the noise.

The last thing she wanted was to piss off the locals. That rule was Just Passing Through 101. Sunrise on an August morning started at five-thirty and she wanted to look the town over before the churchgoers stirred.

In the middle of the block ahead, she saw a sign that read Sundowner’s. Perfect. The bar looked like her kind of place. From the outside, at least. As she pulled up, a guy focused on his phone stepped into her Sportster’s path. She slammed her brake handle down. Fortunately, the front wheel barely kissed his well-worn Levis.

He lurched to the side. What the hell? The scowl on his face jerked her adrenaline up a few notches.

She yanked off her helmet. Get your face out of your digital pacifier and you might live longer. Jackass. She walked her bike over to the side of the street, dismounted, and flicked down the kickstand. Might as well get it over with since he’d followed her. So much for not pissing off the locals. She shrugged and turned to face him.

Nice boots.

That surprised her.

Don’t usually have to dodge cycles this early in the morning, he said. We tend to have quiet streets in Copper Mills. Harleys like yours are rare in this town.

Ditching the scowl had improved his looks. Rolling her eyes, she said, Touché. Montana Jones.

Gabe Clayton.

She peeled off her glove and they shook. She tipped her head toward Sundowner’s. You work there?

Yep. We closed at two. I clean up after. Had to do inventory tonight. He looked up at the sky. This morning.

Yeah. Well, nice meeting you. She put on her glove, grabbed the handlebars, hooked her toe on the kickstand and flipped it up.

What brings you to our little town? It’s not a booming tourist destination. His flat tone told the story. He didn’t think much of Copper Mills.

Looks good to me. Just passing through. Thought I’d check it out. See ya. She straddled the bike and started the engine.

See ya, Boots.

She drove off without a backward glance. Time to find a place to camp.

Gabe followed her progress down the street, a slight grin breaking the grim set of his face. Gutsy girl. No, woman. Too bad she was a short-timer. Not that he was looking for anything permanent. As if there were such a thing. Still, those long legs in calf-high boots gave him all sorts of ideas. She was no princess. Couldn’t be with her ride. Didn’t get close enough to see the color of her eyes, but she’d seen the sun a lot and the braid of dark brown hair reached the middle of her back. He imagined it loose and spread against her sun-kissed skin before he caught himself. And a badass. Definitely someone to stay away from. Trouble with a capital T. He wondered about the strapped down guitar. Odd thing to haul around on a Harley.

At home, he put the coffee on from habit and pulled out his lined notepad. He didn’t sleep much. Even when he was a little kid, it was as if he were waiting for something to happen. Didn’t matter if it came at him good or bad, he needed to be ready for it. Problem was, the somethings had been mostly bad. Shit happens and then you die. Words to live by.

He stared at the empty page. Then he thought about the girl in the leather jacket and black boots. All piss and vinegar as Reed’s grandfather used to say. Just looking at her made him think of the open road and unknown adventures waiting to be discovered. He began to write.

When his cell rang, he hit answer.

Pop said, Gabe, how are you?

’Bout like always. He waited for the question he knew would come.

Will you be over for Sunday dinner? Susan would love to see you. It’s been two months.

A wave of regret—quickly squelched-—swept through him. I did Sundowner’s inventory this morning. Just got home pretty beat. Liar.

Reed and Catie are coming. Pop wasn’t about to give up without a fight. What do you say?

Maybe. Don’t wait dinner for me though. Pop knew he’d be a no-show, but they both went through the motions, anyway.

And Sue? What do I tell her? I don’t like her feeling hurt. Pop’s disapproving tone came through loud and clear.

Damn it. Tell her I’ll call her soon. She knows how I feel about her. When Pop married Susan, she’d opened her heart to Gabe. For a ten-year-old kid, scared because his mother hadn’t wanted him enough to stay, she’d been a Godsend. But then, she hadn’t had a choice when she’d fallen in love with Pop. As Gabe grew up, he’d wondered how much of his stepmother’s affection was for him and how much was because of Pop.

Try to make it, son. Pop rang off.

Yeah, he’d make it. To Sundowner’s for a drink with the guys.

Montana had spent the morning looking for a place to camp. A couple of miles outside of town, she found a flat enough space by a few junipers that would work. They were better than the Saguaros, which were a little more inhospitable. She didn’t need much room. Put her kit tent up and she’d be good. Sleep like a baby