Doggone Love

By Deirdre O'Dare

Solitary rancher Damon Carhart expects to spend the rest of his life alone. Then an injury to a beloved stock dog sends him to the nearest veterinary clinic for help. His crusty old veterinarian friend is away and in his place is a young doctor in whom Damon initially has no faith. Once he entrusts his canine friend to Eric Vann’s care, everything begins to change. And once desire gets a bite on him, what can he do but go along for the wild ride?

Eric Vann has loved animals all his life, following in an uncle’s footsteps to become a veterinarian. He knows if he ever finds a soul mate it will be another male. When Damon comes in, fierce in defense of his favorite dog, Eric is immediately captivated. Can he overcome the other man’s instinctive resistance to the powerful attraction that begins almost at once?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jul 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781634866552

Deirdre O'Dare

Deirdre writes gay romance channeling a prior life’s gay male twin she calls Danny. Fascinated by love’s diverse shades and guises, she explores and experiences a range of attachments. She still believes in happily ever after, that Love is the One True Thing and genuine Love is never wrong. For more information, visit deirdredares.blogspot.com.

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Doggone Love

By Deirdre O’Dare

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2018 Deirdre O’Dare

ISBN 9781634866552

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission from the publisher, with the exception of excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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In memory of a number of beloved canine friends who are no longer with me, thus always beloved but dog-gone until I, too, cross the Rainbow Bridge. For Rio and Belle, two recent past fur-kids, who taught me about the wonderful Australian Shepherd breed. And last, to everyone who has ever loved, sometimes unwisely but much too well, thus learning the overpowering strength of attraction, desire and that deepest friendship, also known as love.

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Doggone Love

By Deirdre O’Dare

Damon Carhart winced. He’d heard the hoof connect with a dull thud. That sound barely preceded the pained yelp from his best stock dog as she cart-wheeled through the air. She hit the ground—hard.

Aw shit, Dixie Belle, why did you try to turn that damned ornery paint like you do cattle? Horses don’t heel well, babe. You know better.

At the moment, if he’d had a rifle, he’d soon have had a dead horse. It might have been stupid, but the paint gelding’s kick was worse than stupid. It was plain vicious. Damned horse had a mean streak.

He swung off the ATV, hurrying over to kneel at the injured dog’s side. She whimpered when he touched her, not a good sign. Still, a quick check didn’t reveal any broken bones. He smoothed a tender hand down over her head, talking in a low, calm voice. Meanwhile, his thoughts ran in urgent spirals.

How do I get her back and into the truck with a minimum of pain? Without aggravating whatever injuries she has?

A trip to the vet was definitely the first order of business, in spite of the other work he had planned for the day.

Damon believed in taking care of his animals—all of them. That included about a thousand head of purebred Brangus cattle, ten good horses, and the six Australian Shepherds who helped him manage the cattle with only occasional hired help.

Rosalinda and Julio Mendez didn’t count. Hell, the old Mexican-American couple had been on the ranch since when he was knee high to a Quarter Horse. They really didn’t do a lot any more, but he kept them on out of respect. They were almost family. Rosa had damn near raised him after his mother took off. In spite of her arthritis, Rosa