Blacktop Cowboys

Lainie Capshaw has been servicing injured cowboys long enough to know that a charming Western drawl combined with a fine physical form doesn't mean you should fall for a man. As a sports therapist, she travels the rodeo circuits patching up riders-and fending off their sweet-talking, swaggering advances.So no one is more surprised than Lainie when she finds herself involved with not one, but two men on different circuits: Hank Lawson, a bullfighter, and Kyle Gilchrist, a bull rider trying to stage a comeback. Lainie feels guilty about her two-timing, but it doesn't keep her from doubling her fun-until Hank catches her with Kyle.She's shocked that Hank isn't mad. She's more shocked to learn that Hank and Kyle are hometown buddies. But when the men offer to share her-in every way-she knows that both of them are going to try to win her, body and soul. Now it's up to Lainie to choose the one man who can give her the ride of her life.

Cattleman Bran Turner is left shorthanded during busy calving season when a bull tramples his hired hand. Rural Wyoming isn't exactly a hotbed of qualified candidates, and the only applicant for the position is the pampered town beauty, Harper Masterson. The curvy cowgirl gets under Bran's skin at every turn, but with no other options, he reluctantly hires her.When sexual sparks ignite, down-on-her-luck Harper convinces Bran that not only is she capable of pulling calves, feeding livestock, and handling backbreaking ranch chores, but she doesn't mind getting down and dirty, either. Harper also discovers the hot-bodied cowboy isn't all work and no horseplay . . . and he's got more than a few tricks up his sleeve.Bran will learn quickly that Harper is no country mouse-and that she might just have what it takes to stick around for the long haul.

The West was not so wild for Janie Fitzhugh. Living with her rancher husband, Abe Lawson, in rural Wyoming nearly broke her spirit, so she left. But eight years later, she returns to Muddy Gap to take a job at a new resort. When an unexpected danger arises, Abe seizes the chance to protect Janie and prove he's a changed man.Janie's employer at the Split Rock Ranch and Resort, Renner Jackson, has gotten himself tangled up in a devil's bargain trying to finish the construction. His new partner's daughter, Tierney Pratt, is a spoiled daddy's girl and off-limits-no matter how drop-dead gorgeous she is. But Tierney's got her own secret reasons for keeping the rough-and-tumble cowboy at a distance.When things get down and dirty at the resort, Abe and Renner must saddle up and fight to rope in the women they can't imagine living without.

Barrel racer Celia Lawson knows better than to tangle with bull rider Kyle Gilchrist. The sexy cowboy's love 'em and leave 'em ways have earned him a reputation on the rodeo circuit, and he's always seen her as his best friend's kid sister. But one wild tequila-fueled night later, and Celia wakes up to find out she's gotten herself hitched-to the one man she never should have married! When Celia insists on an annulment, Kyle has no good reason to say no-except he isn't ready to let go of his new bride. Especially not after their incredible wedding night. But then Kyle inherits a sprawling Wyoming ranch, and seizes the opportunity to enlist Celia's help. She agrees to lend a hand-on two conditions. He's got six months to get up to speed as a rancher, then they'll get a divorce. And their marriage will be in name only. Kyle gives in to Celia's demand, ready to prove to her he has what it takes to turn their one night rodeo into a lifetime of love.

Tanna Barker is a world champion barrel racer. But her personal life has been less of a success, and she's feeling adrift. After her mother's unexpected death, her father has remarried and sold the Texas ranch she called home. Now a rodeo injury has left the restless spitfire holed up in Muddy Gap, unsure what her next move should be. Veterinarian August Fletcher has always put his job first. He's never found a woman who could handle his on-the-road lifestyle. But when sassy, sexy Tanna blows into town, he finally finds the woman of his fantasies. And there's something between them, but she claims she's been burned by love 'em and leave 'em road dogs before. How can Fletch prove that he's in it for the long haul, and that their sizzling relationship is better than winning any rodeo medal? It'll take some sweet persuasion to convince Tanna that Muddy Gap is where she belongs.

Liberty Masterson serves as country star Devin's bodyguard and a passionate romance ignites. Living in close quarters causes the chemistry between them to ignite. Although Liberty surrenders to his every whim behind closed doors, she fears the sexy country star doesn't see the real her. Devin can't help but worry when the tour ends that there might not be enough between them to build something that won't fade away.

Flower child, vegetarian, and humanitarian Harlow Pratt and gruff cattle ranch foreman Hugh Pritchett have been taunting each other for years. Hugh thinks that she's nothing but a spoiled rich girl, and he's had enough of that life with his ex-wife. Harlow thinks that Hugh is an ill-mannered troublemaker who wouldn't know fun if it bit him on his tight, denim-clad butt. When Harlow and Hugh are forced together at the Split Rock Ranch and Resort, everything changes. They might be polar opposites, but working out their differences skin to skin, in the dark, seems to help them find some common ground. But when trouble from both their pasts comes calling, Harlow and Hugh have no one else to lean on. Can they trust one another enough to make it through the hard times together, or will their tentative truce fall apart? Contains mature themes.

When Tobin Hale stepped in to stop Garnet Evans's son from railroading her out of her own home, he knew moving in with his favorite Mud Lily could be seen as strange. But nothing prepared him for the arrival of Garnet's fiery, beautiful granddaughter, Jade-or her assumption that he's up to no good... While Tobin might be the hottest man Jade Evans has ever seen, his physical attributes won't distract her from protecting her grandma from his sweet-talking ways. But the stubborn cowboy digs in his boot heels and refuses to leave. Stuck in close quarters together, Jade learns Tobin is the real deal-a hardworking, fiercely loyal man-and she's the one in danger of losing her heart. And just when he was prepared to leave Muddy Gap behind, Tobin may have found the kind of woman worth sticking around for... Contains mature themes.

Growing up with three older brothers, Larissa "Riss" Thorpe defines the term tomboy-a moniker that never mattered to her until she crossed paths with sexy cowboy player Ike Palmer. Seeing him in action on the road, Riss can tell that Ike prefers his women soft-spoken and feminine. And since Riss is obviously not his type, it's unlikely that they'll mix business and pleasure when they're in close quarters together. Former cattle broker Ike Palmer was ready for a new chapter in his life as a stock contractor when he started working with Riss, a sassy truck driver who gets under his skin at every turn. But Riss is unlike any woman he's ever met, and her candor inflames him in the most unexpected ways. After circumstances force a truce between them, Riss and Ike will have to choose to maintain the stubbornness that keeps them apart or take a chance on the fiery attraction that could lead to something more . . . Contains mature themes.

Years in the Army equipped Bailey Masterson for many things: target shooting, rappelling off cliffs, dodging grenades. She's lived through horrors that still give her nightmares. But nothing in Bailey's life-or-death training prepared her for caring for the tiny terror that is five-year-old Olivia Hale. Or how to control her raging attraction to Olivia's father, Streeter, the rugged, green-eyed cattle rancher who undermines her every move even when he stars in her dreams. Streeter Hale has room for only two things in his life: his daughter and his job. He doesn't date. He doesn't get attached. Not anymore. So not only is Streeter stunned by Olivia's improved behavior after just a few days with Bailey, he's downright floored by his immediate attraction to the woman. But with secrets in her eyes and a body that doesn't quit, Streeter begins to worry that Bailey Masterson might just be the one woman to heal his fractured family and broken heart. One thing's for sure-these two wrecked souls are spinning out of control as they desperately try not to fall in love . . . Contains mature themes.