They say you always hurt the one you love... but love was never supposed to be part of this. I spent my whole damn life in my brother's shadow. Once he was out of the way I could finally claim what was mine: the Devlin Ranch. All I needed was a wife.Astrid Walker fit the bill. Pretty, well-educated and just the right side of prim, she seemed perfect – perfectly convenient... moreThey say you always hurt the one you love... but love was never supposed to be part of this. I spent my whole damn life in my brother's shadow. Once he was out of the way I could finally claim what was mine: the Devlin Ranch. All I needed was a wife.Astrid Walker fit the bill. Pretty, well-educated and just the right side of prim, she seemed perfect – perfectly convenient.But she blew into my heart like a summer storm blows down off the mountains and in the space of a few blissful days, everything was different.I was different. I swear I don't know what that girl did to me but she got me thinking about things I never thought about, giving a sh*t about things I never gave a sh*t about. Things like home and family and what really matters in a man's life.It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be real.Now all that matters is making sure she doesn't learn the truth about who I really am – or what I did. Because if she does, she's gone – and somewhere between 'hello' and the sound of her sweet sighs echoing in my ears, I lost the ability to live without her. "An old-fashioned wife..." All rugged features, dusty cowboy boots and blue eyes flashing with mischief, Cillian Devlin looked like trouble – exactly the kind of trouble a lifelong good girl who just got dumped at the altar would kill to get into.And he needed a wife.It was all kind of a joke...until it wasn't. Until I was in his arms and the only word on my lips was his name.He knew exactly what he was doing. By the time I heard the whispers of dark family secrets and bad blood it was too late, I was addicted...Now I have to decide. Do I gamble my battered heart on a man who might as well be a walking red flag? Or spend the rest of my life trying to forget what it felt like to be his?
Author's Note:
This is Book 2 in the Devlin Brothers Ranch series by Joanna Bell, it is recommended to read Book 1 (The Cowboy's Baby) first. Intended for mature readers over the age of 18. less
#2
