Linda Lael - McKettricks of Texas - Austin

#1 New York Times bestseller Linda Lael Miller brings you the next installment in her unforgettable McKettricks of Texas series. The three McKettrick brothers meet their matches in the three Remington sisters, and now it’s Austin’s turn…

World champion rodeo star Austin McKettrick finally got bested by an angry bull. With his career over and his love life a mess, the lone maverick has nowhere to go when the hospital releases him…except back home to Blue River and the Silver Spur ranch. But his overachieving brothers won’t allow this cowboy to brood in peace. They’ve even hired a nurse to speed his recovery. Paige Remington’s bossy brand of TLC is driving him crazy. Not to mention her beautiful face, sexy figure and silky black hair.

Paige has lost count of the number of times Austin has tried to fire her. She’s not going anywhere till he’s healed—body and heart.

Praise for the McKettricks of Texas series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller

“A passionate love too long denied drives the action in this multifaceted, emotionally rich reunion story that overflows with breathtaking sexual chemistry.”

—Library Journal on McKettricks of Texas: Tate

“Linda Lael Miller delivers a powerful novel of love lost and love regained…. The author does a great job of letting you into the heart of these characters.”

—BestRomanceStories.com on McKettricks of Texas: Tate

“The tale of Austin McKettrick…is completely wonderful. Austin’s interactions with Paige are fun and lively and the mystery that began in Tate’s story ends with Austin’s love story and adds quite a suspenseful punch.”

—RT Book Reviews on McKettricks of Texas: Austin

“A heartwarming romance and the perfect ending to a wonderful series.”

—JoyfullyReviewed.com on McKettricks of Texas: Austin

“Miller’s fast-moving, emotional contemporary romance continues the McKettricks series’ plotlines, with more installments to come.”

—Booklist on McKettricks of Texas: Garrett

“[Miller’s] subtle blend of sensuality, chivalry, and the clear roles of her men and women create charming romances. The McKettrick brothers are sexy gentlemen with Stetsons. Whether they’re from 1810 or 2010, Linda Lael Miller’s cowboys are timeless.”

—JoyfullyReviewed.com on McKettricks of Texas: Garrett

“A fitting addition to the…well-written McKettrick novels from Miller. This one will not disappoint either old fans or new.”

—The Romance Reader on McKettricks of Texas: Garrett

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the third of three books starring a group of modern-day McKettrick men. Readers who have embraced the irrepressible, larger-than-life McKettrick clan won’t want to miss the stories of Tate, Garrett and now Austin—three Texas-bred brothers who meet their matches in the Remington sisters. Sidelined by an injury, bad-boy rodeo star Austin McKettrick fears he’s got nothing left to live for…until spirited nurse Paige Remington makes him dream of the happily-ever-after he hadn’t thought he wanted.

As I’ve said in earlier letters, I love all things Western: the landscape, the people and, of course, the stories. Especially stories with a lot of romance in them… There’s nothing like a cowboy, after all! I’ve set books in a number of different Western locales, including Texas (like these three books), Montana (the Parable series), Arizona (the Mojo Sheepshanks stories) and now Wyoming (the Brides of Bliss County, my newest trilogy).

I also want to remind you, my dear readers, about something else that’s extremely important to me and, I know, to you—animals, and our responsibility to them. We should all support our local shelters, and the best way to do that is to adopt your pets from them! I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping our pets safe—neuter and vaccinate them and make sure they’re properly identified, with microchips and/or tags. Encourage everyone you know to do these things, too. The animals in our lives bring us so much happiness; they’re the very definition of unconditional love. And we should treat them the same way!

Check out my website, lindalaelmiller.com, to read my blog, to comment and to learn about current releases and contests.

With love,

For Wendy Diane Miller, my daughter.

I love you.

Acknowledgments

Every book presents its special challenges, as does every series. But some touch writers more deeply than others, and require more in terms of creativity, energy, depth of emotion. This trilogy, The McKettricks of Texas, was such an experience. There were times of soaring joy, of course; there was also a lot of difficulty. Without the help, patience and faith of my beloved editor, Joan Marlow Golan, and the constant encouragement of my agent, Irene Goodman, the books would have been far more challenging, if not impossible, to write. My love and heartfelt thanks to both of these impressive women.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Copy

Praise

Title Page

Dear Reader

Dedication

Acknowledgments

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

PROLOGUE

San Antonio, Texas October

EIGHT SECONDS.

Outside the world of rodeo, it was hardly any time at all.

Add two thousand pounds of ticked-off bull—aptly named Buzzsaw—to the equation, though, and eight seconds could seem a whole lot like forever.

Standing at the bar in a little backstreet, hole-in-the-wall dive a more prudent man would likely have steered clear of, Austin McKettrick reflected on the ride he’d made a few hours before and wondered why he didn’t feel more like celebrating.

For months now, ever since the first go-round with that particular bull, when he’d nearly been killed, Austin had thought about little else except riding Buzzsaw.

Now that he’d done it, and laid a demon or two to rest in the process, he was fresh out of worthy objectives.

A flicker in the mirror behind the bar drew Austin’s attention; he adjusted his hat and scanned the shadowy width of the glass with an imperceptible movement of his eyes.

Shit, he thought as he watched his brothers, Tate and Garrett, approach.

They were both cowboys, lean and tall, with broad shoulders and Clint Eastwood attitudes. Folks just naturally stepped out of their way.

Without turning around, Austin lifted his mug and took a long, slow sip of beer.

Tate, the eldest of the three, bellied up to the bar on Austin’s right, while Garrett took the left side, both of them crowding into his space. As if he might not have noticed them otherwise. He grinned to himself and adjusted his hat again.

Pinky, the bartender, a woman in her mid-seventies with her hair plaited into a long gray braid and skin that glowed with good health behind a veil of wrinkles, appeared right away.

“What’ll it be?” she asked, her gaze moving from Tate’s face to Garrett’s, but slipping right on past Austin’s as if he weren’t there.