Vicki Thompson: Do You Take This Cowboy?

A Marriage-Minded Cowboy

Orphaned at a young age, Austin Teague found a loving foster home at Thunder Mountain Ranch. After four years away, he’s back in Wyoming for a family wedding...with hopes to plan his own nuptials once he finds his ideal bride. Between their mutual off-the-charts attraction and easy camaraderie, it seems as if Austin and gorgeous videographer Drew Martinelli are made for each other.

Drew cherishes her independence—in her job, and during this time-out from her boisterous Montana clan. But the sexy, straight-shooting brother of the groom wants to settle down—now!—and Drew isn’t ready to say “I do.” What if that means giving up the chance to have it all with the smoking-hot cowboy of her dreams?

Praise for Vicki Lewis Thompson

“It’s a wonderful sexy romance, with some very appealing and likable characters, and I’m definitely going to delve into more of the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood series.”

—Harlequin Junkie,

Top Pick, on Cowboy Untamed

“The tongue-in-cheek, sweet yet sensual and comfortable family feel... remains until the last page. Cowboy After Dark is a story that will keep you smiling.”

—RT Book Reviews, Top Pick

“Thompson continues to do what she does best, tying together strong family values bound by blood and choice, interspersed with the more sizzling aspects of the relationship.”

—RT Book Reviews on Thunderstruck

“All the characters, background stories and character development are positively stellar; the warm family feeling is not saccharine-sweet, but heartfelt and genuine, and Lexi and Cade’s rekindled romance is believable from beginning to end, along with the classy, sexy and tender love scenes.”

—Fresh Fiction on Midnight Thunder

“Vicki Lewis Thompson has compiled a tale of this terrific family, along with their friends and employees, to keep you glued to the page and ending with that warm and loving feeling.”

—Fresh Fiction on Cowboys and Angels

Do You Take This Cowboy?

Vicki Lewis Thompson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

A passion for travel has taken New York Times bestselling author VICKI LEWIS THOMPSON to Europe, Great Britain, the Greek isles, Australia and New Zealand. She’s visited most of North America and has her eye on South America’s rain forests. Africa, India and China beckon. But her first love is her home state of Arizona, with its deserts, mountains, sunsets and—last but not least—cowboys! The wide-open spaces and heroes on horseback influence everything she writes. Connect with her at www.vickilewisthompson.com, Facebook.com/vickilewisthompsonand Twitter.com/vickilthompson.

To all my loyal readers who’ve loved the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood, thank you! Your emails and Facebook posts mean so much to me!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A Marriage-Minded Cowboy Orphaned at a young age, Austin Teague found a loving foster home at Thunder Mountain Ranch. After four years away, he’s back in Wyoming for a family wedding...with hopes to plan his own nuptials once he finds his ideal bride. Between their mutual off-the-charts attraction and easy camaraderie, it seems as if Austin and gorgeous videographer Drew Martinelli are made for each other. Drew cherishes her independence—in her job, and during this time-out from her boisterous Montana clan. But the sexy, straight-shooting brother of the groom wants to settle down—now!—and Drew isn’t ready to say “I do.” What if that means giving up the chance to have it all with the smoking-hot cowboy of her dreams?

Praise Praise for Vicki Lewis Thompson “It’s a wonderful sexy romance, with some very appealing and likable characters, and I’m definitely going to delve into more of the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood series.” —Harlequin Junkie, Top Pick, on Cowboy Untamed “The tongue-in-cheek, sweet yet sensual and comfortable family feel... remains until the last page. Cowboy After Dark is a story that will keep you smiling.” —RT Book Reviews, Top Pick “Thompson continues to do what she does best, tying together strong family values bound by blood and choice, interspersed with the more sizzling aspects of the relationship.” —RT Book Reviews on Thunderstruck “All the characters, background stories and character development are positively stellar; the warm family feeling is not saccharine-sweet, but heartfelt and genuine, and Lexi and Cade’s rekindled romance is believable from beginning to end, along with the classy, sexy and tender love scenes.” —Fresh Fiction on Midnight Thunder “Vicki Lewis Thompson has compiled a tale of this terrific family, along with their friends and employees, to keep you glued to the page and ending with that warm and loving feeling.” —Fresh Fiction on Cowboys and Angels

Title Page Do You Take This Cowboy? Vicki Lewis Thompson www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author A passion for travel has taken New York Times bestselling author VICKI LEWIS THOMPSON to Europe, Great Britain, the Greek isles, Australia and New Zealand. She’s visited most of North America and has her eye on South America’s rain forests. Africa, India and China beckon. But her first love is her home state of Arizona, with its deserts, mountains, sunsets and—last but not least—cowboys! The wide-open spaces and heroes on horseback influence everything she writes. Connect with her at www.vickilewisthompson.com , Facebook.com/vickilewisthompson and Twitter.com/vickilthompson .

Dedication To all my loyal readers who’ve loved the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood, thank you! Your emails and Facebook posts mean so much to me!

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

Chapter Twenty

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Drew Martinelli walked backward up the steps of the ranch house to the porch while keeping her camcorder focused on the couple strolling toward her hand in hand. Cade and Lexi’s wedding was four days away and they’d hired Drew to create a video illustrating their love for each other, their appreciation of Thunder Mountain Ranch and their gratitude to both sets of parents. They planned to give a copy to the two couples at the rehearsal dinner as a surprise.

Because they’d wanted to shoot it at the ranch Cade grew up on, they’d had to get his foster parents, Rosie and Herb, to leave for the afternoon. They’d sent them to town on a somewhat bogus errand to pick up more decorations for the wedding. Drew knew Rosie and Herb pretty well by now. She doubted they believed the decorations were necessary but they’d played along, probably realizing something secret was going on.

Drew had begun the video down at the barn with Lexi and Cade tossing hay at each other. Next she’d followed them out to the pasture where they’d played tag with their horses, Hematite and Serendipity. She’d shot footage in the cabin where Cade had lived with two of his foster brothers as a teenager.

Then she’d walked with Cade and Lexi to their own recently constructed cabin and recorded Cade fixing lasagna. Cade’s ability to cook must be a big deal because the two teased each other unmercifully during the process. Drew had struggled to keep from laughing, which would have been picked up on the mic.