Cowboys Mine by Stacey Espino
5 Things to Watch for When Hooking up Behind the Barn
- Be careful of splinters—barn boards are not forgiving on the bare skin. Keep your shirt on!
- Make sure the neighbors aren’t out plowing their fields. Old Mr. Jones won’t be able to handle the excitement.
- Catch your cowboy first thing in the morning unless you prefer the scent of sweat and manure.
- Dusk is beautiful, but the mosquitoes can really ruin the moment when you’re half naked against the barn. Aim for action before the sun sets.
- Hold on for dear life because a horny cowboy will give you an experience to remember.
COWBOYS MINE by Stacey
Espino
Western Menage (MFM)
Romance
Releasing Jan. 22 from Evernight Publishing
Blurb
Eva Ford lives a sheltered life on her small rural farm. At
twenty-two, she feels the need to spread her wings and start her own life,
planning a trip to the city to show her prized cows. Colton and North McReed
from the next ranch over are determined to make sure she stays out of trouble.
Twin brothers, Colton and North, have always loved little
Eva. She's their rock in life, the one pure thing in their otherwise dark
existence. Their abusive father ran out on the family years ago and their
mother suffers from a serious addiction. They never look at Eva with
desire...until they spend a week alone with her in the city.
Everything changes when Eva and the cowboys realize just how
deep their love for each other runs. Once their passion is unleashed, it's
impossible to contain. But can their unorthodox relationship last? Will sex ruin
the friendship of a lifetime?
Excerpt
North
was ready to brawl. In fact, he craved it like never before. Pain would be
preferable to the ache in his heart. Somewhere along the line he began to see
Eva as more than the sweet girl next door. Somewhere along the line he’d fallen
in love.
What
he didn’t understand was Colton’s sudden disinterest. Their feelings for Eva
always mirrored each other’s. Half the time when he’d escape to the Ford house,
Colton was already there. They’d come on the trip specifically to keep Eva out
of trouble, but instead, his twin was turning a blind eye.
They
ate dinner in silence. North watched the sky turn from blue to black, every
darkening shade bringing his anxiety to a new level. She still wasn’t back. God
knows what that cowboy was doing with little Eva. The thought of his filthy
hands on her made his blood boil. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could sit
still with his imagination running wild.
He
was just about to bolt from his seat when the door to the trailer opened. Cool
air flooded the interior and the sound of Eva clearing her throat made every
live wire inside him suddenly lose power. He exhaled a nervous breath, glad she
was at least home safely.
“Told
you I’d be back in one piece,” she said as she hung up her cardigan. “There’s
no need to go hunting me down. Seriously.”
She
started to climb up into the loft.
“Where’s
lover boy?” asked North, no humor in his tone.
“His
name is Wade, and he just dropped me off, like a perfect gentleman.”
“That
why he had his lips all over you?” asked Colton. His brother was just as
unimpressed, even though he’d condoned the behavior.
“Hush
you!” Eva slipped under the covers.
“You
haven’t eaten,” said North.
“Wade
bought me dinner.”
He
ground his teeth together, stifling a growl. The sound of that man’s name on
Eva’s lips made him see red. If he never heard the name again it would be too
soon.
They
secured the trailer and turned out the lights before joining Eva in the bed. He
tossed his shirt and lay down on his back, staring up at the low ceiling. She
was already comfortable, obviously not feeling the volatile energy keeping him
awake. He kept as far to his side as possible, the cold wall of the trailer
chilling his arm. Every time she shifted in the bed, he tensed.
“I’m
cold,” she murmured, cuddling closer to him. The heat of her body scorched his
bare skin. In a matter of days, everything changed for him. He wasn’t sure when
it happened, but he wished he could go back to the way things were.
Uncomplicated.
He
tried to get away from her but he was trapped in the tight confines of the
sleeping area. He held his breath as she ran her palm over his chest, over and
over in small circles. Her touch had always been soothing—not so much anymore.
“What’s
wrong with you?” she whispered against his neck. His eyes lolled back in his
head. Even her fucking breath was sweet.
“Nothing.
Go to sleep, Eva.”
“You’re
acting weird, North. Is this because of Wade?”
He
decided the cowboy was a safer topic than his changing feelings for her. “I don’t
trust him.”
“Why
not?”
“Just
don’t is all.” He rolled to his side and away from her. It didn’t feel right
going to sleep on a sour note, but he couldn’t have this discussion now. Mrs.
Ford was the one to teach him and Colton not to speak out of passion. It was
always best to confront a person with a level head, after cooling off and
replaying the events over in your head. He usually didn’t take the advice, but
tonight felt like a good time to start.
“Will
you two quiet down,” said Colton.
Eva
pressed her body against his back. Why had he taken off his shirt? He needed
layers between them—many, many layers.
“I
know what I’m doing,” she said in a whisper. “You don’t have to worry about
me.”
“I’d
worry less if you spent more time with Bessie and Ruby than that drifter.”
“He’s
not a drifter.”
“Why
you defending him?” he asked. “You act like you’re already an item.”
She
kissed his shoulder. “I just want you to be happy for me, North.”
“It
doesn’t matter what I think.”
“It
does. You’re the one who taught me how to rope a calf, and even though it took
me weeks to learn, you never got impatient. You protected me when Jameson’s
dogs got loose.” She ran her hand delicately down his arm, her fingers
lingering over the raised scars on his forearm. “You bought me a corsage when
no boy asked me to prom. Remember when the three of us danced in the rain that
night? My dress was covered in mud.”
“I
remember.”
“Well
those are just examples of why I love you so much. It doesn’t feel right doing
anything without your blessing.”
He
wasn’t sure he could ever give her what she wanted.
Stacey Espino
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