A Real Cowboy. A Real Home?
Rafe Rodriguez never reckoned on playing hero to a beautiful, big-city stranger. But when he saves Valentine Jones from a charging bull, this Rodriguez brotherâs fate is all but sealed. The Hollywood photographer is on location in Forever to scout out an authentic dude ranch. And nothing could feel more realâor rightâthan the fiery feelings Valâs awakening in Rafe. And he knows just how their real-life romance should end!
Haunted by tragedy, Val knows life isnât like the movies. Still, a girl could get used to having a sexy protector like Rafe around. The Texas rancher is wreaking havoc with her credo of never settling in one place. Is Val headed for heartbreak again? Or has she finally found a place to belong with this cowboy whoâs starting to make her believe in forever?
âRun?â Val echoed incredulously. âWhy would you tell me toâ?â
This was no time for debate. Instead of biting off a few choice words of explanation, Rafe grabbed her hand. Rather than pushing her ahead of him, he went the other route. He pulled her in his wake.
Hard.
And then she finally heard it. She heard the cause for his alarm. The sound of something pounding on the ground seemed as if it was reverberating right through her, like an earthquake in the distance.
The âearthquakeâ felt as though it was coming closer by the moment.
Val turned her head in the direction the sound was coming from.
That was when she saw it.
A bull.
A huge black bull was charging directly at them.
Dear Reader,
Forever, Texas started out as a onetime, one-book idea. One story, about a sheriff and an abandoned babyâand the lady lawyer looking not just for the baby but her runaway sister, as well. But once sheâand Iââcameâ to Forever, the people I wrote about tended to stick in my mind. The main two characters got to play out their story, but what about the others? What about the sheriffâs deputy, Alma, and her five brothers? What about his sister, Ramona? And then there was the heroineâs sister, not to mention Miss Joan, the lady with the slightly too-red hair who ran the diner and oversaw everyone elseâs lives. What about all their stories? So I decided to start exploring those avenues, finding out what made these people tick. What made them happy.
This time around, we come to Gabeâs twin brother, Rafe, a rancher content with his lot and pretty much minding his own businessâuntil he stumbles across a vivacious woman with a camera, taking pictures of his land. She turns out to be a location scout for a film companyâand wouldnât you just know it, she thinks that his familyâs ranch and the town of Forever are a perfect place to shoot their new movie.
By the end of the story, the term perfect location takes on a whole new meaning for Valentine Jones and for Rafe. And Miguel Rodriguez now has just two sons left to marry off. Who will it be next? Curious? Yâall come back now, yâhear?
In conclusion, as always, I thank you for reading. I wouldnât be here without you. And from the bottom of my heart I wish you someone to love who loves you back.
All the best,
Marie
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marie Ferrarella, a USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Awardâwinning author, has written more than two hundred books for Harlequin, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, www.marieferrarella.com.
To
Anastasia Ault Who Makes Me Remember Why I Write
Chapter One
She was gorgeous.
Had he forgotten his tan Stetson at the house, the way he occasionally did, Raphael Rodriguez might have been inclined to believe that heâd gotten sunstroke and was having his very first hallucination.
But his Stetson was firmly planted on his headâhe actually reached up to touch the brim to make sure it was there. And, although it was rather warm for the middle of Januaryâwinters here in Forever, Texas, were usually mildâitâs wasnât that hot. At least, not hot enough to produce either heatstroke or mirages. This morning, initially, thereâd even been a slight nip in the air to remind him that winter wasnât quite finished with them yet.
All in all, this had been a more eventful winter than usual, at least for his family. It had been a winter where his twin brother, Gabriel, had found the girl of his dreams. Gabe and the woman he called âAngelâ were getting married in April.
Rafe had to admitâalthough only silently to himselfâthat he was somewhat envious of his twin. Angel was incredibly sweet and heâd never seen Gabe so happy. At times, the man seemed to be walking five inches off the ground.
The thought of finding someone of his own to settle down with had been on Rafeâs mind a great deal lately.
Was that why he thought he saw this gorgeous vision in the distance now? She couldnât be real. Not this beautiful redhead with a killer body standing smack dab in the middle of his ranch.