The Rancher Returns

Discover New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson’s The Westmoreland Legacy—a navy SEAL returns to his ranch...and finds irresistible desire!

Returning from active duty to find his ranch being dug up by a beautiful stranger isn’t the homecoming navy SEAL Gavin Blake expected. Layla Harris is convinced there’s buried treasure on his land. But the only treasure this wealthy rancher wants to uncover is the professor’s secret desires! When Layla unearths family secrets—and mysterious threats—he vows to do whatever it takes to protect her. Even as her revelations change everything...

“Where do we start?”

Gavin glanced over at Layla. “We can start by talking about us.”

He could tell from her expression that she didn’t think that was what they should be talking about.

“We agreed to discuss the dig and not this thing between us,” she said.

Gavin wondered if Layla knew that “this thing” actually had a name. It was called desire. “I think we should talk about us before discussing the dig.”

She gave him an annoyed look. “Why? I told you last night we need to keep sex out of it.”

Yes, she had said that, but did she actually think they could when there was so much sexual chemistry between them?

“I want you and you want me.”

“And?”

Maybe it was time to explain what he meant. “And...” he said, “we will sleep together.”

* * *

The Rancher Returns is part of The Westmoreland Legacy—Friends and relatives of the legendary Westmoreland family find love!

Dear Reader,

It’s hard to believe that I introduced the Westmorelands almost fifteen years ago. At the time, little did I know you would welcome them into your home and heart the same way I had allowed them into mine. Originally, the Westmoreland family’s series was intended to be just six books, but more than thirty books later the saga continues.

I am proud to present the first book in a spin-off series about the friends and family of the Westmorelands—The Westmoreland Legacy series. First on center stage is Gavin Blake. Gavin, code name Viper, is a Navy SEAL and a good friend to Bane Westmoreland. You met Viper in Bane.

While writing Bane’s story, Viper stood out, and I knew I had to tell his story. I believe I selected the perfect heroine for Viper. She’s a woman by the name of Layla Harris. Both Viper and Layla discover that when it comes to true love, anything is possible.

I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Happy reading!

The Rancher Returns

Brenda Jackson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

BRENDA JACKSON is a New York Times bestselling author of more than one hundred romance titles. Brenda lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and divides her time between family, writing and traveling.

Email Brenda at [email protected] or visit her on her website at www.brendajackson.net.

To the love of my life, Gerald Jackson, Sr. My first. My last. My everything.

To everyone who loves the Westmorelands, this book is for you!

To the 1971 class of William M. Raines High School, Jacksonville, Florida. Best wishes on our 45th class reunion. Ichiban!

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

—Proverbs 15:22

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

“Hey, Viper, your cell phone was going off upstairs.”

Gavin Blake, known to his SEAL teammates as Viper, nodded as he set his coffee mug on a side table in the barracks’ common area. Standing, he stretched the kinks out of his body and felt his aches all the way to the bone. Their last covert operation had been risky as hell, but they’d succeeded in destroying yet another ISIS stronghold.

In two days they would officially be off duty and most of his teammates would be heading for home. However he had other plans. Getting laid was at the top of his agenda. It had been too long since he’d shared a woman’s bed and he’d already made plans with a beautiful bartender he’d met in Mississippi while helping his teammate Bane out of a fairly dangerous situation several months ago.

Gavin raced up the stairs toward his berthing unit and retrieved his cell phone from the gear in his bunk. He’d missed a call from Sherman Lott, the man who’d lived on the neighboring ranch for years. Panic floated through Gavin’s belly. Had something happened to his grandmother?

Since his grandmother lived alone when he was away, Gavin had given their closest neighbors his contact information in case of emergencies. Of course the foreman was there, running the ranch in Gavin’s absence. Surely if something was going on with his grandmother, Caldwell would have contacted Gavin. But what if this was one of those times when Caldwell had gone to Saint Louis to meet with one of their beef distributors?