New York Times
bestselling author Susan Mallery returns with a new Fools Gold trilogy featuring three rugged cowboys who will find love in the unlikeliest of places.
Locked in an unexpected land dispute, Rafe Stryker is trapped in the one place he vowed never to return tothe Castle Ranch in Fools Gold, California. He made millions facing ruthless adversaries in the boardroom, but nothing couldve prepared him to go head-to-head against stubborn, beautiful Heidi Simpson. No one is more surprised than Rafe to discover that hes finding Heidiand life as a cowboymuch more compelling than he wants to admit.
For Heidi, the Castle Ranch is the home shes always wanted. After a life on the road, the vivacious blonde has finally put down roots. She wont give that up without a fight, not even for a man whose late-night kisses make her yearn to be a little lesswholesome.
As the two turn from passionate adversaries to passionate, period, theyll discover that summer love can last a lifetime.
Praise for
New York Times
bestselling author Susan Mallery
If you want a story that will both tug on
your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone, Mallery is the author for you!
RT Book Reviews on Only His
When it comes to heartfelt contemporary romance, Mallery is in a class by herself.
RT Book Reviews on Only Yours
An adorable, outspoken heroine and an intense heroset the sparks flying in Mallerys latest lively, comic, and touching family-centered story.
Library Journal on Only Yours
Malleryexcels at creating varied, well-developed characters and an emotion-packed story gently infused with her trademark wit and humor. One of the Top 10 Romances of 2011!
Booklist on Only Mine
Mallerys prose is luscious and provocative.
Publishers Weekly
Susan Mallerys gift for writing humor and tenderness make all her books true gems.
RT Book Reviews
Romance novels dont get much better than Mallerys expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.
Booklist
Also available from Susan Mallery and HQN Book
s
Only His
Only Yours
Only Mine
Finding Perfect
Almost Perfect
Chasing Perfect
Hot on Her Heels
Straight from the Hip
Lip Service
Under Her Skin
Sweet Trouble
Sweet Spot
Sweet Talk
Accidentally Yours
Tempting
Sizzling
Irresistible
Delicious
Falling for Gracie
Someone Like You
Watch for more Fools Gold books, coming soon!
Summer Nights
All Summer Long
Susan Mallery
Summer Days
This book is for Kristi.
Heres what she asked that the dedication say:
Id like to dedicate this to my mother, Doris, for teaching me the fun and value of reading and always having a good book for me. To my dear friend, Ann, who exchanges books with me and can laugh with me for no good reason and then do it again! To my husband, Kevin, you are the love of my life, keep me laughing and never keep me from a good read. Then to my dear daughter, Julie, who inspires me and I am so proud of you. I love you all, thank you for all the fun and laughter and the love of a good hat. oxox Kristi
Contents
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
BPA
CHAPTER ONE
ONLY IN FOOLS GOLD would a Mercedes be brought to a stop by a goat. Rafe Stryker turned off the engine of the powerful sedan and climbed out. The goat in the middle of the road surveyed him with a confident gleam in her dark eyes. If he hadnt known better, he would have sworn she was telling him this was her road and if anyone was going to back down in this battle of wills, it would be him.
Damn goats, he muttered, looking around for whomever owned the wayward animal. Instead, he saw a few trees, a broken fence line and, beyond all that, mountains soaring up to the heavens. Some would describe this as Gods country. Rafe knew that God, being smart and all knowing, would have nothing to do with Fools Gold.
Hard to believe that a three hour drive west would return Rafe to San Franciscoland of fine dining, high-rise buildings and beautiful women. It was where he belonged. Not here, on the outskirts of some town hed promised himself he would never set foot in again. And yet he had returned, drawn by the one person he could never turn his back onhis mother.
Swearing under his breath, he eyed the goat. He would guess she weighed about a hundred and twenty pounds, give or take. While hed spent the past eighteen years doing his best to forget his time in Fools Gold, the lessons hed learned on the Castle Ranch lived on. He figured if hed been able to wrestle an adult steer as a scrawny fourteen-year-old, he should be able to take a goat now. Or at the very least, pick her up and move her to the side of the road.
He lowered his gaze to her hooves, wondering how sharp they would be and what they would do to his suit. He rested his elbow on the roof of his car and pinched the bridge of his nose. If his mother hadnt sounded so broken on the phone, he would turn around and go back home. In San Francisco he had a staff, minions even. People who would take care of things like goats in the road.