Jared

Jared Walker

I’ll be the first to admit that mending a broken heart is like trying to glue together shattered glass—tricky and often messy. Trust me, I’ve got the scars to prove it. My ex-wife was the master of emotional demolition.

Strangely enough, the divorce itself didn’t faze me. Not a single tear was shed. But when she decided to take my son away and drop the bombshell that he wasn’t mine, that’s when the emotional dam burst. Anyone who’s ever cared about someone knows that blood doesn’t make family. Love does. So when my ex offered custody for cash, I didn’t hesitate. Now I’m living in Coyote Ridge, running Walker Demolition, and soaking up every precious moment with my son. For the first time in ages, I’m content. I might go so far as to say happy, even.

Apparently, that’s not enough for my cousin Travis, who ropes me into organizing the family reunion. The one he wants done on a moment’s notice. Now I’ve got to collaborate with one of the owners of Dead Heat Ranch, Hope Lambert, a cowgirl who’s as stunning as she is cautious.

Fortunately, Hope has the same aversion to love that I do. But we soon learn that when you swear off matters of the heart and give in to chemistry, things can heat up faster than a Texas summer.

Turns out, giving in to lust is easy. It’s resisting the urge to fall head over heels that’s the real challenge.