by: Brenda Jackson
Series: Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws
Genre: Contemporary African American Romance
Release Date: June 27, 2023
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Years ago, family tore them apart. Will sweet revenge lead to a second chance? Find out in the latest from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson!
This one chance at revenge may be their second chance at love.
Part-time rancher and world-renowned musician Dylan Emanuel never forgot his college romance with Charm Outlaw. Nor the pain of their sudden break-up and her father’s demands to stay away. So when they cross paths on vacation, Dylan can’t resist inviting her to his ranch—and Charm can’t resist a little seductive payback. But sun-soaked days melt into fiery nights, leaving Charm caught by her own desire. Will revenge lead to a second chance…or the truth about what really happened the first time around?
From Harlequin Desire: Passionate and provocative stories featuring rich, powerful heroes and scandalous family sagas.
Dylan Emanuel smiled as he listened to what the drummer in his band was saying. He and Graham Ives had been best friends ever since the Ives family had moved into his Memphis neighborhood when they’d been in their early teens. After discovering they both had a passion for music, they’d bonded.
Graham and the rest of the band members were enjoying their break from touring by spending the summer in Dublin, Ireland. At any other time, Dylan would have been with them, but he’d been using this time to write several songs that would be included on their next album. Lodged in a villa in Cancún for two weeks, he’d finally finished the project last night.
“We’re having a grand time, Dyl. Groupies, you gotta love them. Now that you’ve finished working, you might as well hop on a plane and join us.”
A part of Dylan wished he could, but he knew that wouldn’t be happening. “When I leave here, I’m headed for Idaho. You know the promise I made to my grandparents, and Ren has called already to make sure I’m coming.”
Renshaw Burgess was the foreman of his family’s cattle ranch in Davenport, Idaho and had been for as long as Dylan could remember. The one-hundred-and-fifty-acre ranch had been willed to him by his grandparents. Although it hadn’t been stipulated in writing, they had wanted him to make the Red Flame Ranch his primary home when he wasn’t touring.
“You’re flying out to Idaho today?” Graham asked.
“No. Since I’m booked at this resort for another week, I plan to stay and enjoy myself. Unwind, rest and relax.”
The only time he’d left the villa was to run on the beach every morning and again in the evenings. All his meals had been delivered by room service. Now, with nothing to keep him locked inside, he was ready to get out and enjoy himself with plans to keep his identity hidden as much as possible. He loved his fans but they could be intrusive when it came to his privacy.
Hearing music, Dylan wanted to investigate where it was coming from and told Graham he would talk to him later. After sliding open the glass door, he stepped out onto the balcony. He was three stories up and from the looks of things below, a wedding was taking place on the beach.
Dylan would admit the sunset and ocean backdrop made for a beautiful wedding...if you were inclined to get married. He wasn’t. His first experience with falling in love had been his last. Music was his only true love and always would be. It would never let him down. Not like a certain woman had done.
Dylan was about to turn to go back inside when he went still at the sight of one of the bridesmaids walking down an aisle of grassy turf lined with a bevy of yellow roses. Although it had been ten years since he’d seen her, he recognized her immediately.
Charm Outlaw.
He was certain it was her. Naturally she was older, but she was as beautiful now as she’d been back then. What were the odds? Just seconds ago he’d thought about the one time he’d fallen in love and the woman who’d let him down. Now she was here of all places, taking part in a wedding.
His gaze locked on the woman who’d caused him so much pain when he had been too young to know better. His father and grandfather had warned him that an Emanuel man would recognize the woman destined to share his life the moment he saw her. His parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had all been high school sweethearts. Even with all their challenges—his parents had even gone to separate colleges—their love for each other had survived because they’d been determined to make things work. Long marriages ran in his family.
Dylan had seen no reason why a long-distance romance wouldn’t work for him and Charm as well. The moment he’d seen her, she had staked a claim to his heart. He was convinced he had met the one and only girl for him. The one he would marry. Who would have his children. Share his life. Grow old with him. Love him until the day he died.
Memories of that summer in Alaska came back with vivid clarity. He’d been a couple of weeks shy of his eighteenth birthday and music had been his only love. Until he’d seen Charm. It had been love at first sight for him.
He’d been warned by some of the other music students that she was the spoiled and pampered daughter of one of the most ruthless businessmen in Alaska and if he was smart, he wouldn’t get mixed up with her. He had ignored their warnings. Now he wished he hadn’t. He doubted he was capable of loving another woman the way he had loved her.
Two years into their romance, she had ended things, saying she didn’t want a long-distance relationship any longer. He hadn’t seen it coming.
Dylan released a sigh. Feeling disgusted and angry at reliving memories that were still painful, even after ten years. Suddenly, as if Charm knew he was there, she glanced up and met his gaze.
It was Dylan!
Charm Outlaw drew in a ragged breath and tightened her hand around her bouquet. She broke eye contact with him to look toward the front where Ola and Piper were already standing. Although she maintained the smile on her face, she could tell by her two friends’ expressions that they knew something was wrong. What had given her away? Had they seen her glance up toward the building? Had the happy expression on her face changed for a second?
When she reached her designated place beside them, she leveled a “you won’t believe it” gaze at them in response to their questioning looks. There was no way she’d been mistaken. The man she’d seen had been Dylan. She was certain of it. His eyes had given him away. They were dark, alluring, and had always been the most beautiful pair of eyes she’d ever seen. He’d told her his Native American ancestors had been part of the Shoshone tribe.
He looked older, more mature, and he was gorgeous. Over the years she had seen him on television, photos of him on magazine covers and just this week, when they’d arrived in Cancún, she’d seen a sexy image of him on a huge billboard modeling men’s underwear. He had certainly made a name for himself. Definitely not the two-bit guitarist who would never amount to anything that her father had assumed. Dylan was a huge success as a renowned jazz guitarist and singer with numerous awards under his belt. He was a household name with a legion of fans.
She tried to force Dylan from her mind as she watched the rest of the wedding, but couldn’t help remembering the summer when she and Dylan had met.
Graham and the rest of the band members were enjoying their break from touring by spending the summer in Dublin, Ireland. At any other time, Dylan would have been with them, but he’d been using this time to write several songs that would be included on their next album. Lodged in a villa in Cancún for two weeks, he’d finally finished the project last night.
“We’re having a grand time, Dyl. Groupies, you gotta love them. Now that you’ve finished working, you might as well hop on a plane and join us.”
A part of Dylan wished he could, but he knew that wouldn’t be happening. “When I leave here, I’m headed for Idaho. You know the promise I made to my grandparents, and Ren has called already to make sure I’m coming.”
Renshaw Burgess was the foreman of his family’s cattle ranch in Davenport, Idaho and had been for as long as Dylan could remember. The one-hundred-and-fifty-acre ranch had been willed to him by his grandparents. Although it hadn’t been stipulated in writing, they had wanted him to make the Red Flame Ranch his primary home when he wasn’t touring.
“You’re flying out to Idaho today?” Graham asked.
“No. Since I’m booked at this resort for another week, I plan to stay and enjoy myself. Unwind, rest and relax.”
The only time he’d left the villa was to run on the beach every morning and again in the evenings. All his meals had been delivered by room service. Now, with nothing to keep him locked inside, he was ready to get out and enjoy himself with plans to keep his identity hidden as much as possible. He loved his fans but they could be intrusive when it came to his privacy.
Hearing music, Dylan wanted to investigate where it was coming from and told Graham he would talk to him later. After sliding open the glass door, he stepped out onto the balcony. He was three stories up and from the looks of things below, a wedding was taking place on the beach.
Dylan would admit the sunset and ocean backdrop made for a beautiful wedding...if you were inclined to get married. He wasn’t. His first experience with falling in love had been his last. Music was his only true love and always would be. It would never let him down. Not like a certain woman had done.
Dylan was about to turn to go back inside when he went still at the sight of one of the bridesmaids walking down an aisle of grassy turf lined with a bevy of yellow roses. Although it had been ten years since he’d seen her, he recognized her immediately.
Charm Outlaw.
He was certain it was her. Naturally she was older, but she was as beautiful now as she’d been back then. What were the odds? Just seconds ago he’d thought about the one time he’d fallen in love and the woman who’d let him down. Now she was here of all places, taking part in a wedding.
His gaze locked on the woman who’d caused him so much pain when he had been too young to know better. His father and grandfather had warned him that an Emanuel man would recognize the woman destined to share his life the moment he saw her. His parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had all been high school sweethearts. Even with all their challenges—his parents had even gone to separate colleges—their love for each other had survived because they’d been determined to make things work. Long marriages ran in his family.
Dylan had seen no reason why a long-distance romance wouldn’t work for him and Charm as well. The moment he’d seen her, she had staked a claim to his heart. He was convinced he had met the one and only girl for him. The one he would marry. Who would have his children. Share his life. Grow old with him. Love him until the day he died.
Memories of that summer in Alaska came back with vivid clarity. He’d been a couple of weeks shy of his eighteenth birthday and music had been his only love. Until he’d seen Charm. It had been love at first sight for him.
He’d been warned by some of the other music students that she was the spoiled and pampered daughter of one of the most ruthless businessmen in Alaska and if he was smart, he wouldn’t get mixed up with her. He had ignored their warnings. Now he wished he hadn’t. He doubted he was capable of loving another woman the way he had loved her.
Two years into their romance, she had ended things, saying she didn’t want a long-distance relationship any longer. He hadn’t seen it coming.
Dylan released a sigh. Feeling disgusted and angry at reliving memories that were still painful, even after ten years. Suddenly, as if Charm knew he was there, she glanced up and met his gaze.
It was Dylan!
Charm Outlaw drew in a ragged breath and tightened her hand around her bouquet. She broke eye contact with him to look toward the front where Ola and Piper were already standing. Although she maintained the smile on her face, she could tell by her two friends’ expressions that they knew something was wrong. What had given her away? Had they seen her glance up toward the building? Had the happy expression on her face changed for a second?
When she reached her designated place beside them, she leveled a “you won’t believe it” gaze at them in response to their questioning looks. There was no way she’d been mistaken. The man she’d seen had been Dylan. She was certain of it. His eyes had given him away. They were dark, alluring, and had always been the most beautiful pair of eyes she’d ever seen. He’d told her his Native American ancestors had been part of the Shoshone tribe.
He looked older, more mature, and he was gorgeous. Over the years she had seen him on television, photos of him on magazine covers and just this week, when they’d arrived in Cancún, she’d seen a sexy image of him on a huge billboard modeling men’s underwear. He had certainly made a name for himself. Definitely not the two-bit guitarist who would never amount to anything that her father had assumed. Dylan was a huge success as a renowned jazz guitarist and singer with numerous awards under his belt. He was a household name with a legion of fans.
She tried to force Dylan from her mind as she watched the rest of the wedding, but couldn’t help remembering the summer when she and Dylan had met.
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great excerpt!
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