Savage Cowboy (Whiskey Valley: Bryant Brothers)

But before I can get it out, Griffin is nodding his head, smiling like he just revealed one of life’s great mysteries. “It is. When Hailey was asked to do this, she was worried about how I’d react... you know since a McCoy owned the bookstore, but I told her that I’d never let a forty-year-old feud stand in the way of her career.”

The McCoys own the land next to ours. We’ve been feuding for years, even though it’s all seemed to have died down lately. I mean, we’re not friendly with each other by any means, but we’re not bringing out the shotguns anymore either.

I walk past my brother and look in the window. Now that I look at Amanda, I should have realized it on my own. She has the same brown hair and brown eyes as her brothers. I don’t know why I didn’t make the connection on my own.

She’s beautiful with her long brown hair and big brown eyes. She’s standing next to Hailey, and they’re talking as the last few guests are starting to leave. Both Hailey and Amanda are smiling ear to ear, and I can’t help but smile too.

My brother walks up next to me, looking in the window. “What are you smiling about?”

I shrug. “I don’t care if she’s a McCoy. She’s going to be mine, Griffin.”

Griffin puts his hand on my shoulder. “She’s not a cow, Chance. You can’t just claim her and think you can take her home with you. I was standing right next to you. She turned you down. She’s not interested.”

At that moment, Amanda looks through the window, and with me standing against the glass, she can obviously see me plain as day. She smiles and then seems to catch herself before looking away. “Oh, she’s interested all right. I just need to convince her is all.”

I start for the door, and Griffin stops me. “What do you think King’s going to say about you getting mixed up with a McCoy? And really, you think her family is just going to step to the side and let it happen? Because I’m telling you right now, none of this is going to be easy.”

I blow out my breath and put my hand on the door. I look back at my brother. He was wounded in the war, and we thought he’d never be happy again. But here he is, engaged and finally living life again. It wasn’t easy for him. I know it wasn’t. “Griff, you probably know better than anyone. Anything worth having isn’t going to be easy.”

With that, I open the door and head inside. One way or another, I’m going to find a way to get Amanda to say yes to me.

Chapter 2

Amanda

My hands are still shaking. For the last two hours, I have been working like a crazy woman. This is probably the busiest the bookstore has been since I took it over. I should be excited and enjoying the success of the night, but I can't seem to let myself relax.

It seems all of the women of Whiskey Valley were thrilled about having a real romance author move to town. The bookstore has been busy and filled with laughter and talking since the signing started over two hours ago. We’ve already sold out of Hailey’s stash of books and all the extra ones I preordered to have on stock at the store. And no matter how much I worried about tonight, it couldn't have gone off any better. Everything turned out perfectly.

But no matter how well it is going, I know exactly why my stomach is tied into knots. I let my eyes drift toward the front bay windows of the bookshop. It's getting dark out, but the streetlamps light up my front walk. I can see Chance Bryant and his brother out there talking, and I blow out a breath, knowing exactly what they're talking about.

Earlier when Chance asked me out, I don't think he had a clue who I was. I wanted to say yes, but of course, I couldn’t. Even though he doesn't realize who I am, I know exactly who he is. And the Bryant family and the McCoy family do not mix, we haven't for a long time. Our families have been feuding for as long as I can remember, but at least now there's no shotguns or threats involved. No, now we just pretty much avoid each other entirely, which is how I know he has no idea I'm a McCoy.

I ring up the next person, and with no one else in line, I look around my store. Hailey is smiling at the next person in line at the table. It's starting to slow down, and I look outside again. Chance and Griffin look to be in a deep discussion, and my ears burn as if I know they are talking about me. When Chance turns his head to look this way, I busy myself walking around the counter and over toward Hailey and the last few guests.