Handsome Rancher (Handsome Devils Book 1) Read online

  What did he mean by that? Sophia watched his back as he sauntered away, helplessly noticing how well his Wranglers cupped his firm, cowboy tush.

  “Forget Mike,” she mumbled and returned her attention to the package.

  The brown paper crinkled in her hands. She picked up her scissors again and sliced through to the cardboard box underneath. It was wrapped in festive birthday paper. Sophia smiled.

  This morning, her mother had given her a birthday card and the crimson scarf she wore knotted about her neck, but no one else in the building had wished her a happy birthday yet. One of her friends had remembered even though she didn’t like people making a big deal over her birthday. She’d never cared for parties or fanfare.

  Today, she turned twenty-nine.

  She’d always figured she’d be married by twenty-nine with a baby or two. The only thing she’d ever really wanted was a family of her own.

  But she’d yet to meet Mr. Right. She longed for a good and loyal man who would provide the secure stable life she’d craved from childhood. A man who would not lie to her the way her father had lied to her mother. A kind-hearted man with a strong family values.

  In Sophia’s experience there weren’t many such men in the world. Most guys she’d dated were like Mike, the office maintenance man, overgrown boys looking for someone to take care of them while they ran around having a good time.

  Sophia removed the rest of the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside, she found a glass paperweight in the shape of a gray, sloe-eyed kitten.

  How sweet! Someone knew how much she adored kittens. Which of her friends had sent it? Was it Emma? She had access to personnel records and could easily uncover Sophia’s birth date. Curiously she peered inside the empty box but did not find a card.

  Turning paperweight over in her hand, Sophia admired the smooth lines of the figurine. On the bottom, she discovered an inscription that read: To the World’s Greatest Executive Assistant. Happy Birthday.

  Her heart thumped. Blood rushed to her head and her skin prickled. Sophia was so touched by the thoughtful gesture, her eyes misted, and a lump rose to her throat.

  But wait, the package was postmarked from Rascal.

  Sophia caught her breath. That could only mean one thing. Rex Michael Barrington the III had finally come home!

  Order your copy of Rex now!

  About the Authors

  Liz Alvin

  Liz Alvin has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. In fact, she majored in literature at college just so she could spend her days reading great stories. When it came to her own stories, she decided to write romances with happy endings because she’s a firm believer in love. She’s been married to her own hero for over 30 years. They live in Texas near their adult children and are surrounded by rescue dogs and a rescue cat.

  Lori Wilde

  Lori Wilde is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 88 works of romantic fiction. She’s a three time Romance Writers’ of America RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Readers’ Choice Award. She has won numerous other awards as well.

  Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide.

  Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, has been optioned for a TV movie.

  Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University. She holds a certificate in forensics, and is also a certified yoga instructor.

  A fifth generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World; where they run Epiphany Orchards, a writing/creativity retreat for the care and enrichment of the artistic soul.

  Also by Lori Wilde & Liz Alvin

  Handsome Devil Series:

  Handsome Boss

  Handsome Lawman

  Handsome Cowboy

  ALSO BY Lori Wilde

  Texas Rascals Series:

  Keegan

  Matt

  Nick

  Kurt

  Tucker

  Kael

  Truman

  Brodie

  Dan

  Rex

  Clay

  Jonah

  Copyright © 2019 by Lori Wilde and Liz Alvin

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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