Title	Studs & Spurs Anthology
Author	JL Langley
	Kiernan Kelly
	Dakota Flint
	Angela Fiddler
ISBN#	978-1-934531-55-6 (print)
Release Date	June 2009
Cover Artist	Deana C. Jamroz
Available At:	Barnes & Noble (paperback)
	Amazon.com (paperback)

Saddles, spurs, Stetsons . . . and love? Sexy cowboys grab hold of more than a saddle in these entrancing stories from four talented authors of the genre. Kiernan Kelly takes us on an adventurous cattle drive to the Oregon Territory with a greenhorn and an old hand. Angela Fiddler’s retired rodeo men accept each other and the black riders. Two men overcome grief, rebuild a ranch and find love in Dakota Flint’s story. And JL Langley offers a light-hearted tale of a city boy and a rancher filled with love, laughter and a marriage of convenience?

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“Ah ha! I should have known.” AJ laughed and leaned against the rail.

Grinning at his brother, Tucker headed up onto the porch. “Should have known what?”

“Where you went. Do you have to smoke when you drink?”

Yes, and he was out of cigars, which is what he preferred with his whiskey. It was good fortune he’d stashed some cigarettes in his glove box. With any luck they weren’t stale; he couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually had one of them. “Self preservation, there are still guests.” He’d rather face a boardroom of sharks than a horde of teenagers any day. Tucker lit the cigarette then put the lighter into his pocket. He held up his tumbler of whiskey to AJ in a silent toast, pulled the cigarette out from between his lips and took a sip. “I’m surprised you haven’t hit Granddaddy’s liquor cabinet as well.”

“I tried but Granddad and Juan beat me to it. Dad’s out of town so I figured someone in charge should be sober but, I’m hitting it after.” Sitting on the rail, he studied Tucker, his head cocking to the left a little. “I’m glad you came. You need a break. You look tired.”

“I’m not tired. I’m bored.”

AJ snorted. “I’m surprised you didn’t bring work with you.”

Grinning, Tucker pulled out his phone and held it up before clipping it back to his belt. “I’m waiting for word on the Addison deal.”

AJ groaned. “I should have known.”

Something crashed inside and the music stopped. “Shit.” AJ looked towards the door.

Tucker winced. “Want me to-?”

Waving his hand, AJ dismissed him. “I got it. Hell, it was probably Granddad or Juan, they’re as rowdy as the kids. Finish your drink and cigarette, then I’ll have you help me clear the rest of these kids out of here.” Grabbing the doorknob, he took a deep, over exaggerated breath. “Were we this obnoxious at eighteen?”

Tucker shook his head. “I didn’t become a party animal until my first year in college.”

Smiling, AJ opened the door, “here goes.”

Brave man.

Tucker took a drag off his cigarette and walked around the side of the wraparound porch toward the back. Damn, he missed the country. The fast pace of the business world was exciting, but there was just nothing like a spring night out here far from civilization. He should really come home more often.

When he got to the back of the house, he leaned on the rail and gazed out into the back pasture. It was beautiful. There were so many stars. He’d forgotten how many. When was the last time he’d taken time to look at the stars? He’d been stuck in his high rise office working on one project or another plenty of times after the sunlight faded, but the city lights made the stars disappear. Buildings overpowered the horizon. The big city had its own appeal, but out here? Pure magic. The sky looked so big and endless.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” A soft voice asked.

Tucker started, not realizing he had company, but immediately grinned as recognition set in. He hadn’t seen the pest at all tonight. Hell, he hadn’t seen him in over a year. Not since the last time he came home. Taking a hit from his cigarette he turned his head toward the birthday boy and wished he hadn’t.

Micah stood at the top of the back steps, a soft grin on his face. Gone were the smart little glasses he’d always worn. He’d looked adorable in them, but now, without them he was stunning. His usually messy black hair that always fell in his face was trimmed and styled neatly. Who knew he had such big eyes, those glasses had concealed a lot. The red short sleeved polo shirt pulled tightly across a slim but nicely shaped chest, and even showed off toned biceps. He was still small, but he didn’t look like a kid any longer. A pair of tight jeans replaced the normal baggy ones, showing off the leg muscles he’d earned from years in the saddle.

Tucker’s breath caught. Who was this gorgeous man and what happened to the scrawny kid he’d known?

Micah settled beside him, leaning his tanned forearms on the rail. He stood so close the heat of his body warmed Tucker’s left arm.

“Yeah, I’ve missed it. Not as many stars in the city.” Taking a drink of his whiskey, Tucker glanced back out at the deep, endless sky. The soft spring breeze ruffled his hair and blew smoke around him. That “someone is staring at you” feeling niggled at him, but he didn’t look to confirm it. Part of him wanted Micah to be looking. If Tucker didn’t know better he’d say he was lusting after the kid and… well that was just wrong. He couldn’t see Juan’s nephew that way, yet he was. It had him way off kilter. Or maybe it was the three whiskeys he’d had since he arrived.

“Is it all you’ve missed?”

Had Micah’s voice always been that raspy? Apprehension trickled over Tucker, but he pushed it away. This was Micah, the kid he’d taken fishing and rode horses with, not some stranger. “Naw, it’s not all I’ve missed. I miss my family and working on the ranch. I miss-”

Micah took the cigarette out of Tucker’s fingers and took a puff off of it.

It was such an intimate gesture Tucker found himself staring. “I-I miss the quiet.” He watched Micah’s lips pucker as he blew out the smoke, and unbidden the image of those sweet lips kissing up his body sprang to mind. Tucker shook his head and took the cigarette back. “Since when do you smoke?”

“I don’t usually.” Micah shrugged. “Why don’t you come home more often?”

It was the same question the rest of his family asked every time he talked to them. He hated that question. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to come home, but there were always deals to make and companies to sell. Mergers and acquisitions may be work, but it was also fun. He was on the top of his game and couldn’t afford to be taking vacations all the time. “Work keeps me busy.”

Tucker took a hit from his cigarette. It occurred to him that Micah’s lips had just rested where his were. What would Micah’s lips taste like? God damn where had that thought come from? “What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be inside enjoying your birthday party?” Tucker winced at the growl in his voice.

Micah was quiet for several moments. When he spoke his voice was barely above a whisper. “I’d rather be out here with you.”

Sucking in a breath of air, Tucker nearly choked but covered quickly by taking a drink. Something tickled his arm as he set his drink on the porch railing. He glanced down.

Micah’s long dark fingers feathered over his arm, feeling, caressing. It was an innocent touch, but it sent the blood thrumming straight to Tucker’s groin. Fuck. He had to get outta here. This was not good. He dropped his cigarette to the ground and crushed it out with his boot before kicking it off the porch. “Micah I-” Standing, Tucker turned and glanced right into adoring big brown eyes.

Micah bit his bottom lip and stepped closer. Once again he hesitantly traced his fingers over Tucker’s forearm, moving the hair there and leaving a tickling feeling.

The innocent gesture made Tucker’s cock fill fully. What was the matter with him? This was Micah. Their beloved foreman’s nephew and the kid Granddad called “Tucker’s Shadow.” Christ, he’d known Micah since he was seven, when his parent’s had been killed, and he’d come to the ranch to live with Juan.

Stepping closer, Micah raised up on tip toe, his gaze locked to Tucker’s lips.

He knew what was coming, he even knew he should step away, but he couldn’t. He watched, his focus on the full kissable mouth as Micah came closer and pressed his lips to Tucker’s. It was like a jolt of lightning. It was such an innocent touch, it should have reminded Tucker who was kissing him, and it did, yet Tucker couldn’t not respond. He wrapped his hand around the back of Micah’s head and held him close. His mouth slanted over Micah’s and his tongue pushed inside.

Micah jerked, gasping into Tucker’s mouth. His body stiffened for several seconds as Tucker explored his mouth, then Micah relaxed and wound his arms around Tucker’s waist. He squeezed Tucker tight and kissed back, his tongue sliding hesitantly along Tucker’s. His breath quickened until he panted and his hands clutched at Tucker’s back. He pressed forward, mashing his erection against Tucker’s thigh.

Tucker’s cock lurched and his own breath came faster. His free hand gripped Micah’s firm little ass, urging him closer against Tucker’s thigh. He pulled back, trying to catch his breath, but Micah didn’t stop. He rooted his face on Tucker’s neck, licking and kissing. Grunting, he thrust his hips at Tucker, grinding against him.

Fuck.

This was insane. How had they gotten here this fast? He had to stop this. “Slow down baby.”

But Micah didn’t stop. His ragged breathing turned into moans and his hands were everywhere at once.

When Micah grabbed Tucker’s cock, it was like being kicked in the stomach by a horse. Sanity returned and the voice in his head whispered “this is Micah.” What the fuck was he thinking?

Tucker gripped the thick hair in his hand and tugged Micah’s head back, forcing him to make eye contact. “Stop.” He stared into languorous brown eyes only seconds before they went wide and Micah dropped his gaze.

Micah flung himself backward out of reach, not even looking at Tucker. “I-I-I’m sorry, I-” He shook his head then darted a glance up at Tucker. A tear streaked down his cheek then he turned and ran down the back steps toward the barn.

“Micah-” Tucker reached out before he realized it, then dropped his hand. He watched Micah disappear into the night, feeling like he’d just kicked a puppy. Love, his conscience whispered. He loved Micah. He always had, though he hadn’t actually realized it till this moment, but the lust was new. Tucker shook his head and swallowed the last of his whiskey. Naw, he was mistaken; he hadn’t had a conscience for a long time.