Click on image to enlarge.

Category: Erotica/Multicultural-Interracial Erotica/Romance
Description: Ever since her friend Stuart suggested he wanted to hide her at his aloof older brother's ranch, Amerie Palmer was truly expecting the worst and almost backed out at the last minute. However, the man who opened the front door was the most handsome and sexiest male she had ever laid eyes on. But Kyle Houston had been hurt in the past and his mistrust of women ran deeper than his love for his ranch. Amerie knew she should stay away from Kyle because he wasn't being very welcoming to her. However, she just felt beneath the tough exterior there was a man who craved love and she could be the woman who would give it to him.
eBook Publisher: Phaze, 2011
eBookwise Release Date: March 2011

15 Reader Ratings:

Great	Good	OK	Poor

Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [174 KB]
Words: 42843
Reading time: 122-171 min.

Chapter One

Stuart Houston stared at his angry older brother. "Kyle, I'm your brother. I know I haven't been around for a while, but we need your help. We don't have any other place to go. You're my family which means you're supposed to help me."

Kyle snorted and shook his head. "First, I helped you enough when you lived here. I think I finished my brotherly duties a long time ago. Secondly, why in the hell are you saying we when you're the only person I'm looking at? Have you lost your mind or something?"

Kyle Houston knew that his brother was always up to something even when they were kids, but he never thought Stuart would lose his mind.

"I'm just as sane as you. I'm a lot of things, but crazy isn't one of them," Stuart snapped at him.

"So, if you aren't crazy what are you talking about?" Kyle demanded. "I still don't know why you're saying 'we.'"

Stuart glanced over his shoulder and waved at someone. "Come on, I want you to meet my brother. I swear his bark is worse than his bite. He can be a mean SOB, but he wouldn't toss us out on the street. He has enough room in this house for everyone in town to spend the night."

Kyle waited to see who in the hell Stuart had brought to his house. He loved the peace and quiet living out in rural Colorado gave him. He had made his home out here for a reason and having unwanted visitors wasn't one of them.

"Here she comes," Stuart said, taking a quick look back at him.

Kyle eyes widened in shock as the person his brother was talking to came and stood next to him. The woman was truly breathtaking. She was around five feet five inches tall with huge dark brown eyes and her skin reminded him of melted chocolate, the kind a person poured over a hot fudge sundae. He couldn't help but stare because he was at a loss for words. However, the reality of the situation slowly started to set in. If this gorgeous woman was with Stuart then she had to lead the same lifestyle.

"Who in the hell is this and why did you bring her to my house?" Kyle demanded. "I don't have time for any kind of trouble from you. You know this is the biggest time of the year for me at the ranch."

"Kyle, meet Amerie Palmer. Amerie, this is my older and much crankier brother Kyle Houston," Stuart said, making the introductions.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Houston," Amerie said in a soft voice that made his body instantly respond. Hell no! He wasn't going to let Stuart and this woman stay with him. He had to find a way to get rid of both of them.

He gave Amerie a brief glance over before looking back at Stuart. "How do you know her? She doesn't seem like the type of girl you usually hang around or hook-up with. What does she have to offer you?"

"Kyle, Amerie is my friend and we need your help. She's in danger and this is the only place I could think of to keep us safe."

"What kind of danger has she gotten you into? Is it something illegal? I don't need that shit following her here to the ranch with what I already having going on."

"Why are you being such a ba...?" Stuart started to say but was interrupted by Amerie.

"Stuart, forget it," she said, glaring at Kyle. "I'd rather deal with what we're running from than your brother. He doesn't want me here, so I'm leaving." Stepping off the porch, Amerie stormed away, a cloud of dust blowing up behind her.

"Are you really going to toss us in the street?" Stuart demanded. "Amerie risked a lot to help me. I swore to her that I would take her somewhere safe and now you're making me into a liar."

Kyle didn't want to admit it, but he was impressed with how Amerie didn't beg for his help, but stalked off instead. It showed him that she had a backbone. A quality he'd found lacking in the women he'd been dating.

"Fine, go and get your friend. I can't waste any more time with the two of you," he complained, brushing past Stuart. "Your bedroom is still the same and the guestroom's bed should have clean sheets. Show Amerie around and then I want to speak with you after you're finished getting settled in. You're going to tell me what in the hell is going on. I don't care if it takes all night to get it out of you."

Stuart watched as Kyle headed for the stables before he spun on his heel and went after Amerie. "Amerie wait up. You're walking too fast," he yelled worried that she would make it to the main road before he caught up with her. "Kyle is going to let us stay. Everything will be okay."

"You stay here with him. I can find a place in town to stay. I don't have time for his attitude or smart ass mouth. I got that enough from you know who. I won't let it happen to me here and not with him!"

Running the last few steps, Stuart caught Amerie by the arm and twirled her back around. "God, will you please stop. I'm an old guy. I can't keep up with the pace you're going."

Amerie looked at his hand on her arm then back at his face. "Let go of my arm."

Slowly, he released Amerie, hoping that he wasn't making a mistake. She was in such a fit that she might truly leave him here and walk all the way back to town. "Kyle agreed to let us stay here. We need to get back to the house. I want you to be safe and us standing out here in the open like this isn't helping at all. Please come back with me. You know that he'll be searching for us the second he realizes we're gone. He'll be even more pissed that you helped me escape. You know how much I hated leaving your mother back there with them, but I had to get you someplace safe first. She would have told me to do the same thing. Now, are we going to fight about this more or will you listen to me. You helped me, so please let me return the favor."

Amerie eyed him like she wanted to disagree, but instead she brushed past him. "Let's go, but I'm making you promise that if Kyle says one thing I don't like I can leave without a word from you. He doesn't have the right to talk to me anyway that he wants to."

"Fair enough," Stuart agreed as he walked beside Amerie back to the ranch. "I'll help you get your stuff in the guestroom and then I'll have the cook fix us something to eat. He can make a mean double cheeseburger with French fries. How does that sound to you?"

"Can I get onions on my burger? If so, I think I'm already to eat anytime you are," she answered and then grinned at him.

"I'm sure I can get that added for you."

"Will your brother be joining us?"

"No, Kyle is checking on the horses. So he'll be away probably for most of the afternoon. We're going to be eating alone. Why?"

"Good," Amerie retorted. "I want to be able to eat my food in peace and not be fighting the urge to throw my food at him."

Stuart decided to keep his comment to himself, but he hoped that Amerie didn't see the smile that spread across his face. He was right. Amerie was going to be a perfect addition to this place and to Kyle's life more than the two of them realized.