The Bachelor Auction

Meet the Manning brothers in this steamy small-town cowboy series from USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Vale!

Teach Me the Ropes: A bachelor auction. I was in a f-ing bachelor auction. I wasn’t a cow. A bull, definitely. When the ladies started to bid, it was looking rough. Until she placed the winning bid. The one I wanted. The woman who’d kneed me in the balls the other day. Yeah, I was hot for a woman who wanted nothing to do with me. I was a guy obsessed. She might be the teacher, but she was going to learn she was all mine—and I wasn’t letting her go.

Back in the Saddle: I thought Sarah O’Banyon had been The One. I’d been f-ing wrong. I moved on, made something of myself. Became police chief. Even had a beautiful daughter. When Sarah buys me at the bachelor auction, I’m stunned. It’s been six years. She wants me for something now. When we end up in my bedroom, I know exactly what. Except I get cuffed to my headboard by the sexy mechanic—and left. Getting free isn’t the only thing that’s hard. Turns out she’s learned something about my past. A secret which makes her angry. I’m okay with that. It means she still feels something for me. I’ll change her hate to love. We’re going to pick up the pieces of our first love … and our broken hearts, because there is no other option. It’s Sarah O’Banyon for this cowboy. Always.

Hand Me the Reins: Bought in an auction by a shy baker? No problem. Pretending to be her boyfriend for her sister’s wedding? On it. I can pretend all day long because I’m Thatcher Manning, the guy who doesn’t do relationships. I’ll give a woman a wild romp. Hell, I’ll give her anything. Anything but my heart. I decided a long time ago I’d never get serious with a woman. The fact that I’m leaving town in a few months only cements that. But then Astrid has to get under my skin. She hands over the reins in bed—and out—and now I’m catching feelings. The kind you can’t fake. Trouble is—I wasn’t playing for keeps. Now, that’s a problem. A big one.