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| A RANCHER’S REWARD -- J. Margot Critch Applewood, Texas – Present Day Event planner Willa Statler is back in the town she grew up in overseeing an engagement party she planned. Everything is going smoothly until the groom-to-be, Elias Hardwell, announces that he is retiring and lists how he will divide up his assets. To everyone’s surprise, Elias insists that his grandson and heir apparent, Garrett, must marry in order to gain a controlling interest in the ranch. Since Garrett has a playboy reputation, Willa wonders what he will do. To her surprise, by the end of the party, he’s asking her to marry him. Years ago, Willa and Garrett had a brief fling but since he wasn’t looking to be tied down, it ended abruptly. Willa isn’t sure why he would even ask her to be his wife because of her own past. Many in Applewood remember Willa as the runaway bride who dumped her groom at the altar. Most people don’t know the real reason she left her now ex-fiancé, and she has no plans ever to get married. Presented with Garrett’s offer, her first reaction is to say no, but with his generous financial offer, she could use the money to buy an old family house and turn it into an inn. Willa reluctantly agrees to pretend to be Garrett’s fake girlfriend and see where this will lead. Garrett’s life is the ranch, and he is shocked to find out his grandfather plans to undermine his future by forcing him to marry. He could go about the process of finding a woman elsewhere, such as on a dating app, but Willa is someone he knows and respects. He makes it clear to her that should they marry, it would only be long enough for him to secure his inheritance. It will be nothing more than a business arrangement. However, in A RANCHER’S REWARD, business soon turns to pleasure… Willa’s brother works on the ranch and is Garrett’s best friend. For those reasons, Garrett has, except for that one time they made love, kept his hands off his best friend’s little sister. But he feels that he can trust her because family is also important to her. They decide to get to know each other better, which then leads to sexual attraction. Garrett wants Willa, but will he go a step farther and make love to her? That is part of the dilemma they face in this tale. Willa soon finds herself falling for Garrett, but can the playboy be reformed enough to return the love? In A RANCHER’S REWARD, Garrett and Willa have choices to make, ones that will shape their future. While the ending appears rushed, in the end, readers will be satisfied that everyone ends up happy. Don’t miss this enjoyable tale. Patti Fischer |
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