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His gaze softened. I know. And I really am sorry about last night.
What happened last night, Sheriff? a reporter asked.
Juliet s face heated.
Quinn growled and glared at the reporter. None of your damn business.
Juliet put her hands on her hips. A feminine instinct she hadn t realized she had awakened.
Determined. Ready to fight if necessary. Fight with him. More importantly fight for him. He was
everything she could ever want in this life& or the next. She leaned up and whispered into his ear,
You said you loved me.
I do love you. Why didn t you tell me the truth? he whispered back. Something besides anger
flashed in his eyes. Hurt. She d hurt him.
We can t hear you, Sheriff, a reporter called.
No shit. Quinn lifted his voice.
The crowd rustled. A photographer flashed pictures.
Juliet leaned into him. At first, you were just the hard-core sheriff, and I didn t know you. Then,
when we became close, I d already lied for so long. I didn t want to lose you. Didn t want to
disappoint you. She kicked her foot and watched a pebble roll away. I m sorry.
Look at me, Juliet.
The low tone tingled through her body. Gathering her courage, she looked him right in the eye. I
really am sorry.
Do you love me?
Yes. I love you.
No more lying?
No. Hope bloomed in her chest. I promise.
I love you, too. He brushed a curl off her cheek. I was heading to your place after this damn
press conference.
Tingles lifted her smile. You were?
Of course. I m not letting you get away, Juliet. He tugged her close, and his mouth took hers.
The spectators erupted in cheers.
Epilogue
Quinn parked the truck against a lodgepole pine, looking dashing in a black shirt and faded jeans.
Maybe not dashing, but definitely handsome and stronger than the mountains around them.
My stomach is in knots. Juliet smoothed her skirt.
He glanced toward Loni and Tom s sprawling ranch house. Either I won or I lost and will run for
sheriff next time. If I lost, I wouldn t mind working the ranch a little harder. The guys seem to be
slacking a bit.
Juliet smiled. You re overbearing.
His cheek creased. So you ve told me.
Thank you for your help with the DEA. She d gotten immunity for anything she might have done
and had supplied affidavits against Freddy and Luis. Freddy had made a deal to testify against Luis in
exchange for a lenient sentence. Luis had pled out since the evidence was so strong.
The criminal issue was over.
Unfortunately, maybe Quinn s career was, too.
He slid from the driver s seat and crossed around to open her door. After assisting her to the
ground, he shut the door. I thought this would be a nice place to chat.
She wobbled in her new boots. Chat? Are you stalling, Sheriff? Let s go inside to the party and
see if you ve been reelected or not.
Yes, chat. He shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. My family means a lot to me and will
always be in my business and in my life.
Okay.
So will the town, the reservation, and the entire county. He tugged on his already open collar.
You need to understand my life.
Where in the world was he going with all of this? Perhaps he was more nervous about the election
than he d let on. I do understand.
Good. He breathed out in relief. In that case he dropped to one knee and yanked a small box
out of his pocket will you marry me?
The world stopped spinning. Completely stopped. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. Juliet froze,
her mind blank. Her knees quivered.
Quinn opened to box to reveal a spectacular square diamond surrounded by intricate Celtic knots
all in platinum.
Her breath whooshed out. Birds sprang to a loud chirping. The wind rustled around them. Joy filled
her so completely she swayed. Yes.
Relief filled his eyes followed by a huge smile splitting his face. Yes. He slid the ring on her
finger and stood, gathering her close for a kiss that started sweet and ended deep.
A roaring filled the early evening. They broke apart to find his family, deputies, and half the town
spilling onto the porch.
Woohoo. Loni clapped her hands. Get out the posters.
Several Congratulations on Your Engagement posters and banners were taped along the house by
many pairs of willing hands.
How did you know? Quinn frowned and drew Juliet closer to the crowd.
Leila shook her head. Uncle Quinn. Just cause you bought the ring in Billings don t mean we
don t know people there. She smiled, revealing a gap in her front teeth. Duh.
Yeah, duh. Jake reached out and shook his brother s hand before grabbing Juliet for a hug.
Welcome to the family.
Hugs, kisses, and congratulations surrounded them until everyone finally piled back inside. Quinn
held Juliet s hand, keeping her on the porch. Life is going to get crazy, sweetheart. My job doesn t
have normal hours, and I m involved in more than just keeping order.
She smiled, running a reassuring hand down his arm to gaze up at his dark eyes. I know, and I like
being part of the community. Besides, I still get free rent at the gallery, right? Her lips curved as
amusement filtered through her. She was already planning another art showing for Sophie.
He chuckled. Well, how about I let you earn free rent?
Hmmm. Sounds kinky. Turned out Juliet liked kinky. Who knew?
You know the whole pretending-to-date plan was a setup to get you right where I wanted you?
He brushed a kiss across her nose.
Maybe you ended up right where I wanted you. She levered up on her toes and slid her lips along
his. You re everything I could ever want.
Quinn tucked her closer and took over the kiss, going deep. They both breathed heavily when he
released her.
Jake poked his head outside. Preliminary numbers are in. Looks like you re the sheriff again. He
turned back toward the party. Damn it, Colton. That was my plate of nachos. He disappeared from
sight.
Quinn tangled his fingers with Juliet s. Well, sweetheart? Welcome to chaos.
She grinned and slid into the family home and into a chaos where she belonged. I like it here.
Good thing. His hold tightened. I love you, Juliet.
I love you, too. She leaned into his strength. Forever.
Did you love Quinn and Juliet s story?
Find out where it all began with
AGAINST THE WALL
the first book in the Maverick Montana series
by USA TODAY bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti
Never challenge a cowboy in the courtroom&
Surveying the proposed site for a high-end golf course should have been a breeze for spunky
Landscape Architect Sophie Smith. But when this born-and-bred city girl is suddenly and quite
literally swept off her feet by a sexy cowboy on horseback, she realizes that the country life has
some serious (and seriously steamy!) possibilities. That is, until she finds out exactly who her
smokin -hot wrangler really is.
Cowboy and Tribal lawyer Jake Lodge is desperately trying to block the development. And if that
means playing hardball and being every inch the shark lawyer so be it. But Sophie is a distraction
he didn t expect. A distraction that makes his blood burn.
Two different worlds. Two opposing sides. And when they finally give into the exquisite
temptation, the consequences will shake the foundations of both of their lives&
Chapter One
The silence bordered on bizarre.
Shouldn t there be crickets chirping? Birds squawking? Even the howl of a hungry wolf in the
muted forest? Of course, such sounds would send a city girl like Sophie Smith barreling back through
the trees to her rented Jeep Cherokee. The quiet peace had relaxed her into wandering far into the
forested depths, but now the trees huddled closer together, looming in warning.
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