Her Billionaire Rancher Boss Page 15

  Sometimes he felt as if the sounds, the scents, the colors, the rhythms of that place, that life, were tattooed on his very bones. And his bones ached at being away from them.

  Adriano set his fist to his chest, a surge of homesickness turning his lungs to stone. Miguel’s children didn’t feel this when they thought of Mato Grosso do Sul. Brazil wasn’t home to them—only a boring trip that tore them away from their friends and life in America, a place to be endured until they could return home.

  If Adriano’s child grew up here, she might be the same. She’d never truly understand what it meant to be Brazilian——the beauty, the richness, the joy of it. He couldn’t let that happen.

  And his mother… the kidney disease might take her tomorrow or two years from now. He couldn’t steal his mother’s chance to know this grandchild.

  The baby had to go to Brazil. There was no other way. He’d seen some American child-sharing agreements—almost the entire year with the mother while the father got the summers. Two months. He needed more than two months. Two months a year was nothing in a child’s life.

  Perhaps Lil would be open to the inverse of that. Most of year with him and the summers with her. Perhaps.

  He rubbed a thumb across his chin. He’d have to see how much convincing it would take to get her to agree to that. And in the meantime, he’d care for her, protect her—show her how well he’d watch over their child once it was here.

  No lawyers though, that was certain. He didn’t want to involve any lawyers. The Merrills could afford to hire a team of sharks to savage him in court—and a foreigner, trying to steal a child from its American mother? Oh yes, he knew how the courts would rule on that.

  No lawyers, no judges. Only him, convincing Lil that his plan for the baby was best.

  She was headstrong, independent. She’d give him a fight if she didn’t immediately agree to his plan.

  He put on a grim smile. She could fight all she wanted. He rode bulls for a living—he was certain he could tame one stubborn woman. Even one as stubborn as Liliana Merrill.

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  As usual, the biggest thanks go to my critique partner, Emma Barry, who encouraged me in this story which was so far from my historicals. Thanks also to Zoe York for planting the idea in my head. And thanks to the team at Victory Editing for making the book shine.

  Thanks also go to Melody and Cindy, world’s greatest lab mates, who still know what they did. For career and self publishing advice, the community at Romance Divas always comes through. Along with help on the details of Dia de los Muertos that never made it to the book.

  And of course, thank you to my family. For everything.

  OTHER BOOKS BY GENEVIEVE

  Las Morenas

  Summer Chaparral

  Autumn Sage

  The Sheriff Takes a Bride

  High Country Spring

  The Farmer Takes a Wife

  Las Morenas: The Complete Series

  A Cowboy of Her Own

  Her Billionaire Rancher Boss

  Her Bull Rider’s Baby

  Rescued By Her Firefighter

  Her Cowboy Rival

  Reunited with Her Cowboy

  Always a Cowboy

  Forever a Soldier

  Forever a Maverick

  Forever a Heartbreaker

  Forever a Bad Boy

  Fly Me to the Moon

  (written with Emma Barry)

  Star Dust

  Round Midnight

  Earth Bound

  Free Fall

  A Midnight Feast

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Genevieve Turner is a USA Today bestselling author of western romance. She loves cowboys, the rural life, and happily ever afters. She lives in beautiful Southern California with the perfect number of kids, dogs, and turkeys—and probably too many chickens.

  You can find her on the web at www.genturner.com.