Birdie Black isn’t a queen, but she plays one on TV. Abandoned by her mother and raised by her grandparents, Birdie rose to fame when she landed the role of Queen Arihlia on the hit television series Gilded Swords.
In Hollywood she met and fell in love with James Tucker Winthrop, heir to the Winthrop Hotel fortune. But no matter how far around the world she flies, Birdie is always drawn back to her first love, Luke, a cattle rancher in Montana ... the place Birdie calls home.
On a break from filming, Birdie and Tucker venture back to Montana to meet Luke and his kin, but Birdie’s vacation isn’t relaxing when her mother shows up to wreak havoc in Birdie’s life. Will Birdie’s men be able to save their queen?
A tap on the bottom of Luke's boot brought him back to the present. He tipped his hat back and looked up at Birdie. He was out of the chair, arms wrapping around his girlfriend's waist. He pulled her into him, his mouth crushing against her, pleasant, bruising passion. He wanted to run his tongue over every inch of her soft skin. Maybe they could dip into one of the restrooms and he'd have her up against the wall, her teeth biting into his shoulder to keep from screaming out loud as he fucked her hard. In his jeans, Luke's cock liked the idea, eager.
Birdie let out a soft moan, her tongue fluttering over Luke's bottom lip. She broke their embrace, her breath coming out in soft huffs through her nostrils. "I missed you too," she said, straightening the sunglasses and baseball cap that he'd knocked askew.
Someone cleared their throat and Luke's turned toward the sound. His gaze fell on the long drink of cool water standing beside them. Tall, dark, and handsome in slim fit jeans, a white V-neck T-shirt, and an unbuttoned navy blue blazer. The guy had the most incredible eyes Luke had ever seen, greener than a virgin pasture and his hair, a soft mop of dark brown curls.
"Howdy," said Luke when he managed to make his brain and mouth start working at the same time. Fuck me ... Howdy?!?! Derp-de-derp-derp ...
"Luke, Tucker. Tucker, Luke." Birdie made the quick introduction.
"Good to finally meet you." Tucker extended a hand.
Luke shook the offered hand, making note of Tucker's soft skin. The man probably hadn't done a day of hard labor in his life. He's breakable. "Likewise."
"Can we get to baggage claim before the paparazzi catch up?" Birdie glanced over her shoulder.
"Sure," said Luke, taking Birdie's hand and twining their fingers together.
Tucker fell into step on Birdie's other side and she slipped her arm around Tucker's elbow. "My guys," she said, a smile on her beautiful face.
As the threesome walked, they talked. Birdie told Luke about what had happened on the plane and what was going on with her work. Luke loved the sound of her voice, velvet smooth like a good whiskey. He could listen to her forever. Tucker and Birdie collected their luggage from the carousel.
Luke arched an eyebrow once the other two had all their bags. Birdie had one suitcase and Tucker had two. "You don't pack light, do you?" Luke smirked, eyeing the designer logo and matching luggage tag on the rolling luggage.
"Nope." Tucker adjusted the strap of his laptop bag on his shoulder.
"Let me get that for you." Luke held his hand out and Tucker surrendered the handle of the wheeled case.
"If we'd taken Luke's father's jet, there would be four bags. Two for his hair products and cologne." Birdie winked at Tucker. "Right, babe?"
Tucker rolled his eyes.
"I can appreciate a well-groomed, good smelling man," said Luke.
"Luke, I'm sure anything smells better than cows," said Birdie as she walked past him headed for the door. "You drive the truck?"
"Cows don't smell that bad. Mom made me drive the Expedition. She said Tucker would probably like that better than the rust bucket." Luke glanced over his shoulder at Tucker.
Tucker's mouth was turned up into a bemused smile, his green eyes hidden behind a smart pair of sunglasses. The man looked like a movie star and Luke understood Birdie's attraction to Tucker. He was goddamned gorgeous to look at. Tucker was slim, but strong, lithe. Every move he made reminded Luke of a graceful cat. If Tucker had actually been a cat, he might've been a bobcat and Luke would open the door to the hen house himself and let Tucker in any damn time.
"No offense," said Luke.
"None taken."
Luke opened the back of the SUV and loaded in the suitcases.
"What's been going on with you? Anything interesting?" Birdie asked Luke as she buckled her seatbelt. In the safety of the car, she removed her hat and sunglasses. She shook her hair loose and ran her fingers through it, trying to fix where her cap had pressed her black locks to her scalp. Her black eyes looked right through Luke.
Fuck. How could he tell Birdie that her mother's in town?
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