The Cowboy's Convenient Wife

They say you always hurt the one you love... but love was never supposed to be part of this.I spent my whole damn life in my brother's shadow. Once he was out of the way I could finally claim what was mine: the Devlin Ranch. All I needed was a wife.Astrid Walker fit the bill. Pretty, well-educated and just the right side of prim, she seemed perfect – perfectly convenient.But she blew into my heart like a summer storm blows down off the mountains and in the space of a few blissful days, everything was different.I was different. I swear I don't know what that girl did to me but she got me thinking about things I never thought about, giving a sh*t about things I never gave a sh*t about. Things like home and family and what really matters in a man's life.It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be real.Now all that matters is making sure she doesn't learn the truth about who I really am – or what I did. Because if she does, she's gone – and somewhere between 'hello' and the sound of her sweet sighs echoing in my ears, I lost the ability to live without her."An old-fashioned wife..."All rugged features, dusty cowboy boots and blue eyes flashing with mischief, Cillian Devlin looked like trouble – exactly the kind of trouble a lifelong good girl who just got dumped at the altar would kill to get into.And he needed a wife.It was all kind of a joke...until it wasn't. Until I was in his arms and the only word on my lips was his name.He knew exactly what he was doing. By the time I heard the whispers of dark family secrets and bad blood it was too late, I was addicted...Now I have to decide. Do I gamble my battered heart on a man who might as well be a walking red flag? Or spend the rest of my life trying to forget what it felt like to be his?Author's Note:This is Book 2 in the Devlin Brothers Ranch series by Joanna Bell, it is recommended to read Book 1 (The Cowboy's Baby) first. Intended for mature readers over the age of 18.