Whit's End — Laura Harner

When his three-day marriage ends in an annulment, country music sensation Brody Kent finds himself on the run from paparazzi intent on discovering why. Seeking shelter with his old friend at the Willow Springs Ranch might not be his wisest choice, considering the place is crawling with gay cowboys, but he needs someone he can trust and time alone to look for the joy that's been missing from his music. Although no one should know of his travel plans, before he can make the turn to relative safety, Brody's run off the road by a rogue reporter determined to get a scoop. A very different cowboy rides to his rescue…and Brody can't help but wonder, well, a lot of things. The men at the WSR might work hard and play harder, but as the long-awaited Ranch Quest approaches, ranch hand Whit Truman needs to focus on preparing to host the sick children and not the oh-so-sexy voice from his past due to arrive at any minute. Not that the singer would have any reason to remember his brother's childhood friend. When a desert storm postpones the event by a week, Whit takes some much-needed time off, only to stumble upon the object of his avoidance in a most surprising place. The walking, talking grown-up version of his teenage crush isn't anything like the arrogant megastar Brody plays onstage -- most of the time. That unexpected vulnerability could prove to be Whit's undoing, as he vows to do everything in his power to protect Brody…if he doesn't kill him first.