The Secret
Butler Ranch Book 3
Heather Slade

Release Date October 16, 2017

Blurb:

Can Naughton Butler risk letting Bradley Saint John into his heart, or will his brother’s secret ruin his one shot at love?

Naughton Butler is a loner, partially by choice, but also because the secret his dead brother left with him could tear his life apart. When he and his brother Maddox inherit four hundred acres of prime vineyard property, they must decide how to manage Butler Ranch Winery, along with starting a new winery on Demetria Estate.

The solution is to hire the new kick-ass, hotter-than-all-get-out, winemaker who just landed on the Central Coast. When Naughton meets Bradley St. John, he’s expecting a man—and she is anything but. Thinking it’s a joke, he refuses to take her seriously. Bradley leaves, forcing him to follow and apologize. He watches as she makes her way through the vineyards, she was born to them, just like he was.

Getting a job with Butler Ranch Winery right out of college, is more than Bradley could’ve dreamed of. When Maddox Butler interviews her for the position, he warns her that Naughton could be difficult, but once he recognized her abilities, he’d back off. The burning question now was, would she want him to?

Naughton can’t stay away from her, even knowing being with her is impossible.

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The Secret – Excerpt

Naughton, the dark and broody Butler brother, has always been the loner of the family. Like his oldest brother, Kade, Naughton keeps his feelings to himself. He doesn’t talk unless he has something he deems important enough to say—until he meets the new kick-ass, hotter-than-all-get-out, winemaker who just landed on the Central Coast. When Naughton meets Bradley St. John, he’s expecting a man—and she is anything but.
The Secret is the third book in the series set at Butler Ranch in the hills of California wine country—where winemaking, lovemaking and mischief-making abound.

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He was done waiting for her to make the first move to talk to him. Maddox thought; he and Bradley had a lot to discuss, and he told his brother so. Especially now. If what the marshal believed was true, everyone in the valley needed to be on high alert.
“Come with me.”
“I can’t. I mean, Maddox—”
“He knows you’re leaving.”
“Are you firing me?”
Naughton stopped so abruptly, Bradley almost ran into him. He spun around and faced her. “Why in God’s name would you think you were being fired?”
Bradley chewed at her fingernails, and Naughton gripped her wrist.
“You’re trembling. What’s going on?”
“Alex told me, you know, about the fire.”
“Good. I mean, I’m glad you know.”
“I’m so sorry…”
She looked as though she had more to say, so Naughton waited. He let go of her wrist and pulled her to him, soothing tears that turned into something worse. Bradley’s body shook against his.
“Hey, now,” he said, pulling back to get her to look at him. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
He took her hand and she followed, but her shaking didn’t stop. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“For a ride.”
“I told you, I’m not a horse person.”
“Not that kind of ride.”
He stopped in front of the barn, punched his code into his phone, and waited while the doors swung open.
“Here,” he said, handing her a helmet. “Put this on.”
“There’s something I need to tell you, Naughton.”
“Yeah? There’s something I need to tell you too, and both can wait.”
Bradley looked at the helmet, and then at him. “I’m not a motorcycle person either.”
“You will be.” he said, taking the helmet from her hands and putting it on her head. He adjusted the chin strap, and then put his hands on her shoulders. “Wiggle it around a little. Is it comfortable?”
When she nodded, he put on his own helmet and started the bike. “Get on.”
For a minute he didn’t think she was going to, but then she rested her hand on his shoulder and threw her leg over.
“Scoot closer and put your feet on those pegs,” he said, pointing behind him.
She moved a little closer and rested her feet where he told her to. “Put your arms around my waist.” She had to move closer to do so, and when she did, she was right where he wanted her. It may not have been the best idea to get her on the bike when she was upset, but riding always helped him get out of his head. Maybe it would do the same for her.
“Ready?”
She nodded, and Naughton eased the bike out through the barn door and onto the ranch’s main drive.
“Hold on tight,” he said when they reached Adelaida Trail. “If I lean, go with me, okay?”

About the Author:

My books are filled with things that bring me joy: music, wine, skiing, families, artists, and cowboys. Not always in that order.

I’m an Amazon best-selling author, and a PAN member of Romance Writers of America. I speak, teach, blog, am an executive sommelier, and all-around entrepreneur.

I grew up an east coast girl, and then spent half my life on the west coast. Now my husband, our two boys, and I happily call Colorado home.

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