Book excerpt: USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Hope Ford brings you a steamy cowboy romance about a single mom that escapes an abusive ex-husband and finds an alpha cowboy who shows her that a real man protects the ones he loves at all costs. Natalie I’m a survivor. I finally got myself and my son away from my abusive ex, and I’m standing on my own two feet. The very last thing I want is another arrogant, controlling man. I don’t care how sexy the grumpy hot cowboy is. When I first meet King, I try to thank him for the ranching camp scholarship my son was awarded, but before I can get the words out, he offers me a roll in the hay. Even though I’m a little tempted, I walk away and pull my son from the camp. We do not have room in our lives for a man like that. King I am tired of women only seeing dollar signs when they look at me. So yeah, I come on too strong with the curvy single mom who shows up at my ranch. I don’t realize who she is or why she’s there until she’s stormed off. Once I know her story, I’ll do anything to be her man. But first I’ll need to prove to her that there’s a big difference between being protective and being controlling. I’ll make certain her worthless ex never comes near her or her son ever again. Because nobody messes with what’s mine, and Natalie and her son are going to be mine. Protector Cowboy is the first book in the Whiskey Valley: Bryant Brothers series. If you love reading age gap, alpha cowboy, single mom, small town romances, then you’ll love King and Natalie’s story. Each book in the series is a standalone.