Rust and Stardust - Sagebrush Cowboys #1 - Signed Paperback

Lucas
At twenty-five, I thought I had my life figured out—steady job, big-city dreams, and a clear path to the top. But one work assignment to Sagebrush, Texas, is all it takes to throw my carefully laid plans off course. My job is to charm the locals, uncover their secrets, and steal prize-winning barbecue recipes for our next line of frozen dinners. Oh, and not a soul can know.

It should’ve been simple. Until Beau Turner came along.


Beau, with his rugged charm, quiet strength, and those piercing blue eyes that see right through me. Beau, whose smile makes my chest ache in ways I can’t explain. Falling for him wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was falling into his bed.

But Beau isn’t just some small-town cowboy I’m having a heated fling with. He’s the reigning barbecue champion whose recipe I’m supposed to steal. Now, I’m trapped between the man I’ve fallen for and the career I’ve worked so hard to build. If I make the wrong choice, I could lose it all.

Beau
I’ve spent my whole life in Sagebrush, keeping things simple: family, ranching, and perfecting my barbecue recipe. Love? Never been in the cards—especially not with someone like Lucas Greene.

Tall, charming, and completely out of place in my world, Lucas is everything I didn’t know I needed. The way he looks at me makes it hard to breathe, and the way he kisses me makes me want to believe in something more. Nights spent under the stars with him in my arms feel like a dream, but I know he wouldn’t choose a dusty place like Sagebrush to call home, not when he’s got so much to live for back in New York.

But when the truth finally comes out, it’s not just my heart that’s on the line—it’s everything I’ve worked for. And I don’t know if love is enough to fix what’s broken between us.

Rust and Stardust is a sweet and spicy swoon-worthy tale of opposites attracting, trust, redemption, coming out, and the kind of love that shines brightest in the darkest moments. Perfect for readers who crave a heartfelt, emotional romance set under the vast Texas sky that will stay with you long after the last page.

However, now my heart skipped a beat as I pushed open the door, the little bell jingling overhead. And there he was, sitting at the counter, his broad shoulders filling out a tight black t-shirt that highlighted his back and chest in all the right ways. He turned at the sound of the bell, and our eyes met, my breath hitching.
“Hey there, cowboy,” he said, a smile coming to his lips. “Back again already?”
The way he said cowboy sent a shiver down my spine that went straight to my cock. In less than a second I felt my dick begin to swell, the denim stretching tight. My cheeks burned as I smiled back.
“Hey there yourself,” I replied. It felt like a stupid answer, but I didn’t know what else to say. I glanced up at the bar, catching Dolly’s eye.
“You didn’t call ahead,” she said, lifting and eyebrow in my direction. “That’s not like you, darlin’.”
“It’s been a busy mornin’,” I replied, pulling my hat off as I stepped up to the counter. “Tourists in dune buggies took out a big section of the southern fence. Spent all mornin’ fixin’ it.”
“You must be starved.”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“The usual then?”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
She chuckled, patting my arm. “If it was too much trouble, I wouldn’t be runnin’ a diner.” She glanced over at the handsome stranger and placed a roll of silverware on the counter in the spot right next to him. “Make yourself comfortable and I’ll get your order in. Maybe you two can keep each other company.” She gestured to the diner that was mostly empty. “Lunch rush ended an hour ago and there’s no sense in y’all sitting here in silence.”
It was odd for Dolly to force me to socialize. But then again, her and everyone else in town thought I was too cooped up. I caught her giving a look to the stranger and for a moment I thought she even winked. But I had to be making that up right? What reason would she have for winking at him?
“Alright,” I nodded, taking my seat. “If you don’t mind of course.”
“Doesn’t bother me,” he said, shaking his head. “You said your name was Beau, right?”
“That’s right.” I felt my cheeks burn again. “I… uh… I’m sorry but I forgot your name.”
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in the cutest way. “It’s Lucas. Lucas Greene.”
“Beau Turner,” I replied, holding out my hand.
He took it, then stopped short. “Wait… Beau Turner? Not the same one that won the barbecue championship three years running?”
I sighed, still smiling in embarrassment. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“Holy shit! You’re a legend around here!”
“You know about that, huh?”
“I mean… we did our research on the way to Sagebrush, my coworker and I. He’s from here, so he recognized your name.”
“Who’s your coworker?” I asked, desperate to talk about anyone but myself.
“Logan Baker.”
That was a blast from the past. “He was a couple years younger than me in school,” I replied with a nod. “I knew of him, but we didn’t hang out in the same circles. His family used to be some of my biggest competition at the fair though.”
Lucas cocked his head to the side like a curious puppy. “Used to be? Did they stop competing?”
I shook my head. “Nah. I did.”
Lucas's brow furrowed, his green eyes studying me intently. "Why'd you stop? From what I heard, you were unbeatable."
I shrugged, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. "Just lost interest, I guess. Got busy with the ranch and all."
It wasn't even close to the whole truth, but I wasn't about to spill my guts to a stranger, no matter how attractive he was. The real reason was more complicated, tied up in expectations and small-town gossip that I'd rather forget. He didn’t need to know about Amber May’s failed proposal. In fact, I wished everyone would forget it ever happened.
"That's a shame," Lucas said, leaning in a little closer. "I was hoping to taste some of that famous barbecue while I was here."
His proximity sent a jolt through me, and I caught a whiff of his cologne – something woodsy and masculine that made my head spin. I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure as I felt my jeans tighten once more
“S-Sorry to disappoint,” I said, my voice trembling.
“It’s no problem,” Lucas said, shaking his head. He seemed to sense my discomfort, so he changed the subject smoothly. "So, tell me about these dune buggy riders. Is that a common problem around here?"
I was grateful for the shift in conversation. "More common than I'd like," I admitted. "Tourists come out here thinking it's all just empty land they can tear up and then they end up in the pastures, scaring the animals, tearing down fences, and anything else they can find. None of them ever stop to apologize or offer to fix it. These big city people don’t like to play honestly like the rest of us.”
Lucas’s gaze dropped to the counter and I quickly backpedaled.
“Of course, not everyone is like that. You seem like an upstandin’ fella.”
There was a flash of discomfort on his face and I knew I was the one that had put it there. I was a just about to apologize again when Dolly sat down two plates, one in front of each of us.
“Y’all gettin’ along over here?” she asked, giving us both a big smile.
“Yeah,” Lucas nodded. “Thanks.”
His tone didn’t convince her anymore than it did me.
“Well, if this guy is botherin’ you, you just let me know.” She reached out, flicking me in the nose with one of her bright red acrylic nails. “And I’ll kick his ass.”
Lucas smiled at that, giving her a nod as he glanced back at me. “I’ll remember that.”
“And you,” she said, turning on me. “Behave. Just because you don’t like to be social doesn’t mean you gotta scare my customers away.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment as Dolly walked away. I hadn't meant to offend Lucas, but I'd clearly put my foot in my mouth. This was a perfect example of why I should never try to date men. Clearly I had no idea how to act or behave. I glanced over at him, watching as he picked up his fork and started to eat.
"I'm sorry," I said softly. "I didn't mean to imply anything about you. I just get frustrated sometimes with the way tourists treat our land. There’s a lot of family history here that they don’t seem to care about."
Lucas looked up at me, his green eyes softening. "It's alright. I understand. I'm sure it's not easy dealing with that kind of disrespect."
I nodded, relieved that he didn't seem too upset. "Thanks for understanding. I really didn't mean to offend you."
"No offense taken," Lucas replied with a small smile. "How about we start over?"
"I'd like that," I said, feeling a flutter in my chest.
We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the clinking of utensils and the soft country music playing in the background. I couldn't help but steal glances at Lucas as we ate. The way his strong jaw moved as he chewed, the flex of his forearms as he cut into his steak – it was mesmerizing and surprisingly hot. It seemed odd to get all hot and bothered watching another man eat, but at the same time, I clearly was more than a little hard up.
"So," Lucas said, breaking the silence. "What else is there to do around here besides fixing fences and scaring tourists?"
I laughed, caught off guard by his playful tone. "Well, there's the fair comin’ up soon and that’ll occupy everyone’s attention for quite a while. But once that’s over, this town goes back to being pretty small and sleepy. The only other people we get out here is trail riders and wannabe cowboys.”
Lucas chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Wannabe cowboys, huh? And how do you spot those?"
I grinned, feeling more at ease. "Oh, it's easy. They're the ones with the fancy boots that have never seen a day of work, hats that are too clean, and they can't even sit on a horse to save their lives, much less ride.”
"Sounds like you've had some experience with that," Lucas said, leaning in closer.
I nodded, my heart rate picking up at his proximity. The way he stared at me with those green eyes of his was intoxicating. "More than I'd like. Every summer, we get a few city slickers who think they can handle ranch life. Most of 'em don't last a week."
"And what about me?" Lucas asked, his voice low and teasing. "Do I look like a wannabe cowboy to you?"
I swallowed hard, my eyes roaming over his ropey muscles and tight clothes that left little to the imagination. “You’ve got the build for it,” I said, trying not to seem too obvious that I was enjoying my inspection of him. “But your clothes are pretty nice for ranch work.” I glanced up at him, meeting his gaze. “How are you on a horse?”
“Not sure,” he smiled, leaning even closer. “I’ve never tried it.” He leaned his elbow on the counter, propping himself up. Thankfully the diner was empty because I had a feeling his closeness would’ve gotten people talking. “Maybe I just need a real cowboy to show me how it’s done.”
I swallowed hard, unable to break his gaze. “Uh… y-y-yeah,” I stammered. “Maybe.” I turned back to my food, my left hand pulling at my collar that suddenly seemed too tight, the heat rolling off my skin making me sweat instantly. “I’m sure you’d make a good rider.”
Lucas chuckled at that and I realized the double entendre I’d made my accident. “I’m sure I could be,” he replied, his tone leaving no doubt in my mind that he was quite experienced at riding, just not horses.
Suddenly I couldn’t eat anymore. Between my cock trying to drill a hole through my pants, my embarassement, and how flustered I was, my appetite was gone. I reached back, pulling my wallet out and slapping a twenty down on the counter.
“Well, gotta run Dolly!” I called out, waving in her direction. Then with a quick glance back while hiding my very obvious excitement, I said, “Good to see you again, Lucas.”
“You too, cowboy,” he smiled.
My cheeks burned and I rushed out of that diner as fast as I could, hoping I could maintain my composure long enough to get in my truck and get the hell out of town.