Chapter 1
“Who called this meeting of the Billionaires Anonymous Club?” Taggert ‘Tag’ Bronson asked, as he sat across the table from four of his closest friends at the Ugly Stick Saloon, a pitcher of cold beer being passed around.
“We did,” all four of his friends answered as one.
Tag blinked. “Okay. You gonna clue me in on why?”
Coop Johnson grinned. “We’ve all completed the next step in our life plans by finding the women of our dreams.”
“That is, all except one,” Gage Tate said, giving Tag a pointed look.
Moose Smithson jabbed a finger in Tag’s direction. “You.”
Sean O’Leary grinned. “It’s your turn to give the Billionaire Online Dating Service a shot. It’s time you found the woman of your dreams, settled down and had half a dozen children.”
Tag held up his hands. “Whoa, there. I don’t see any of you with half a dozen children.”
“It’s only a matter of time before one of our ladies gets pregnant,” Coop said. “After our wedding this weekend, Emma and I are going to work on baby number one.”
“As are Jane and I,” Moose added.
“Jane’s really going to quit the modeling business?” Tag asked. “She’s so good. I’m sure they’d hate to see her go.”
“She says she’s making room for the younger models.” Moose chuckled. “I think she just wants to stay home and cook. She’s amazing in the kitchen.” He lifted a big shoulder. “And in the bedroom. Did I mention she’s almost got the hang of horseback riding?”
Sean laughed. “Is that horse’s name Moose?”
Moose gave Sean a narrowed glance. “Keep it clean, dude.”
Sean raised his hands. “Hey, you started it with the bedroom and the horseback riding. Enquiring minds want to know.”
“When are you two gonna tie the knot?” Coop asked.
“Soon. Jane wants to be on horseback when we say our vows.” Moose grimaced. “I just hope it’s not a complete disaster.” He shrugged. “Me? I’d take her to Vegas, get married in an Elvis chapel and call it done. I know she’s the one. I don’t need all the hoopla to prove it.”
“Me either,” Coop said. “But it’s their special day. Anything they want, they can have. As long as I get a ring on my Emma’s finger.”
“I would think Emma’s four brothers would be giving you hell about now,” Tag said.
“Not at all. They did when I first showed up to date Emma. Hell, after I helped them haul hay, they seemed to like me better than their sister. I think if Emma had dumped me, they would have made me an honorary brother.” Coop winked. “Good thing Emma didn’t dump me.” He glanced at his watch and grinned. “T-minus three days. You guys are still coming, aren’t you?”
“Wild horses couldn’t keep us away,” Gage said.
“Racehorses could,” Sean said.
Coop threw a cardboard coaster at Sean. “The point is, we’re here to talk Tag into doing what we’ve all done.”
“That’s right.” Gage turned his attention to Tag. “It’s your turn to step into the world of dating.”
Tag shook his head. “I told you guys I was working on a special project.”
“And what project would that be?” Moose asked.
“Sorry,” Tag lifted his hands, “I can’t tell you. It’s top secret.”
“That’s bullshit,” Sean said. “You’re the one who conned all of us into testing Leslie’s BODS.”
Tag raised his eyebrows. “And it worked for you, didn’t it?”
“Yes,” Sean said. “It did. I might not ever have asked Ava out if not for BODS.” He shook his head. “Leslie really needs to come up with a different acronym for her online dating system.”
“Whatever the name is, the system works,” Tag said. “Sean has Ava.”
“And Mica,” Coop reminded them. “He got a bonus daughter out of that deal.”
“Yeah, I did, didn’t I?” Sean grinned. “She’s a pistol, that one. So much like her mother. I love them.”
“Exactly,” Tag said. “You’re happy. Coop’s happy with Emma.”
“I’m happy with Fiona,” Gage said. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I thanked her stepsisters for entering her name in the database. If they hadn’t done that, I would never have met Fiona.”
“And Moose matched with Jane.” Tag crossed his arms over his chest. “I can’t think of anything more satisfying than seeing my friends happy.”
Coop’s eyes narrowed, and he glared at Tag. “He’s doing it again.”
Tag gave Coop a crooked grin. “Doing what?”
“Don’t give us that innocent look,” Gage said. “I swear you could sell ice to an Eskimo.”
“You’re avoiding the reason we’re all here.” Sean lifted his beer. “Well, besides the great beer and music.”
“We’re here to make sure you take a little of the snake oil you’ve been dealing the rest of us,” Coop said.
“I’m working on it. I promise.”
“Working on it?” Sean frowned. “Have you entered your data into BODS?”
Tag winced. “Not exactly.”
Moose smacked his empty beer mug on the table. “Then you’re not working on it.”
“I’m going to,” Tag said. “I’m just waiting for the right time.”
“You didn’t give us that option,” Gage said. “You had a friend who needed guinea pigs to beta test her software.”
“Are you disappointed with the results?” Tag asked.
“Far from it,” Coop said and turned to Gage. “He’s doing it again.”
“We’ll give you one week,” Sean said.
“One week?” Tag frowned. “One week, and then what?”
Moose poured another beer as he spoke, “If you haven’t entered your data into the system, we’ll enter it for you.”
“You’re kidding right?” Tag looked around at his so-called friends. “There’s no telling what the system will come up with according to your input. I need to be the one to do that.”
Coop crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve got one week to get ’er done.”
Tag glanced down at his watch. “Can’t you give me a little more time?”
“Nope,” Moose said.
“Coop’s wedding is this weekend,” Tag said. “We’re going to be tied up with that.”
“It takes less than an hour to format your data and snap a photo,” Coop said.
“But I had a plan,” Tag argued.
“Plan—you’re kidding, right?” Sean shook his head. “Love happens. You can’t plan it.”
Oh, but he was already in love, and the plan had to do with getting the lady to fall in love with him. In this case, that took careful planning. He couldn’t tell his friends. They wouldn’t understand. “Okay, then. I’ll get my data entered and start looking.”