Monday, March 28, 2022

The Durango Affair - Brenda Jackson (SD #1727 - May 2006)

Series: Westmorelands (Book 8)

"I'M HAVING YOUR BABY."
 
Savannah Claiborne's simple statement set off an avalanche in Montana ranger Durango Westmoreland's carefully ordered life. Suddenly, an unforgettable night of passion with the hazel-eyed beauty had turned into a lifetime of obligation for the confirmed bachelor.
 
But Westmoreland men always honored their responsibilities, and leaving Savannah to raise his baby on her own was not an option. So he proposed and she accepted...with one condition: Theirs would be an in-name-only marriage.
 
Durango agreed. For now.

 
Good book. Durango Westmoreland and Savannah Claiborne met at the wedding of his cousin Chase to her sister Jessica. Their attraction was instant and intense, and they snuck away from the reception to enjoy it. Two months later, Savannah shows up at his Montana ranch to let him know she's pregnant.
 
Durango was stunned at the news and reacted like a complete jerk. Years earlier, he'd fallen for a city woman who had used and manipulated him, destroying his trust in women. With that at the back of his mind, his suspicious and dismissive comments made his opinion clear. Savannah was hurt and furious. She came to tell him in person because it was the right thing to do, but she didn't need him. I loved seeing her push back and walk away.
 
But it isn't over. Durango quickly realizes that the baby is his, he acted like a jerk, and as a Westmoreland, he has to step up and take responsibility.  He immediately goes after Savannah and catches up with her at the airport, where she's just learned all flights are canceled because of an impending blizzard. Durango offers the use of his guest room and says it will give them a chance to talk.
 
Durango wants to be involved in Savannah's pregnancy and their baby's life. He proposes that they marry now and plan to divorce when the baby is six months old. Savannah is wary. She doesn't believe in love and marriage thanks to her father and doesn't see the need to marry Durango. He eventually wins her over when he agrees that it will be a marriage in name only. This made me laugh because it's clear that he wants her back in his bed.
 
The sparks of attraction between Durango and Savannah are just as intense as before. Durango accepts it and plans to use the attraction to get her back in his bed while she's living there. Savannah also feels the sparks but believes that she can resist them. It was fun to watch her try to fight the battle against Durango's campaign of sexy kisses. Eventually, they give in to the power of the attraction, both believing that it's just for fun while they are together. With their time together and getting to know each other, the attraction deepens into stronger feelings. Both fight hard against admitting those feelings until forced to do so in conversations with others. I loved those conversations - Durango and Jared, and Savannah and Jessica - who brought the voice of experience to the situation.
 
Thanks to a document Savannah received in the mail, there's a bit of a hiccup in the prospect of a future together. Believing Durango doesn't share her feelings sends her fleeing into the teeth of a blizzard. I loved Durango's big moment and the emotional confession of his feelings. The epilogue was fantastic. I loved the big family get-together and Durango's meeting with the other Westmoreland men. I especially enjoyed the tagline, "Which one of you will be next?"


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