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Buck Cowboys, #1
Blurb
Hallie knows how to lose your best friend in one easy step.
Offer him your virginity, then watch him reject you.
But that was four years ago, and now she knows better. Working at Hunt’s Bull Riding School, there’s no shortage of hot young cowboys to keep her entertained. There’s no need to think about Nate Mathews, especially since he’s off on the pro bull riding tour.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Until Nate walks back into her life, four years older, four years hotter, and with four years of regrets behind the blue eyes she once fell in love with.
But on his first night back in their sleepy hometown, Nate’s plans to apologize are lost in the wail of sirens. In the devastating aftermath, Nate leans on the woman who once knew him better than anyone.
But this time, it’s more than friendship he wants from her. No amount of teenage history, bad-tempered bulls, or babies who hate his guts will stop him from getting his second chance.
This second chance, friends-to-lovers romance brings the steam against a backdrop of professional bull riding, rodeo, and small-town cowboys. This is a complete romance with a happily ever after.
Here's a taste of what's inside!
I shot him a glance. “You remember how?”
He rolled his eyes at me. “Yes, smart-ass. I might have been away, but that doesn’t mean the cowboy in me is lost forever.”
I couldn’t help but tease him over that. “You sure? Riding a horse for hours a day is a little different to riding one of your bulls for a measly eight seconds.”
He nudged me playfully, but this time, I was more prepared for it, and it didn’t freak me out quite so much when that distinct ripple of attraction spread up my arm.
“I think I can handle it.”
“What about Molly, though?”
He drifted back to the couch and flopped down into it, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “Honestly, I don’t know. I guess I’ll just take her with me.”
I gaped at him. “While you’re feeding cows and sheep and fixing fences? What are you going to do, just attach her stroller to the back of your horse?”
“I was thinking I’d put her in one of those strappy things that go on your back.”
I blinked. “Are you serious right now? How on earth did anyone give you temporary custody of this child?”
He seemed genuinely confused. “What? No good?”
I spotted the ‘strappy thing’ in question and tossed it at him. “If you can get it on, you can do it.”
His mouth lifted at the corner in an adorable grin, and he pushed to his feet. Had he always been so much taller than me? Or was it that he’d filled out so he just felt bigger?
“Ye of little faith. I got this.”
He didn’t. And I knew it. But I was here for the amusement factor of watching him try and fail.
He held up the contraption, and I saw the minute his confidence faltered. He turned it upside down, studying it. He lifted one strap and put it over his shoulder, but the thing was a mess of buckles and levers, not to mention the fact it was obviously way too small for his big body. But still, he amused me while he tugged at it.
It took his arm getting stuck behind his back for him to admit defeat. “Fine. This thing was a dumb idea. Want to help me out here?”
I almost didn’t want to, just because it was so amusing. But I stood and grabbed the strap caught around his arm, moving it and undoing buckles and loops that crisscrossed over his body. I had to move to his front to get the last one, and as it dropped to the floor, I became very aware of just how close we were.
I stared at the logo on his t-shirt, willing myself to move away, but it was like a magnet pulled me in his direction, too strong for me to fight off. His fingers brushed my arm, then slid lower over my palm, until his fingers wound between mine.
“Thank you,” he said softly, voice barely more than a whisper.
“I told you to stop saying that.”
He inched closer. “I know. But I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know how to say all the things I really mean. Not when you can’t even look at me.”
My breath hitched. If I looked up, his lips would be right there. His so very kissable lips that I’d imagined myself tasting over and over.
I wouldn’t be able to resist them.