Cover Art Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.
Buy at Carina Press
Available at Carina Press, Harlequin's Digital 1st Imprint
All Chantilly McDougal wants is to run her daddy’s ranch. The only one of five sisters content to stay on the McDougal spread, Chantilly loves the land and knows the workings of the ranch better than anyone. So when Stuart McDougal hires Jack Grady as his new foreman without even consulting her, Chantilly is furious. She doesn’t need the help of any cowboy, no matter what feelings the man arouses in her!
Jack Grady can understand Tilly’s frustrations over working with him, but he needs the job to put his nephew through law school. Besides, he’s made a promise to Stuart, and everyone knows a cowboy never goes back on his word. But when he finds himself falling for the boss’s daughter, Jack is torn between being honest with Tilly, and keeping her father’s secret.
Excerpt
It got her goat every time her daddy insisted she help Jack Grady around the ranch. Didn't her dad hire him to replace her? Her! The only daughter out of the five McDougal women who even wanted to stay home and help run the ranch, no less, and Daddy replaced her with him.
Ducking into the last stall, Chantilly squeezed between Rickrack and the rough-sawed boards on the outside wall of the barn. She stroked the dark smoky mane of her favorite quarter horse and sighed. She'd hide out in here until that jerk with the sexier-than-hell ass gave up and left the McDougal ranch.
"We don't need him, do we, Rick?" She laid her head on the soft side of the horse's cheek.
It made no sense that her daddy didn't bring up his plan to hire a foreman at last month's family meeting, but instead chose to spring the man on her two weeks ago when she had no say in the matter. She brushed away the tear that escaped down her cheek. It had always been her dream to work beside her dad since she was tall enough to see over the hay growing.
She'd trained for this position her whole life, and for what? Not one single iota of a chance at stepping up and running the show. I can do it myself without anyone's help, thank you very much.
"Chantilly Lace!"
Her breath whooshed out and her shoulders deflated. Just great, Daddy. Give the man more ammunition to shoot my way.
She patted the horse one more time, moved toward the stall door and stepped out into the wide aisle of the barn. "Right here, Dad."
"There you are, Chantilly. I need you to take Jack to Quarter C and show him where we keep the breeders today. I'll let you explain our rotation schedule to him and see that he knows where everything goes." Stuart McDougal lowered his brows and gave her that look. "I've gotta coupla phone calls I need to make and will be up at the house for the next hour or so if you need me."
Her father had used the same expression many times on her over the years. It stood to reason that with five daughters with minds of their own, with their daddy's need for control and their momma's looks; he had the God-given right to try whatever worked to keep them toeing the line. Even if I'm twenty-four years old and old enough to run the damn ranch as Daddy's partner.
She smiled. "Of course, Daddy." It was a good thing that each of the McDougal sisters had him wrapped around their little fingers tighter than a castrating band. He never stayed angry for long. She hooked her thumbs in the front belt loops of her jeans and refused to look at Jack.
"Chantilly." Stuart tilted his head slightly to the side and arched one of his gray eyebrows just enough for only her to realize she'd pushed the limits of his patience.
"Fine." She sighed and turned to Jack Grady. "Do you have a mount picked out or do you want me to do you the favor?" She imitated her dad's raised-brow look. "I do believe Cotton would serve you well." And knock you right out of the saddle onto that perfect backside of yours too.
"Chantilly Lace." Her father's low growl warned her he was about to let loose with a lecture she wouldn't want to hear in front of Jack.
She leaned over, gave her dad a kiss on his whiskered cheek and whispered, "Sorry, Daddy."
"Saddle up, Jack." She turned and headed back over to Rickrack's stall. At the half door, she gazed back down the aisle. Jack stood in the same spot, but her father was gone. She frowned.
One of the reasons Jack irked her so much was the fact that he owned sexy. No man should turn her insides to mush the way he did.
Ducking into the last stall, Chantilly squeezed between Rickrack and the rough-sawed boards on the outside wall of the barn. She stroked the dark smoky mane of her favorite quarter horse and sighed. She'd hide out in here until that jerk with the sexier-than-hell ass gave up and left the McDougal ranch.
"We don't need him, do we, Rick?" She laid her head on the soft side of the horse's cheek.
It made no sense that her daddy didn't bring up his plan to hire a foreman at last month's family meeting, but instead chose to spring the man on her two weeks ago when she had no say in the matter. She brushed away the tear that escaped down her cheek. It had always been her dream to work beside her dad since she was tall enough to see over the hay growing.
She'd trained for this position her whole life, and for what? Not one single iota of a chance at stepping up and running the show. I can do it myself without anyone's help, thank you very much.
"Chantilly Lace!"
Her breath whooshed out and her shoulders deflated. Just great, Daddy. Give the man more ammunition to shoot my way.
She patted the horse one more time, moved toward the stall door and stepped out into the wide aisle of the barn. "Right here, Dad."
"There you are, Chantilly. I need you to take Jack to Quarter C and show him where we keep the breeders today. I'll let you explain our rotation schedule to him and see that he knows where everything goes." Stuart McDougal lowered his brows and gave her that look. "I've gotta coupla phone calls I need to make and will be up at the house for the next hour or so if you need me."
Her father had used the same expression many times on her over the years. It stood to reason that with five daughters with minds of their own, with their daddy's need for control and their momma's looks; he had the God-given right to try whatever worked to keep them toeing the line. Even if I'm twenty-four years old and old enough to run the damn ranch as Daddy's partner.
She smiled. "Of course, Daddy." It was a good thing that each of the McDougal sisters had him wrapped around their little fingers tighter than a castrating band. He never stayed angry for long. She hooked her thumbs in the front belt loops of her jeans and refused to look at Jack.
"Chantilly." Stuart tilted his head slightly to the side and arched one of his gray eyebrows just enough for only her to realize she'd pushed the limits of his patience.
"Fine." She sighed and turned to Jack Grady. "Do you have a mount picked out or do you want me to do you the favor?" She imitated her dad's raised-brow look. "I do believe Cotton would serve you well." And knock you right out of the saddle onto that perfect backside of yours too.
"Chantilly Lace." Her father's low growl warned her he was about to let loose with a lecture she wouldn't want to hear in front of Jack.
She leaned over, gave her dad a kiss on his whiskered cheek and whispered, "Sorry, Daddy."
"Saddle up, Jack." She turned and headed back over to Rickrack's stall. At the half door, she gazed back down the aisle. Jack stood in the same spot, but her father was gone. She frowned.
One of the reasons Jack irked her so much was the fact that he owned sexy. No man should turn her insides to mush the way he did.
Cover Art Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.
Buy atCarina Press - Harlequin's Digital First imprint
Val's Rancher, Book #2
*******
Val McDougal knows all about heartbreak. First, the love of
her life, Sam Turner, left to join the rodeo circuit two years ago. Now she
faces a new kind of pain—her beloved father is dying. The last thing she needs
is Sam's unexpected return to Pike, Montana, to take over his family's ranch,
stirring up desires Val doesn't think she can handle.
Sam knows he made the biggest mistake of his life when he
broke things off with Val. He's determined to win her back, this time for good.
But despite the sizzling heat between them, Val keeps pulling away. He has to
convince her to trust him—and her own heart—again, especially as the time draws
near when she'll need him the most…
Excerpt
“Hello, Val.”
Sam’s low purr of a greeting made the scar on her broken
heart twinge. She raised her chin, followed by her brows and then opened her
mouth. “Sam. Wow, I haven’t seen you in a long time. How are you?” Oh sweet
molasses, I can’t do this.
His intense dark eyes, the color of straight coffee in the
morning, seemed to see past the false surprise she’d thrown his way. He’d grown
in the last couple of years. His shoulders pressed against his flannel shirt
and his forearms, below the roll of his cuff, lay tan and buff on the counter.
The tattoo of a half-naked woman peeked out from underneath his shirt sleeve;
the one he used to tease her was really a portrait of her.
“I’m good.” His attention drifted to the front of her shirt,
obviously noting the changes in her body too.
Val had an insane urge to sweep off his hat to find out if
he still had the blackest hair she’d ever had the pleasure to run her hands
through. Her nipples peaked and she crossed her arms. “What brings you back to
Pike?”
“I’m back for good this time, Val.”
“That’s g-great, Sam…” Not sure what else to say, she turned
to Roy Lee. “Hey! You’re just the man I was looking for. I have that thing back
there—” she hitched her thumb over her shoulder, “—that I wanted you to get for
me.”
Roy Lee tilted his head. “What thing? You didn’t mention you
needed help earlier.”
“Please.” She widened her eyes. “You promised last week. T-that
thing…tool…gadget-doohickey-kabobble up on the shelf. The really high shelf
I can’t reach…in the back corner of the…bar…kitchen!”
“What the hell are you jabbering about?” Roy Lee swung his
long legs off the stool and stepped behind the bar.
“Excuse us, Sam. I’ll bring ’im right back to you.” She got
behind Roy Lee and pushed him none too gently through the swinging doors to the
kitchen.
“Val, I swear I don’t remember you—” He grabbed his arm
where she’d slapped him. “Hey! Why’d you hit me?”
“Sometimes you can be dumber than a scarecrow with a broom
stuck up your—”
“Watch it, Val McDougal.” He rocked back on the heels of his
boots and tapped the star over his left breast pocket. “I’m still the sheriff
in this town.”
She snorted. “That doesn’t work on someone who used to go
crawdad hunting with you every summer.” She blew out her breath, shook her head
and whispered, “I can’t do this.”
“You can too.” Roy Lee rubbed her arms. “You’re made of
stronger stuff than this, honey. You’re a McDougal.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve
watched you beat yourself up over Sam leaving for years, and he might be my
best friend, but he doesn’t deserve to hurt you anymore.”
Her shoulders drooped. “He’s staying in Pike.” Tears welled
up in her vision and she blinked them away. “Why? Why’d he come back? Why now
of all times?”
Margot's Lawman, Book #3
Coming February 13, 2012
Buy at
Carina Press-Harlequin's Digital First Imprint
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
and most ebook stores.
Coming February 13, 2012
Buy at
Carina Press-Harlequin's Digital First Imprint
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
and most ebook stores.
*******
It’s hard to keep a secret in the small town of Pike,
Montana, but veterinarian Margot McDougal and sheriff Roy Lee Hanson managed to
keep their relationship on the sly for months. Margot cares for Roy Lee, but
the last thing she needs is to worry about local gossip while she’s busy
running her clinic and dealing with the loss of her beloved father.
Roy Lee can’t wait to tell the world that he loves Margot.
He respected her decision to keep their affair quiet—until now. It’s time for
everyone to know Margot is his gal…especially Ryan Martin, her new assistant.
He’s formed an attachment to Margot and Roy Lee is sure the city boy’s
unexplained appearance in Pike means he’s up to no good.
Margot just wants to help Ryan fit in, and Roy Lee’s
jealousy soon drives a wedge between them. A wedge that only increases when
Margot is roped into Ryan’s secret, too….
Excerpt
Excerpt
Margot opened the top drawer in her desk, removed the papers
and a rubber band for her hair and laughed. Two soft squares of caramel sat on
top of her prescription pad. Smiling, she hurried to open up the plastic
wrapper and pop the treat in her mouth. It was like Roy Lee to hide her
favorite candy somewhere for her to find it.
The caramel melted over Margot’s tongue eliciting a moan of
pleasure. She closed her eyes and let the sweet smooth goodness flood her
senses. She was powerless to turn down the one addiction in her life and Roy
Lee knew it. He often teased her over the hidden empty wrappers he found under
her seat in the truck or in the pockets of her jeans.
The creamy richness soothed her soul better than any cup of
coffee. She sighed in contentment. If ever she had a comfort food, this was it.
The office door banged against the wall. She swallowed the
treat, put her hand over her mouth and mumbled, “Aw, shoot a jackrabbit, Roy
Lee.”
“What’d I do this time?” Roy Lee shut the door behind him.
She struggled for breath and patted her chest at the same
time. “I didn’t know anyone was gonna barge in my office without knocking, and
I wasted it.”
“Wasted what?” He hooked his thumbs in the belt loops of his
well-worn jeans. His mouth curved. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”
Roy Lee’s sexier-than-all-get-out smile replaced the
disappointment over swallowing the candy. He had a way of flashing a grin that
went straight to her womanly spots and made her body temperature rise at least
five degrees. All he had to do was lift the corners of his mouth, and she could
no more resist Roy Lee than she could the caramel.
She motioned him inside, rounded the desk and met him
halfway across the floor. Standing on her tiptoes, she placed her lips on his
and gently coaxed his mouth open. His dark goatee tickled her chin.
Roy Lee moaned, and she knew he’d caught a hint of the
caramel from the tip of her tongue. She muffled her giggle against his mouth.
With her tongue tangling with his, she forgot what had him rushing in the room,
or her losing the treat. It was the taste of Roy Lee she craved now.
He held her captive in his arms. She clung to him, not
wanting to let go. Raising her leg, she rubbed against his jean-covered thigh.
Part of her wanted to continue this way forever, spending every glorious second
enjoying each other, and the other part of her wanted to hurry in case they got
caught.
Margot dragged him closer, ran her hands down the back of
his spine, over his tight hard rear end and pulled him thigh to thigh, close
enough a mouse couldn’t wiggle between them. She was almost climbing up his
body.
Roy Lee leaned his head back. “You’ve been sneaking candy
again.” He licked his lips. “How ’bout we try doing a little more tongue
lovin’? I skipped breakfast this morning…”
He lowered his mouth again. She turned her head. “Wait.”
Pausing, she strained to hear what grabbed her attention,
but no door click, phone or voice calling out for a doctor reached her ears.
“Did you hear something a second ago?”
“I didn’t hear anything.” He nibbled her neck. “Have I ever
told you how much it turns me on to see those blue eyes of yours looking up at
me when you’re put out with me?”
“You like when I’m angry?” She laughed.
“Mm…angry, happy, silly…it’s all good. You keep me on my
toes, Margot Lace.” He sucked on her neck and gave a big smack.
The woodsy scent she smelled moments before on his coat now
circled her head, intoxicating her, and it took all her control not to snuggle
in and drown herself. Last night wasn’t enough. She wanted him. Here. Now.
Always.
Cover Art Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look for Florentine's Hero, #4 of the Sisters of McDougal Ranch series, coming to Lori Wilde's Indulgence line at Entangled Publishing in 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look for Florentine's Hero, #4 of the Sisters of McDougal Ranch series, coming to Lori Wilde's Indulgence line at Entangled Publishing in 2012
