Caught Up in a Cowboy
(Cowboys of Creedenca #1)
by Jennie Marts
Publication Date: May 1st, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Western
This cowboy plays to win
Rackfor James was raised as a tried-and-true cowboy in a town crazy about ice hockey. Rack is as hot on the ice as he is on a hourse, and the NHL snapped him up. Now, injuries have permanently benched him. Body and pride wounded, he returns to his hometown ranch to find that a lot has changed. The one thing that hasn't? His feelings for hight school sweetheart and girl-next-door Quinn Rivers.
Quinn had no choice but to get over Rack after he left. Teenaged and heartbroken, she had a rebound one night stand that ended in single motherhood. Now that Rack's back - and clamoring for a second chance. Quinn will do anything to avoid getting caught up in this oh-so-tempting couwboy.
He snuck a glance at her as he drove
past the barn. Her wavy hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but wisps of it had
come loose and fell across her neck in little curls. She looked good—really
good. A thick chunk of regret settled in his gut, and he knew letting her go
had been the biggest mistake of his life.
It wasn’t the first time he’d thought
it. Images of Quinn haunted his dreams, and he often wondered what it would be
like now if only he’d brought her with him instead of leaving her behind. If he
had her to wave to in the stands at his games or to come home to at night
instead of an empty house. But he’d screwed that up, and he felt the remorse
every time he returned to Rivers Gulch.
He’d been young and arrogant—thought
he had the world by the tail. Scouts had come sniffing around when he was in
high school, inflating his head and his own self-importance. And once he
started playing in the big leagues, everything about this small town—including
Quinn—had just seemed…well…small. Too small for a big shot like him.
He was just a kid—and an idiot. But
by the time he’d realized his mistake and come back for her, it was too late.
Hindsight was a mother.
And so was Quinn.
Easing the car up in front of the
house, he took in the festive balloons and streamers tied to the railings along
the porch. So much of the house looked the same, the long porch that ran the
length of the house, the wooden rocking chairs, and the swing hanging from the
end.
They’d spent a lot of time on that
swing, his arm around her, talking and laughing, as his foot slowly pushed them
back and forth.
She opened the car door, but he put a
hand on her arm and offered her one of his most charming smiles. “It’s good to
see you, Quinn. You look great. Even in a pirate outfit.”
Her eyes widened and she blinked at
him, for once not having a sarcastic reply. He watched her throat shift as she
swallowed, and he yearned to reach out and run his fingers along her slender
neck.
“Well, thanks for the lift.” She
turned away and stepped out of the car.
Pushing open his door, he got out and
reached for the bicycle, lifting it out of the back seat before she had a
chance. He carried it around and set it on the ground in front of her. “I’d
like to meet him. You know, Max. If that’s okay.”
“You would?” Her voice was soft,
almost hopeful, but still held a note of suspicion. “Why?”
He ran a hand through his hair and
let out a sigh. He’d been rehearsing what he was going to say as they drove up
to the ranch, but now his mouth had gone dry. The collar of his cotton T-shirt
clung to his neck, and he didn’t know what to do with his hands.
Dang—he hadn’t had sweaty palms since
he was in high school. He wiped them on his jeans. He was known for his charm
and usually had a way with women, but not this woman. This one had him
tongue-tied and nervous as a teenager.
He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Listen Quinn, I know I screwed up. I was young and stupid and a damn fool. And
I’m sorrier than I could ever say. But I can’t go back and fix it. All I can do
is move forward. I miss this place. I miss having you in my life. I’d like to
at least be your friend.”
She opened her mouth, and he steeled
himself for her to tell him to go jump in the lake. Or worse. But she didn’t.
She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face, as if trying to decide if he
was serious or not. “Why now? After all these years?”
He shrugged, his gaze drifting as he
stared off at the distant green pastures. He’d let this go on too long, let the
hurt fester. It was time to make amends—to at least try. He looked back at her,
trying to express his sincerity. “Why not? Isn’t it about time?”
She swallowed again and gave a small
nod of her head. A tiny flicker of hope lit in his gut as he waited for her
response.
He could practically see her
thinking—watch the emotions cross her face in the furrow of her brow and the
way she chewed on her bottom lip. Oh man, he loved it when she did that—the way
she sucked her bottom lip under her front teeth always did crazy things to his
insides.
“Okay. We can try being
friends.” She gave him a sidelong glance, the hint of a smile tugging at the
corner of her mouth. “On one condition.”
Uh oh. Conditions were
never good.
Author Bio:
Jennie Marts is the USA Todays Bestselling author of award winning books filled with love, laughter and always a happily ever after. She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs and a parakeet that loves to tweet to the oldies. She's addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos and belives you can't have too many books, shoes or friends.
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