When she
runs into him again later that day and then finds out her brother has invited
him for dinner, the fire between them has a sizzle of a different kind.
At
eighteen, Buck Montgomery left home to make his mark on the bull-riding
circuit. He may have had wild success in rodeo but his personal life is in the
dust, and while he’s ready to start a new life he’s wary to expose his heart.
Buck knows he should tell Amy the truth, but every time he opens his mouth,
hers is right there with kisses like molten lava.
When his past resurfaces at the worst
possible time, Buck can only wonder if Amy will love the man he has become…or
if the man he was will chase her away.
Excerpt:
“What a crock.” Amy Stark kicked her
well-worn boot at the rear tire on her truck, which was now flatter than a
pancake. “Damn you anyway, Matthew Stark.”
If her
brother and her best friend weren’t off on their honeymoon, she’d really be mad at them. But she’d been so
glad to see them married that she’d readily agreed to attend this cattle
auction. She just hadn’t expected her truck to get a flat tire out here in the
middle of godforsaken nowhere.
There
was a jack in the bed of the truck, but at five foot two and one hundred ten
pounds she knew she didn’t have the strength to do what was needed to change
the tire. She pulled out her cell phone and rechecked the bars. Only one, and
barely visible. Of course. It stood to reason she’d break down where there was
no reception and damn little traffic. She thought about kicking the tire one
more time, but all she’d do was hurt her foot and it wouldn’t solve any
problems.
Sighing,
she checked her watch again. Twelve thirty. The cattle auction would start in
half an hour and she still had a twenty-minute drive to get there. And the whole reason for her going was
to bid on a bull Matt had specifically wanted and told her how high to go.
Damn,
damn, damn.
When
she heard the rumble of a truck coming down the road, she thought she was
having auditory hallucinations for a moment. But then, sure enough, a hulking
black pickup came around the curve not half a mile away, driving as if it owned
the highway. Hoping it wasn’t a sex pervert or a murderer driving, Amy waved
her hands in the traditional motion for the driver to stop.
The
pickup slowed, came to a stop about six feet from her and the driver’s door
opened. And Amy nearly swallowed her tongue when she saw what climbed down to
the road. At least six feet of honking sexy man, his tight butt clearly
outlined in his jeans, broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his shirt,
traditional Stetson clapped on his head. He turned and walked toward her with
the typical loose-hipped stride of the seasoned cowboy. His face was tanned,
accented by dark brows and the blackest eyes she’d ever seen. His lips were
curved in a smile that could have melted her panties if she let it.
He
surveyed her truck with its flat tire. “Looks like you’ve got a problem here.
That’s some big truck for a woman your size to handle.”
Amy
felt her temper spiking. A woman her size? Big truck? She jammed her fists onto
her hips and glared at him. “I’ll have you know I drive this truck all the
time. I just…just…had an unexpected setback here.”
The
man laughed, a rich, deep sound. “I’d say so. Where you heading?”
She
waved down the highway. “There’s a cattle auction not far from here. I was
supposed to be there a while ago.”
“Oh?
Taking something to your boss?”
To her
boss? Holy shit. Who was this cretin?
A relic from another century? She ground her teeth, hard, but decided arguing
with him wouldn’t get her anywhere. If he’d just help her get the damn tire
changed, she’d be on her way. Probably never see him again. Which under other
circumstances might not be too bad. But right now she was having too much
trouble controlling her temper to worry about other physical reactions.
“I
just need to get there.” She found a pleading smile from someplace and pasted
it on her face. “Is there a chance that you could help me? Do you have the
time?”
“For
someone as pretty as you, I think I can make the time. Where’s the jack?”
As
pretty as her? Was this guy not the biggest chauvinist in the world? She was
waiting for him to call her little lady.
She
chuffed out a breath. “In the bed. I’ll open it for you.”
Still
keeping herself under control, Amy unlocked the truck bed and raised the cover
lowering the tailgate.
“I can
take it from here,” he told her and handed her is Stetson. Black, like his
truck and his clothes.
Amy
was sure her back teeth would be ground to dust by the time she got her tire
changed, but she couldn’t afford to annoy him. She just stood to the side,
holding his hat like some hat rack or bimbo, while he expertly loosened the lug
nuts and pulled off the flat. She’d never seen her savior before, so she
glanced at the door of his truck to see if it had a ranch logo on it, but the
panel was bare. Of course that meant nothing. She’d didn’t have Stark Ranch on
hers either. It was too new.
At
last the tire was changed and the man tossed the flat into the truck bed. He
pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket, wiped his forehead and his hands
and retrieved his hat. He moved with a relaxed, effortless ease, yet there
seemed to be a contradictory fine line of tension running through his body. As
if he had to be wary at all times. What on earth was that all about?
“Thank
you.” She held out her hand to him. “I really appreciate this.”
His
hand nearly swallowed hers, the warmth of it seeping into her system. With
great determination, she ignored the tingles that shot up her arm and spread
throughout her body.
I’ve got to get out more.
“My
pleasure.” He winked at her. “Hope you get to your boss in time.” He started to
walk away.
“I’ll
be sure to tell him what a help you were.” She couldn’t keep the edge of
sarcasm out of her voice.
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