Widow Hallie Barron wants her daughter happily married to
the young rancher she loves. When Simon Cole enters Hallie's life she's
reminded she's a woman with needs and desires. She yearns for a love like the
one she had, but fears risking her heart.
Rancher Simon Cole doesn't feel that city women belong on a
ranch. He's set to prove his nephew's fiancée is a mistake. Yet when he meets
her mother, he finds himself wishing there was a place for Hallie in his life.
On a ranch in the Hill Country of Texas, love is recognized,
lost, and found.
Draining
his first beer, he scanned the gaudy room, taking in the familiar dark red,
flocked wallpaper, white tablecloths, and heavy gold drapes pulled back with
black tassels. The red velvet swing suspended from the stage was empty. He
grinned. Damned if the place wasn’t decked out like an old west bordello, an
expensive one. The décor notwithstanding, they served superb steaks.
He
ordered another beer and glanced around the room. His gaze stopped at the
attractive blonde sitting two tables away. Dressed in a wrinkled type skirt and
a silky close-fitting knit top, she sat with her chin propped on her right
hand. With her left, she drummed trimmed bare fingernails on the white linen
tablecloth that ended almost at her lap. She sipped her iced tea as she
surveyed the room, her attention returning to the maître d’ near the
entrance as if expecting him to walk someone to her table.
Yeah,
yeah, I know how you feel, honey. It’s hell waiting on someone when you’ve
better things to do.
Hell.
He had business in town this afternoon. If the woman didn’t hurry up, he’d end
up stuck in the city instead of returning to the ranch near Granite Springs.
Not a pleasant prospect since he hated the beds in motels. He could call his
cousin, Jo Beth. She’d be glad to see him, but her matchmaking was an
aggravation he didn’t want to deal with tonight.
A
flash of color jerked his attention back to the nearby table. The woman
swiveled, swinging her arm over the back of the chair, pulling her silky top
tight across lush curves. He caught his breath and almost choked on a mouthful
of beer. Jaw length blond hair teased her cheek. Straight white teeth worried
her rosy bottom lip. Oh, man. What a fine looking woman. Scanning the area behind
her, she appeared to check the people at each table before moving on to the
next. When she turned back around, her gaze locked on his.
The
pretty blonde blinked as he studied her. Heat flushed her face. She didn’t back
down, and inspected him in return. His eyes crinkled with mischief, and his
shoulders shook as he gave in to silent laughter. He held his beer bottle with
both hand, thumbs stroking the neck as if it were a woman’s neck. Her eyes
widened, and her jaw dropped as she observed his movements. When her gaze
returned to his face, he grinned and winked. She gasped at his arrogance then
she bit her lip to keep from laughing.
