[Harlequin] - Tina Leonard - Cowboy Lover (txt), Ksiazki, txt
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Cowboy Loverby Tina LeonardDarling MontgomeryAGE: 40VITALS: 5'5"; short, chocolate hair; hazel eyes; natural nails, round andfull figure; wears hiking boots and jeans most of the timeOCCUPATION: Bed-and-breakfast ownerSTORYDarling loves her life in Union Junction, Texas. She owns a successful Band B that she inherited from her beloved grandmother. She loves to nurture her guests, andcooks gourmet…except for desserts, which so far elude her standard of expectation! She alsogardens immaculately, does her own fixing- up of the B and B — and is a renowned lace-maker in her church circle. Darling is handy, smart, feminine and fun.Having had a crush on Mason Jefferson of the infamous Malfunction Junction during heryounger days, she hasn't allowed herself to fall in love again. She's also too busy for love —and certainly would never consider the young, handsome, too-sexy cowboy who makeshimself at home in her B and B!Doctor Samson Lightfoot (Sam)AGE: 29VITALS: 6'1"; brown side-parted hair that needs a trim; startling dark blueeyes; stubble on his lower chin and around his lips; well-toned cowboybodyOCCUPATION Rodeo doctorSTORYSam Lightfoot fixes things — bones, broken things and hearts. But he doesn't plan on settlingdown, and the rodeo life suits him. Women hang on him at rodeos, but he's only beenmarginally interested — after all, what woman can honestly say she'd be interested in atraveling man?Sam especially knows the sexy and adorable Darling is off- limits — she's got permane ntwritten all over her in sweet cupcake frosting! And there's no way she'd ever leave her ownquaint cottage.…Chapter One"Come in!" Darling Montgomery called. "That will be Mason," she muttered, leaning furtherunder the sink so that she could connect the sink's U-pipe more tightly. "The Jeffersoncowboy with the plan to change all these dratted old pipes to efficient PVC. Won't that be anice change!"She was certainly tired of banging on old, leaky, easily clogged metal drainpipes. With asteady stream of customers at Darling's Bed & Breakfast in Union Junction, Texas, sheneeded pipes that didn't back up, toilets that flushed and lights that stayed on. Most fix- its shecould do herself — no hard chore since she loved this charming B and B she'd inherited fromher beloved grandmother ten years ago.With no husband and no children, she enjoyed nurturing her guests. Darling's B and B had afarther-than-local reputation for excellence and caring."It's my desserts that are the real problem," Darling murmured, standing to wipe her hands."Fix those,Mr. Anything-You-Can-Do-I-Can-Do-Better Jefferson.""Excuse me," a strange man's voice said behind her. "Not to get into a family squabble oranything, but from where I stand, it sounds as if you could use some help."She whirled around. "I'm so sorry! I was expecting someone else!"A confident cowboy grinned at her. "So I gathered. Someone you have competitive issueswith."Switching to hostess mode, Darling said, "I'm Darling Montgomery.""I'd like to say you certainly are darling, but I'm afraid I'm already pushing my luck."She looked more closely at the man as she pushed a lock of short, chocolate-colored hairbehind one ear uneasily. He was a cowboy, yes — she recognized that from the well- wornWranglers to the seen-better-days felt hat to the devil- may-care grin. A young cowboy, sheguessed. He didn't have enough scars and bitterness on him to be middle-aged.She certainly had all the prerequisite scars and maybe a touch of world-weariness of themiddle-aged. She ignored the flash of regret and the sting of attraction making her wish shewasn't so disheveled from banging around under a sink. "Consider your luck pushed. Whatcan I do for you, stranger?""I hear you rent rooms," he said with a drawl from a part of the country she didn't recognize."And there's a sign out front that says so," she said impatiently."Yeah. But I also heard you're a wonderful hostess with a ready smile and a family style," hesaid easily. "My name's Sam Lightfoot. Can we start over? I didn't mean to startle you."He extended his hand. Darling hesitated. She didn't want to touch him — she was dirty andsweaty and he was way too cute. A boy, she reminded herself. She didn't have to worry aboutanything.Assuming a motherly air, she swiftly shook his hand, withdrawing from what was really just atouch. "I have a room available. I'm sure you're tired. Would you like dinner tonight or justbreakfast in the morning? Breakfast is served on the antique mahogany sideboard in theformal dining room."He grinned at her. She flushed."Am I making you nervous?" he teased.Chapter Two"No," Darling fibbed, wishing she weren't wearing a tight tank top, the kind that looked socute on younger models in the Victoria's Secret catalog but just looked comfy on her. "You'renot making me nervous at all. Are you trying to?""Absolutely not.""Excellent. Then we'll get on famously. Now, shall I show you to your room?""Would you like me to help you with that U-pipe first?" Sam asked. "I'm assuming that if Itake you up on the dinner offer, I don't get it until the sink is in working order. And I'm realgood at fixing things, I promise."He laughed, the sound low and sexy, almost a growl of a chuckle. Darling's hair practicallystood on end from the sensual fire it sent through her. "I have a friend coming, thank you,"she said briskly. "I've got it under control. Are you just driving through Union Junction?""Yeah. Just driving through.""Rodeo?"He shifted on one foot, setting down his denim duffel bag. Dark brown hair fell over one eye,which he carelessly swiped back. "Maybe.""Oh, you're the asker, and I'm the askee," she said. "You know, Mr. Lightfoot, for all thequestions you've asked of me, I think I deserve to ask a few of my own. Especially as you'dlike to stay in my home."The flash of irritation she'd glimpsed on his face was quickly replaced by studiednonchalance. "Of course. Here's my credit card and my driver's license so that you can chargemy room."She took the items, more out of curiosity than anything. His driver's license picture showedthe same man who stood before her. How could anyone look sexy in their license photo? Hisaddress was stated as Billings, Montana.And then she held back a gasp as the birth date caught her eye.He was twenty-nine.And she'd been fighting some strange sizzle inside her forty-year-old body. A flush crept upher neckline — darn it, she could feel the pinkness rising to the top of her flesh. Slowly, sheraised her gaze as she handed back to Sam the driver's license and credit card.He was smiling at her, knowing exactly what she was thinking!"You're gonna say I'm jes' a baby," he drawled deeply to annoy her."Yes, I am," she snapped."You have those competitive urges, you know. So you're older than me.""A lot."He nodded, and she sensed he was vastly amused by her attraction to him."The only competitive urges I have are in the rodeo," he said. "I prefer to leave thecompetition out of the bedroom."She stiffened."Now, don't get all bent out of shape," he said easily. "I didn't say your bedroom."Her eyes widened. "Do you have personal references? I really don't think —""Hey," Mason said with a hearty laugh as he walked into the kitchen. "Sam Lightfoot, you olddawg!"The two men embraced, pounding each other liberally on the back. "So, you took me up onmy recommendation, I see," Mason said. "You'll like it at Darling's. I've known her since wewere practically babies."Darling flushed crimson. She'd had a crush on Mason during their teenage years, despite theage difference. Later in life, that feeling had minimized to the comfortable friendship betweenthem. He had his eleven rowdy Malfunction Junction brothers to raise and a five-thousand-acre ranch to run, and she'd had her grandmother to care for. And then a B and B to makeprofitable. "You know this man?""Yeah. He's the best on the circuit when it comes to fixing busted bones and rearrangedchops.""Busted bones? Rearranged chops?" Darling repeated, her gaze caught by Sam's laughing,dark one."Sure. Didn't he tell you?" Mason said. "This is Dr. Sam Lightfoot. One of the best men atfixing things that you'll ever meet."Chapter ThreeSam looked at Darling, grinning. From the moment he'd heard her call out to "Come in!" andfound himself staring at her dynamite little fanny as she wrestled under the sink, he'd hopedthe rest of the package was as cute. What a nice surprise to discover that not only was sheadorable, but she had attitude he liked, too. Yeah, he saw the protective wall go up; he saw thenervous sweep of her hand through her dark hair; he saw the self-conscious glance of her gazebefore she pulled her posture straight and looked him in the eye.She dug him as much as he dug her — and she was going to protect herself.Fine with him. He knew all about being gentle. Doctors had to have those skills. Did no goodto have a patient startled or scared of him. He'd perfected his technique, and there was nohuman he couldn't soothe."Well, Doctor," she said, "my sink helper is here, so your kind offer of repair assistance won'tbe needed. Which is best, since I don't make my guests work for their keep. Let me show youto your room so you can put your stuff away." She glanced at Mason. "You can get to workwith your theory.""Theory?" Sam asked."That older isn't better and that new is just what I need." Darling walked from the kitchen sothat Sam would follow her, which he did, but not without a raised brow at Mason, whoshrugged at him and bent to get under t...
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