Lauren stirred. Chase opened his eyes to the early morning sunlight shining through the blinds. He looked at her beautiful face. Though marred on one side, she was as flawless to him as the day he'd met her at Rosie's Diner. Her hand moved on his chest and played with a patch of hair. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer, ran his hand through her luxurious hair, and pushed it behind her ear. She groaned but didn't open her eyes."How are you feeling this morning, sleepyhead?" He caressed her arm. "I hurt all over. I know he only hit my face, but I must have landed hard on the ground.""You need to rest and let your body heal. Even Doc said so.""Uh-huh." She moaned as she wiggled deeper into the blankets."We'll have to get up soon and start back to the ranch. I'll go get your prescriptions at the drugstore while you get a hot shower. You'll feel much better then, I'm sure." He attempted to sit up, but she held him close."Do we really have to go? Can't we stay here a
"Lauren, I'm back," Chase yelled from the other room."Okay, I'll be right out."She quickly dressed and stepped outside the bathroom. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee and pastries almost sent her to her knees. Chase stood at the table where he'd placed the bag of goodies beside two steaming cups of coffee. He studied her from head to toe. "You look refreshed.""And you look happy, even cheerful. What's up?""I called Amos back." He pulled out a chair for her and took the lids off both cups. Lauren didn't know what smelled better, the hot coffee or the sugary aroma coming from the bakery bag. She sat at the table and pulled a glazed donut from the bag. It was still warm. Oh, God. Her mouth watered so badly she had to swallow before she could ask. "So, what did he say?"While they shared donuts and coffee, Chase relayed the news from Amos."That's fantastic!" Her words came out through a mouthful of donut.Chase grinned. "Anyway, I want to get back to the ranch and talk to th
VOLUME TWO: AN UPTOWN GIRL AND A COWBOYMaybe being passed over for the coveted promotion of Sales Manager at PowerUP PR firm was the best thing that would ever happen to her.Samantha William's suitcases sat by the door. A horn blasted outside Traveston Towers, one of New York's modern apartment complexes, announcing the cabbie's arrival. She took one last look around what she'd called home for the past four years, marveling at the bright, clear light shining through the large windows. Dust motes drifted over the few remaining packing boxes stacked against a wall. The rays reflected off the protective glass in a picture frame, which held a picture of her late parents, left standing alone on the mantle, a reminder of the immense upcoming change in her life. She hurried over to wrap up the frame and shoved it into her oversize carryon. The taxi honked again.Time to go. There was no time to change out of her work suit or torturous heels after an early morning meeting at the office.
Twisting side to side, Samantha looked up and down the road, but didn't see another car coming either way. Damn it. She would have to walk. After all, it was only two miles to the nearest town. The sound of her heels on the asphalt sounded like gunshots as she headed toward the silhouette of the towering mountains looming in front of her. Her eyes, now adjusted to the dark, scanned the dim area. No buildings nearby, no lights at all. She shivered. The air, cooling off now since the sun had gone down, would only get colder. She longed for her heavy jacket she'd placed in one of her missing suitcases.No stores in sight. So isolated. No barn or shed for shelter. No hotels, or motels, no open-all-night 7-Elevens, no gas stations, no shopping malls, no people, and no traffic to flag someone for help. How do people live out here?She twisted her foot on a small rock on the road, kicking it aside, and heard a crack. She put her now heelless shoe onto the pavement, glanced down, and perused
Sam glanced at the cowboy again and was pinned to the spot when his blue eyes bored into hers, as if sending a message of magnetism. Her nerve endings tingled. She inhaled deeply and exhaled. She slowly smiled at him."It's yours now," Elliott nodded toward the bar stool with a big smile. "II'm Elliott Bouchard." He stood and held out his right hand."Samantha Williams, but everyone calls me Sam. Nice to meet you, Elliott." She shook his work-calloused hand. Triggers of electricity surged through her fingertips, up her arm, and traveled throughout her body. Her heart jumped into her throat, and she couldn't breathe. A tingle ran down her spine. She quickly pulled her hand away.Sam dropped her bags on the floor at her feet and settled onto the stool next to Mr. Handsome. From the corner of her eye she could see his worn-in jeans fit his muscular thighs just right, and with a red plaid shirt-jacket over a white T-shirt, he reminded her of the actor who played the part of Wyatt Earp i
Sam sat up straight and looked up at Elliott. "Thank you very much, Elliott, but you really don't need to do this. I have money and I can take care of it myself.""I'm sure you can," Elliott explained, "but I want to buy your supper. Look, it's your first night in town. You're exhausted from your trip and your long walk to the diner. Tell you what. You can pick up the bill the next time. Okay?"She looked deeply in his eyes and saw only sincerity. "Okay," she agreed, "but I'll definitely get the next one.""Good! Would you like to have a drink somewhere? Jackson has some great places open late.""I'm sure they do, but I'm drained and ready for a good night's sleep. I only have a few days to find a permanent place to live and get to know my way around town. I have so much to do before I start work." She laid her head on her forearm lying on the bar. "Whew!" she said as she lifted her head. "I also have to make arrangements with the rental car company to get another car.""Let's get
Elliott wanted to wrap his arms around her and chase away her chill. "Before you know it, it'll be the Fourth of July," he said, wondering how long she'd be there.Most city slickers didn't last too long after the short summer and the long, snowy, cold winter. He couldn't, he wouldn't, get his heart involved again. He'd learned his lesson with Mariah. He'd fallen instantly and hard for her. His life changed when he'd met her. She wanted the same things in life he dida life with him and wildlife in her backyard. Home grown and beautiful, even on the day she died.Sam interrupted his thoughts when she stopped and turned to him. "I've had a wonderful time getting to know you tonight and I appreciate your hospitality." She turned with him as they walked toward the hotel's front double doors.Elliott stopped and stared into her eyes, pinning her to the spot. "I know we've just met but I feel like I've known you for a long time." He placed his hands in his coat pockets."Me, too. I feel
Within fifteen minutes, Elliott parked in his driveway. He didn't bother to pull into his attached garage. He'd be leaving in a few hours anyway. He inhaled the clean mountain air, glad to be home after a long day, but wished he would have kissed Sam's rosebud mouth before he let her go.Darkness shrouded the building. He flipped the indoor switch. Hanging his red plaid coat and Stetson hat on a hook on the wall, he walked into the kitchen, pausing to drop his keys on a nearby table. The blinds over the big glass sliding door were open, looking onto a small deck with wonderful views of the snow-covered mountains and a lighted ski run off in the distance.He opened the stainless-steel fridge and took out a beer. He shifted and leaned his back on the granite countertop, twisted the lid off the bottle and took a deep swallow.Not only had he had a productive workday, but he'd also met Samantha, Sam. He turned toward the short hall leading to three bedrooms: one for sleeping, one for an