INICIAR SESIÓNMIA. My alarm went off, and as I stretched my arm toward the nightstand to silence it, I felt a heavy arm wrapped securely around my waist.I smiled.There was something undeniably wonderful about waking up beside a very naked cowboy who had spent the entire night holding me.A cowboy who, I might add, had given me several reasons to reconsider my opinion of early mornings.Sawyer stirred behind me, and I immediately remembered his injured ribs.I froze, deciding it would be best to let him rest a little longer before he had to get out of bed.Too late.He tightened his arm around my waist, drawing me closer as he buried his face in my hair."Don't move," he mumbled.His voice was deliciously raspy, the sort of sleepy, masculine sound that should probably come with a warning label.I found it utterly charming."I can go by myself. Why don't you stay in bed a little longer?" I offered.He shook his head against my hair.And tightened his hold.Apparently, my suggestion was unacceptabl
SAWYER.Keeping my damn hands to myself had become one of the hardest things I'd ever done.But hell, I'd managed pretty well this past week.Unfortunately, a man's self-control could only last so damn long.And mine?Mine was running out tonight.Every time Chloe and I kissed, I ended up wanting more.And more.Hell, tasting those sweet lips of hers wasn't enough anymore.I was in deep shit.Because I had no fucking idea how much longer I could keep my hands off that beautiful woman.But tonight...Tonight, Chloe had finally invited me to tear down that thin wall I'd built between us.It'd been a long damn time since I'd been with a woman, and I wasn't about to rush things.Not with her.Not with my Princess.The last thing I wanted was to scare the beautiful woman lying beneath me.Her soft hands were tangled in my hair, and we were both damn near out of breath.But neither one of us seemed willing to stop kissing.Hell, you'd think it was the last kiss we'd ever get.I kept one han
MIA.I drove us home in complete silence.Well, not entirely.I'd turned up the radio.Loudly.Very loudly.Because I wasn't ready to discuss what had happened.He was definitely going to hear it from me, but right now, my priority was getting him home and making sure he got some rest.Sawyer glanced at me several times.I could feel him watching.But I kept my eyes on the road.He knew I was upset.He knew I was worried.And judging by the occasional smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, he found the entire situation rather amusing.The nerve of that man.When we arrived at the ranch, I helped him inside."Sit down," I ordered."Yes, ma'am.""Don't start."He chuckled.I marched toward the kitchen."Let me get you a frozen steak."There was a sentence I never imagined myself saying.Back in New York, we used ice packs.Here in Pleasant Valley, apparently, frozen meat was considered medical equipment.I opened the freezer and retrieved an enormous package of steak.Good heavens.D
MIA.Tonight was the last night of the fall festival.And who would have thought I'd fall so completely in love with this ridiculous little celebration?The music.The dancing.The laughter.The cowboys and their enormous hats.Good heavens.I was actually looking forward to next year's festival.Which meant something I hadn't quite allowed myself to consider until now.I was looking forward to spending another year in Pleasant Valley.Another year in this charming little town where everyone knew everyone, where people waved at strangers, and where a certain cowboy had somehow managed to steal a piece of my heart.I smiled to myself.What on earth was happening to me?The entire town seemed to have gathered for the final celebration. The festival grounds looked twice as crowded as they had on opening night, with colorful lights illuminating the dance floor and music filling the cool evening air."Are you sure your feet aren't hurting?" Charlotte asked, laughing.We'd been dancing for
MIA.Sawyer sat on the couch with a large frozen steak pressed against his battered face.Good Lord.The man looked terrible.His cheek was swollen, his lower lip was split, and dried blood stained the corner of his mouth.And yet, somehow, he was still the most handsome man I'd ever laid eyes on.He hadn't spoken a single word to me since we'd returned to the ranch.I assumed he was embarrassed.Not because he'd gotten into another fight with his brother, but because Wesley had humiliated him in front of me.He'd exposed something Sawyer had desperately wanted to keep private.The possibility of losing everything.His ranch.His land.His livelihood.I reached for his hand and gently intertwined our fingers.By now, his father, Billy, and Ricky knew about the kissing, so I didn't particularly care who saw us holding hands.Besides, after everything that had happened tonight, I wasn't about to pretend Sawyer Montgomery was just a friend.I sat beside him, quietly studying his battered
SAWYER.Chloe had unleashed something inside me.And I honestly couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this damn alive.When they announced that I'd won first place and handed me my little trophy, her kiss was the first thing that crossed my mind.Those soft, sweet lips dancing against mine.Fuck.Just thinking about it made me smile like a damn fool.She'd practically given me permission to kiss her whenever I wanted, and things were quickly getting out of control.Because I wanted that pretty mouth of hers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.And maybe a few snacks in between.Jesus Christ.What the hell was that woman doing to me?Ricky, Charlotte, and Billy were standing beside her when I finally joined them.And I wanted nothing more than to collect my reward right then and there.But I couldn't.Not in front of Ricky and Billy.Charlotte already knew what was happening between Chloe and me, and thankfully, she'd managed to keep her damn mouth shut.But those other two bastards?H







