The Saddle Creek Series

Chase Montgomery entered his coordinates into the GPS to check his location. Out here in the middle of nowhere, it could sometimes be hard to tell how far he'd come since the last sign. Next time he would remember to check the odometer. Dammit! Still eighty-eight miles to get to his ranch. He needed a break from his nonstop drive from Colorado. Heading back from the big horse sale in Denver, he was beat and anxious to get to his home not far outside the small town of Saddle Creek, Wyoming. He needed to stable the new horses whinnying impatiently in the trailer, who were just as desperate for a break, too. His backside was numb and the rumbling in his belly reminded him of Rosie's Diner. His mouth watered thinking about the restaurant's belly-filling comfort food they served. He decided to stretch his legs and grab some food from his favorite stop.A few miles later, he parked the truck and trailer outside the back door of the family diner. He shoved the truck door open and inhaled

Lauren woke when the truck stopped, and lay shivering, listening to the evening sounds. She heard two men talking, but their voices were too far away to be distinguishable. She peeked out through the hole in the tarp and realized it was getting dark. Suddenly the tarp jerked roughly out of her hand. Like a frightened puppy in the back of a kennel, she cringed in a corner of the truck."Oh my God! Oh my God, I'm so, so sorry, sir. IIwell, see, I was only trying to hitch a ride to the next town, and I must have fallen asleep, and""It's okay now," a man said in a soft and calm voice. Again, the voice sounded familiar. Lauren dared to look up at him and realized he was the meat-loaf-eating friend of the manager at Rosie's Diner, the one she'd so admired with the blue eyes and the drawl and manners that would have made his mama proud. Now, his gaze was even softer and more compassionate than it had been, and her fear dissolved. "It'syou!" "And you'reyou!" His bright blue eyes twinkl

When Chase saw Lauren come out of the house, his heart jumped. She looked well-rested. He hoped a few days away from town and whoever or whatever messed with her would be the best thing for her. He just wanted to give her a chance to get her pretty little head on straight. As he stood beside her, he smelled her sweet, fresh fragrance. Her thick hair whipped around her face in the soft spring breeze as she smiled at the frolicking colts in the paddock. When she spoke, her voice was melodic and lyrical. He liked the sound of it.What the hell are you doing? You have work to do! Yet at the same time, he knew what it was that held him captive. Those eyes! God, those beautiful green eyes. They called to the deepest part of him. His heart hammered as an inexplicable surge of lust expanded in his chest. He wanted herjust one wild night with a sultry woman who could stroke his libido like no one had in a long time, a night he could walk away from, no strings attached."So, uhdo you know ho

Chase waited by his study door until Lauren entered, then closed it securely behind her. It was a very manly room with dark wood walls and furniture. A fireplace made of dark gray stone rose tall and solid, like the man of the house. He sat on his high-backed leather chair behind a dark cherry-wood desk and motioned for her to take a seat on one of the chairs in front. "First, Lauren, I want you to know I don't cotton to any woman-beater. Never have, never will, so you can relax. I'm gonna protect you from that bastard as well as I can. Also, whatever you tell me in this room stays in this room. Other than filling my workers in on who to keep an eye out for, your past is nobody's business but yours and mine at this point. Is that all fine and dandy with you?" "Yes." The rich, smooth sound of his voice and the way her name rolled off his tongue lit a fire in her belly. A fire that melted the knot of anxiety she'd had since Clint's first assault."Sowhat can you tell me about this C

When Chase walked into the kitchen the next morning, Lauren stood at the large window taking in the sunrise, with a cup of coffee in her hand. He smirked when he saw the coffee already made, admiring the woman's headstrong and stubborn ways. He poured a cup and leaned his back against the counter. He took a sip. "Coffee's good. You got up early this morning. Did you sleep okay?" "Yes, I sure did." She carried her cup to the counter for a refill and stood beside him.He tightened in response to her closeness. His arms yearned to pull her against him. The cup in her hand trembled, and when he looked at her, her gaze dropped to his mouth. A potent hunger filled him, starving for a taste of her.He put his cup down and took her seductive face in his palms, for a moment relishing the softness of her skin. He stroked his thumbs over her cheeks, slid his hands into her hair, cradled the back of her head, and tugged her closer. "You look beautiful this morning," he whispered against her