Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) (30 page)
Read Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) Online
Authors: Kimberly Krey
“Strawberry blond,” Jade mumbled, a bit of recollection mingling just beyond her grasp.
When I finally got you to smile, I noticed the light freckles across your cheeks.
Jade felt herself blush. She hated those freckles.
“Maybe you two
did
meet,” LeAnn said, hunching closer to the phone as it buzzed once again.
You were wearing green when we met, and for a reason I tried to drag out of you, you were sad that night.
“Whoa. This guy is good,” LeAnn said. “Seriously. I’d meet up with him.”
Jade’s jaw dropped. “Two seconds ago you were talking about restraining orders.” Never mind the fact that Jade had goose bumps rising all over her skin and a pool of warm, liquid sugar bathing her heart. His final text caused her to remember. She liked this guy. Was interested in him. And disappointed when he hadn’t called. Too bad she’d sworn off men since then.
With a sad sort of resolve, Jade texted him back.
Well, sorry to break it to you, but I’m married.
In order to make her lie more convincing, she added to it.
Got hitched three months ago today.
The small screen glared at her – daring her to hit send. What was stopping her? The image of the guy; the strong, ruggedly handsome, not-your-typical-L.A. guy at the club. One who’d managed to cheer her up after a terrible day. There had been something about him that caused her to give out her number – an act she avoided at all costs.
“Married?” LeAnn shouted. “No! Don’t send that. Just meet the guy somewhere. For a drink. Or a yoga class. The beach.
“He had a girlfriend at the time, LeAnn. And he was hitting on me that whole night.” Her thumb hovered over the word
send,
before pressing down on it.
LeAnn groaned. “Hitting on you? How? Did he try to make out with you?”
“No,” Jade realized. “He just, didn’t leave my side. He was sweet, actually. But still… single moms shouldn’t date.”
LeAnn came to a stand and pulled a pad of order slips from her apron pocket. “You can’t let the advice of some radio shrink run your entire life.” The flutter of pages flipping sounded as she thumbed the corner of the small pad.
“But she’s right.” Dr. Movay’s voice echoed within Jade’s mind as she repeated the woman’s famous phrase. “Kids don’t need the drama of a dating mama. Luke deserves better than that.” She watched for something to show on the screen. Anything. And despite the conviction of her own words, a bitter sting of regret sunk into her chest. An ache for something that might have been.
“Wait a minute. Was this the guy you said reminded you of a country boy?”
Jade glanced up. “What?”
LeAnn nodded her head, a fresh spark of light in her crystal blue eyes. She hunched down as she spoke. “I remember. You came into work one day, high as a kite. It took me half-a-shift to drag it out of you, but you finally admitted that you’d met a guy.” She looked away for a blink before staring back at her. “He had some cowboy-sounding name. You liked him. I remember because you never liked anyone.”
Jade backed away, glancing down at the lifeless phone once more. “You better get in there before Angelo comes out. Tell him I’ll be there in a sec.”
LeAnn shook her head in disgust. “If you don’t get past that doctor’s advice, you’re going to be alone forever.”
As the sound of LeAnn’s footsteps grew softer, Jade couldn’t help but wonder if that were true. Once the door had closed, she typed out one last text for the mysterious stranger.
Just out of curiosity, what is your name?
The heated thumps of her heart picked up a rapid pace as she watched the screen, waiting for any sign of life. At last it came. Just two words.
Gavin Emerson.
This ends the sample chapter of Jade’s Cowboy Crush, now available at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H9XIJ0O
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Cassie’s Cowboy Crave. As a reader myself, I dive into novels seeking an enjoyable getaway from the daily grind – I hope this story provided that for you! If you enjoyed the book, I could really use (and would sincerely appreciate) your rating and or review on Amazon or Goodreads.
I’d absolutely love to hear from you as well! If you’d like to contact me, please visit my webpage @
http://kimberlykrey.wix.com/kimberlykrey#!info
I can also be found on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberly-Krey-Author-Page/106826456029568?ref=hl
And Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KimberlyKrey
Other Published works by Kimberly Krey include:
Evie’s Knight
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0099THKBK
Jade’s Cowboy Crush
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H9XIJ0O
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to thank my beta readers for their time, encouragement, and priceless feedback. Jamie, Mom, Bec, Deanne, Chantele, Amber, and Katie – you women are brilliant and beautiful! And thanks to Dad as well; you are such an amazing support to me!
Kiddos: As Kelly Clarkson once said, “my life would suck without you!” Thank you for making every day brighter! I adore your shiny, happy faces!
And Jamie: Thank you for keeping me balanced and sane (most of the time). So glad to have you close by. I could not survive this writing journey without you.
Cover Design by Kelli Ann Morgan inspirecreativeservices.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kimberly Krey lives in the Salt Lake Valley with her husband, four children, and two dogs. She has a great love for literature, family, and food.
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