Authors: Roxy Boroughs
Crazy for Cowboy (21 page)
“Good idea.”
And it was. Her mouth yielded to his completely. The other times she’d kissed him, she’d always held something back. He knew that now. Could feel the difference. With this kiss, something special passed between them. It was as though she was making a declaration of some sort, telling him that she was his, totally and without reservations. That old saying was definitely true.
Honesty was the best policy.
* * *
Emily pulled away and drank in the image of the man before her—sunburned, streaked with dirt and wearing a five-o’clock shadow. With the makeup, he really did look like a bad guy from the turn of the century.
But in this century, he was one of the good guys. A kind, caring, family man. The type of guy Jackie had wished for her that day in the restaurant.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about our situation, and I have a proposition for you,” she told him.
“Sounds intriguing.”
“Remember that play we saw?” When he nodded, she continued. “Well, like the princess, I’ll wait a year for you while you’re off in Australia. During that time, I’ll put my business up for sale and see if I get any offers. If you’re back in six months, we can take up where we left off. If the series is a hit, I’ll complete the sale of my clinic and move to Australia, too. What do you think?
“I think you’ve made me a very lovely offer.”
Emily was ecstatic. Until Brandon turned away from her and put his foot in the stirrup. “But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline,” he said, mounting his horse.
Emily did her best to keep her feelings under wraps. She’d followed her heart and it didn’t work out. No problem. She was a big girl. She’d just go back to her truck and fall apart there.
“It would be silly of you to move to Australia.”
“I see.” She pulled her bag up higher on her shoulder, turned and began to walk away.
“If you’re moving for me, that is. Since I’m not going to be there.”
Emily stopped then swiveled around to face him. “What do you mean, you’re not going to be there?”
“I’m not going to Australia.”
“What?” Emily tried not to get excited. She’d gone that route only a minute earlier and her hopes had been squashed.
“I told Nick this morning that I’d had second thoughts. I’ve decided to turn down the series.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m going to stay right here. My family is far more important to me than any career.”
He reached down, offering her a hand. Emily wasn’t sure what else he was offering, but was willing to accept his gesture as the first step. She took his hand, placed her foot in the stirrup and was swung up onto the horse and into his waiting arms.
“So, exactly, what are you proposing to me, cowboy?”
“Anything you want.”
“I want you.”
“Then I’m happy to be taken.” He moved in for a kiss.
Emily placed her hand on his chest and held him back. “You haven’t said it yet.”
“Said what?”
“That you love me.”
He looked shocked. “Can’t you tell?”
“I need to hear it.”
Brandon stared at her for a moment then nodded. He tipped his hat back on his head and looked deep into her eyes. “Mistress, look on me; Behold the window of my heart.”
Emily recognized the lines from the play and smiled. When Brandon spoke again, instead of using Shakespeare’s words, he used his own. And they were even better.
“Emily...my darling...I love you. More than I ever thought possible. I want you to be with me, as my lover, as my friend, and as my wife...if you’ll have me.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. Behind them, the crowd burst into applause. Emily jerked back, her cheeks growing warm. This wasn’t the moment she’d planned to share with a bunch of strangers. “Are you sure about this?” she whispered. “Are you really willing to give up the television show?”
“Being a sidekick on TV might be nice, but I would much rather be your leading man. You are the star of my life, Emily. I don’t need any more accolades than that.”
Crowd or no, she couldn’t help herself. She flung her arms around him again and held him close. “You’re positive?”
“Absolutely. When Nick first mentioned the series, I assumed it was going to film here or in LA. That would have been okay. I could have networked, auditioned for movie roles, and I could have flown back here every weekend, no problem.” Brandon shook his head. “Australia’s not in the cards for me right now. I think I’ll have better luck picking up work here.”
“Really?”
“There are lots of options. I can get back into the theater scene. I can still do film and television, right where I am. This movie has proven that. I don’t need to move away and abandon the life I’ve built for myself. It was the choice I made six years ago. Now I know it was the right one.”
“And you don’t have any regrets?”
“I do have one. A big one.”
Emily prepared herself for the worst. “What is it?”
“I still haven’t met Houston Savage.”
“Is that all?” a deep male voice asked. A series of gasps and murmurs ran through the assemblage. Emily followed their line of vision. Just past the crowd, a darkly tanned, blond-haired man sat astride a pure white horse. He looked at Brandon and winked. “I thought the hero was supposed to get the girl.”
“Oh, my God, Martha,” a woman cried out. “That’s Houston Savage!”
Emily did a double take, shocked to see those older ladies from the restaurant yet again. As the first woman slid to the ground, swooning in the presence of the movie star, her matronly companion pulled out a tourist map and fanned the air around her friend’s prostrate form.
Houston Savage shrugged as if such adoration was all in a day’s work, flashed Emily and Brandon a smile, and headed off into the sunset.
ABOUT ROXY BOROUGHS
Before turning her attention to fiction, Roxy appeared in numerous TV commercials and movies. In addition to
CRAZY FOR COWBOY
, and the free short story
LETTING GO
,
she’s also published two linked romantic suspense titles,
A STRANGER’S TOUCH
and
A STRANGER’S KISS
,
part of the
Bandit Creek Books
series. Visit Roxy on
Twitter
,
Facebook
, and her
Website
.
* * *
If you enjoyed
CRAZY FOR COWBOY
, please help other readers find it by recommending it to friends or writing a review.
And if you’re looking for a
sizzlin’ hot
read, check out these books in the STAMPEDE SIZZLER SERIES
HOT FOR COWBOY
by
Steena Holmes
RECKLESS FOR COWBOY
by Daire St. Denis
GAY FOR COWBOY
by Jade Buchanan
BURN FOR COWBOY
by Jenna Howard
Coming soon…
WILD FOR COWBOY
by Kymber Morgan
and
DESPERATE FOR COWBOY
by Steena Holmes
by Steena Holmes
Catering to cowboys was part of Stacey’s job as assistant to the President of the largest western show on earth. But Stacey has seen enough beer-loving, boot smelling, god-awful hat heads, to last a lifetime. She’s met a new man now, and despite the fact he’s her online boyfriend, it’s a safe bet to assume he’s anything but a cowboy—he is, after all an executive in the business world.
Imagine her surprise when her new man shows up for their first in person meeting, and he looks remarkably like—a cowboy?
by Daire St. Denis
“You ever play ‘dare’ with a cowboy before, sweetheart?”
When it comes to the Calgary Stampede, Brooke Hamilton has one piece of advice...stay away from cowboys!
Too bad she can’t follow it herself. You’d think it’d be easy, considering how badly she’s been burned. But the minute she meets Cooper Hays, saddle bronc rider and rodeo hotshot, her reckless heart falls hard and fast.
Brooke knows it’s all a game to Cooper. Everything’s a game to him. Risking his life on the back of a wild animal. Winning impossible dares. Whisking her off on the best dates ever. The man knows exactly how to shock and surprise her, taking her places she’s never been before and making her feel things she’s never felt before.
But Brooke’s counting down the days to the end of Stampede—to the moment when Cooper gets what he wants and walks out of her life. Proving to her, once again, her reckless heart should not be trusted.
by Jade Buchanan
Peter has only been in Calgary for a single month and he’s desperate to make some new friends. A trip to the gay rodeo opens his mind and introduces him to out and proud—not to mention burly and bondage-loving—Mitch. He’s never been with anyone like Mitch, but he’s enthralled by the huggable bear, and the attraction is certainly mutual. Can a playful drag queen find love when he goes gay for cowboy?
by Jenna Howard
Meredith Heaven is his and dominant Mike Rossi is going to do whatever it takes to keep her. He’s in Calgary during the Stampede to rope himself some clients for his sports agency, but mostly he’s convincing Meri that her future and heart belong to him.
And stop by the Stampede Sizzlers website at
http://www.stampedesizzlers.com/
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