Someone Like You (Night Riders) (40 page)
Read Someone Like You (Night Riders) Online
Authors: Leigh Greenwood
“Only the most important one.”
“What’s that?”
She turned in his arms to face him. “You’ve started to think of the ranch as your home again. I can see the love you used to feel beginning to resurface.”
“You’ve been listening to Miguel.”
“I didn’t need to. I can see it in your eyes when you look out over a field that’s ready to harvest. I can hear it in your voice when you talk about what you’ve done each day. Even Luis can sense your excitement when you talk about the new irrigation system. I found him explaining it to Dolores this morning when he should have been doing his lessons.”
“Did she have a relapse?”
Maria pinched him. “No, but she was beyond her depth. I’m afraid my sister has allowed herself to become a very shallow woman.”
Rafe didn’t want to talk about Dolores. He wasn’t particularly interested in talking about Luis, either. This was his time with Maria, and he selfishly wanted to share it with no one. He wrapped her in his embrace and planted a kiss on her head.
“Is that like a pat on the head before you tell me I’ve got it all wrong?”
He squeezed her a little tighter and kissed her on the head again. “No. I just wanted to kiss you.”
“Good answer.”
He chuckled. He looked at the big house silhouetted against the night sky, at a vineyard growing up the side of the mountain, caught the scent of lime trees in the distance, and realized that no matter how much this place meant to him, it represented only a fraction of what Maria meant to him. He even had a little brother thrown into the bargain. He was one lucky devil, something he’d never thought he’d say about himself. He felt a catch in his throat and he buried his face in Maria’s hair. “There’s a lot about life in Texas that I’ll miss, but I do belong here. When I came here, I never thought I could feel that way again, but falling in love with you changed everything for me. You gave me back myself. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that. Now you’re all I need to be happy.”
He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her so thoroughly, she came away breathless, but not so breathless that she couldn’t get in the last word.
“Oh, I don’t know. I remember your saying something about wanting a little girl with brown eyes and a button nose.”
CRITICS RAVE ABOUT
USA TODAY
BESTSELLING AUTHOR LEIGH GREENWOOD!“Leigh Greenwood continues to be a shining star of the genre!”
—
The Literary Times“Leigh Greenwood remains one of the forces to be reckoned with in the Americana romance sub-genre.”
—
Affaire de Coeur“Greenwood’s books are bound to become classics.”
—
Rendezvous“Leigh Greenwood NEVER disappoints. The characters are finely drawn…always, always, a guaranteed good read!”
—
Heartland CritiquesTEXAS LOVING
“The final Cowboys historical romance is a fabulous ending to one of the best series over the last few years.”
—
Midwest Book ReviewTEXAS TENDER
“
Texas Tender
is a delightful historical romance with a touch of suspense that is clearly a Greenwood-branded winner.”—
Midwest Book ReviewA TEXAN’S HONOR
“…a delightful addition to the Cowboys series…Greenwood brings readers straight into the heart of the West and into his likable characters’ lives with a charming, fast-paced and enjoyable read.”
—
Romantic Times BOOKreviewsTHE MAVERICKS
“Fans of Greenwood’s Cowboys series will be delighted with this latest installment. He delivers an action-packed story filled with tender moments.”
—Fresh Fiction
HIGH PRAISE FOR THE COWBOYS SERIES!JAKE
“Only a master craftsman can create so many strong characters and keep them completely individualized.”
—
RendezvousWARD
“Few authors write with the fervor of Leigh Greenwood. Once again [Greenwood] has created a tale well worth opening again and again!”
—
Heartland CritiquesBUCK
“
Buck
is a wonderful Americana Romance!”—
Affaire de CoeurCHET
“
Chet
has it all! Romance and rustlers, gunfighters and greed…romance doesn’t get any better than this!”—
The Literary TimesSEAN
“This book rivals the best this author has written so far, and readers will want to make space on their keeper shelves for
Sean
. Western romance at its finest!”—
The Literary TimesPETE
“
Pete
is another stroke on Leigh Greenwood’s colorful canvas of the Old West. The plotting is brilliant and the conflict strong.”—
RendezvousDREW
“Sexual tension and endless conflict make for a fast-paced adventure readers will long remember.” —
Rendezvous
LUKE
“Another winner by Leigh Greenwood!”
—
Romantic Times BOOKreviewsMATT
“The Cowboys are keepers, from the first book to the last!”
—
The Literary Times
Other books by Leigh Greenwood
:The Reluctant Bride
The Independent Bride
Colorado Bride
Rebel Enchantress
Scarlet Sunset, Silver Nights
The Captain’s Caress
Arizona Embrace
Seductive Wager
Sweet Temptation
Wicked Wyoming Nights
Wyoming WildfireThe Night Riders series:
Texas Homecoming
Texas Bride
Born to LoveThe Cowboys series:
Jake
Ward
Buck
Drew
Sean
Chet
A Texan’s Honor
Matt
Pete
Texas Tender
Luke
The Mavericks
Texas LovingThe Seven Brides series:
Rose
Fern
Iris
Laurel
Daisy
Violet
Lily
CopyrightA LEISURE BOOK
®March 2009
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016Copyright © 2009 by Leigh Greenwood
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0609-1
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