“Just for tonight could we pretend that we’re not who we are?”
Confused, Dex tried to read her expression for some hint of what she was thinking. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Let’s pretend you’re not Ty Cooper, the rancher who loves nothing more than raising cattle. That I’m not Leanne Watley, struggling dude rancher. And that our parents haven’t tried to marry us off for years. Let’s just be two people who want to have a nice time together for one evening. Just one night,” she added softly.
“We can do that.” He stared directly into her eyes, hunger roaring inside him. At that moment he would have given anything to really have her for one night. “Just for tonight.”
He wondered if Miss Leanne Watley had any idea how close to the edge she’d pushed him. It would take nothing short of a miracle to keep him from crossing the line tonight.
The Doctor Wore Boots
Debra Webb
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debra Webb was born in Scottsboro, Alabama, to parents who taught her that anything is possible if you want it badly enough. She began writing at age nine. Eventually she met and married the man of her dreams and tried some other occupations, including selling vacuum cleaners and working in a factory, a day-care center, a hospital and a department store. When her husband joined the military, they moved to Berlin, Germany, and Debra became a secretary in the commanding general’s office. By 1985 they were back in the States, and finally moved to Tennessee, to a small town where everyone knows everyone else. With the support of her husband and two beautiful daughters, Debra took up writing again, looking to mystery and movies for inspiration. In 1998 her dream of writing for Harlequin came true. You can write to Debra with your comments at P.O. Box 64, Huntland, Tennessee 37345.
Dex Montgomery’s Cheat Sheet: How To Be Ty Cooper
1. Wear worn jeans and cowboy boots.
2. Figure out which brother is Chad and which is Court.
3. Stop staring at Leanne Watley.
4. Remember to wear your Stetson.
5. Learn how to ride a horse.
6. Use your left hand, not your right.
7. Stop your little niece Angelica from revealing the truth.
8. Try not to fantasize about the beautiful Leanne….
Contents
Pre-Prologue
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Pre-Prologue
Once upon a time there was a beautiful young girl and a handsome young boy who fell deeply in love. But, alas, their families were at odds. So, determined to keep the two apart, the young boy’s family took him and moved far, far away.
Many years later, when they were all grown up, the young man and the young woman found each other once more. Unwilling to risk separation again, they married swiftly before either of their families could object. As expected, many hurtful words were spoken, much damage was done, but love prevailed. Nothing could tear the loving couple apart.
To add to their happiness, less than one year later they were blessed with a perfect set of twin boys. The lovely young couple was so very happy at last. But that happiness was short-lived. Fate intervened in the form of a fatal car crash.
Both families were devastated. All that remained of their only children were the twin grandsons. A fierce custody battle ensued, widening the rift. Finally, a judge made the only fair decision he felt was possible; he gave each set of grandparents one of the twins. Due to the extreme hostility between the families, he ordered that all future contact be limited until they learned to get along. Taking the judge’s words too much to heart, the estranged families, with their respective namesakes in tow, went their separate ways and never looked back.
Until now.
Prologue
O’Hare Airport
Dex Montgomery allowed his briefcase to collapse to the floor next to the only empty table in the crowded bar. He jerked at his tie and dropped into a chair, completely disgusted.
Two hours. His flight was delayed for two hours. What was he supposed to do for two hours?
“Are you ready to order, sir?”
Dex heaved a sigh fraught with equal measures of impatience and frustration and looked up at the waitress watching him expectantly.
“Scotch,” he told her. “No water. And make it a double.”
She nodded and headed in the direction of the bar, weaving her way through the throngs of occupied tables and pausing occasionally to take another customer’s order.
Glancing at his watch, Dex considered whether or not to call in and inform his grandfather of the delay. He definitely wouldn’t make this afternoon’s meeting of the board. Dex frowned. Montgomery men had no tolerance for delays. There was little he could do about it, however. The old man would simply have to fend for himself. His frown relaxed a bit with that thought. Charles Dexter Montgomery, Senior, was getting a little soft anyway. Sparring with the sharks who made up the board of M3I would be good for him.
Considering the boring financial conference Dex had just endured, it was only fair. This was the third conference he’d attended in the last two months. He was sick of hearing how M3I could improve its profit margin. Dex clenched his jaw. Modern Medical Maintenance, Inc., affectionately known as M3I, maintained a very healthy profit margin. Dex and his grandfather saw to that. They’d started with a single facility in Atlanta and had built a medical empire. M3I now consisted of a chain of cutting-edge facilities throughout the Southeast. The business was focused on providing quality medical care and making a profit.
Not necessarily in that order.
“Anything else?” The waitress placed the drink in front of him and smiled. Not a thank-you-for-your-patronage kind of smile, but one that became a predatory gleam in her eyes. She was flirting.
“No, thank you.” He paid the lady and turned his attention to his drink. He didn’t need a flirtatious waitress and he damn sure didn’t need two hours in a bar.
He needed work.
Dex almost laughed out loud at that one. What he did wasn’t work, it was choreography. He led a well-rehearsed dance to the sound of money changing hands. The medical degree and license he held were mere icing on the cake of the distinguished position as chairman of the board. Dr. Dexter Montgomery. It had the right ring to it even if it wasn’t for practicing medicine. No doctor with the Montgomery name would dare sully his hands treating patients.