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RISKING HER HEART
Sloane Hartley is deeply rooted to her family’s ranch in Blue Falls, Texas. So she isn’t about to risk falling for a tempting tumbleweed like Jason Till. To Sloane, Jason is a handsome heartbreak waiting to happen. Like all rodeo cowboys. If she ever let herself love again, she certainly wouldn’t pick someone like him!
Jason only has eyes for one prize—the steer-wrestling championship. And he can’t afford any distractions. Certainly not a blonde beauty with trust issues like Sloane. She represents everything a cowboy on the circuit can’t have anyway—home, family, a real relationship. Everything he thought he didn’t need. But when he’s with Sloane, Jason can’t remember why winning at the rodeo seemed so important...
She was about to turn off her phone when a text arrived.
I’m interested in you.
It was scary how much his admission filled her with a warm, giddy feeling.
You’re a nice guy. I have fun with you. But we both know this isn’t going anywhere.
She paused a moment before typing a bit more. I can’t see you anymore.
Unexpectedly, tears formed in her eyes and she had to blink several times to keep them at bay.
Her heart leaped when the phone finally dinged again.
Have a good night, Sloane.
And just like that her heart sank all the way to her feet. Her hands actually shook as she typed, You too. And good luck tomorrow night.
Thanks.
She waited way too long to see if he sent any more messages. But none came.
It’s hard to believe that Her Texas Rodeo Cowboy is the sixteenth story I’ve set in my fictional town of Blue Falls, Texas. When I wrote the initial Teagues of Texas trilogy, I had no idea the town and its inhabitants would continue to grow for years to come. But I’m glad it has. Blue Falls is as real in my mind now as many places I’ve visited in the real world.
In this story, another of the adopted Hartley siblings finds an unexpected love. This time around it’s middle child and strong-willed Sloane, who has had more than her share of bad relationship experiences. So it’s understandable when she’s suspicious of her instant attraction to steer wrestler Jason Till.
She’s not the only one surprised by the instant attraction, one that doesn’t go away even when hundreds of miles separate them. Jason’s number-one goal is to win the National Finals in his event. At least that was his main goal until Sloane Hartley walked into his life.
To reach their happily-ever-after, they have to make some important decisions about what they really want from life. And it’s looking like the answer is each other.
Happy reading,
Trish
Her Texas Rodeo Cowboy
Trish Milburn
TRISH MILBURN writes contemporary romance for the Harlequin Western Romance line. She’s a two-time Golden Heart® Award winner, a fan of walks in the woods and road trips, and a big geek girl, including being a dedicated Whovian and Browncoat. And from her earliest memories, she’s been a fan of Westerns, be they historical or contemporary. There’s nothing quite like a cowboy hero.
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Jason Till applied the brakes on his truck at the crosswalk, allowing a group of older women holding bakery bags to cross the street. His stomach grumbled at the thought of fresh baked goods. He could almost taste the sugar. He’d not eaten since the fast-food breakfast sandwich early that morning in some small town off I-35. If he had a dollar for every time he’d grabbed a quick meal in such a place, he’d be stinking rich.
One of the women crossing the street smiled and gave him a big, friendly wave. He chuckled a little and waved back. Then he took his foot off the brake and slowly rolled on