More importantly, he needs to find a way to keep her.
CATCHING THE COWGIRL
Cotton Creek #3
Jennie Marts
Releasing July 3, 2017
Entangled Lovestruck
California
video game designer Adam Clark knows that, in his business, authenticity is the
key. So, for their newest Western adventure game, he and his partners decide to
try out Cowboy Camp. Only Adam’s friends never arrive, leaving him a bit—okay,
a lot—preoccupied, trying to resist the gorgeous cowgirl who owns the ranch.
Single mom
Skye Hawkins is too busy trying to keep her family’s dude ranch out of the red
to even think about romance. But she’s having trouble avoiding Adam. He’s
smart, he’s sweet, he’s funny…and he’s hot! Maybe it’s the mountain air, but
she finds herself letting down her guard. And the fireworks are definitely
worth it.
The only
problem—they live in totally different worlds. Still, Adam is nothing if not
resourceful. Sure, he wants to catch the cowgirl. But more importantly, he
needs to find a way to keep her.
“This ledge
is crazy. I’ve died ten times trying to make this jump. I can’t make it across
the river,” she said, passing him her controller. “Can you just get me past
this part so I can move on?”
Normally he
wouldn’t even consider it. It would take away from the game play and the
integrity of the puzzle. But nothing about this was normal. And he was quickly
realizing that he would do just about anything for Skye Hawkins—wear cowboy
boots, muck out disgusting horse stalls, even attempt to country dance. Whatever
she wanted.
He took the
controller and easily maneuvered her character over the ledge and into the
river.
“Oh no, be
careful.” She tapped his leg anxiously. “This is the part where my character
usually drowns.”
“I got
this,” he assured her with a laugh. But her enthusiasm was so contagious, he
played up the drama for her benefit. “I don’t remember this being so tough,
though. I might not make it after all.”
But he knew
he would. He’d designed this part and replayed every feature of it a hundred
times. But he couldn’t resist the way she clutched his arm and hopped up and
down in her seat with anxiousness.
“Watch out
for the crocodile,” she shouted, pointing at the screen. “You’re almost there.”
He worked
to manipulate the character so it swam past the crocodile and crawled out on
the other bank, almost losing his concentration when she buried her head
against his shoulder, laughing as she claimed she couldn’t watch.
When she
saw that he’d made it across the river to the other side, she let out a sigh of
relief. “You did it.” She gave him a hug. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”
Adam caught
his breath as her cheek pressed to his.
As
if it had a mind of its own, his hand slid around her waist, pulling her to him
as he hugged her back.
She drew
back, but just slightly—just enough for him to see her face and take in her
wide-eyed look of surprise.
His gaze
dipped to her mouth—to her slightly parted rose-colored lips—and she inhaled a
quick sharp pull of breath.
Not him. He
couldn’t breathe at all, couldn’t move.
He was
frozen in place, even though every synapse in his body was firing on all
cylinders sending sparks of heat surging through his veins.
He looked back up, into her eyes, searching for a sign, anything that would tell him she was feeling the same thing, the same swirling sense of dizziness that had his own stomach in knots and his mouth going dry. Anything that would give him a glimpse of permission.
He looked back up, into her eyes, searching for a sign, anything that would tell him she was feeling the same thing, the same swirling sense of dizziness that had his own stomach in knots and his mouth going dry. Anything that would give him a glimpse of permission.
But she
seemed to be frozen as well, suspended in the moment, as if she were waiting,
afraid to move.
He leaned
in—just a fraction of an inch—but close enough that his mouth was a whisper
away from hers. She didn’t pull back, and he moved the smallest bit closer and
brushed her lips softly with his.
She sucked
in a soft gasp, the tiniest sound but full of gigantic meaning. A sound that
was a cross between pleasure and pain. It pierced his heart.
He stopped,
not pressing, but not pulling away, as he felt the slight tremble of her lips
against his. He waited, his heart pounding hard against his chest, somehow
knowing that this moment could change everything.
Jennie
Marts is
the USA Today Best-selling author of award-winning books
filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her
books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and
steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading
in years.”
She is
living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her
husband, two dogs, and a parakeet that loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s
addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many
books, shoes, or friends.
Jennie
loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, or Twitter at @JennieMarts. Visit her Website and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with
the latest news and releases.
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