a better writer because of her. Thank you, doesn’t seem like enough, Lindsey, for how much you mean to me on every level.
Kim O’Connor—my PA, my BFF, my go-to for umm…everything. She does the hard stuff so I can write. She does the harder stuff when I can’t write. I have to stop there, or I’ll start blubbering and she will too. Love you, Bama, for all you are.
Meredith Blair—my graphic artist, who created this gorgeous cover, and who deals with my yes—no—maybe—yeah let’s revisit that later—million ideas with firm humor. See, M? I GOT THIS DONE like I said I would for once—hahaha—love you too.
Melissa Frain—copy editor extraordinaire, who went above and beyond in rapid turnaround to this book that ended up…ah, longer than I said it would (no surprise, I write LONG) Melissa has also copy edited numerous Rough Riders books and I’m thrilled she had time in her schedule to do this one—thanks a ton, Melissa.
My husband, Mr. James—who has been urging me to write this story for YEARS. He’s been my pandemic rock, keeping the larder full and taking care of me through the crazy six weeks I invested in writing this book. Love you—almost 35 years of living our own love story, baby
If you loved Silas and Dinah’s story and want to read about the modern day McKay’s, here’s an excerpt from Long Hard Ride, book 1 in the Rough Riders series.
Chapter One
On a drunken dare after too many kamikazes, Channing Kinkaid found herself standing on a shellacked bartop while a bartender named Moose sprayed her chest with ice-cold beer.
“Contestant number four! Strut your stuff, baby!”
Channing thrust out her enormous rack, hardened nipples leading the charge. She completely overshadowed the other contestants. She grinned saucily. It was the first time since her thirteenth birthday she hadn’t been ashamed of her large breasts.
Amidst catcalls and wolf whistles she sexed it up, shimmying her hips. Stretching on tiptoe to force the tight T-shirt higher up her flat belly. Widening her stance, she spun on her boot heels, bent over, and grabbed her ankles, jiggling her ass and her boobs.
The crowd of men went absolutely wild.
The tease paid off when Moose announced she’d won the Golden Knockers trophy and one hundred bucks.
“Yee-haw!” she yelled and jumped from the bar.
Never in a million years would anyone she grew up with believe Channing would enter a wet T-shirt contest, let alone win first place.
A tiny chorus of Toby Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now?” broke out inside her head and she smirked.
After receiving congratulations from admiring cowboys on the circuit and a few frat brats, she poured a fresh kamikaze in the trophy cup. She toasted herself in the cracked mirror behind the bar and liked what she saw.
She glanced around, half-afraid she’d see Jared storming toward her, intent on spoiling her fun by dragging her off to celebrate her victory in private. The man was seriously antisocial. And dammit, she was having fun for a change.
The Western bar was jam-packed. Jared hated crowds, but he hated leaving her alone in a crowd—especially a group of horny, drunken men. Where could he have gone?
Did she really care?
Sweet, warm breath tickled her ear. “Lookin’ for someone, darlin’?”
Channing tilted her head. Colby McKay—king of the rodeo circuit—stared down at her. From far away he looked a total package. Up close he was simply stunning. Icy blue eyes, dark chestnut hair and chiseled features that weren’t typical rugged cowboy, but rather, brought to mind the image of a brooding poet.
His toned body spoke of his athletic prowess with horses and bulls; his thickly muscled arms and big, callused hands spoke of his skill with ropes. Mmm. Mmm. He was yummy and he knew it. He also was aware he made her skittish as a new colt.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder, a nervous gesture she hoped he’d misread as dismissive. “Hey, Colby. Have you seen Jared?”
“He’s on his cell phone over by the bathroom.” The eye-catching cowboy flashed his dimples. “Which leaves you unattended. Which is a damn shame. Dance with me.”
Her stomach jumped, a reaction she blamed on booze, and not the intensely sexy way Colby studied her.
Okay, that was a total lie. She always acted tongue-tied whenever she got within licking distance of Colby, and his equally sexy traveling buddy, Trevor Glanzer.
Jared had kept her sequestered so she hadn’t put truth to the rumors Colby and Trevor were the bad boys of the circuit. She knew they were fierce