She wasn’t expecting the cowboy next door.
When plucky single mother Leda Plett goes next door to retrieve her wandering pooch, she doesn’t expect to find a handsome stranger lounging about like he owns the place. She certainly doesn’t expect him to go all “white knight” about her deadbeat ex, or her knees to go all wobbly at his sexy smile.
He wasn’t expecting a damsel-in-distress determined to look after herself.
Rodeo-star turned agent Eric Anders is used to managing people and clearly, the boots-and-sundress wearing mouthy mama needs someone to manage her. He wants to help; her spirited spark and quick wit have nothing to do with it.
Lessons for both…
But when Eric’s good intentions end up bringing only hurt and humiliation, he’s forced to face the fact that he doesn’t always know best. Leda is stronger and wiser than he knew, and his arrogance may have just cost him the one girl he now can’t live without.
Read on for an excerpt of The Cowboy Next Door
***
“You stole my dog.”
Eric looked at the mangy, ancient creature in question and bit back a laugh at Leda’s accusation.
“You’ve caught me. I intended to ransom him for…” He paused and crooked a baby finger to the corner of his mouth. “One million dollars. Pay up, missy.”
“You think it’s funny?” She took a step forward and poked him in the chest with a little pointy finger.
“Ow.” He rubbed the spot. “I did. But I believe I may have been mistaken.”
“I’ll assume the flirty shepherd is yours, and the reason for the look of utter stupidity on Jackson’s face.”
She bent down and covered the old dog’s ears. “You didn’t hear that, honey-pie. You can’t help being male.”
“On behalf of males everywhere,” said Eric, “I take exception to the sentiment. Not to mention that I doubt he hears much of anything, much less understands it.”
The color of outrage suited her.
“I’m busy enough looking after things,” she said, tossing her head in the direction of Chad’s nearest neighbors, “without having to chase over Hades’s half-acre after this goober-dinged dog because your dog’s roaming around shaking her tailgate-”
“Goober-dinged?”
He didn’t mean to laugh. He honestly didn’t. Maybe she was housesitting or something while the owners were gone. She actually looked distressed, like the anger coated a nugget of fear, but the way she spoke, well, it pretty much walked up and demanded laughter.
