Excerpt
“Well, little darlin’, aren’t you a pretty one.”

Rose was both pleased and annoyed at the come on. She looked at Victoria where they stood sipping spiked punch in the corner of the community hall. The other women she’d met had wandered off to find their husbands. She’d been glad to be alone again, or at least just with Victoria. She didn’t even turn to glance at the velvety-voiced smooth talker. “Is he serious with that line?”

Victoria quirked an eyebrow at the man now standing behind Rose. “Who knows.” She pinned him with a chastising look. “Let’s just say Daniel Grayson is one of the major players in these parts. And I’m sure you know what I mean by that.”

Even though she was new to the area, she’d already heard about the famous Last Chance Ranch owned by Samuel Grayson. The seventy-something cowboy was a legend, cantankerous, stubborn to the core, and known to have the biggest heart ever. He’d taken in over twenty troubled boys and girls over the years, adopted most of them, and turned their lives around. She looked forward to meeting him some day. Now it appeared she was meeting one of his “boys.”

Six-foot something of breath stealing man in freshly pressed jeans and a pale blue Western-cut shirt that struggled to stretch across his broad shoulders stepped next to Victoria. His left arm was in a sling. She noted the faint hint of pain lines around his mouth and experienced a second of concern. She couldn’t help it; she was a nurturer by nature. If she hadn’t been so determined to become a ballerina, she might have gone into nursing.

Then he grinned crookedly at Rose and put his good arm around Victoria’s shoulder for a friendly squeeze. “Tori might be exaggerating a bit about me.” He glanced down at Victoria with a somewhat haunted look in his pale blue eyes, then back at Rose. “It’s Camden these days. Daniel is no more.”

Victoria gave him an apologetic look. “Right, sorry. I have a hard time remembering.” She turned her attention back to Rose. “Don’t ask. It’s complicated.”

Now Rose definitely wanted to ask, curiosity was killing her. But she clamped down that desire, also on the urge to ask about his arm injury, even about his obviously recently broken nose.

Appearing satisfied with the name clarification, his smile grew bigger, his eyes lit with mischief. “I spoke the truth, though. You’re one fine-looking lady. New around here, too, right?”

Heat crept up her neck, singed her face. She wasn’t used to being the focus of men, and certainly not handsome cowboys. Flirting wasn’t something she had much experience with and she felt uncomfortable. She hadn’t wanted to come here tonight, but she’d had a weak moment and given in to Victoria’s insistence. She was already wishing she had stayed home to finish unpacking. Anything but come face a hall full of far too happy people, watch them dancing, when it just reminded her of what had been taken away from her life. She’d gone from being one of a pair to being alone. Even after six months of slow healing, the emotional pain was still raw. She’d hoped with this move that she’d put the loss, the romantic dreams behind her. Evidently not quite yet. But she would!

“You okay?” he asked when she hadn’t answered. He studied her with kind eyes, his teasing smile gone.

She drew in a steadying breath and forced her musings aside. She offered him a weak, reassuring smile. “Yes, I’m new here. Actually, this was my first week in town.”

Another equally good-looking cowboy ambled up next to them. This one was taller by a few inches and he pinned his striking electric blue gaze on Camden. “Trying for sympathy? That’s really low.” The comment had been teasing, but his gaze held something stronger feelings. Worry maybe.

All she could do was gape at the two gorgeous men. Dream cowboys…at least cowboys that would star in her dreams. Camden with thick, wavy blond hair she would like to slide her hands into, to see if it was wiry or as soft as it looked. Doug had straight, somewhat shaggy blond hair that reached his collar and she wanted to touch it, too. This second long-legged devil had a hint of sadness behind his smile, even though she wondered if anyone else noticed it.

“You’re the librarian the town just hired, right?” He extended his hand. “Doug Grayson.”

She hesitated, a bit disconcerted, and slipped her hand into his much bigger, much rougher one. Oddly, her hand tingled and a strange longing jolted through her. As she gazed up at him, she noticed he didn’t appear to be aware of anything. Thank goodness. Still, her face heated.

He withdrew his hand and stepped back. His brow furrowed in confusion. Evidently he noticed her uneasiness. She quickly focused on Victoria, who also watched her curiously.

At least Victoria didn’t question whatever reaction had shown on her face. Instead she said, “This pair of blond devils is possibly the most ornery of Samuel’s rowdy bunch. They each gained that honor from the day they first stepped foot on the ranch.” She gave them both a warm look. “They’ve matured. Some. I’m giving you fair warning: they’re good-hearted, but heart breakers. And Doug is the second biggest player in the area.”

Camden hooted in amusement.