The Heart Of The Matter
Beau Adams canât stop thinking about Sierra Byrne. Her feisty spirit and ample curves dominate his thoughts, while he should be focused on getting himself and Midnight, the Hartsâ prized stallion, to the National Finals Rodeo. When Beau and Sierraâs electric connection finally leads to a steamy night together, Beau hopes itâs the beginning of something more.
As much as Sierra wants to be with Beau, anything long-term is out of the question. A recently diagnosed eye disease will soon leave her blind, and she canât ask a rising rodeo star like Beau to take on that responsibility. Though she tries to pretend their tryst was just another item on her bucket list, Sierraâs true feelings run a lot deeper. Will she let her affliction steal not only her sight, but her dreams of happiness, as well?
âYou lookâ¦hot.â His gaze traveled the length of her body.
The compliment sent a rush of pleasure through her. âThank you.â
âYou know what that dress says, donât you?â
Sierra couldnât think straightânot with the heady scent of Beauâs cologne swirling around her head. âWh-what does it say?â
âKiss me,â he whispered.
They hadnât sat down to eat and already Beau was making a move on her.
Go ahead. Sierra had fantasized about kissing Beau for months. Did it matter if he kissed her at the beginning of the date instead of at the end? Sierra made a feeble attempt to take the high road. âMy auntâs sitting a few feet behind the door.â
Beauâs gaze zeroed in on Sierraâs mouth. âIâm a quiet kisser.â
Short of breath, she whispered, âProve it.â
Dear Reader,
If you love rodeo, family drama and sexy, headstrong cowboys then Harts of the Rodeo is the series for you! In Beau: Cowboy Protector, youâll meet Beau Adams, whose recent falling out with his twin brother has made him more determined than ever to win a national championship in bull riding. Rodeo aside, Beau is feeling a little left out of the holy-matrimony clubâhis brother and cousins have all married and are starting families of their own. Then Beau finally catches the eye of Sierra Byrne and believes a trip down the aisle might be in his future, but Sierra has other plans that donât include Beau. After receiving a sober medical diagnosis, Sierra is determined to live life to the fullest before her condition prevents her from participating in the activities sheâs always dreamed of doing. Now itâs up to Beau to convince Sierra that âmarrying Beauâ should be on her list.
Next month look for Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming, the final book in the series, by Linda Warren.
And finally, Iâd like to give a shout-out to the talented authors in this continuity: Cathy McDavid, C.J. Carmichael, Roz Denny Fox, Shelley Galloway and Linda Warren. Keeping track of all the details in each book wasnât easy and I shudder to think of the hundreds of emails that passed between us as we plotted our stories, but we persevered and brought this series to life, even managing a few good laughs along the way. Thanks, ladies, for making this experience so much fun!
Marin
About the Author
MARIN THOMAS grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin. She left the Midwest to attend college in Tucson, Arizona, where she earned a B.A. in radio-TV. Following graduation she married her college sweetheart in a five-minute ceremony at the historic Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over the years she and her family have lived in seven different states, but theyâve now come full circle and returned to Arizona, where the rugged desert and breathtaking sunsets provide plenty of inspiration for Marinâs cowboy books.
To my grandmother Dorothy West⦠Grandma, you blazed your own path through lifeârather than becoming a hairdresser like your mother and sisters you became a bookkeeper. And you raised several eyebrows when you set your sights on the lead trumpet player in a popular dance band. Socializing was a huge part of your life and I know youâre up in Heaven dancing your toes off and swigging down Manhattans while listening to Grandpa Budâs band. Thank you for being such a wonderful grandmother to me, Brett and Amy and a patient, loving great-grandmother to Desirée, Thomas, Michael, Tylesha and Marin. You will be forever in our hearts.
Chapter One
âWhereâs your better half?â Bull rider Rusty McLean stopped next to Beau Adams in the cowboy-ready area of the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs. âDuke was makinâ a run at the National Finals Rodeo this year, then he slipped off the radar. He get injured?â
Beau wished an injury had sidelined his twin from todayâs rodeoâhe was the only Adams competing this first weekend in October. Heâd hauled Thunder Ranch bucking bulls, Bushwhacker and Back Bender, to the competition by himself. Duke, aka deputy sheriff had remained at home protecting the good citizens of Roundup while the Thunder Ranch hands had taken a string of bucking horses to a rodeo in Cody, Wyoming. Beauâs father was off doing who knows what with his new lady friend.