A cowboy out of options
Thatâs how Rory McAlister feels when he leaves Colorado for the concrete jungle of New York City. He needs this money for a very good reasonâonly somebody should have warned him donning designer duds meant butting heads with Elizabeth Harrington-Smyth. The bossy ad exec is determined to turn Rory into the original Rhinestone Cowboy. Over his dead body!
With her job hanging by a thread, Elizabethâs got to deliver the goods for Devlin Designsâor else. She asked Rory because of his rugged, authenticâand, frankly, gorgeousâlooks. But could she have chosen an ornerier model? At least Rory will be heading back to his ranch and out of Elizabethâs life soon. Because New York is no place for a cowboyâ¦and a Colorado ranch is no place for a big-city girl. Even if these two opposites are falling for each other!
âJust remember that cowboy charm Iâve seen you use so often.â
âCowboy charm?â Rory flashed her a grin that could sell whiskey to a teetotaler.
âGive Brooke that look that mesmerizes a woman, and makes her think youâre going to grab her, toss her on your horse and ride off into the sunset.â
âDo I do that for you?â
His warm, husky voice rippled through Elizabeth. He leaned forward in his chair. His strong gaze peered into her. He had the slightest smile on his face.
Oh, yeah, that was the look.
Horse and sunset here I come.
Dear Reader,
People frequently ask how I get my ideas. Often something in life piques my curiosity, and I go into âwhat ifâ mode. Thatâs what happened with Big City Cowboy.
While in Estes Park for a wedding, my family and I went horseback riding. Our guide caught my attention, but not only because of his phenomenal looks. As he helped my middle son, a gentleman approached the cowboy about modeling. Afterwards, he said people often asked him to model and couldnât understand why he didnât jump at the opportunity.
My writerâs imagination zoomed into overdrive. What if this cowboy was desperate and had to model? What would be important enough to make him leave the ranch and venture into the big city? The answer popped into my headâhis mom. I added a feisty, career-driven woman who needed this private cowboy to be a household name, and Rory and Elizabethâs story came to life.
I never imagined at that wedding Iâd achieve a lifelong dreamâmy first published novel. I hope you have as much fun reading Rory and Elizabethâs story as I had writing it. Iâd love to hear from you. Visit me at www.juliebenson.net.
Julie
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
An avid daydreamer since childhood, Julie always loved creating stories. After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in sociology, she worked as a case manager before having her children: three boysâand many years later, she started pursuing a writing career to challenge her mind and save her sanity. Now she writes full-time in Dallas, where she lives with her husband, their sons, two lovable black dogs, two guinea pigs, a turtle and a fish. When she finds a little quiet time, which isnât often, she enjoys making jewelry and reading a good book.
To Kevin. Thanks for sticking with me through the ups and downs of life, and for believing in me and this dream. Youâre definitely a keeper.
To Dr. Angela Krause and David Goddard. Thanks for the wedding invitation and for introducing me to Estes Park. This story never would have happened without you two.
Chapter One
Estes Park, Colorado
âThere is no way Iâm getting on a horse.â
Elizabeth Harrington-Smyth pulled into the Twin Creeks Ranch parking lot, vowing sheâd never attend another wedding, not even her own should she ever make time to date. So far, being her cousin Janiceâs bridesmaid hadnât been the greatest experience. And donât get her started on the problems with the whole destination wedding idea that was the trend now.
âEstes Park is so beautiful, and what better way to see the scenery than going horseback riding?â Since moving to Denver three years ago, Janice had gone all outdoorswoman. Today she really fit the part, wearing jeans, a denim shirt and a red bandanna tied around her ebony ponytail.
Elizabeth shuddered. âLooking at the mountains as I sat in the hotel bar was good enough for me.â
âI think this will be a great bridesmaid outing,â chirped Laura, obedient bridesmaid number one. Her Katie Couric perkiness had overwhelmed Elizabeth within five minutes of meeting Janiceâs coworker.
âI was hoping weâd get time to go riding. Itâs something Iâve always wanted to try,â chimed in Claire, perfect bridesmaid number two, as they spilled out of Janiceâs Camry. In addition to being a morning person, Claire had the irritating characteristics of being tall, slender and possessing a disgustingly high metabolism.