How To Train A Cowboy
LESSONS IN LIFEThough marine hero Benjamin Graham doesn't know the first thing about ranching, his new job is the lifeline he desperately needs. Without the help of feisty cowgirl Emily Davis, though, he's lost—in more ways than one. But as their desire ignites, the hardened warrior turns away from the gorgeous girl. She might know every inch of her family's land, but Graham doesn't want her to share his pain.Even if the world is Emily's oyster, all she's ever wanted is the family land. And though rugged Graham seems like an unlikely trainee, he is taking her dreams of running the ranch more seriously than anyone else. As they grow closer during hot days – and nights – working the range, Emily starts to think that maybe the man is part of her dream…
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Lessons in Lassoing
Though marine hero Benjamin Graham doesnât know the first thing about ranching, his new job is the lifeline he desperately needs. Without the help of feisty cowgirl Emily Davis, though, heâs lostâin more ways than one. But as their attraction turns combustible, the hardened battle vet turns away from the gorgeous college coed. She might know every inch of her familyâs homestead, but Graham doesnât want her to know his pain.
Even if the world is Emilyâs oyster, all sheâs ever wanted is the family ranch. And though rugged new ranch hand Graham seems like an unlikely trainee, he is taking her dreams of running the ranch more seriously than anyone else. As they grow closer during hot daysâand nightsâworking the range, Emily starts to think that maybe the ranch is only a piece of her dreamâ¦
He held her just right, his arms across hers, no accidental brush against her breasts, no awkwardness in trying to avoid touching certain parts of her, either. Heâd just come up behind her and enclosed her in his arms, sheltering her from the cold just as heâd sheltered her from the bar fight. It was heaven to be with a man who knew what he was doing.
Being the helpless one was every bit as addictive as sheâd been afraid it would be.
She was strong and strong-willedâstubborn, her mother called itâand she needed to continue being both if she ever hoped to prove to her family that she belonged in the ranching business.
But for tonight⦠Right this momentâ¦
She let herself relax in Grahamâs arms. She was tired of proving herself to her family. She was tired of playing the social games at college. For just one night, she wanted to be wanted without having to work for it.
Nothing would change if she gave herself one night with a man who knew what he was doing.
* * *
Texas Rescue:
Rescuing heartsâ¦one Texan at a time!
Despite a no-nonsense background as a West Point graduate, army officer and Fortune 100 sales executive, CARO CARSON has always treasured the happily-ever-after of a good romance novel. As a RITA® Award-winning Mills & Boon author, Caro is delighted to be living her own happily-ever-after with her husband and two children in Florida, a location which has saved the coaster-loving theme-park fanatic a fortune on plane tickets.
This book is dedicated to
my fellow Harlequin Special Edition authors.
Thank you for being the colleagues who understand me, the friends I love to spend time with and the authors who write the stories I love to read.
Contents
January 2015
He didnât belong here, either.
Graham pushed his empty beer glass toward the bartender and abandoned his bar stool. He hadnât belonged anywhere in a good, long while. He should have known a honky-tonk bar in Texas would be no different.
Heâd been seduced by the appearance of this bar, he supposed. Something about the way it stood alone on the side of a rural road had caught his eye. The cinder block building was just old enough to prove the bar knew what it took to satisfy its customers, new enough to flaunt a pre-fab extension, all wood and aluminum. If it hadnât been the look of the building, then Graham would have stopped because the size of the dirt parking lot meant that the place must see enough business to keep its kegs fresh, even if the parking lot and the bar inside had been nearly empty as twilight set in. He hadnât expected such a fresh-faced crowd to start filling up the place so quickly after dark, though.
He should have. It was only Thursday, but the University of Texas in Austin was an hour east of here, and the massive army base, Fort Hood, an hour north. The average age inside the bar couldnât be more than twenty-one, even though it wasnât yet the weekend. Students and soldiers laughed and drank and tried to shout over a band that played Southern rock far too loudly for the low-ceilinged space.
No, Graham didnât belong here.
Eighteen months agoâa lifetime agoâheâd been Captain Benjamin Graham of the United States Marine Corps. For eight years, heâd served everywhere he was needed, from Japan to Europe, but after his last deployment to Afghanistan, heâd had the distinct feeling he no longer belonged in the military. His body had taken a beating in those years. The daily wear and tear of backpacks and boots had taken as much of a toll as the bursts of adrenaline that kept a Marine from noticing that he was bleeding while returning enemy fire.
But it was more than that.
Graham had simply known, one average day on an average rifle range while safely stateside, that he was done. Heâd proven whatever it was young men had to prove when they volunteered for the service. Heâd served his nation and heâd served with good peopleâbut it was time to move on. Graham had submitted the proper paperwork to his chain of command. In short order, heâd gotten his final orders and left.
