The path to true love lies deep in the heart of Texas!
As a child, the Rocking C was Blake Darnellâs home away from home. Now itâs a place for former rodeo cowboys to hang up their spurs...and the LA attorney is back in Texas to stop his uncle from making the biggest mistake of his life! Until he locks horns with Shannon Cramer, the sexy RN in charge of the place.
Blake thinks his uncle is falling for a gold-digger, but Shannon believes itâs love even if the gorgeous, jaded lawyer doesnât. Agreeing to disagree gets complicated as their attraction heats up. But the born-and-bred cowgirlâs digging in her boot heelsâsheâll settle for nothing less than this city slickerâs heart!
Rocking Chair Rodeo: Cowboysâand true loveânever go out of style!
He could see the wheels turning in her mind, no doubt going over those blasted questions heâd been asking himself ever since that last kiss.
And he sensed the yearning in her eyes, the desire.
âWhat are we going to do about this?â he asked finally.
âI know what Iâd like to do,â Shannon said. âBut youâll be leaving soon. Right?â
She bit down on her bottom lip, a pensive reaction that sent Blakeâs blood racing. He suspected she was about to agree to the suggestion he hadnât actually spelled out.
That was, until she looked up, caught his eye and said, âBelieve it or not, Iâm an old-fashioned girl.â
Which meant what? That before making love she wanted a ring, a white lace gown, a walk down the aisle to the altar and a vow that would last forever?
He supposed he couldnât blame her for that. But that wasnât something he could offer her.
They sat quietly for a while, but her words still hung in the air. And so did his desire for her.
He reached for her hand. âIâm afraid that, under the circumstances, I canât give you any kind of commitment. But I can give you tonight.â
* * *
Rocking Chair Rodeo: Cowboysâand true loveânever go out of style!
Since 2002, USA TODAY bestselling author JUDY DUARTE has written over forty books for Mills & Boon Cherish, earned two RITA® Award nominations, won two MAGGIE® Awards and received a National Readerâs Choice Award. When sheÂs not cooped up in her writing cave, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spending quality time with her grandchildren. You can learn more about Judy and her books at her website, www.judyduarte.com, or at Facebook.com/judyduartenovelist.
To J. Frank Astleford, Emily Itzaina, George Johnston and Emelie Kuehn, who taught me to love and value the older generation and all they had to offer.
Your stories about your own grandparents and the âgood old daysâ made history come alive for me. You will live in my heart and my memories forever.
Chapter One
Heâd been...fired? Seriously?
Blake Darnell bent forward in his tufted-leather desk chair and studied the legal document heâd just received in the afternoon mail. He was so caught up in reading what his great-uncleâs new attorney had drafted and filed with the Texas court that he only now heard someone speaking to him.
âDid you hear me?â the law firmâs administrative assistant asked, her voice rising a decibel.
He glanced at his open office door, where the efficient older woman stood. âIâm sorry, Carol. What did you say?â
She crossed her arms, her expression of curiosity morphing into one of concern. âI asked if there was anything else you needed me to do before I leave, but you were a hundred miles away. Is something wrong?â
Apparently sheâd been standing there for a while, long enough to notice the furrow in his brow, the frown on his face. But he shrugged off her question and his penchant for honesty. âNo, everythingâs fine.â
âIt doesnât look that way to me.â
Thatâs because things were actually a mess. What had Uncle Sam been thinking when heâd made this decision? Yet as stunned as Blake was, as angry at the circumstances, a niggle of guilt wormed its way into the mix. And having to assume at least part of the blame didnât sit well with him, especially since he could justify everything heâd done. But it was what heâd failed to do that was most unsettling.
Carol entered his office and made her way to the edge of his desk, the familiar scent of her favorite perfume still faintly clinging to her at the end of the workday. âWhen I sorted the mail, I noticed the return address on that envelope was from a law firm in Brighton Valley. Does it have anything to do with your uncle?â
Normally, Blake kept his personal affairs to himself, but Carol was an exceptional employee and loyal to a fault. Sheâd also taken him under her wing six years ago, when heâd first started out at the Beverly Hills law firm of Greenburg, Rawlings andânow that Blake had made partnerâDarnell.