Thankful For You

Is He A Big-Sky Kind Of Guy?

All Nick Brand wants to see of Montana is a for-sale sign on his family’s in-dispute land. That’s before the fast-track Chicago lawyer meets the ranch hand who’s been hired to help clean up the property. Dallas Dalton can rope a steer, ace a barrel-racing competition...and lasso her way into one smitten bachelor’s heart.

Raised on the rodeo circuit, Dallas lives to compete—while guarding against future heartbreak. Now she just wants to muss up Nick’s hair and show him how this Western woman is won! The refined attorney is a world away from the rough-and-tumble cowboys Dallas knows. Yet deep down, she and Nick desire the same thing. Is he ready to trade his Eastern view for the big sky with a cowgirl who’s through singing the blues?

“I was hoping—” Nick sought out her eyes as he continued “—that you would have dinner with me tonight.”

She was so disarmed by his simple invitation, wrapped up in an incredible surprise visit at her rodeo and the little jump of her heart when she had first seen him.

“All right,” Dallas said with a nod of her head.

“All right?” He repeated her response as a question as if he didn’t believe her the first time.

This small sliver of insecurity in a man who always seemed perfectly secure made her smile at him. “I’d like to. Yes.”

The idea of sharing a meal with Nick instead of spending the night alone, mentally rewinding and reviewing her mistakes in her head, sounded like the best alternative option she’d had in a long, long while.

“We could eat here, if you have the kind of stomach that can handle the-greasier-the-better rodeo food.”

“I have a room at the Omni downtown.” Nick pushed away from the trailer and took a step toward her. “Their steak house is supposed to be one of the best in Fort Worth. How does that sound?”

A thick, juicy steak or the stale ham sandwich she had leftover from lunch?

“Like a good idea.”

* * *

The Brands of Montana:

Wrangling their own happily-ever-afters

Thankful for You

Joanna Sims

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JOANNA SIMS is proud to pen contemporary romance for Mills & Boon Cherish. Joanna’s series, The Brands of Montana, features hardworking characters with hometown values. You are cordially invited to join the Brands of Montana as they wrangle their own happily-ever-afters. And, as always, Joanna welcomes you to visit her at her website: www.joannasimsromance.com.

Dedicated to my sister from another mister…

Jacqueline You are the best kind of friend and I love you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“I’m looking for a Dallas Dalton.” Nick Brand stood in the doorway of one of the bunkhouses on Bent Tree Ranch reserved for wranglers.

“Hey, Dally!” one of the wranglers, who was only wearing cowboy boots and a towel wrapped around his waist, bellowed over the loud talking of his bunkmates. “Door!”

Nick took off his mirrored sunglasses and tucked them into the front pocket of his navy suit jacket. He looked out of place, walking around his aunt and uncle’s Montana ranch wearing his regular business clothes. He knew that. But he wasn’t in Montana on vacation from his Chicago law firm; he was here on business.

Another wrangler, a short, stocky young man dressed for ranch work, announced his arrival again.

“Dally!” The wrangler grabbed a hold of the edge of a top bunk and shook it hard.

“Christ on a crutch! What!” Dallas popped upright like a jack-in-the-box.

The wrangler pointed at Nick. “Stiff. Eleven o’clock.”

Dallas fought to get her wild brown hair out of her eyes; after letting out a grunt of frustration, she kicked off the covers, swung her legs over the edge of the bunk and then jumped down. Barefoot, but still wearing ripped jeans and a faded Johnny Cash T-shirt, she walked over to wear Nick was standing.

Confused, Nick said, “I’m looking for a Dallas Dalton.”

Dallas wiped the sleep out of her eyes and then yawned loudly before answering. “You found her.”

Nick stared at the woman’s black fingernail polish, confused. “You’re Dallas Dalton?”

Dallas squinted at the sun coming in the bunkhouse through the doorway. “Twenty-four-seven.”

Nick shook his head; he pulled his sunglasses out of his pocket and put them back on. “I think there’s been a mistake. I apologize for the interruption.”

Dallas yawned again with a nod. Nick turned to leave, but Dallas stopped him. “Hey—hold on—are you Nick?”

Nick turned back toward the disheveled woman. “I am.”

Dallas stretched her arms over her head, which drew Nick’s attention, for a brief moment, to the woman’s perky, braless bustline.

“You’re in the right place.” Dallas extended her hand. “Hank told me to expect you yesterday.”