There was a definite appeal to him, too, as he sat across from her with that crooked grin, all playful cowboy.
What would be the harm in just one date?
But then something went swirly in her belly, melty and hot, trickling downward until it settled in the core of her.
She shoved the sensation aside.
âCome on, Laila,â Jackson said, his brown eyes glinting with that flirtatiousness sheâd seen before. âIâm just talking about a date, not a marriage proposal.â
Wasnât he a card.
Or, more to the point, a wild card.
Dear Reader,
Here we are, back in Thunder Canyon! This time, Iâve got a real bad boyâJackson Traub, oil man, Texas rancher and all-around scoundrel. In the first book of the series, Jackson earned quite the reputation for himself while becoming the townâs most notorious, ultimate bachelor.
So who would be the perfect foil for him? Maybeâ¦the biggest bachelorette in Big Sky Country?
These two have some major fireworks going, and I hope you like their flirting, datingâ¦and of course, falling in lov-ing.
When youâre done reading, I would love it if you would come on over and check out my website, www.crystal-green.com. Youâll find contests, a link to my blog for updates and information about all the continuities and other books Iâm lucky enough to write!
All the best,
Crystal Green
Laila Cates stood on the stage in front of the cheering crowd, dressed in a white evening gown and a blue sash while holding a fresh bouquet of celebratory flowers.
âA five-time winner!â said the master of ceremonies, whose voice rang through the tent where the pageant was being held. âGive it up for Laila Cates for taking yet another Miss Frontier Days title!â
She touched the crown on her head. Itâd been a long time since sheâd been up here. Seven years since sheâd stopped entering the pageant, seven years since sheâd wanted to be known for more than what was on the outside.
But this year sheâd come back to prove a point to Thunder Canyon.
Scanning the crowd, she saw the happy faces of the neighbors and friends sheâd grown up with. People she worked with at the Thunder Canyon First Fidelity Bank, day in and day out. Her best friend, Dana, whoâd entered Laila into the pageant without Laila even knowing it, clapped harder than anyone else.
Sheâd been the one whoâd dared her to prove a point to the town, and Laila had taken her up on it, singing a song during the talent competition that emphasized a womanâs hard work in this world and the accomplishments all of them could celebrate as they grew older.
And the judges had clearly appreciated it, recognizing that every year that passed by for a woman could be a plus rather than a negative.
After the noise subsided, Laila went to the microphone, shaking her head. âSo Iâm twenty-nine going on thirty. The jump to a new decade seems to be a big deal in most womenâs lives. Weâre supposed to be leaving behind our best, most youthful years, and truthfully, Iâve been a little nervous about that. I mean, this is when we get wrinkles, right? This is when our looks begin to fade.â She smiled again. âWell, thatâs why I decided to compete in the pageant this year, to see if any of that mattered when it comes right down to it.â
A few hoots, hollers.
She went on. âYou all have shown tonight that age and life experience are importantâthat they add to who we are and how others see us. And, even though this is definitely my last time competing for the title, Iâm looking forward to a new win each year, except not on a stage. In life. In everything.â
Another round of applause, and Laila gave a jaunty little salute to the crowd, ready to give up the stage to all the other women who wanted to show Thunder Canyon what they had to offerâno matter what their ageâin the future.
That was when the audience parted to let through a strapping, broad-shouldered man with blond hair.
At first, Laila thought he was merely there to offer congratulations. It was Hollis Cade Pritchett, the man sheâd been seeing on and off for years on a casual basis. Cade, as he was known to just about everyone but his sister and her husband, accepted what Laila had professed all alongâthat she never wanted to get marriedâand that had apparently suited him just fine.
Until now, it seemed.
âMarry me, Laila,â he said loudly.
As his deep voice carried, Laila blinked, then put her hand over the mic. The device whimpered with feedback as a wave of silence traveled over the audience.