USA TODAY bestselling author Leanne Banks returns to Rust Creek Falls, the setting for the popular Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys, where a cowboy is sure to find loveâwhen he least expects it!
Rust Creek Ramblings
Ever since volunteer coordinator Lissa Roarke rolled into town with her fancy luggage and metropolitan attitude, Sheriff Gage Christensen has been fit to be tied. Everything about Lissa seems to rub Gage the wrong way. She talks too fast, sheâs too bossy, sheâs just tooâ¦darnedâ¦irritating. And readers, you know what that means. Itâs only a matter of time before these two squawking opposites find their wayâtogether!
But thereâs a rough road ahead for Rust Creekâs sexy sheriff and his do-gooder girl. Can Big Sky and Big Apple make it past the first frost? Just how much will a city girl sacrifice for the strong arms of the law?
âIâm sorry about what happened last night.
âI had no idea my dancing with someone would cause such a problem.â
âYeah, well, this is Montana. Not New York,â he said.
His response stabbed at her. âAre you saying dancing causes issues in Montana?â
âA beautiful woman causes issues anywhere,â Gage said.
âIâm not that beautiful,â she retorted.
Gage looked at her in disbelief. âThatâs a matter of opinion. Just do me a favor and stay away from the bar the next few days. I donât have the manpower to handle the riots you cause.â
âAre you saying this is my fault?â
âIâm saying you underestimated your power,â he said.
Lissa felt her frustration build inside her. Her whole body roared with heat. âYouâre being a jerk. A complete jerk,â she told him. She poked her finger against his hard chest repeatedly. âIf you think Iâm so beautiful, why donât you stop being such an idiot and kiss me?â
Dear Reader,
Iâve always had a fascination with Western sheriffs, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to write the love story for Sheriff Gage Christensen. He has been totally focused on helping the citizens of Rust Creek Falls get back on their feet after disaster struck. He has been carrying around a lot of unnecessary guilt, too. What he needs is a woman who will get under his skin, bother him a little, remind him heâs a manâa good man.
Volunteer Lissa Roarke from Manhattan hits him, and the town, like a thunderbolt. Sheâs come to Rust Creek Falls to make a difference and nothing will stop her from accomplishing her goal. Lissa has always been fascinated with cowboys and she decides this is a great time to learn that the myth about them really is just a myth. But what if the reality is more than she could have dreamed?
I hope youâll enjoy their story. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please email me at [email protected].
Happy reading!
Leanne Banks
www.LeanneBanks.com
LEANNE BANKS is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author who is surprised every time she realizes how many books she has written. Leanne loves chocolate, the beach and new adventures. To name a few, Leanne has ridden an elephant, stood on an ostrich egg (no, it didnât break), gone parasailing and indoor skydiving. Leanne loves writing romance, because she believes in the power and magic of love. She lives in Virginia with her family and a four-and-a-half-pound Pomeranian named Bijou. Visit her website, www.leannebanks.com.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Leanne Banks for her contribution to the Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys continuity.
This book is dedicated to Susan Litman. Thanks for letting me join the Maverick train again!
Chapter One
My suitcase is packed and Iâm ready for my assignment as a lead coordinator for Bootstraps, a charitable organization based in New York City. Iâm getting ready to travel from my world to a totally different one. Iâm trading subways, theater, high fashion and rush hour crowds for a small town in Montana thatâs been nearly destroyed by a flood. No more cushy apartment or paved sidewalks for me. Iâll be facing mudâa lot of it. I expect I wonât find a lot of Wall Street types in a town called Rust Creek. But there will be cowboysâand Iâve always been curious about cowboys....
â Lissa Roarke
Lissaâs roommate, Chelsea, swirled her glass of red wine as she picked up one of the boots from Lissaâs suitcase. Chelsea eyed it with disgust. âI canât believe youâre actually going to wear something with the label John Deere.â
âHey, these are great,â Lissa said. âTheyâre weather resistant and the lining is moisture wicking and breathable. Theyâve got removable orthotics, a tempered-steel shank and a rubber outsole.â
âBut theyâre ugly,â Chelsea said and dropped the boot back into Lissaâs open suitcase. She took a deep sip of wine. âI know youâre into your job and you want to help people, but are you sure this is a good idea? There must be plenty you can still do here.â