The Trouble With Cowgirls

In July 2016 HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE will become HARLEQUIN WESTERN ROMANCE. Same great stories, new name!

THE COWBOY SHE LEFT BEHIND

Seeing the love of his life after ten years is a shock for Lane Morgan. Especially when he learns the Italian-born beauty who broke his teenage heart is now a widowed single mother. And she’s the new barn manager at Bridle Dance Ranch—a job that should have been his.

Lucy Travisonno never dreamed she’d return to the Texas horse ranch where she and Lane fell in love—much less as his boss! The spark between them is stronger than ever. But there’s something Lane doesn’t know… If she reveals her long-held secret, will Lucy lose her second chance with the handsome cowboy?

“You and I had a good thing once.”

Lucy turned back to the horizon. As soon as she broke eye contact, he ached for it again.

It was every man’s fantasy to have his first love admit she still thought of him, but he wasn’t prepared for the pain of actually hearing the words.

“We were kids,” he said. “Neither of us knew what we were doing or where we were going. I won’t deny what I felt for you was real, but as much as I’d love to go back in time, we’re not those people anymore.”

“I’d like to think we’re better.”

“I’ll give you that.” He reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

The instant he touched her, Lane knew he shouldn’t have come. He needed to get back in his truck and leave her and the past alone before his heart paid the price a second time…

Dear Reader,

This book was never part of my original plan. The day I finished writing Mistletoe Rodeo was a bittersweet one. I felt accomplished that I’d completed the Ramblewood series, but a part of me felt as if I’d walked away from the people I loved. Three months passed and I still couldn’t shake the feeling. My mom and I discussed it one afternoon over coffee and she nudged me to continue the series. I outlined The Trouble with Cowgirls that evening.

I’d always wanted to delve deeper into the Travisonno family. We’d met Nicolino throughout many of the previous books, and his history as an Italian immigrant on a Texas horse ranch had always intrigued me. This was my chance to tell part of his story.

Nicolino and Lucy pay homage to my own family. My grandfather’s middle name was Nicolino and one of his sisters was Lucy. As with my other books, I’ve woven some more of my own ancestral elements into Ramblewood.

The Trouble with Cowgirls is the seventh book in the Welcome to Ramblewood series…where the door is always open.

Please visit me at amandarenee.com. I’d love to hear from you. Happy reading!

Amanda Renee

The Trouble

With Cowgirls

Amanda Renee

www.millsandboon.co.uk

AMANDA RENEE was raised in the northeast and now wriggles her toes in the warm sand of coastal South Carolina. Her career began when she was discovered through Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest. When not creating stories about love and laughter, she enjoys the company of her schnoodle, Duffy, camping, playing guitar and piano, photography, and anything involving horses. You can visit her at amandarenee.com.

For Mom

Thank you for always encouraging me

I love you always

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

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

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“I want to go home.”

Lucy Travisonno tightened her grip on Carina’s little hand as they stepped out of her cousin Nicolino’s truck into the mid-afternoon Texas sun. Dust from the dirt drive churned behind them. Her eight-and-a-half-year-old daughter’s words echoed her own thoughts. The town of Ramblewood had been a reprieve from her overly strict Italian family since she was fourteen. And while she might have dreamed of visiting the Bridle Dance Ranch again one day, she’d never imagined returning out of desperation.

Ella, Nicolino’s wife, waved to them from the front porch of their sun-shower yellow Queen Anne farmhouse. Five children barreled down the steps toward them, causing Carina to tuck herself behind Lucy. Even though the children were Texas born, each of them greeted Lucy and Carina in Italian while shaking their hands.

“It’s wonderful to see you. I can’t believe it’s been ten years.” Ella’s melodious Southern drawl and welcoming embrace warmly enveloped Lucy. “Let me get a good look at you.” Ella withdrew, holding her at arm’s length. “Still as pretty as ever. How are you holding up, honey?”

“We’re surviving.” Lucy guardedly observed her daughter’s reactions to her new second cousins and then lowered her voice. “Carina’s having trouble accepting all of this and I feel like I’m failing as a parent.”

“My heart aches for the both of you.” Ella smothered her with another hug. “I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through, but you’re with family now and we’ll take good care of you.”