by Jean Oram
She had been avoiding looking at him as she placed a hand on his warm shoulder, but now snapped a glance at him, finding amusement twinkling in his cloudless blue eyes.
“You think this is funny?”
“Don’t you?”
“I hate feeling helpless.”
Anger tore through her like a windstorm at how she’d allowed her life to veer off the tracks. She was a washed up model with no solid new career ideas, despite having known this day was coming. She’d recently dumped a man she should have released into the dating wilds years ago, and was currently stuck in a ditch because she had chosen to wear heels that were way out of place in this town. She’d dressed like this to show off, but all she’d done was reveal what a princess she’d become.
Her frustration bubbled over and she grumbled, “I hate these shoes. I hate my nails. I hate my eyelashes. I hate my highlights. I hate this dress and I hate my fake tan. And I could really use a second milkshake right now.”
Levi studied her for a moment, then said, “I like your dress.”
She gave him a pitiful look and they burst out laughing.
“Looks like you may have hit rock bottom there.” He was cuter when he smiled, and his drawl was dead to rights the sexiest thing she’d heard in eons. Maybe his good looks weren’t a complete and utter waste, after all.
“This isn’t rock bottom,” she whispered, her lip trembling dangerously. “Trust me.” But it felt pretty darn close.
“I know.” There was nothing but kindness and understanding in his tired eyes. How did a man this young seem so old in this moment, as if the world was weighing on him like it was on her?
She let out a long sigh of defeat. It was difficult to fight the truth sometimes. But that was why she was here, right? Figure things out. Decide what she did and didn’t want in her life moving forward.
Laura gasped as Levi lifted her into the air, one arm behind her legs and the other around her waist, in a quick move she didn’t have time to protest. In seconds he had her up the hill and into the passenger seat, her loosened shoe slipping off her foot in the process. His arms felt strong, his body capable. Before she could say thank-you, he had turned away to retrieve her shoe.
He handed it to her. “Cinderella.”
“I’m not a princess,” she muttered.
“You said that years ago, with that same jut of your chin.” His smile was kind and caused a swarm of butterflies to flutter in her stomach.
“Did I?”
“In the hardware store.”
“Why were you working there? Aren’t you a cowboy with a ranch or something?” She’d always wondered that. He had obviously been a cowboy, and still was.
“I am,” he admitted. “My dad insisted we all experience life off of the ranch, as well as learn to work for someone who wasn’t family. I think it was meant to make us appreciate the ranch more.”
“Did it work?”
“He scored forty.”
“What does that mean?”
“Forty percent. Two of his five sons stayed on the ranch.”
The skin around his mouth pinched. There was a story there, and a part of her hoped she stayed in Sweetheart Creek long enough to find out what it was.
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Will Laura discover Levi’s secrets, and will they help each other find their way into a brighter future… one with love? Click here to read THE COWBOY’S STOLEN HEART now!
More Books by Jean Oram
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Find a full, up-to-date book list at www.jeanoram.com/books
Discover Maria’s family in this new series:
The Cowboys of Sweetheart Creek, Texas
The Cowboy’s Stolen Heart (Levi)
The Cowboy’s Secret Wish (Myles)
The Cowboy’s Second Chance (Ryan)
The Cowboy’s Sweet Elopement (Brant)
The Cowboy’s Surprise Return (Cole)
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There are more Sweetheart Creek stories set in Indigo Bay! Cousin Nick’s story is Sweet Troublemaker. And you can’t forget about the Wylders’ cousin Alexa! Her story is Sweet Holiday Surprise.
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Indigo Bay
Sweet romances set in a beach town—meet characters new and old in this spinoff series.
Sweet Matchmaker (Ginger and Logan)
Sweet Holiday Surprise (Cash & Alexa)
Sweet Forgiveness (Ashton & Zoe)
Sweet Troublemaker (Nick & Polly)
Sweet Joymaker (Maria & Clint)
Veils and Vows
Marriage of convenience romances set in one nosy little mountain town—you know things are going to get good!
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The Promise (Bonus prequel: Devon & Olivia)
The Surprise Wedding (Devon & Olivia)
A Pinch of Commitment (Ethan & Lily)
The Wedding Plan (Luke & Emma)
Accidentally Married (Burke & Jill)
The Marriage Pledge (Moe & Amy)
Mail Order Soulmate (Zach & Catherine)
Blueberry Springs
Sweet, fun small town romances.
Fall for your best friend. Your enemy. The wrong man… it all happens in Blueberry Springs.
Whiskey and Gumdrops (Mandy & Frankie)
Rum and Raindrops (Jen & Rob)
Eggnog and Candy Canes (Katie & Nash)
Sweet Treats (3 short stories—Mandy, Amber, & Nicola)
Vodka and Chocolate Drops (Amber & Scott)
Tequila and Candy Drops (Nicola & Todd)
Champagne and Lemon Drops (Beth & Oz) Also available in audio.
The Summer Sisters
Taming billionaires has never been so sweet!
One cottage. Four sisters. And four billionaires who sweep them off their feet.
Falling for the Movie Star (Finian & Hailey)
Falling for the Boss (Connor & Maya)
Falling for the Single Dad (Tristen & Melanie)
Falling for the Bodyguard (Evander & Daphne)
Falling for the Firefighter (Josh & Simone)
* Also watch for audiobooks, paperbacks, and special box set anthologies! *
For the Kids
1,001 Boredom Busting Play Ideas
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About the Author
Jean Oram is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. Inspiration for her small town series came from her own upbringing on the Canadian prairies. Although, so far, none of her characters have grown up in an old schoolhouse or worked on a bee farm. Jean still lives on the prairie with her husband, two kids, big shaggy dog and persnickety cat, where she can be found out playing in the snow or hiking.
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Website & blog: www.jeanoram.com
Thanks for reading.
XO
Jean
