by Skye Turner
Do I want her to stay? Stay here? With me in this cabin? On the ranch?
Stay how?
My head angles as I try to figure out what this cocky woman is doing.
Finally, she slaps my chest and says with exasperation, “Dammit, Falcon! Ask me to stay…”
Ask her to stay?
She WANTS to stay? She can’t stay. This isn’t her home.
I mutter, “Eliza, I would never ask you to give up your life… your career… your home… You’ve earned all of that… I can’t ask that of you.”
She smirks at me again and mutters, “As if that wasn’t reason enough to love you…” She kisses me and riles me up again before leaning back to whisper in my ear, “Don’t you know home is where the heart is…” She licks my ear and I shudder at her words, but she’s not through. She growls. “Home is where you hang your hat. I love you, cocky cowboy of mine.”
My eyes light up and I stare at her, trying to make certain that she’s real and that she’s serious. My voice is thick as I ask, “Eliza, will you stay? Here… in Texas? With me?”
She smiles again and nods. “Yes, Falcon. Yes, I will… we’ll figure out the specifics later.” Leaning down, she kisses me until we’re both panting. She grinds down on me and my hands dig into her hips. “Now that we’ve settled that… Take me to heaven, Falcon. And dear God, always stay forever cocky… it so turns me on.”
Epilogue
Eliza
“Hello. Hi. First of all, I want to thank all of you for being here and for being the reason that Chat Time with Eliza McCormick has become the wonderful show that it is.
“As many of you, here in the audience, as well as those watching at home, are now aware, I recently took a break from the show to explore something different.
“I have a Mass Communications/ Broadcast Journalism degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. I grew up in small town Louisiana though I always had big dreams of conquering the world. You all, this show, have allowed me to do that.
“I’ve loved sitting down with all of you, five days a week, discussing various hot topics and current events, for the past six years. You have all helped me explore, embrace, and live my dream.
“But… it’s time for something new. It’s time for me to get back to my roots. It’s time to focus more on the stories of the heart. It’s time for a new dream.
“Several weeks ago, I started a journey. My wonderful producer, Archie… Say “Hi” to Archie…” The audience waves and Archie nods. “With his wholehearted support and backing, we decided to film a series of destination pieces that would explore the heart of what makes this country of ours so great.”
“I was given the great opportunity to travel across the country and interview several men and women who work tirelessly day in and day out to provide the things we need.
“My first stop on this new journey brought me to a cattle ranch in Texas where, as I’m certain you can imagine, I was very out of my element. The second I arrived, I fell rear first into a horse trough. And, trust me when I say, that was just the beginning of the entertainment and education I received.
“While there, I learned a lot about myself and others. I guess you could say… I found myself in the heart of the Texas heat. I also found dedicated men and supportive women, both of whom work together tirelessly to make certain they succeed.
“I found out that home is really where the heart is and that no matter how confident you are, there’s always something, or someone, that can ruffle your feathers. Something that just gets under your skin, like a splinter, and no matter what you do, you can’t remove it.
“It gets so far under your skin that it stops being an annoyance and it becomes a part of you. It becomes the part that completes the puzzle. It’s the missing piece that you never knew you needed.
“I’m getting off topic. Chat Time with Eliza McCormick is a huge part of my life. It’s a huge part of my heart and I love every single person that has worked so hard to make this program the success that it is.
“But, all good things must eventually come to a close…
A collective gasp goes through the audience.
“You are the first to know that Chat Time with Eliza McCormick is coming to an end, but fear not… the show isn’t leaving. In one week, a new queen will be on the throne… Ladies and Gentleman, I know you will embrace her with open arms because you’ve seen her so many times before… and she has already won not just your hearts, but your respect. Only now, she’s taking the reins…
“I am delighted to announce that my wonderful friend, a woman that I am so proud of, Miss Marlie Forbes, will be taking over the show. Chat Time with Eliza McCormick will become Chat Time With Marlie Forbes.
“Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m leaving the picture. I am not.
“I will no longer be on your televisions five days a week, but I do hope you’ll follow along as I embrace this new chapter of my life…
“I’m moving to primetime with a brand new show…
“And not just a new show… I’ll be doing it with a new name… Miss Eliza McCormick is becoming Mrs. Eliza Donovan.” The audience gasps again and many people clap. “I am so honored to introduce you to my new family. We’ll have our very own show, right here on this network, on Thursday nights at seven.
“Home and Heart with Eliza will premier this fall and I cannot wait for you all to see it. It will show our home life at the Double Down Ranch as well as my travels to visit the other men and women around the country, who are also what brings the heart to so many of our homes. I do so hope that you’ll watch…
“But now… I think we should get to the piece that brought this beautiful change about… Ladies and Gentleman, join me as we welcome, my fiancé, Mr. Falcon Donovan and his brother, Mr. Rowdy Donovan, the owners of the Double Down Ranch in Texas… for Part One of the Special Home and Heart with Eliza…”
With elation, I watch as Falcon, my love, my fiancé, and the man who changed my life walks onto the stage, accompanied by Rowdy, my soon to be brother-in-law.
Falcon smiles at me beneath the brim of his Stetson and my heart gallops in my chest.
I take my seat and they both sit on the couch and smile at the audience.
Glancing from the audience to the man in the ten gallon hat who stole my heart, I think, “Sometimes no matter how cocky you are, life has plans in place that you have no control over. That person, that one person, who doesn’t just complete you, but challenges you, and compliments you… that person that not only takes your cocky but raises you one… is in the one place you never thought you’d be and the only place you really fit in.
“God bless my cocky cowboy!”
Playlist
That Girl in Texas – Jon Wolfe
Small Town Boy – Dustin Lynch
Craving You – Thomas Rhett
Forever – Chris Brown
She’s a Hot One – Luke Bryan
Better Today – Coffee Anderson
Forever Young – Alphaville
Let’s Take a Shot – Gloriana
Thunder in the Rain – Kane Brown
Wild Heart – Daughtry
King of my Heart – Taylor Swift
It’s About to Get Dirty – Brantley Gilbert
What You Do To Me – Dan + Shay
When You’re Ready – Shawn Mendes
Be Careful What You Wish For – Luke Combs
You Look Good – Lady Antebellum
Love Someone – Miley Cyrus
Eyes On You – Chase Rice
Cowboys and Angels – Dustin Lynch
Raised On It – Sam Hunt
Can’t Stop Smiling – Love and Theft
Babe – Sugarland
Cowboy Casanova – Carrie Underwood
Lovin’ You Is Fun – Easton Corbin
Whatever She’s Got – David Nail
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Backstreet Boys
Sunshine & Whiskey – Frankie Ballard
Must
Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right – Billy Currington
If I Was Your Man – Blake Shelton
I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Mark Chestnut
Sway – Danielle Bradbury
From the Ground Up – Dan + Shay
This Side of You – Ryan Follese
Back – Colt Ford featuring Jake Owens
Acknowledgements
The important people
Thank you to my readers who’ve stuck with me through my much needed “me time”, while I sorted out some private stuff, but who were always letting me know y’all hadn’t forgotten about me and were anxiously awaiting the next book! Here it is and I hope you LOVE it!
Thank you to my Beta Readers: Betsy, Kristin, Louise, and Summer!
And finally, but most importantly… Thank you to MY greatest gifts: my husband, my love, my best friend, my baby daddy James, for ALWAYS supporting me, our diva darling, and our lil man (though he keeps reminding me he’s not a baby, so I suppose he should be my big man now). You three are why I get up every morning and where some of the awesome and hilarious in my books comes from!
About the Author
Skye Turner
Skye Turner as Sloane Nicole
Skye Turner is an avid reader and an editor turned International Bestselling Author of Sexy Adult Romance. Bayou Stix Series (Rocker Romance), James Black Series (Romantic Suspense), Unwanted Desire (Contemporary Romance), With Gratitude and Love (Military Romance), His Only Salvation (Dark Romance. Love Triangle), Rookie Love (Baseball Romance), Behind My Charade (Military Romance), A Lil Bit Country, A Lil Bit Rock & Roll Series (Music Romance), Dear Diary Short Stories (Erotic Romance), Gemstone Burlesque (Erotic Romance), A Joe of my Own (Military Romance), Nutt Cracker (Romantic Comedy. MPOV), Hart of the Storm (Music Romance), Love Bites (Romantic Comedy, co-written with Amanda Lanclos) and Pothos Chronicles (Erotic Romance).
She has recently expanded her writing capabilities and is writing Paranormal Adult Romance as Sloane Nicole. Her PNR Series is called L’Amour Bayou with the first book being Antoinette’s Fall.
She attended Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University where she majored in Mass Communications, centering her studies in Journalism. Unfortunately, life intervened and she never finished her studies.
She lives in small town Louisiana with her husband, two children, and nine fur babies.
When she’s not chained to her laptop pounding out sexy stories she can usually be found playing ‘Supermom’, reading, gardening (playing in the dirt), listening to music and dancing like a fool, cooking, baking, crafting, or spending time with those most important to her.
She loves to incorporate pieces of her home state of Louisiana into her writing.
You can find her here as Skye Turner:
Facebook as Skye Turner: facebook.com/SkyeTurnerAuthor
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/skyeturner
Twitter: @SkyeTurner_Auth
Blog: www.skyeturnerauthor.com
Instagram: instagram.com/authorskyeturner
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/7164331.Skye_Turner
E-mail: [email protected]
You can find her here as Sloane Nicole:
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/sloanenicole
Facebook: facebook.com/SloaneNicoleAuthor
Twitter: @SloaneNicoleAtr
Blog: www.skyeturnerauthor.com
Instagram: instagram.com/authorskyeturner
Goodreads: goodreads.com/sloane-nicole
E-mail: [email protected]
