by Susan Fox
So why was it so difficult to free his hand from his guest’s? “Best coffee in town’s right here.” A couple of the coffee shops did a fine job too, but for some reason he wanted to keep Cassidy Esperanza at the Wild Rose. “Good food too, if you’re hungry.”
“Cool.” She gave another of those huge yawns, stretched her arms up, and raked her fingers through that cap of hair, ruffling it. Normally, he preferred long hair on women, but the pixie cap suited Cassidy’s slightly exotic face.
“I’m awake,” she said with a quick laugh, eyes dancing as she studied his face. “I swear I am. Got a good sleep too. Don’t know why I’m yawning.” Her face sobered. “Before I do anything, I need to have a talk with the manager.”
“Let me guess, you’re twenty-two.”
“Twenty-two?” She shook her head slightly, looking confused. “No, I’m twenty-seven. What a weird question.”
“Sorry, I mean room twenty-two. The woman who came in last night and . . .” He paused, curious to see what she’d say.
“Did a face plant?” She raised her brows ruefully. “You heard about that? Yeah, that’s me. Totally embarrassing. But the guy on the desk was great. Only problem is . . .” She pressed her full, pink lips together, then released them. “Can I confide in you? Maybe you can give me some advice.”
He dragged his gaze from her lips. “Uh, sure.”
“The nice guy gave me a room last night, and food, but the thing is, I don’t have the money to pay. I came in to get warm and see if someone could point me toward a hostel, and next thing I knew I was on the floor and this guy was”—she broke off and grinned with the memory—“waking me up with a whiff of whisky. Which tasted delicious, and I guess I owe for that too, now that I think of it.”
“Look—”
“No, I realize I owe for the room and everything, and this is a classy place so it won’t be cheap. But the thing is, I’m pretty much broke.”
Oh, great.
He opened his mouth, but she rushed on again. “I swear I won’t cut out on you. I was going to look for a job in Caribou Crossing anyway, and as soon as I get one and have some money, I’ll pay up. But it might take a few days and I’d sure understand if the manager was mad. So if you could give me any tips on how to deal with him, I’d really appreciate it.”
As best he could tell, she was sincere. “Tell him the truth. And you did. I’m the owner of the Wild Rose.”
“Oh! My gosh, I didn’t realize. Wow. You don’t look old enough.”
He’d heard that before. “Just turned thirty.”
She studied him again, lips curving. “Gotta love a hotel where the owner wears jeans and cowboy boots.”
“It’s part of our ambience.”
She glanced around the lobby. “Yeah, it’s kind of a cool blend of Old West and Santa Fe. That room—twenty-two—is awesome. That four-poster canopy bed with all the ruffles and flounces, the stool to climb up into it. I worried when I saw the chamber pot, but then I realized it was for decoration and there was a real bathroom. Claw-foot tub and all.”
Canopy bed. Claw-foot tub. Slim, vibrant, sexy Cassidy. Physical stirrings below the belt had him giving a mental head-shake. He would never fool around with an inn guest. In the past three years, he’d pretty much figured he’d never fool around again. If he wanted female companionship, he had platonic friends. Casual sex wasn’t his thing, and love wasn’t going to happen. Anita had been the love of his life. His heart belonged to her, and always would.
And there he went, thinking of her again. The familiar sense of desolation threatened, but somehow the grin Cassidy tilted toward him countered it.
“So, Dave Cousins, Mr. Owner, want to have breakfast with me? I’ll run my tab even higher and you can tell me where I might find work.”
Though he liked being friendly and informal with guests, he kept it professional. Occasionally, he joined them for a drink or a coffee, but not often. This time he was tempted—against his better judgment. There was something about Cassidy that made him feel . . . lighter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning, international bestselling author Susan Fox (who also writes as Savanna Fox and Susan Lyons) is a Pacific Northwester with homes in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. She has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor. Visit her website at www.susanfox.ca.
HOME ON THE RANGE
In this exciting new series, author Susan Fox welcomes you to Caribou Crossing, a small Western town made for love and adventure . . .
For Evan Kincaid, the best thing about his dusty hometown was watching it fade into the distance. Jessica Bly was the only one who didn’t treat him like an outsider, and their friendship ended with one mind-blowing night of young passion. Now they’ve both got the lives they planned—Evan in New York, Jess with her beloved horses in Caribou Crossing. But business has brought Evan back to Jess’s Crazy Horse ranch on a mission that could destroy whatever’s left of her trust.
Ten years ago, Jess wanted one perfect night to remember Evan by. What she got was a broken heart and a secret that’s kept them strangers ever since. The boy she knew was sexy and sweet; the man he’s become leaves her breathless. And no matter how much she tells herself that country girl and city boy don’t belong together, in her heart she wants to believe his home has been right here all along . . .
Also features the full-length prequel novella
“Caribou Crossing.”
GENTLE ON MY MIND
In her latest contemporary romance, Susan Fox welcomes readers back to Caribou Crossing, the ruggedly sexy Western town that seems made for starting over . . .
Brooke Kincaid knows second chances don’t come cheap. She’s spent five years repairing past mistakes and making her life in Caribou Crossing steady and predictable. But now a stranger’s Harley has shattered her fence and her peace of mind in one swoop. Because Brooke is drawn to everything about wounded undercover cop Jake Brannon . . .
By rights, Brooke should curse Jake for complicating her life. Instead she’s offered him a place to heal and a cover story as he searches for a wanted man. Jake knows she’s vulnerable, but she’s also strong, kind, and hotter than hellfire. It’s a combination that could make even a die-hard loner long to put up his boots and put down roots at last, and show her just how good a second chance can get . . .
ZEBRA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2015 by Susan Lyons
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
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ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-3578-7
ISBN-10: 1-4201-3578-3
ISBN: 978-1-4201-3578-7
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