I have a new release coming out tomorrow. The Cowboy’s Reckoning is the third book of my Bad Boys of the Rodeo series and I’m excited for its journey out into the world.
Imagine what it would be like to spend your life thinking that your father was a cattle thief who passed away in jail, only to discover that he was actually a wealthy businessman who left you a ranch. That’s what happens to Jordan Matthews, the hero of my latest Bad Boys of the Rodeo book, The Cowboy’s Reckoning. Inheriting a ranch out of the blue would be an amazing windfall to most people, but it doesn’t feel that way to Jordan. His surprise father had obviously been aware of his existence and had the means by which to care for him, yet he’d let Jordan go into foster care at the age of four when his mother died. Why? And why leave Jordan the ranch, which is now long-termed leased to Lil and Meg McAllen, sisters who lost their family ranch to bankruptcy?
Rather than get answers to those questions, Jordan wants to get rid of the ranch and go back to life as he knows it. The only thing standing in his way is Lil, who not only refuses to vacate the place, but insists that he uphold his end of the lease and fix what’s broken. And lately a lot of things have been mysteriously broken on Jordan’s new ranch—to the point that he and Lil begin to wonder if someone is purposely sabotaging the place. They also start to wonder if perhaps they can find a middle ground for both the ranch and a future between them.
Here’s an excerpt:
“That’s him!” Meg said, eye widening.
Lil followed her sister’s gaze to see three men standing near the crowded hotel bar. “Who?”
“The guy I saw today while I was riding. The spy.”
Aubrey pushed her glasses down to look over the top. “That’s Jordan Matthews. He’s local and harmless.” She bit the edge of her lip as she canted her head to one side. “I take that back. Not harmless. He’s broken countless hearts, mostly by accident. But he’s cowboy through and through. Not a stalker or anything.”
“Jordan Matthews?” Lil gave Aubrey a stunned look. “That’s the name of my new landlord.”
“No way.” Aubrey gave her head an adamant shake. “I mean … No. Way.”
“Why?”
“Jordan’s dad died in jail years ago. The guy was a cattle thief of all things.”
“Wow,” Lil said softly, studying the dark-haired cowboy.
He was strikingly handsome, with chiseled cheekbones and a pirate-y smile that flashed as he talked to his friends.
“What about his mom?” Meg asked, obviously intrigued by the cattle thief angle.
“She also died,” Aubrey said, “which is why a local rancher adopted Jordan when he was little. He was two years ahead of me in school. His origin story made him double romantic, you know. Being drop-dead gorgeous didn’t hurt either.”
Lil tried to keep from staring, but the guy was an eyeful, with a perfect profile, easy smile, and a lean yet muscular build.
She blew out a breath. “I wasn’t expecting … him.”
“It can’t be him,” Aubrey said.
“So why had he been spying on the property just before I’m supposed to meet with a man named Jordan Matthews?”
A few thoughtful seconds passed before Aubrey conceded, “You’ve got me there.”
Lil looked away just as Jordan casually swung his gaze her way. She was very glad to have seen the man in the wild, because it gave her an indication of what kind of guy he was. Comfortable in his own skin. Quick to smile. He looked like he could charm a cranky grandmother into mending his torn jeans.
“I hope he’s good with a hammer,” Lil murmured. “I have stuff that needs to be done.”
“You do set the bar low,” Aubrey replied as the server approached their table.
She declined another round while Lil continued to low-key study the man who might be her landlord. Jordan’s friend nudged him and a dark gaze suddenly swept her way, catching her mid-stare.
Drat.
Even at a distance, she saw a questioning expression form on his handsome face and felt her cheeks grow warm. Surely a guy like that was used to being stared at, so she didn’t look away. He could make what he liked of it. For all he knew she was staring through him. Then, after a few very long seconds, she casually turned her attention back to Aubrey who was once again discussing why her Jordan Matthews couldn’t be their Jordan Matthews.
Lil was ninety percent sure that he was indeed the owner of the place, and she didn’t care how it had come about. She just wanted the man to honor the language of the lease and repair the things that had started to go wrong on the place.
And to maybe not recognize her as the stalker in the bar.
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To celebrate the release of my book I’m giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly chosen respondent. To qualify, please tell me a time you got a surprise gift. I’ll start–when I was nine years old, my parents surprised me with a beautiful white horse to use for 4-H.