Former Navy SEAL Cash Aiken assumed he could leave behind the trauma of war and settle into life as a bodyguard. Why not? He was big, smart, and nothing ever got past his eagle eye. But a split second of inattention nearly cost the life of his asset, and cost him his job. When his old buddy Travis Kincaid invites him to come work at Resolution Ranch, an organization helping wounded vets, he clings to the lifeline and hopes it’s a chance to start over. But Cash is stunned to discover that the beautiful woman he nearly let die is hiding out at the ranch, masquerading as a stable hand.
Country Music’s Superdiva, Kaycee Starr, is done with the music biz. After a terrifying encounter with a crazed fan, she goes underground and answers a help-wanted ad in a place the paparazzi would never think to look. Prairie, Kansas. While she finds solace and healing among the horses, handsome ranch hand Cash Aiken lights her up in ways she only wrote about in songs. He’s the only person she’s met who seems to ‘get’ her.
Cash and Kaycee fall hard and fast for each other, but when their secrets are exposed, will they have the courage to trust each other? And more importantly, themselves?
EXCERPT:
“What about you?” Cash asked. “Has your heart been broken?”
How to explain without giving away one of her biggest secrets? But the second she disclosed her identity, this fragile thing blossoming between them would evaporate. As soon as Kaycee Starr came between them, he’d stop seeing her, Kate. Her indecision must have shown on her face, because he reached out and tipped her chin, forcing her to look right at him.
“Is that why you were crying last night? Did someone break your heart?” She was heartbroken, but not for the reason he thought. “I… it’s complicated.” His face fell. Shit. To keep one secret, she’d have to disclose the other, embarrassing as it was. She took a deep breath. “I’ve never had a boyfriend. I… tonight… I guess you could call this my first date.” She twisted out of his grip, shutting her eyes, unable to bear looking at him a second longer. Her cheeks flamed. Her skin crawled from the shame of it. She stood. “I should go.” She looked around the room, anywhere but at him. “Thank you for a nice evening.”
He stood too, catching her shoulder and turning her back. “Wait. Please don’t go? I don’t want you to go.”
She pressed her cold hands to her cheeks. They were still on fire.
He took her hands, encasing them with his enormous ones. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Kate.”
“I have plenty.” She shook her head, dropping her gaze. “I’m pathetic.”
“Look at me, Kate,” he commanded gently.
Reluctantly, she forced her eyes up, unable to breathe.
“Just so I’m clear, you’ve never...”
Another wave of shame rippled through her as she shook her head. This was not how she’d ever imagined their conversation going. How could she ever look at him again after tonight? But he lowered his head, so his mouth was a whisper from hers. If she shifted her weight to her toes, they’d be touching. His breath was warm and soft on her cheek, and she breathed him in. His masculine scent underneath the soapy clean went straight to her head like moonshine. Her nerve endings fired in anticipation, sending violent ripples all the way to her toes.
“You have no idea how that turns me on,” he whispered.
She pulled her head back a fraction to study him. He gazed down at her through hooded eyes, a fire there that made her ache with want. She wanted his mouth on her, his hands. Her nipples were tight peaks, straining against her bra, and she was pretty sure there was nothing left of her panties.
“I promise. We can do whatever you want. Go as slow as you like, or do nothing at all. Just say the word.” His mouth brushed hers in the barest of kisses. She vibrated from the intensity of it all. There was something so deeply erotic in his touch. The sureness of it, the question in it, the promise of it.
“I-” She leaned in, pressing her mouth to his, surprised by her boldness, shocked by how natural it felt. “I want you to make me come.”
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN | KOBO | iBOOKS | GOOGLE PLAY
AUTHOR INFO:
Hi, I'm USA Today Best Selling Author Tessa Layne.
Thanks for stopping by! I write smokin' hot contemporary cowboy and military romances filled with tenderhearted tough guys and sassy strong women who capture their hearts.
Please join my email list HERE for exclusive updates, previews, and other offers. You can find me hanging out in my Facebook reader group The Prairie Posse.
A little about me- I grew up in Colorado in the mountains at the edge of the Great Plains. There, I met my own smokin' hot Cowboy and we had a whirlwind romance to rival any novel. I believe in Happily Ever Afters, love fireflies, horses, and breathing clean country air. My favorite thing to do is to sit on the porch swing with a glass of Rose, listening to my Cowboy pluck his guitar!
**********GIVEAWAY**********
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for that great excerpt. Can't wait to read more about Cash and "Kate".
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to read the great book.
ReplyDelete