by Jean Oram
Hopeless.
No wonder April had been so cavalier about telling Jackie to throw herself on a man. And maybe the reason April’s words had struck so deep was that they’d hit upon some truths Jackie had been hiding from herself for too long.
Jackie checked the clock on the wall, figuring she’d been at Cole’s welcome back party long enough she could politely leave. After all, April and Brant had left an hour ago, their expressions dark. They were going to have a blowout fight, neither of them realizing just how good they had it. Stuck in their own drama, they couldn’t see the relationship gold they were sitting on.
It seemed like every time Jackie turned around, April had effortlessly ensnared another man. But this time it was true love, and April was taking it for granted and it made her so frustrated she wanted to shake the woman. Whereas Jackie wasn’t even sure she’d truly ever been in love despite her thirty-two years living in a town full of matchmakers—herself included.
Maybe it was jealousy? Envy?
The fight with April reinforced what she already knew. If she was looking for love—which she was—that meant no more flings. They were nothing but diversions, something to hide behind so she didn’t have to deal with the scary idea that there might not be someone out there for her.
Jackie downed the last of her drink, tracking Cole Wylder, the man of the hour. He was still hot. Still had that fluid, confident way of moving that made her want to sigh in satisfaction every time she watched him walk.
She’d been chasing him for as long as she could remember. Him. Just him. Sure, she’d chased his brothers, but that had simply been insurance to ensure she didn’t freak Cole out with her steady, pinpointed interest.
She set her empty glass on the small table and stood.
It was time to bid that old crush farewell forever and move on.
Jackie collected her jacket from the back of her chair, moving to the doors, smiling and waving, putting on the Jackie Show as she went. She’d had to put some work into sitting alone tonight, giving herself space to cool down after the fight with April as well as sort out her true feelings about Cole. Sometimes a gal just needed to sit and think. But if the town got to know that was the real Jackie, the quieter one who wasn’t a trouble-free flirt, she wasn’t sure where she’d fit.
As she drew close to the doors, she turned to take one last look at Cole. He shook hands with someone she couldn’t quite see through the crowd, that slightly haunted shadow flickering in his gaze. The man was still all brawn, devilish smile, coupled with that intensely quiet way of looking at a person, making her feel like a shaken bottle of soda that was ready to fizz over at any moment.
“Jackie!” called Karen Hartley, the local librarian, pulling Jackie’s attention away from Cole. She was beaming, moments before having been ensconced in the arms of Myles, the second youngest of the five Wylder brothers.
“Your lipstick is smeared,” Jackie informed her, wincing as she shifted from foot to foot. Her feet were protesting tonight’s choice of footwear, a pair of high heels instead of her usual cowboy boots.
“Oh!” Karen quickly dabbed at the skin around her lips, blushing and looking happier than Jackie had ever seen her. Love looked good on her.
“Hey, are you free on the thirteenth and fourteenth?”
“Of February?”
Karen nodded.
Jackie shrugged, swallowing the lump of loneliness that had formed in her throat at the mention of Valentine’s Day. She’d planned to spend Valentine’s Day, a Saturday, at her father’s nursing home. Even if he didn’t always remember who she was, the cookies were good and the stories the other elders told tended to be entertaining, although a bit repetitive.
“I guess so. Why?”
“The library’s thinking about holding a fundraising event.”
“You need volunteers?” Jackie perked up. Helping out would be a great excuse to be busy if anyone asked if she had a date for the most romantic day of the year.
“No, we need fun people to keep it lively. Will you come?” Karen looked so happy, so pleased and excited that Jackie nodded even though her stomach had dropped.
“I’d be happy to.”
Karen gave an uncharacteristic squeal of delight and ran back to Myles who opened his arms, collecting her in a giant hug and a kiss that swept her off her feet.
Jackie held herself together and gave a small wave while pushing her way through the saloon’s swinging doors, the January Texas air biting into her. She should have worn her cowboy boots, not these ridiculous heels. Her feet were going to be frozen by the time she walked all the way back to her car, which she’d left at April’s.
The light above the saloon door flickered, and she knew if she looked to the right, she’d see the edge of town as well as a glimpse of her apartment on the corner, across and one block down. To the left and many blocks away was her car. After April’s hurtful words tonight, going home without her car was a much more pleasant prospect than the idea of possibly running into April.
Sniffing back the sudden flood of unexpected tears, Jackie hurried down the saloon’s two steps as the light above the door flickered and died, instantly creating deep, darkened shadows across the sidewalk. Her foot struck something solid, and a dog yipped in surprise. Jackie went down hard on the concrete as she tried to avoid falling on the saloon’s dog, Rusty.
She gasped in pain as her right hand and left knee took the brunt of her fall. She rolled onto her back, trying to breathe through the agony in her knee. It was a numbing, breathtaking pain. Rusty, a brown and white retriever of some sort, was at her side in an instant, his nose nuzzling her cheek.
The saloon door had opened, a cowboy silhouetted in the doorway. Then the door creaked shut, and suddenly Jackie was being hoisted to her feet, a muscular arm behind her back. She staggered on her heels while a man wearing spicy aftershave held her close in the darkness.
Cole Wylder.
And being in his arms felt even better than she’d imagined…
Can Jackie convince Cole she’s the woman he’s been waiting for? Find out in THE COWBOY’S SURPRISE RETURN!
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 all of the Sweetheart Creek books in the 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! Their mom has her own special story, Sweet Joymaker. Their cousin Nick’s story is Sweet Troublemaker. And you can’t forget about the Wylders’ cousin Alexa! Her story is Sweet Holiday Surprise. (Links below.)
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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 Bluebe
rry 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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* * * Get the latest news from Jean Oram as well as a free book and other exclusives: www.jeanoram.com/FREEBOOK * * *
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, hiking, or wondering what makes cowboys tick.
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Website & blog: www.jeanoram.com
Thanks for reading.
XO
Jean