by Jane Porter
A Kiss From A Cowboy…
Be Mine, Cowboy by Jane Porter
Years ago, Rachel James gave Cade King an ultimatum, and he walked. Heartbroken, Rachel moved on. Life is tough as a single mom, but Rachel is doing just fine.
Now Cade’s back after burning up the rodeo circuit, and things are different. He’s sober, but with one burning regret. He has some work to do to show Rachel he’s changed—but he’s up to the challenge.
Hill Country Cupid by Tanya Michaels
Tess knows what young Bailey Calhoun wants: a mom. So when she sees shy cowboy Nick Calhoun giving someone the eye, Tess goes into full matchmaking mode.
Nick is happy to have Tess’s help…but her matchmaking backfires. How can he convince his cupid that she’s the one he wants?
A Valentine’s gift for readers of Harlequin American Romance.
Two heartwarming Valentine novellas from two of your favorite authors.
Be Mine, Cowboy by Jane Porter
Hill Country Cupid by Tanya Michaels
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane Porter is a small-town girl at heart. Growing up, she spent her vacations on her grandfather’s cattle ranch in California, loving the golden foothills, oak trees and miles of farmland. When not playing cowgirl or camping with her family, she’d curl up with a book and get lost in her imagination. In her mind, she was never the geeky bookworm with the thick Coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader.
Her parents fed her imagination by taking the family to Europe for a year when Jane was thirteen. She loved everything about Europe, but was especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men, which later inspired her first Harlequin Presents title, The Italian Groom, a story that married her love of farmland and ranches and sexy Italian heroes!
Since that first sale to Harlequin Presents in 2000, Jane has written over 30 books and novellas for Harlequin and she still gets excited about each new story.
Jane is always delighted to hear from her readers. You can email her at [email protected], or write to Jane Porter, P.O. Box 789, San Clemente, CA 92674.
Three-time RITA® Award nominee Tanya Michaels writes about what she knows—community, family and lasting love! Her books, praised for their poignancy and humor, have received honors such as a Booksellers’ Best Bet Award, a Maggie Award of Excellence and multiple readers’ choice awards. She was also a 2010 RT Book Reviews nominee for Career Achievement in Category Romance. Tanya is an active member of Romance Writers of America and a frequent public speaker, presenting workshops to educate and encourage aspiring writers. She lives outside Atlanta with her very supportive husband, two highly imaginative children and a household of quirky pets, including a cat who thinks she’s a dog and a bichon frise who thinks she’s the center of the universe.
My Cowboy Valentine
Jane Porter
Tanya Michaels
Contents
Be Mine, Cowboy
Hill Country Cupid
Be Mine, Cowboy
Jane Porter
Dear Reader,
I’m a hopeless romantic! I believe in love at first sight and true love, and am crazy about reunion romances—stories where a couple is torn apart by fate, but then later brought back together again, because this couple, of course, is destined to be together.
When the editors of Harlequin American Romance asked me to write a novella for this special Valentine’s anthology with the wonderful Tanya Michaels, I jumped at the chance. With a Texan grandfather, I’m a huge fan of cowboy romances and used to write them before I started writing for Harlequin Presents. And while I love writing for Harlequin Presents, I don’t get to do enough ranch stories, small-town settings and cowboy heroes, so this novella is very special to me.
In Be Mine, Cowboy you’ll meet two of my favorite characters I’ve ever written—All-Around Cowboy champion Cade King and his first love, Rachel James. They met in Mineral Wells, Texas, when Rachel was just nineteen, and they fell head over heels in love. Their love was supposed to be a forever love, but Cade is a complex man with problems Rachel couldn’t fix, and he walked away from her when she insisted he get help. But five years later, he shows up on her doorstep, and this time, Cade’s not going anywhere. Like a true, tough, loyal cowboy, he’s going to win his woman back and prove to her he isn’t just a great cowboy, but he’s become a great man.
I hope you’ll enjoy Be Mine, Cowboy. I’m so proud to be part of this anthology with the talented Tanya Michaels!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Jane
For my son, Jake. A hero in the making.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
Chapter One
It’d been a mild winter so far in Palo Pinto County, Texas, and this February afternoon the sun was once again shining, and the sky over the small ranch house was a cloudless swathe of pale blue.
The weatherman had said the unseasonably mild temperatures and dry conditions were supposed to hold through the weekend, which was a good thing as Rachel James’s childhood friend Mia Jenkins was getting married tomorrow, and while the party tent might be heated and fully protected from the elements, no one liked slogging through muddy or slushy gardens in formal wear. Not the bride or the guests or the cake baker.
And Rachel was both a guest and the cake baker.
“What do you think?” Rachel asked as Mia swirled a finger across the frosting-covered spatula before popping her finger in her mouth.
Mia sighed, rolling her eyes with pleasure. “Yum. Heavenly. Melt-in-your-mouth buttercream with just the right amount of vanilla. How come my frosting never tastes this good?”
“Because you probably worry about the amount of sugar and butter in your icing. I don’t.” Rachel crossed her arms over her chest, creasing her white apron, feeling ridiculously pleased with herself as she studied the tiered wedding cake, all four layers swagged with delicate swells and scallops of icing that resembled Belgium lace. “You like the cake?”
“I love my cake. It’s beyond gorgeous, and you know it, so stop fishing for compliments.”
Rachel grinned and gathered the stainless-steel bowls, carrying them to the kitchen sink. As she turned the faucet on, her gaze lifted to the window and the view beyond. The kitchen window overlooked the small, fenced backyard, which seemed even smaller right now with the mountain of cardboard boxes stacked next to the detached garage. Her smile faded as she looked at the boxes. She’d been packing for weeks, was nearly done. Just had bedrooms and the kitchen stuff left to pack, and now that Mia’s wedding cake was finished, Rachel could box up all of her baking things.
“Can’t believe you’re moving,” Mia said, joining her at the sink and getting a glimpse of the U-Haul moving boxes outside.
Rachel made a soft, inarticulate sound as she turned the tap off. “Can’t believe I lost Grandma’s house. She’d die if she knew.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing she’s already dead, then,” Mia said drily.
“That’s horrible!” Rachel spluttered, reaching for a dish towel, uncertain if she should laugh or cry or both.
“It is, but it’s the truth.”
For a moment Rachel struggled to speak and then she blurted, “Today would have been her birthday. I’ve been thinking about her all day.”
“Oh, Rachel! I know you still miss her so much.”
“I do. I really do.”
Mia wrapped an arm around Rachel’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “But knowing your grandmother, she would have been beside herself if she realized what she did to you, deferring her property taxes all those years.”
For a moment Rachel let herself relax into the hug. It was so rare that she revealed weakness, so rare that she took comfort from anyone, but she needed the hug right now. It was brutal losing her home, but she wasn’t the only one this had happened to, and she wasn’t going to cry over spilled milk. What happened had happened, and there was nothing she could do about it but move forward and have a good attitude.
Gently, Rachel disengaged from the hug. “It’s not Grandma’s fault. I knew money was tight and yet I let her help us...she was always giving to us, trying to help me with bills. I should have asked her where the money was coming from.”
“She probably wouldn’t have told you, though. She loved Tommy so much. Loved having the two of you with her.”
Mia was right about that, Rachel thought. Grandma loved having family around. She always said family gave life meaning.
Mia looked anxious. “You’re really okay moving while we’re gone?”
“Have a moving company and everything. I’m good. And you shouldn’t be worrying about us. You’re getting married tomorrow. This is about you right now.”
“But I hate your new apartment complex. It’s awful—”
“It’s fine. And it’s cheap, as well as close to Tommy’s sitter.”
“I wish I’d had the money to help you.”
“Mia, stop.”
Mia nibbled on her thumb. “I can name a half-dozen folks right now who would have helped you if you’d asked—”
“Not going to impose on people. This is my problem. Not theirs.”
“But they’re your friends—”
“And I appreciate them, but I’m not going to ask for handouts.”
“It’d be a loan, Rachel.”
“A loan I can’t pay back.” Rachel shot her a dark look. “Cakes pay basic bills, but they won’t make me rich.” Peeling off her apron, she glanced at the clock on the old kitchen stove. “Isn’t your rehearsal starting at four?”
Mia checked her watch and shrieked. “It’s almost four already, and I haven’t picked up the bridesmaids’ dresses or the shoes, and I still have a twenty-five minute drive—”
“Don’t panic,” Rachel answered, rushing with her to the front door, “and don’t drive crazy. You’ll get there, and you’re the bride. No one’s going anywhere,” she added, swinging open the front door.
“You’re the best, Rache.” Mia took a step and then froze on the doorstep. “Cade?” Mia squeaked, eyes widening with surprise.
Rachel glanced past Mia to the tall cowboy on the porch, and the air caught in her throat.
Cade.
Cade.
Her heart stuttered, staggered, and she blinked, certain he’d disappear, certain he was an apparition. But even after blinking twice, he was still there, one hand hooked on his massive silver belt buckle, and a bouquet of yellow roses in the other, six-two without his boots and cowboy hat, and even taller wearing both. He was wearing both.
“Hello, darlin’,” he said. “Mia,” he added, giving Rachel’s friend a nod.
Mia blushed. “Long time no see.”
“It’s been a while,” he agreed, his tone grave.
Rachel could only stare at him as she dragged air into her lungs, hating the bittersweet pain that filled her heart. It’d been five years since Cade King had walked away from her, and he’d gone without a backward glance, shattering her heart into a thousand pieces.
“Congratulations on your third consecutive title. We’re all proud of you—” Mia broke off as she caught sight of Rachel’s expression. “Anyway, I was just leaving. Take care.”
“You, too, Mia.”
And then with a swift, speculative glance in Rachel’s direction, Mia was gone, dashing down the front steps, heading for the driveway.
For a moment the only sound was Mia’s car door slamming and her engine starting. Rachel swallowed hard and forced herself to look at Cade, still unable to believe he was here. But he was here. And he was even bigger and more ruggedly handsome than she’d remembered.
“Cade,” she whispered, shocked, numb, dumbfounded. He had been completely absent from her life for over five years...so why was he here now?
“Rachel.”
“What...what....are you doing here?”
“It’s your grandmother’s birthday. Brought her some flowers.”
He’d remembered Grandma. She ground her teeth together, her eyes burning. Was this real? Was he real? And God forgive her, was he sober?
“I probably should have called,” he added gruffly, “but I wanted to surprise her.”
Rachel blinked and struggled to find her voice. Just when she’d thought everyone had forgotten her grandmother, Cade showed up with birthday flowers. Yellow roses. Her favorite. “That’s nice of you.”
Dusky color warmed his high, hard cheekbones. “Can I come in?”
She nodded, stepping back to open the door wider. He dipped his head and, crossing her threshold, he removed his cowboy hat, revealing his glossy black hair. “Is this a bad time?”
It had been years since she had last seen him. Years since she had last heard his warm honeyed accent, a voice so rich with the Texas south that even in winter she felt the heat of an invisible sun and the caress of a breeze. He looked surprisingly good...but different, too. He was leaner than she remembered, tanner, healthier, his blue eyes so clear.
“No,” she said unsteadily, aware that she’d need to pick up Tommy by four forty-five but she had a half hour. She closed the front door behind Cade, catching a whiff of his fragrance as she stepped towards him. The scent was light and a little spicy, but it suited him, and made her head spin.
“Mia looks well,” he said.
“She’s doing great.”
His gaze searched hers for a moment. “And you? How are you?”
This was strange...so strange, she thought. “Good. I’m good.”
“Glad to hear it.”
For a moment neither of them seemed to know what to say and Rachel’s stomach did a series of somersaults that made her wish she’d eaten something today to counter the cups of coffee she’d drunk earlier. Then she remembered her manners. “Would you like to sit down?” she asked, and subtly tugged on the hem of her red T-shirt, drawing it lower over the waistband of her faded jeans, glad she’d gotten rid of the shapeless apron. She wished she could pull the rubber band out of her hair, but that would be too obvious.
“Yes. Thank you.”
She led the way into the small, oddly formal living room, with its old-fashioned Empire sofa and matching armchairs, all still upholstered in i
ts original yellow silk. Cade sat down on the edge of the sofa cushion, looking far too big for the antique sofa’s dainty lines.
“Would you like something to drink—” She flushed. “Coffee, tea,” she added hurriedly.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
She slowly took a chair opposite him, hands folding in her lap to hide the fact they were shaking. She was trembling. None of this seemed real, especially when he was looking at her so intently, his blue eyes fringed by those long black lashes, startlingly clear, his gaze piercing, unnervingly direct.
“I had some business in Mineral Wells today,” he said, “and since I got to town early, I thought I’d stop by and wish Sally happy birthday and see how you two were doing.” He glanced around the bare living room. “Is Sally even here?”
“No.”
The corners of his mouth curved. “Is she out with the girls or having her hair done?”
Rachel felt sick. She wanted to throw up. This was awful. Everything about this was awful. “Cade, Grandma died two and a half years ago.”
“What?”
She nodded miserably. “Cancer.”
He sat back heavily and set the flowers aside, placing them on the cushion next to him. “Cancer? When...how?”
She laced and unlaced her fingers, her eyes gritty, her throat aching with suppressed emotion. “Lung cancer—”
“She didn’t smoke.”
“I guess you don’t need to smoke to get it.” Rachel blinked hard, struggled to smile, but failed. “We thought she had a cold that just wouldn’t go away. Bronchitis. By the time she finally went to see a doctor, there was nothing anyone could do. We found out early June it was cancer, and by July 5 she was gone.”
“Aw, shit.” Cade’s deep, rough voice broke. His head dropped, and he covered his eyes with one hand.
For several minutes neither said anything, and the room was silent. Rachel squeezed her hands together and fought to hold back her tears. Cade’s reaction made her teary and emotional, and yet it almost felt good to feel so much...it was almost a relief to know someone else had loved her grandmother, too.