Wild Ride Cowboy

by Maisey Yates

  “Clara Campbell,” he said, “that is just dangerous.”

  “Don’t scold me, you jackass, it’s your fault.”

  “It’s my fault? I didn’t make you drive back overnight.”

  “Yes, you did. Because you made me go away in the first place.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Don’t send me away again, Alex, please. I love you. And there are few things in this world that are certain, and even fewer that are great. But me loving you...that’s definitely one of them.”

  Every wall inside him crumbled, all his defenses. Hell, he nearly crumbled. Instead, he closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, held her tightly against him, resting his chin on her head. He didn’t say anything, didn’t move. Because he was afraid to break this moment.

  Finally, he spoke. “You came back for me.”

  “Of course I did.”

  “No one ever has before,” he said, his throat dangerously tight, hard pressure building behind his eyes. “I drove you away, and you came back.”

  “You say it like it’s surprising. Like it’s a difficult, or incredible thing, but Alex, coming back for you was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.”

  “Aren’t you going to see the world?” He cleared his throat. “See what else is out there?”

  “There’s a lot out there. More than I could ever see in a lifetime. I know that. But I also know that there’s nothing out there that I need as badly as I need you. I told you, it’s not the conversations that scare me, it’s the ones I don’t get to have. It’s not all of the sights that I don’t see, it’s the missed hours spent with the people I love. With the man I love.”

  “Clara, I am so sorry. I’m so sorry I sent you away. I’m sorry that I was such a coward, that I tried to tell you what you should want, what you should feel. I’m sorry I’ve been such an arrogant bastard from the moment I came into your life.” He traced a line beneath her lower lip with his thumb, her warmth, her softness, sinking down into his soul. “But I had to do something to try to control the situation, to keep you at a distance. It’s what I always do. My parents did hurt me. And it’s the hardest thing in the world for me to admit that. For me to admit that it damaged me when my father left. That every time I even thought about getting close to somebody, all I could picture was them leaving me and never coming back. But I pushed you and you... Here you are. You can’t know how much it means to me. That it was everything I needed. Everything in the whole world.”

  “I was afraid you might be right,” Clara said. “And I had to cross that state line to be certain that you weren’t. Because you are right about one thing, Alex. I haven’t experienced a lot of things. And I had that feeling the ranch, this life, was something forced upon me, something I didn’t choose. And even though it hurt me when you sent me away, I do think that it had to be done. Because I had to stand there on the coastline in another state to know what choice I wanted to make.

  “I want this. This life is mine. And no, I would never have chosen the tragedies that marked me. But they happened. They made me. They created me. I can’t pretend that it’s some stranger’s life. That it’s something I could shake my way out of if I only found the right person, or the right way to vacation from my own existence. If I can have you, then I’m happy to be me.” A tear slid down her cheek. “I’m happy to be here where I am. I don’t want to be anyone else. Not if the woman I am can be the woman that you need.”

  “I love you so much,” he said, tightening his hold on her. “Clara, I love you with all that I am. You’re stronger in who you are than anyone I’ve ever known. You make me want to be stronger too. You call me out when I need it, and give me grace when I need that too. All this time I kept saying you needed to get out there and learn about life, like I had something figured out that you didn’t. But you...you’re smarter than me. Wiser where it counts.” He met her gaze, his heart pounding like he’d just run half a mile in an eighty-pound rucksack. “I want to be worthy of the sacrifice that Jason made. I want to be worthy of your love.”

  She took a step back, brushing her hand over his cheek, and he was aware that his face was wet.

  “You are,” she said, her voice laced with conviction. “You already are. It’s your parents that didn’t deserve you, Alex. It was never you that was the problem. Ever.”

  “Life has a lot to answer for,” he said, trying to force a laugh.

  “It does. We’ve been through more than anybody should have to go through. But then, we have each other now. So I guess we have a lot to be thankful for too.”

  For the first time in as long as he could remember, Alex smiled and there was nothing forced about it. It was real. And it came from somewhere deep inside of him that Clara had woken up.

  From a place of hope.

  “It’s the funniest thing,” he said, “because I accused you so many times of not knowing who you were or what you wanted, but you’ve always known. In fact, you know more about who you are than most people twice your age. You know what you like, and you don’t apologize for it.”

  She laughed. “That’s not exactly true. I tried to be different. I tried to want different things. You were the person I was myself for. And it was the easiest thing. You make me happy to be me. And it’s the first time I can remember ever feeling that way.”

  “You make being me feel like enough,” Alex said, grabbing hold of her hand and pressing it against his heart so she could feel it raging. “And I can honestly tell you it’s the first time I’ve ever felt that way.”

  “You’re my SpaghettiOs and hot chocolate, Alex. Perfect for me.”

  “That’s all I ever want to be.”

  EPILOGUE

  HE WAS PERFECT in every way.

  Clara Campbell didn’t even try to hide the look of longing, the look of love, that was currently etched onto her face.

  She crossed to Alex, all hot and sexy in his black hat, white T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots, and looped her arm through his.

  She thought it was nice of Lane to include her as a bridesmaid in her wedding to Finn, especially considering Clara was a new friend of hers. But, as Lane had told her, she was family, and that meant she was included in the wedding.

  At least, she would be family soon enough.

  Clara touched the engagement ring on her left hand absently as she and Alex walked down the aisle. In just a few months, they would do it again, as husband and wife. Alex had been so cute and uncertain when he’d proposed. Adamant that if she felt it was too soon, she didn’t have to say yes. That he could wait for marriage.

  But Clara didn’t want to wait. She finally had what she’d always wanted, and she wasn’t going to wait to jump headlong into her happy ending. Or more aptly, her happy beginning.

  Alison and Cain came down the aisle next, Cain looking down at his fiancée with no small amount of pride. Their wedding would be next, and then Alex and Clara’s.

  Only Liam, who walked down the aisle next with Lane’s friend Rebecca West, was still alone.

  Right before the bride came the flower girl. Who was sixteen and wearing a long, black dress, and was very clearly trying to look like she wasn’t ecstatic as she dropped flower petals. But not even the determinedly grumpy Violet could actually look grumpy at a wedding. At least, not a wedding where the bride and groom were so clearly madly in love.

  Last came the bride, who, in spite of the casual dress on everyone else and the rustic outdoor location on the Laughing Irish Ranch, was dressed like a princess, because it was what she’d always dreamed of.

  Her strapless dress billowed out whenever she took a step, her long dark hair falling in soft curls around her shoulders, her eyes bright.

  Clara had watched so many dreams die. Watching these new dreams come true around her, living in her own dream, with the man she loved, was more incredible than she could ha
ve dared imagine.

  The wedding itself was beautiful, and there was hardly a dry eye in the place when Lane and Finn made their vows.

  Afterward, Alex and Clara danced together on the makeshift, dirt dance floor, with lights strung overhead and free-standing heaters offering warmth in the cool evening.

  “You know, Alex,” she said, resting her head on his chest, “I always felt like my life was shattered into a whole bunch of pieces. And I had no idea how any of it was supposed to fit together. Until now. Until you. For the first time, everything fits. And I don’t even have to pretend I like kale.”

  Alex laughed and picked her up, spinning her in a circle. “No. No, you definitely don’t.”

  He set her back down and she kissed him, breathless. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for being here for me.”

  “Thank you for coming back for me,” he said, lifting her fingers to his lips and kissing them.

  She closed her eyes, love washing over her. Joy washing over her.

  Then Alex leaned in, his breath hot against her neck and she shivered. “You know, I went and got honey earlier today.”

  “You?” she asked, jerking back and looking at him in surprise. “You braved the bees?”

  “I did. And I’m warning you, I have some creative ideas in mind for how I might use that honey.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes. I thought I might enjoy licking it off your skin.”

  She blushed and looked around to make sure no one could hear them. “Indeed.”

  “Not exactly what you had in mind when you pictured your quiet beekeeping life, is it?”

  “No. No it wasn’t.” Because no, she didn’t just have bees. She had bees and bison and love, and it was more than she’d ever thought possible. “But then... I don’t think there was any way I could have predicted you, Alex Donnelly.”

  “I like to keep things interesting.”

  She laughed. “One thing is certain. It’s going to be a wild ride, cowboy.”

  * * * * *

  Finn, Cain and Alex Donnelly might have found their happily-ever-afters, but Liam Donnelly and Sabrina Leighton still have unfinished business between them.

  Look for their unforgettable novel, CHRISTMASTIME COWBOY, from Maisey Yates and HQN Books!

  Read on for a sneak peek...

  New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates invites you to come home to Copper Ridge, where sexy cowboys and breathtaking kisses are just around the corner! If you loved Down Home Cowboy and Wild Ride Cowboy, then don’t miss the next story in the Copper Ridge series!

  CHRISTMASTIME COWBOY

  It’s Christmas in Copper Ridge, and love is waiting to be unwrapped...

  Falling for a bad boy once is forgivable. Twice would just be foolish. When Sabrina Leighton first offered her teenage innocence to gorgeous, tattooed Liam Donnelly, he humiliated her, then left town. The hurt still lingers. But so does that crazy spark. And if they have to work together to set up her family winery’s new tasting room by Christmas, why not work him out of her system with a sizzling affair?

  Thirteen years ago, Liam’s boss at the winery offered him a bribe—leave his teenage daughter alone and get a full ride at college. Convinced he wasn’t good enough for Sabrina, Liam took it. Now he’s back, as wealthy as sin and with a heart as cold as the Oregon snow. Or so he keeps telling himself. Because the girl he vowed to stay away from has become the only woman he needs, and this Christmas could be just the beginning of a lifetime together...

  Order your copy today!

  “Fans of Robyn Carr and RaeAnne Thayne will enjoy her small-town romance.”

  —Booklist

  Love finds you when you least expect it in the charming small town of Copper Ridge, Oregon. Be sure to collect all of the stories in this sweet and sexy series!

  Shoulda Been a Cowboy (prequel novella)

  Part Time Cowboy

  Brokedown Cowboy

  Bad News Cowboy

  A Copper Ridge Christmas (novella)

  Hometown Heartbreaker (novella)

  One Night Charmer

  Tough Luck Hero

  Last Chance Rebel

  Can these cowboys find the love they didn’t know they needed?

  And don’t forget these irresistible Copper Ridge tales from Harlequin Desire!

  Take Me, Cowboy

  Hold Me, Cowboy

  Seduce Me, Cowboy

  Complete your collection today!

  www.MaiseyYates.com

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  Christmastime Cowboy

  by Maisey Yates

  CHAPTER ONE

  LIAM DONNELLY WAS nobody’s favorite.

  Though being a favorite in their household growing up would never have meant much, Liam was confident that as much as both of his parents disdained their younger son, Alex, they hated Liam more.

  As much as his brothers loved him—or whatever you wanted to call their brand of affection—Liam knew he wasn’t the one they’d carry out if there was a house fire. That was fine too.

  It wasn’t self-pity. It was just a fact.

  But while he wasn’t anyone’s particular favorite, he knew he was at least one person’s least favorite.

  Sabrina Leighton hated him with every ounce of her beautiful, petite being. Not that he blamed her. But, considering they were having a business meeting today, he did hope that she could keep some of the hatred bottled up.

  Liam got out of his truck and put his cowboy hat on, surveying his surroundings. The Grassroots winery spread was beautiful, with a large, picturesque home overlooking the grounds. Trees and forest surrounded the facility on three sides, creating a secluded feeling. Like the winery was part of another world. In front of the first renovated barn was a sprawling lawn and a path that led down to the river. There was a seating area there and Liam knew that during the warmer months it was a nice place to hang out. Right now, it was too damned cold, and the damp air that blew up from the rushing water sent a chill straight through him.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets and kept on walking. There were three rustic barns on the property that they used for weddings and dinners, and one that had been fully remodeled into a dining and tasting room.

  He had seen the new additions online. He hadn’t actually been to Grassroots in the past thirteen years. That was part of the deal. The deal that had been struck back when Jamison Leighton was still owner of the place.

  Back when Liam had been nothing more than a good-for-nothing, low-class troublemaker with a couple of misdemeanors to his credit.

  Times changed.

  Liam might still be all of those things at heart, but he was also a successful businessman. And Jamison Leighton no longer owned Grassroots Winery.

  Some things, however, hadn’t changed. The presence of Sabrina Leighton being one of them.

  It had been thirteen years. But he couldn’t pretend that he thought everything was all right and forgiven. Not considering the way she had reacted when she had seen him at Ace’s bar over the past few months. Small towns.

  Like everybody was at the same party and could only avoid each other for so long.

  If it wasn’t at the bar, they would most certainly end up at a four-way stop at the
same time, or in the same aisle at the grocery store.

  But today’s meeting would not be accidental. Today’s meeting was planned. He wondered if something would get thrown at him. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

  He walked across the gravel lot and into the dining room. It was empty, since the facility had yet to open for the day. A rustic barn with a wooden chandelier hanging in the center. There was a bar with stools positioned at the front, and tables set up around the room. Back when he had worked here there had been one basic tasting room, and nowhere for anyone to sit. Most of the wine had been sent out to retail stores for sale, rather than making the winery itself some kind of destination.

  He wondered when all of that had changed. He imagined it had something to do with Lindy, the new owner and ex-wife of Jamison Leighton’s son, Damien. As far as Liam knew, and he knew enough—considering he didn’t get involved with business ventures without figuring out what he was getting into—Damien had drafted the world’s dumbest prenuptial agreement.

  Though why Sabrina was still working at the winery when her sister-in-law had current ownership, and her brother had been deposed, and her parents were—from what he had read in public records—apoplectic about the loss of their family legacy, he didn’t know. But he assumed he would find out. About the same time he found out whether or not something was going to get thrown at his head.

  The door from the back opened, and he gritted his teeth. Because, no matter how prepared he felt philosophically to see Sabrina, he knew that there would be impact. There always was. A damned funny thing. That one woman could live in the back of his mind the way she had for so long. That no matter how many years or how many women he put between them, she still burned bright and hot in his memory.

  That no matter how well he had prepared himself to run into her—because he knew how small towns worked—the impact was like a brick to the side of his head every single time.

  And no matter that this meeting was carefully orchestrated and planned, he knew it was going to be the same.

  And it was.