Stacy Connelly - Romancing the Rancher

Jarrett, holding out his hand. “Can I have this dance?”

Are you sure that’s a good idea? asked a voice in her head.

No, I’m not sure at all.

But as she placed her hand in his, a bad idea had never felt so good.

“I, um, haven’t danced since the accident.” But as his palm slid to her lower back and he pulled her body close to his, heat spread from his palm throughout her limbs, melting every bit of resistance within her.

He smiled. “Not a lot of call for dancing on the ranch, either. But I figure we make the perfect partners—you lean on me, I lean on you. As long as we keep our feet moving, we can call it dancing.”

It was what a relationship was supposed to be, wasn’t it? Two people trusting in one another.

She cupped the back of his neck, her fingers sliding into his hair, and she didn’t feel the least bit clumsy. With the heat flaring in his eyes, the slight catch in his breath, she felt sexy, seductive … whole.

And she liked it.

* * *

The Pirelli Brothers:These California boys know what love is all about!

Romancing the

Rancher

Stacy Connelly

www.millsandboon.co.uk

STACY CONNELLYhas dreamed of publishing books since she was a kid, writing stories about a girl and her horse. Eventually, boys made it on to the page as she discovered a love of romance and the promise of happily-ever-after. When she is not lost in the land of make-believe, Stacy lives in Arizona with her three spoiled dogs. She loves to hear from readers at stacyconnelly @cox.netor www.stacyconnelly.com.

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To the people who dedicate their lives to animal rescue—my doggies and I thank you!

Contents

Cover

Introduction The conversation around her came to a halt … and she saw him. Jarrett, holding out his hand. “Can I have this dance?” Are you sure that’s a good idea? asked a voice in her head. No, I’m not sure at all. But as she placed her hand in his, a bad idea had never felt so good. “I, um, haven’t danced since the accident.” But as his palm slid to her lower back and he pulled her body close to his, heat spread from his palm throughout her limbs, melting every bit of resistance within her. He smiled. “Not a lot of call for dancing on the ranch, either. But I figure we make the perfect partners—you lean on me, I lean on you. As long as we keep our feet moving, we can call it dancing.” It was what a relationship was supposed to be, wasn’t it? Two people trusting in one another. She cupped the back of his neck, her fingers sliding into his hair, and she didn’t feel the least bit clumsy. With the heat flaring in his eyes, the slight catch in his breath, she felt sexy, seductive … whole. And she liked it. * * * The Pirelli Brothers: These California boys know what love is all about!

Title Page Romancing the Rancher Stacy Connelly www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author STACY CONNELLY has dreamed of publishing books since she was a kid, writing stories about a girl and her horse. Eventually, boys made it on to the page as she discovered a love of romance and the promise of happily-ever-after. When she is not lost in the land of make-believe, Stacy lives in Arizona with her three spoiled dogs. She loves to hear from readers at stacyconnelly @cox.net or www.stacyconnelly.com .

Dedication To the people who dedicate their lives to animal rescue—my doggies and I thank you!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“You know, you’re more than welcome to stay with us.”

Theresa Pirelli shifted her gaze from the towering redwoods flashing by the passenger-side window to glance over at her cousin Sophia Cameron. Concern drew Sophia’s dark eyebrows together beneath her fringe of bangs, and Theresa forced a smile.

A smile she’d gotten used to pulling out like fine china—all for show and, often she feared, just as fragile. “As much as I’d love to spend my whole trip spoiling that baby of yours, the three of you need your time alone.”

And so do I.

After the weeks she’d spent in the hospital following a devastating car accident and then the months of recovery under her parents’ watchful and worried eyes, Theresa desperately needed an escape. But it had to be one that wouldn’t cause her parents further angst. A visit to Clearville and to meet the newest member of the family fulfilled both of those needs.

But with her cousin Drew getting married to local baker, Debbie Mattson, her family would soon descend en masse on the Northern California town. Her freedom from their almost suffocating concern wasn’t going to last long, but she planned to make the most of it and use these precious days to figure out what to do with the rest of her life.

“Not so much alone time that you couldn’t stay with us for a few weeks. Adult conversation is appreciated, you know. I’m half afraid baby talk is going to become my first language.”

Despite the complaint, Theresa didn’t think she’d ever seen her cousin so happy. And why not when Sophia was married to the man she loved. A man who was not her son’s biological father. They’d had a rocky start to their relationship, but Jake had fought hard to prove that he was the family man she’d been looking for, finally winning Sophia over.

It was a similar battle to the one Theresa had fought with her fiancé, Michael Parrish. Only she had lost.

Her muscles tightened, as if physically trying to block out the memories. Her right hand curled into a tight fist in her lap while her left hand...did not.

After pulling in a deep breath, she made sure her voice was even and calm as she stated, “It’s not like we won’t see each other while I’m here just because I’m staying outside of town.”

“I know but...in one of Jarrett Deeks’s cabins?”

From what Theresa had read online, along with being an equine rescue, the Rockin’ R offered trail rides, lessons and boarding for horses. Recent expansion included building half a dozen or so guest cabins on the property. Judging by the somewhat stark descriptions on the website, the cabins didn’t offer much in the way of amenities. They were an alternative for people who didn’t want to stay in the cute and cozy Victorian bed-and-breakfasts the small town was known for.

Theresa supposed hunters and fishermen drawn to the area by its rugged wilderness weren’t interested in sleeping in the “Rose Suite” or “Daisy Drawing Room.”

“I’m sure the cabins will be fine,” Theresa insisted. Long hours working as a nurse in a St. Louis emergency room had taught her to sleep wherever and whenever she could. Lumpy couches, narrow, uncomfortable beds, even sitting on the floor with her back propped up against a wall had all provided her with a few hours’ rest between many a shift.