Donna Alward - Her Rancher Rescuer

Small-Town Girl, Big-Time Crush

Amy Wilson longs to escape the pointed barbs and knowing looks that come with having a certain reputation in a small town. A temp job with CEO and rancher Jack Shepard seems to offer a way out, if only she can stay focused on her goal.

Former world-class athlete Jack is as relationship-phobic as they come, so he’s not worried that the soul-shattering kiss he and Amy shared will affect their working partnership. She’s a girl who’s going places, but Jack starts to wish that maybe he could tag along for the ride….

“You’re crazy.”

“I’m desperate.” Amy looked back at the house again. “Jack, I’ve felt stuck in this hick town for as long as I can remember.” She lifted a hand. “It’s my own fault, and I know that. You’d be helping me and I’d be helping you. Win-win.”

“So there’s nothing here at all?” He moved his finger back and forth, gesturing between the two of them.

She hesitated. “You want the truth or a lie?”

His lips twitched. “The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

“The truth is you’re a nice guy and a great kisser, but I have bigger fish to fry at the moment. If you’re worried about me getting all clingy and having expectations or something…don’t.”

He sat back. “Brutal honesty. I like it.”

“You won’t regret it, Jack,” she repeated. “You’ll see.”

He held out his hand. “Should we shake on it?”

Amy peeled off her glove and put her hand in his. The moment their fingers touched sparks zinged up her arm and made her catch her breath. Her gaze rose to Jack’s and she saw the same electricity reflected in his pupils.

“It won’t get in the way,” she assured him.

Dear Reader,

Her Rancher Rescuer marks my very first release for Mills & Boon American Romance, and the last in the Cadence Creek Cowboys series. Writing it was bittersweet: exciting times are ahead but it’s also hard to say goodbye to a series I’ve loved writing so very much.

I’m really excited to be writing new stories for the Mills & Boon American Romance line. It’s a perfect home for my ranchers and cowboys—strong men and equally strong women working the land and loving hard. But here’s something readers might not know. Ever since I sold to Mills & Boon in 2006, I’ve been a member of the HMB-Romance author loop, a group specifically set up for authors of the Mills & Boon Romance line. My only sad thought was that I’d now have to leave that loop behind.

When I said as much to “the girls,” it was made very clear that no one would be going anywhere. You see, we’re connected by so much more than the lines we write for. We’re family. We share our good times and bad, both in the business and in our lives. We trust each other. We love each other. I know for sure they’ve saved my sanity more than once and I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Cadence Creek Cowboys series, and you’ll follow me to my new home at Mills & Boon American Romance. We’ve got some great things planned….

With my very best wishes,

Donna

Her Rancher

Rescuer

Donna Alward

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A busy wife and mother of three (two daughters and the family dog), Donna Alward believes hers is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mom and romance novelist. An avid reader since childhood, Donna has always made up her own stories. She completed her arts degree in English literature in 1994, but it wasn’t until 2001 that she penned her first full-length novel and found herself hooked on writing romance. In 2006 she sold her first manuscript, and now writes warm, emotional stories for Mills & Boon.

In her new home office in Nova Scotia, Donna loves being back on the east coast of Canada after nearly twelve years in Alberta, where her career began, writing about cowboys and the West. Donna’s debut romance, Hired by the Cowboy, was awarded a Booksellers’ Best Award in 2008 for Best Traditional Romance.

With the Atlantic Ocean only minutes from her doorstep, Donna has found a fresh take on life and promises even more great romances in the near future!

Donna loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website, www.donnaalward.com, or follow @DonnaAlward on Twitter.

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Dedication

To the girls of the HMB-Romance loop…my writing family no matter where I go. Love you all.

Contents

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

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter One

“Amy Wilson is the last woman on earth I want to be with.”

Amy winced as those words came out of groomsman Rhys Bullock’s mouth. He couldn’t possibly know she was standing only ten feet behind him, but couldn’t he have kept his voice down so the whole guest list at the wedding reception couldn’t hear?

The day had been going so well. Callum Shepard’s wedding to Avery Spencer had been a gorgeous, Christmassy affair. The food at the golf club was delicious and Amy had been having fun at the dance. Until she’d seen the tension between Rhys and Callum’s sister, Taylor. It had been crystal clear to her that they were fighting their attraction. The two of them had been doing a strange mating dance throughout the whole planning of this wedding.

Only minutes ago Amy had caught the bouquet and Rhys the garter. They’d danced and, to her surprise, he’d held her close. But Amy had known exactly what he was thinking—or rather who he was thinking about, and it wasn’t her. It was as clear as the nose on her face that he belonged with Taylor and Amy had had no illusions as to why Rhys had been so cozy. It had been to make Taylor see what she was missing. Amy had willingly played along, happy to help.

What a fool she’d been to try to steer them in the right direction. She’d known that Rhys didn’t like her in that way. And neither did she—their one awkward date had proved that months ago. Still, the callousness of the harsh words hurt.

Tears of humiliation sprang to her eyes. But before she could sneak away and pretend she hadn’t heard a thing, Rhys and Taylor realized she was standing there. Taylor had the grace to look embarrassed. Of all the Shepard family that Amy had met, Taylor had been the most welcoming. She’d even invited Amy for lunch one day. Now Taylor’s pretty face was looking at her with apology etched all over it. Rhys’s face was inscrutable, revealing nothing.

“Amy...” Taylor started to apologize but Amy lifted her hand, cutting her off, unable to meet the other woman’s sympathetic gaze. This was all embarrassing enough, but she couldn’t stand pity. Poor Amy. Struck out again. Can’t hold a man, just like her mother, poor thing.

Amy’s lower lip trembled. She had to get out of here before she really embarrassed herself.

She spun on her heel and made a beeline for the bathroom. One of the stalls was unoccupied and she headed straight for it, going inside and latching the door. She put down the toilet-seat lid, sat down and bit down on her lip. Sometimes she really hated living in this town. Her breakup with Terry years ago had been bad enough. He’d broken her heart and nothing stayed a secret for long in Cadence Creek. Her past relationship with Sam Diamond had been the clincher, though. She’d really liked Sam. She’d been hurt when he’d broken it off and had been a tad too vocal about it.