Heidi Hormel - The Surgeon and the Cowgirl

EX MARKS THE SPOT

Retired rodeo rider Jessie Leigh has one more trick to pull off: partnering with ex-husband Payson MacCormack to save her ranch. Hope’s Ride offers horse therapy for children, and Payson is a pediatric surgeon at the hospital set to certify the program. Their split wasn’t exactly amicable, but Jessie’s determined to make it work...even if Payson’s presence sends her heart racing.

With a promotion on the line and a passel of kids in desperate need of Hope’s Ride, Payson should be focused on prepping the program for the hospital’s review. But he can’t concentrate on anything but Jessie. Payson’s career and Jessie’s ranch are depending on each other, but will working together bring the surgeon and the cowgirl closer together, or drive them apart for good?

“Maybe if we kissed we’d realize that it’s not that special anymore.”

Jessie felt like an idiot for suggesting it. Payson still said nothing, so she stammered, “I-it would prove that all of that is behind us.”

“You need to kiss me to prove to yourself...what exactly?” he asked. He shifted in the chair and rolled his shoulders, something he did when he was tense.

“I’m looking at this the way you would—scientifically. We were married. We’re not anymore, but we’re working together. We’re both remembering how it was, and it probably wasn’t like we remember anyway. We need to prove to ourselves that there’s nothing there.”

“The theory that you’d like to test is that if we kiss, we’ll discover that what we had was pretty ordinary?”

“Something like that. I’m just trying to be honest here. I know you feel the tension. I’ve seen those looks and I know what they mean. If we just kiss and get it out of the way, we’ll be good to go.”

“When would you like to conduct this experiment?”

“What about now?”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 Chapter Seventeen Epilogue Extract Copyright ,

The first time I visited Arizona as a teen, I fell in love with the desert, cowboys and fry bread (yum!). I fell in love with writing and storytelling even earlier than that and have been a reporter, PR flunky and now a full-fledged romance author. In fact, my reporting led directly to Jessie and Payson’s reunion love story.

I was assigned to write a magazine article about a former rodeo trick rider who started a therapeutic horsemanship program. Her amazing dedication sparked an idea that became The Surgeon and the Cowgirl.

Of course, I didn’t realize how stubborn Cowgirl Jessie and Surgeon Payson would be. After all, they’d fallen in love in high school and were obviously still in love, despite divorce and soul-deep hurts. Getting them to admit that their love had endured and that they had changed required the help of a diva pony, endearing kids and meddling family.

Jessie and Payson’s happily-ever-after inspired another story. Spencer, Payson’s brother, will do anything—even enter into a marriage of convenience to a cowgirl with rodeo dreams—to get back his son in my next book, The Convenient Cowboy, coming in August from Mills & Boon American Romance.

I’ve loved writing about these strong cowgirls who lasso their men into forever with humor, heart and a sexy wiggle or two.

If you want to know more about my inspirations and musings or drop me a note, check out my website and blog at heidihormel.net, where you also can sign up for my newsletter, or connect with me at facebook.com/authorheidihormel, twitter.com/heidihormelor pinterest.com/hhormel.

Yee-haw,

Heidi Hormel

The Surgeon and the Cowgirl

Heidi Hormel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

With stints as an innkeeper, radio talk show host and craft store manager, HEIDI HORMEL settled into her true calling as a writer. She spent years as a reporter (covering the story of the rampaging elephants Debbie and Tina) and as a PR flunky (staying calm in the face of Cookiegate) before settling into penning romances with a wink and a wiggle.

A small-town girl from a place that’s been called the Snack Food Capital of the World, Heidi has trotted over a good portion of the globe, from Volcano National Park in Hawaii to Loch Ness in Scotland to the depths of Death Valley. She has also spent large chunks of time in Arizona, where she fell in love with the desert and fry bread, and in Great Britain, where she developed an unnatural obsession with jacket potatoes and toasties.

Heidi is on the web at heidihormel.netas well as socially out there at facebook.com/authorheidihormel, twitter.com/heidihormeland pinterest.com/hhormel.

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Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text EX MARKS THE SPOT Retired rodeo rider Jessie Leigh has one more trick to pull off: partnering with ex-husband Payson MacCormack to save her ranch. Hope’s Ride offers horse therapy for children, and Payson is a pediatric surgeon at the hospital set to certify the program. Their split wasn’t exactly amicable, but Jessie’s determined to make it work...even if Payson’s presence sends her heart racing. With a promotion on the line and a passel of kids in desperate need of Hope’s Ride, Payson should be focused on prepping the program for the hospital’s review. But he can’t concentrate on anything but Jessie. Payson’s career and Jessie’s ranch are depending on each other, but will working together bring the surgeon and the cowgirl closer together, or drive them apart for good?

Introduction “Maybe if we kissed we’d realize that it’s not that special anymore.” Jessie felt like an idiot for suggesting it. Payson still said nothing, so she stammered, “I-it would prove that all of that is behind us.” “You need to kiss me to prove to yourself...what exactly?” he asked. He shifted in the chair and rolled his shoulders, something he did when he was tense. “I’m looking at this the way you would—scientifically. We were married. We’re not anymore, but we’re working together. We’re both remembering how it was, and it probably wasn’t like we remember anyway. We need to prove to ourselves that there’s nothing there.” “The theory that you’d like to test is that if we kiss, we’ll discover that what we had was pretty ordinary?” “Something like that. I’m just trying to be honest here. I know you feel the tension. I’ve seen those looks and I know what they mean. If we just kiss and get it out of the way, we’ll be good to go.” “When would you like to conduct this experiment?” “What about now?”

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight