Marin Thomas - A Cowboy's Claim

A DIFFERENT KIND OF HERO

Everyone knows Victor Vicario—he’s the scarred loner who’s on his way to the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas. But no one knows about the guilt that drives him. And until he achieves his goal, there’s no room in his life for attachments.

So when Vic is given temporary custody of his young nephew, he is torn. He can’t turn his back on family, but how can he look after a kid when he’s traveling the rodeo circuit? Then he runs into feisty barrel racer Tanya McGee and makes her an offer. She helps him with Alex, and he’ll pay her rodeo expenses. The problem is their little “family” starts to feel all too real.

“What are we going to do about this?” Tanya whispered.

“Do about what?”

She stood before him—not close enough that they touched but close enough that he could smell her. Feel her breath against his skin. He clenched his teeth.

“You want me, don’t you?”

“We had an agreement. I pay your expenses on the road in exchange for your help with Alex. This wasn’t part of the deal.”

She moved her fingers south, grazing the waistband of his boxers. “What if we redefine the boundaries?”

He swallowed hard. Vic wasn’t sure how long he could let her touch him and not reciprocate.

“This isn’t part of the deal.” She nuzzled his ear. “It’s just...” She nipped his neck. “It’s whatever we want it to be.”

Vic spun, pressing Tanya against the door. Tanya’s tongue slipped inside his mouth and he forgot all the reasons this was wrong.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Prologue 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 Extract Copyright ,

I’ve been waiting to tell Victor Vicario’s story for a long time, and I hope you enjoy the final installment of the Cowboys of the Rio Grande series. All of the heroes in this series have had to overcome tough childhoods, but Victor’s journey was perhaps the most difficult.

I love including children in my books, because little ones have a way of teaching adults life lessons that might otherwise pass us over. When Vic is called home to take responsibility for a nephew he’d never met before, he has no intention of caring for the boy long-term. And no one is more surprised than Vic when a little boy who’s afraid to talk teaches him that letting go of the past is the only way forward.

I hope you enjoy Victor’s story, and if you missed the previous books in this series, A Cowboy’s Redemption (June 2015) and The Surgeon’s Christmas Baby (November 2015), you can find more information about these stories and other books I’ve written at marinthomas.com.

Happy reading,

Marin Thomas

A Cowboy’s

Claim

Marin Thomas

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MARIN THOMAS grew up in the Midwest, then attended college at the U of A in Tucson, Arizona, where she earned a BA in radio-TV and played basketball for the Lady Wildcats. Following graduation, she married her college sweetheart in the historic Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recent empty nesters, Marin and her husband now live in Texas, where cattle is king, cowboys are plentiful and pickups rule the road. Visit her on the web at marinthomas.com.

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To my furry pals Bandit and Rascal, who have kept watch over me and my writing for the past fourteen years. You were snoozing at my feet when I sold my first book and you’re snoozing now as I write this. Thank you for blessing our family with your devotion, cuteness and love.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A DIFFERENT KIND OF HERO Everyone knows Victor Vicario—he’s the scarred loner who’s on his way to the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas. But no one knows about the guilt that drives him. And until he achieves his goal, there’s no room in his life for attachments. So when Vic is given temporary custody of his young nephew, he is torn. He can’t turn his back on family, but how can he look after a kid when he’s traveling the rodeo circuit? Then he runs into feisty barrel racer Tanya McGee and makes her an offer. She helps him with Alex, and he’ll pay her rodeo expenses. The problem is their little “family” starts to feel all too real.

Introduction “What are we going to do about this?” Tanya whispered. “Do about what?” She stood before him—not close enough that they touched but close enough that he could smell her. Feel her breath against his skin. He clenched his teeth. “You want me, don’t you?” “We had an agreement. I pay your expenses on the road in exchange for your help with Alex. This wasn’t part of the deal.” She moved her fingers south, grazing the waistband of his boxers. “What if we redefine the boundaries?” He swallowed hard. Vic wasn’t sure how long he could let her touch him and not reciprocate. “This isn’t part of the deal.” She nuzzled his ear. “It’s just...” She nipped his neck. “It’s whatever we want it to be.” Vic spun, pressing Tanya against the door. Tanya’s tongue slipped inside his mouth and he forgot all the reasons this was wrong.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Prologue 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 Extract Copyright , I’ve been waiting to tell Victor Vicario’s story for a long time, and I hope you enjoy the final installment of the Cowboys of the Rio Grande series. All of the heroes in this series have had to overcome tough childhoods, but Victor’s journey was perhaps the most difficult. I love including children in my books, because little ones have a way of teaching adults life lessons that might otherwise pass us over. When Vic is called home to take responsibility for a nephew he’d never met before, he has no intention of caring for the boy long-term. And no one is more surprised than Vic when a little boy who’s afraid to talk teaches him that letting go of the past is the only way forward. I hope you enjoy Victor’s story, and if you missed the previous books in this series, A Cowboy’s Redemption (June 2015) and The Surgeon’s Christmas Baby (November 2015), you can find more information about these stories and other books I’ve written at marinthomas.com . Happy reading, Marin Thomas

Title Page A Cowboy’s Claim Marin Thomas www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author MARIN THOMAS grew up in the Midwest, then attended college at the U of A in Tucson, Arizona, where she earned a BA in radio-TV and played basketball for the Lady Wildcats. Following graduation, she married her college sweetheart in the historic Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recent empty nesters, Marin and her husband now live in Texas, where cattle is king, cowboys are plentiful and pickups rule the road. Visit her on the web at marinthomas.com .

Dedication To my furry pals Bandit and Rascal, who have kept watch over me and my writing for the past fourteen years. You were snoozing at my feet when I sold my first book and you’re snoozing now as I write this. Thank you for blessing our family with your devotion, cuteness and love.