Claire McEwen - His Last Rodeo

Back in the saddle again...

Tyler Ellis catches Kit Hayes completely off guard when he swaggers back home and into the bar she manages. Since high school, he’s been a champion rodeo star...a notorious playboy...and now, apparently, a bar owner. She accepts his offer of a hefty bonus and helps him transform the place because she’s desperate to escape their tiny town in the Sierras. She doesn’t expect him to work this hard beside her. Where’s the cocky cowboy he’s supposed to be? Instead she discovers he’s still the sweet, genuine young man she once knew. And so much more...including a threat to the adventurous life she craves.

“I’ll help you—teach you how to run this place.”

Tyler wanted to hug her, his relief was so deep. He put a hand to his heart instead. “Thank you. Seriously. Thank you.”

Kit nodded. Then glanced at the sky. “It’s getting late. You’d better go get that booze. And this week we’ll fill out the order form for the bar together. Maybe we can come up with a form that’s less confusing, too.”

It was all he could do not to fist-pump the air. She was going to help him. But he kept his voice steady. “That would be great. And we’ll get a contract drawn up, with the terms of our partnership, so you can be sure you’ll get everything we talked about.” He turned toward his truck, then looked back. “See you soon.”

He liked saying it. He liked knowing it was true.

Backing his truck down the driveway, he paused for a moment. He felt funny. Lighter. And he realized it was Kit. With her on his side he knew he could do anything. With her help they could make The Dusty Saddle a success. He’d just have to remember not to fall for her, because he was pretty sure he was already partway there.

Dear Reader,

The Sierra Legacy series has been about many things, but overall it’s about the legacy left by Nora, Wade and Arch Hoffman’s father, his crimes and his abuse. In the first three books of the series, Nora, Wade and Arch all had their chance to come to terms with their past, to discover their purposes in life and to find the loves of their lives.

But there’s one person still reeling from everything that’s happened: Kit Hayes, the woman who loved Arch, and who has never been able to move on from that love.

His Last Rodeo is Kit’s story, her chance to realize her dreams and break free of the past. And it’s the story of Tyler Ellis, a man trying to come to terms with his own past as a rodeo champion, as a son and as someone who struggles to overcome a hidden disability.

It was such fun to write their chemistry, humor, friendship and love. I hope you enjoy their journey. And thank you for reading the Sierra Legacy series!

Claire McEwen

His Last Rodeo

Claire Mcewen

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CLAIRE MCEWENLIVESby the ocean in Northern California with her family and a scruffy, mischievous terrier. She loves writing stories where strong heroes and heroines take big, emotional journeys to find their happily-ever-afters. When not dreaming up new books, she can be found digging in her garden with a lot of enthusiasm but, unfortunately, no green thumb. She loves discovering flea-market treasures, walking on the beach, dancing, traveling and reading, of course!

Find Claire on her website, clairemcewen.com, and follow her on Facebook, Facebook.com/cmcewen.writer, Twitter, Twitter.com/clairemcewen1, Pinterest, Pinterest.com/cmcewenwriter, and Instagram, Instagram.com/claire_mcewen_writer.

His Last Rodeo is for all the readers who have embraced the Sierra Legacy series and taken the Hoffmans into their hearts. Thank you for your letters, your encouragement and your enthusiasm!

And for my editor, Karen Reid, whose incredible talent, patience and faith make it all possible.

I couldn’t have written His Last Rodeo without my son and my husband cheering me on, picking up the slack, and assuring me over and over that I would figure out the best way to tell Kit’s story. Arik and Shane, all of my books are for you, but this one really is your achievement as well as mine!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

KIT HAYES STOOD on the steps of the Benson library and watched the love of her life leave town. Again.

Arch Hoffman, duffel bag in the back of his truck, was waiting at the last red light before Main Street turned into highway.

He never used to have a truck. When she’d last seen him a year ago, he was just out of prison and didn’t own much.

“That jerk.” Kit’s best friend, Lila, moved to stand next to her. “Why was he even in town? I though he’d moved to San Francisco.”

Kit shrugged. “He must have come to see his family.” If he’d been here any longer than a day or two, she’d have been sure to run into him in this tiny California town. It was just a few picturesque roads mushed up against the east side of the Sierras.

“Where’d he get that fancy truck?”

The afternoon sun glinted off the chrome bumper of the red Ford. “He probably has money now,” Kit said. “From his sculptures.”

“Oh, right. I’d forgotten he’s the next big thing in the art world.” Lila’s tone made it clear she was anything but impressed.

Kit wished she could care so little. A few months ago, there had been a photo of Arch in the Benson Record, gorgeous and smiling, taken at an art show in San Diego. She’d stared at the photo for a long time. Years ago—when he’d loved Kit—the only section of the paper Arch would have made was the police blotter. He’d been her charming criminal back then. Neither of them could have imagined he’d become the town’s prodigal son.

The light changed and Arch’s truck accelerated, oblivious to Kit’s scrutiny. Heading back to the city—home to the woman he loved. The pretty, perfect Mandy Allen, who’d swiped Arch’s heart just as easily as he used to swipe cars.

Kit shifted, trying to ease the jealousy that squeezed her chest. It may have been over a year since she’d seen Arch, but the feeling still gripped her every time she thought of him and Mandy together.

“You need to let him go,” Lila said.

“I’m trying. Trust me, I hate feeling like this.” Kit held up her stack of books.

Lila glanced at the titles. “More self-help books? You’ve read about a million of them already and they haven’t worked. You need to get back out there. You need a date.” She bumped her shoulder gently into Kit’s and gave her a sly smile. “You need to get laid.”

Kit bumped her right back. “Shush! We’re at the library, not the bar.”

“No one heard.” But Lila lowered her voice. “Seriously, reading about feeling better won’t make you feel better. You need to do something.”

“I’ve been doing stuff.” Kit had kept busy at work, trained for a half marathon last summer and gone skiing. “I even took that pole dancing class you talked me into. Which was a disaster, by the way.”