Daire Denis - Wild Seduction

A deal with a sexy cowboy devil...

The wallflower, and the least “pretty,” of the five Ozark sisters, Ashley desperately wants out of this one-limping-horse town. Determined to prove to her bestie that she’s not the same old Plain Jane she was in high school, Ashley tells the biggest, fattest lie ever. She has a boyfriend, and it’s bull rider Colton Cross—overconfident, sexist and irritatingly sexy cowboy extraordinaire.

Colton’s willing to go along with Ashley’s lie—for a price. Because after a few mind-meltingly hot kisses with Ashley, Colton’s figured out there’s a sexy side to Ashley Ozark that no one ever suspected. As each “payment” becomes naughtier than the last, Colton and Ashley discover just how far one little lie can go...one wild, wicked encounter at a time.

“There’s only one reason a woman wants a fake boyfriend...”

“To make her friends jealous.” Colton waited a half second, his eyes glued to Ashley’s. When she didn’t move, didn’t shove, didn’t object in any way, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her.

This was not the kiss she’d expected.

This was slow. Leisurely. Like he enjoyed getting to know her mouth. Like he wanted to explore her lips, the inside and outside of them. Not to mention deep inside her mouth. His big hand cupped the back of her head and he tilted her—gently—one way and then the other, as he slanted his mouth over hers. When he finally pulled away, she was left, lips parted, panting.

“That ought to do it.”

She blinked once, twice, three times before coming back to herself, suddenly cluing in to the fact that the whistles and catcalls were because of the show they’d put on.

Oh, shit.

What had she done?

Dear Reader,

Have you ever done something completely out of character? Acted (or reacted) spontaneously in a moment of passion, fear, joy or anger? What was the repercussion of that act? Did it turn out okay? Did you regret it? Did it take you down a path you never thought you’d ever take?

Personally, I’ve never done anything out of character...

Yeah, right! Of course I have. Everyone has. For example, there was this scuba instructor I met while vacationing in the Philippines... What should have been a simple holiday fling turned into me moving to Berlin with him on a whim... Ahem. Crazy, right?

Did it work out in the end? No. Do I regret it? Nope. Not one bit, because while we weren’t a forever match, I learned so much about myself through that relationship.

In Wild Seduction, Ashley Ozark does something in the spur of the moment, too, something wild and crazy, something completely out of character. Does she regret it? You bet. At least at first because accidentally making out with the least likely man possible and pretending he’s her boyfriend challenges everything she believes about herself, her hometown and the type of man she wants as a lover. Does her impulsive act turn out okay? Well, you’re just going to have to read to find out!

On that note, I hope you enjoy Wild Seduction and fall in love with Colton Cross as much as Ashley does—even if she doesn’t want to. I love to hear from readers, and I would love to hear some of your stories. Just drop me a line to say hi at dairestdenis@dairestdenis.com.

Happy reading!

Daire St. Denis

Wild Seduction

Daire St. Denis

www.millsandboon.co.uk

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author DAIRE ST. DENIS is an adventure seeker, an ancient history addict, a seasonal hermit and a wine lover. She calls the Canadian Rockies home and has the best job ever: writing smoking-hot contemporary romance where the pages are steeped in sensuality and there’s always a dash of the unexpected. Find out more about Daire and subscribe to her newsletter at dairestdenis.com.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Extract

Copyright

1

EVERYTHING LOOKED BETTER behind the lens of a camera. Ashley Ozark focused on a group at the end of the bar, and the shutter of her Canon EOS 5D Mark III made a delightful swish as she captured a head thrown back in laughter, a sardonic look from a friend, another face shadowed by a cowboy hat and a fourth wiping his brow. She smiled, happy with the result of the image, a conversation between friends and rivals, so intimate she almost felt like she’d overheard it.

She knew those men, rodeo boys, probably egging each other on, making bets, relieving tension before the county fair and rodeo this weekend.

A sharp-nailed, rat-a-tat-tat, on the top of her head made her lower the camera.

“Ouch.”

Her older sister, Beth, stood to her side. “You’re supposed to be helping bartend tonight. Not spending the entire time behind that camera.”

“I’ve been hired to take pictures by the County Fair Committee. I’m just doing my job here.”

“Yes, and you’ve also been hired to tend bar tonight.” She indicated the long line of patrons waiting to be served. “By our father, I might add, who is also on the Fair Committee.”

“Okay, okay.” Ashley sighed, tucking the camera away into its bag and storing it under the counter. “I got some great candids in here.”

“I’m sure you did.” Beth tossed an apron at her head, but Ash caught it before it hit her face. “Now put that on and get to work.”

“Tyrant,” she muttered.

“You got that right.”

“Bully.”

“Exactly. Now get to work before I kick your ass.”

“Like you could.”

With a grin, Ashley tied the apron around her waist and lifted her chin at the next person in line, indicating she was ready to take their order. While she helped out at the bar on the odd occasion because the Prospector Saloon in the Gold Dust Hotel was owned by her family, it really wasn’t her scene. She preferred her quiet job at the flower shop, Heart’s Bouquet, down the street. However, during the county fair it was a given—all hands on deck. That meant all five of the Ozark girls were required to help: she and Beth behind the bar, Brandi on the floor and the twins, Zoe and Chloe, in the kitchen. This year it was even more imperative because it was Half Moon High’s Centennial celebration, so they expected more out-of-towners than normal. Based on the crowd tonight, it was an accurate assumption.

Ashley was happy to help. It meant extra dough, both working at the saloon and taking pictures, and every penny she made was going toward her Get-the-hell-out-of-Half-Moon Fund. So she plastered on a smile and kept the cold ones coming. Already the bar was standing room only, even though the festivities didn’t officially start until tomorrow. The din from people talking and laughing was so loud, it drowned out the sound of the band. That was until her sister Brandi got up on stage between songs and grabbed the mic.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” she bellowed and yet still managed to sound sultry in a way that only Brandi could with her practiced, husky voice.

People stopped talking and heads turned—or at least, every male head turned, like a flock of sheep.

Baaaaa.

“For those who are visiting, welcome back to Half Moon Creek. We’re so pleased you were able to come to the rodeo and fair this year and to celebrate Half Moon High’s Centennial Celebration. We’ll be kicking everything off Friday morning—Oh, my God! That’s tomorrow, already—with a parade followed by the rodeo and opening of the fair grounds. Don’t forget to pick up tickets for Saturday’s big formal banquet. Tickets are still available at the front desk and...”