Romancing the Rancher

Romancing the Rancher
Stacy Connelly

TO KISS A COWBOYTheresa Pirelli isn’t used to being looked after, but a few weeks at Jarrett Deeks’ rustic cabin seemed like the perfect place to get back on her feet after an accident. That is, until this rugged man sweeps her right back off them again!Jarrett may have been a rodeo star, but women like Theresa have always been off-limits. Yet one kiss changes everything. Theresa’s his for only a few weeks, but once he has her in his arms he knows he’ll do anything to keep her there…

The conversation around her came to a halt … and she saw him.

Jarrett, holding out his hand. “Can I have this dance?”

Are you sure that’s a good idea? asked a voice in her head.

No, I’m not sure at all.

But as she placed her hand in his, a bad idea had never felt so good.

“I, um, haven’t danced since the accident.” But as his palm slid to her lower back and he pulled her body close to his, heat spread from his palm throughout her limbs, melting every bit of resistance within her.

He smiled. “Not a lot of call for dancing on the ranch, either. But I figure we make the perfect partners—you lean on me, I lean on you. As long as we keep our feet moving, we can call it dancing.”

It was what a relationship was supposed to be, wasn’t it? Two people trusting in one another.

She cupped the back of his neck, her fingers sliding into his hair, and she didn’t feel the least bit clumsy. With the heat flaring in his eyes, the slight catch in his breath, she felt sexy, seductive … whole.

And she liked it.

* * *

The Pirelli Brothers: These California boys know what love is all about!

Romancing the

Rancher

Stacy Connelly

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

STACY CONNELLY has dreamed of publishing books since she was a kid, writing stories about a girl and her horse. Eventually, boys made it on to the page as she discovered a love of romance and the promise of happily-ever-after. When she is not lost in the land of make-believe, Stacy lives in Arizona with her three spoiled dogs. She loves to hear from readers at stacyconnelly @cox.net (http://www.twitter.com/cox.net) or www.stacyconnelly.com (http://www.stacyconnelly.com).

To the people who dedicate their lives to animal rescue—my doggies and I thank you!

Contents

Cover (#u7e64e8a6-75e2-5721-9db1-f3c32ae1f5c7)

Introduction (#u8956de04-589c-51bd-ac1a-fe5d2279ff09)

Title Page (#uecdfea63-c20e-5d8c-8734-45eab780159c)

About the Author (#u05f72626-672c-5027-8199-ff2df3bdb42c)

Dedication (#u1c4f87a7-cee2-5802-a232-fe1046cedb32)

Chapter One (#u89d8d806-3018-5c66-855c-81d36f4f53a4)

Chapter Two (#u5eae4f58-9fc5-513d-b867-12ee12dfdfbf)

Chapter Three (#ub967d1b2-4db8-5984-b47f-12e1bf9df50a)

Chapter Four (#u7c06bb62-ff20-5159-8c8a-813da3cd3891)

Chapter Five (#u450576ed-8c55-5add-b9d4-13b1923de60a)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_8af96bd7-3e74-5e9f-b823-63161591d46d)

“You know, you’re more than welcome to stay with us.”

Theresa Pirelli shifted her gaze from the towering redwoods flashing by the passenger-side window to glance over at her cousin Sophia Cameron. Concern drew Sophia’s dark eyebrows together beneath her fringe of bangs, and Theresa forced a smile.

A smile she’d gotten used to pulling out like fine china—all for show and, often she feared, just as fragile. “As much as I’d love to spend my whole trip spoiling that baby of yours, the three of you need your time alone.”

And so do I.

After the weeks she’d spent in the hospital following a devastating car accident and then the months of recovery under her parents’ watchful and worried eyes, Theresa desperately needed an escape. But it had to be one that wouldn’t cause her parents further angst. A visit to Clearville and to meet the newest member of the family fulfilled both of those needs.