Cowboy Dreaming

Cowboy Dreaming
Delores Fossen

How to lead a Texas cowboy into temptation…Despite his parents’ pressure to be a doctor, ranch hand Josh Whitlock has everything under control. That is, until Hope Applewood—his boss—trades in her dusty jeans for a sexy little red dress. Now Josh’s self-control has gone up in smoke… taking his common sense with it. That must be why he’s agreed to fake a relationship so they can prove something to both their families.Sure, there’s always been a bit of a simmer between them. Now the simmer is up to full boil as their new “relationship” sets the tongues of Wrangler's Creek wagging. Even as their little scam works its magic, Josh knows he's just opened Pandora's Box—filled with feelings he’s been hiding since meeting Hope. But when a cowboy makes a deal, he always sees it through…

How to lead a Texas cowboy into temptation...

Despite his parents’ pressure to be a doctor, ranch hand Josh Whitlock has everything under control. That is, until Hope Applewood—his boss—trades in her dusty jeans for a sexy little red dress. Now Josh’s self-control has gone up in smoke...taking his common sense with it. That must be why he’s agreed to fake a relationship so they can prove something to both their families.

Sure, there’s always been a bit of a simmer between them. Now the simmer is up to full boil as their new “relationship” sets the tongues of Wrangler’s Creek wagging. Even as their little scam works its magic, Josh knows he’s just opened Pandora’s box—filled with feelings he’s been hiding since meeting Hope. But when a cowboy makes a deal, he always sees it through...

Cowboy Dreaming

Delores Fossen

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

USA TODAY bestselling author DELORES FOSSEN has had more than fifty novels published, with millions of copies of her books in print worldwide. She’s received the Booksellers’ Best Award and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award, and was a finalist for the prestigious RITA® Award. In addition, she’s had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. Married to an air force colonel, Delores is the mother of four children and has lived in England and all over the United States. She’s had a variety of careers and jobs: an air force captain, a special-ed teacher and a rehab counselor. None was as fun or challenging as the time she spent as a stay-at-home mom. You can get updates about Delores’s books or contact her through her website at www.deloresfossen.com (http://www.deloresfossen.com).

Contents

Cover (#u17502423-20cd-5adf-a8c5-da46c3615b13)

Back Cover Text (#u58710a30-25c5-5444-aa80-75801a9beeb7)

Title Page (#u57917b2d-5be0-59e2-938b-db02059e74ae)

About the Author (#u56939253-319a-5a65-805e-4ed1f6b54916)

CHAPTER ONE (#ue18302d2-371c-5458-8430-dca74b77d1de)

CHAPTER TWO (#ud0d0e8d5-6956-5cf0-90bd-1e9eed956a5b)

CHAPTER THREE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#uad5a7c89-3792-5e17-b85e-59d3d49bbea9)

“UH...IS THAT, uh, our boss walking this way?” Josh Whitlock heard the new ranch hand ask.

While Josh dragged the saddle off the gelding he’d just ridden, he wondered why the heck the new hand, Tommie “Termite” Tompkins, had added those “uh”s to the question. After all, there was only one woman on the Applewood Ranch, and that one woman, Hope Applewood, was indeed the boss. So, seeing a female heading toward the barn shouldn’t have caused much confusion even from a hand who seemed proud of the nickname Termite.

However, when Josh threw a quick look over his shoulder, he saw the reason for Termite’s puzzlement.

Holy crap. It was Hope all right. But she didn’t look much like the boss of a successful ranch. Nope. For one thing, he could see some of her legs and thighs since she wasn’t wearing her usual crud-crusted jeans. She had on a dress that was red enough, and short enough, to stop speeding interstate traffic. It certainly stopped Josh and made him take a long look.

Oh, man.

Josh groaned. He was thinking thoughts that he darn sure shouldn’t be thinking about his boss. Like how it would feel to slide his hand under that little red dress and discover if she preferred cotton or lace when it came to her panties.

Actually, Josh wondered what it would be like to get her out of those panties, too. But then, that was a thought he was always fighting when it came to Hope. She was a looker all right with that honey-blond hair, fresh face and thunderstorm-gray eyes.

The rest of Hope’s “outfit” thankfully didn’t fuel the fantasies going on behind the zipper of Josh’s jeans. She’d paired that smoking-hot dress with what appeared to be a tablecloth that she was using for a shawl, and she had on cowboy boots. Not the fashion-statement kind of boots that city girls wore, either. These were the same ones she’d worn for the entire three years that Josh had worked for her.

“Uh,” Hope said as she stepped into the barn.

Apparently, “uh” was the preferred word of communication today, but Josh didn’t think it was aimed at him but rather Termite. “This is our new hand,” Josh told her. “Tommie Tompkins.”

“Termite,” Tommie corrected him, extending his hand for her to shake. “I used to chew on number-two pencils when I was a kid, and that’s how I got the name.”

She shook his hand, nodded, smiled, but shaking, nodding and smiling seemed to be the last things that Hope wanted to do right now. She seemed nervous or something.

Josh checked his watch. “You’re not out here to work, are you? Because you’re supposed to be getting ready for the party right about now.”

No need to clarify what party because it was indeed the party. An annual one put on by Wrangler’s Creek royalty, the Grangers. To the best of Josh’s knowledge, it was the only party that Hope ever attended, mainly because she saw it as a business obligation, but for the past three years, she’d worn the same black pants outfit.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do—get ready,” Hope answered, and she volleyed a few glances between Termite and him. “Uh, I need some help,” she added to Josh. “Could you come to the tack room with me?”

Hope didn’t wait for him to answer. She took hold of his arm and started leading Josh in that direction.

“My date canceled,” she grumbled. “And Karlee, who was supposed to help me get ready, had to cancel, too, because she’s running late. Personally, I think that’s an excuse, and she just doesn’t want to face me. She tossed my pantsuit so I’d have to wear this dress she bought instead.”

Josh didn’t know who Hope’s date had been. Probably one of the people they did business with. But Karlee was Karlee O’Malley, Hope’s good friend. However, at the moment Hope didn’t sound very friendly about the woman. Tossing the pantsuit would have done it, though, and it explained the red dress. It was more Karlee’s style than Hope’s.

“I’m surprised you didn’t go through the trash looking for the pantsuit,” Josh said.

“I did!” She didn’t let go of him until they were in the tack room—and she closed the door. “I think Karlee took it with her. That, and most of the other clothes in my closet. It was this dress or nothing.”

The “nothing” gave Josh another wave of those scalding thoughts until Hope added the next part. “Please, Josh, I need you to come to the party with me. My folks will be there, and if I show up without a date, they’ll spend the evening trying to fix me up with assorted sons of their assorted friends.”

She’d started the request with that please, but that didn’t help. Josh shook his head. “Trust me, even if I’m with you, they’ll spend the evening trying to fix you up with the right assorted guy. I’m not the man they want to see on the arm of their princess daughter. My collar’s much too blue for their liking.”

“So is mine,” she said under her breath. “Well, it normally is when I’m not wearing this blasted red dress.” Hope looked up at him. “Please go with me. Please.”

He looked down at her. “No.” Though that second and especially the third “please” had given him a couple of moments of hesitation, Hope’s red dress hadn’t given him amnesia, so he knew what would be in store for him. Lusting over her while having a miserable time.

“Remember, my folks will be at the party, too,” he said.

Of course, his parental dilemma was a little different from Hope’s. His dad, Elgin, was a hand at the Granger Ranch, and the Grangers always invited all their employees and spouses to this shindig. If Josh went, too, he would have to listen to his mom and dad go on about how disappointed they were that he hadn’t made something more of himself, what with all the sacrifices they’d made. Specifically, the scrimping and saving they’d done since his birth so he could go to college and be a doctor.

And they would use the actual word, sacrifices, too.

No matter how many times Josh had told them he didn’t want college or medical school, they just badgered on. A party setting wouldn’t cause them to ease up on that, either. They’d just badger in front of an audience.

Hope huffed. Stared at him, probably trying to think of some way to change his mind. Her next huff let him know that she hadn’t come up with such a miracle. “All right, then at least help me get ready.”