Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch (26 page)
Read Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch Online
Authors: Emma Cane
“I hid my secret from you until it had to be dragged out of me. Do you think I like that about myself?”
“Lyndsay, you're making yourself sound like a coward, and you're not.”
“That's nice of you to say, but I'm feeling like a coward about now. And youâ” she broke off, aghast that her throat seemed to close up and her eyes burn. “You'd r-Ârather live with the ghost of a dead girl than take a chance on a real live one. We're not all fragile dolls. We make stupid decisionsâÂwe're human. Don't let that deny us the chance at real happiness. I love you, Will. I think somewhere inside, you want to love me.”
“I don't want to hurt you,” he said roughly. “It would kill me to hurt you, Lynds.”
“Then don't hurt me.” She stepped close and put her hands on his warm face, saw the wetness shining in his eyes. “Let's take the chance, Will. I don't want to hurt you either. I want to love you.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, and for too long he remained stiff, his lips unyielding. She thought she'd truly lost him forever. And then, with a groan, he embraced her hard, holding her so tight to him she could barely breathe. He kissed her over and over, her cheeks, her eyelids, her forehead.
Against her ear, he whispered gruffly, “When I thought I could have lost you . . .”
“You didn't, Will. You won't ever lose me again.”
It was his turn to take her face in his hands. “I
love
you, Lynds,” he said intensely, heatedly.
Her tears spilled over, and she found herself laughing helplessly, this time being the one to kiss every part of his face she could reach. She'd waited a lifetime for those words.
“Say it again,” she said against his mouth. “Say it again.”
“I love you.” He kissed her hard. “I love you.” He lifted her off the ground.
She flung her arms wide and laughed into the growing darkness as he spun her around. Will loved her.
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L
yndsay's signing at the Open Book on Main Street was the culmination of so many dreams. ÂPeople were buying her book, and she hoped that she could make them laugh, cheer them up at the end of the day, and sigh with wistful happiness when they got to The End.
Her local readers had a special treat: Will was making his own appearance at the signing. At first he'd stayed in the background with her family until he'd reluctantly agreed to pose with readers buying the book, only getting into the spirit of fun when Lyndsay insisted it was okay. She loved how he was so concerned about her enjoying her big day. When Mrs. Palmer asked him to sign her copy, too, Will gave Lyndsay a concerned look, but she left space for his signature next to her own.
“I'm only signing because you asked, Mrs. Palmer,” he said. “We all know Lyndsay's the real artist here.”
Lyndsay ran her fingers over both their names side-Âby-Âside, then looked up at Will, so close she could see his eyelashes. He was smiling at her with pride, and she'd never imagined feeling so happy, so proud, and so fulfilled. She'd changed her life for the better, had risked everything to publish a bookâÂand found love with Will Sweet, her own personal, real-Âlife cowboy. Heroes existed outside of books, too.
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The fun doesn't have to end here! Keep reading to explore the rest of
Valentine Valley
and the people who call it home as they find true love.
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A Valentine Valley Novel, Book 1
Welcome to Valentine ValleyâÂwhere broken hearts come home to mend, and true love may lie just across the range . . .
Emily Murphy never thought she'd return to her mom's rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old family home to find a new direction for her life. On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind . . .
Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into townâÂhe's no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she's only there to sell her family's old property and move back out. But as Nate and Emily begin working side-Âby-Âside to restore her time-Âworn building, and old family secrets change Emily's perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-Âever-Âafters: a town called Valentine.
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True Love at Silver Creek Ranch
A Valentine Valley Novel, Book 2
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where tongues are wagging now that the town bad boy is backâÂand rumor has it the lean, mean ex-ÂMarine is about to lose his heart! But like it or not, in a town like Valentine, love happens . . .
Adam Desantis is backâÂbruised, battle-Âweary and sexier than ever! Not that Brooke Thalberg is in the market. The beautiful cowgirl of Silver Creek Ranch needs a cowboy for hire, not a boyfriendâÂthough the gaggle of grandmas at the Widows' Boardinghouse thinks otherwise. But from the moment she finds herself in Adam's arms, she's shocked to discover she may just want more.
Adam knows it's crazy to tangle with Brooke, especially with the memories that still haunt him, and the warm welcome her family has given him. But he finds himself in a fix, because tender-Âloving Brooke is so much more woman than he ever imagined. Can a soldier battling demons give her the love she clearly deserves?
Just about everybody in Valentine thinks so!
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A Valentine Valley Novella
It's the wedding all of Valentine Valley has been waiting for!
Bridesmaid Heather Armstrong arrives for Nate and Emily's big weekend, only to discover that one of the ushers is the man she had a close encounter with when they were trapped by a blizzard seven months beforeâÂand he's the bride's brother!
Cowboy Chris Sweet never forgot the sexy redhead, although she'd disappeared without a trace. At first the secret creates a divide between them, but as they grow closer during the romantic weekend, will Heather dare risk her heart again?
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from the anthology
All I Want for Christmas Is a Cowboy
A Valentine Valley Novella
It's Christmas in Valentine, and the Thalbergs remember how their family came to be . . .
Sandy, recently diagnosed with MS and abandoned by her husband, is determined to make Christmas special for her five-Âyear-Âold Nate. While they're trooping through the woods to cut down their Christmas tree, a snowstorm arises, and a mysterious old ranch hand points them toward an abandoned cabin. Little do they realize, the ranch hand also guides cowboy Doug Thalberg to the same place . . .
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The Cowboy of Valentine Valley
A Valentine Valley Novel, Book 3
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where the cowboys have many talents and love is waiting around every corner . . .
Ever since a heated late-Ânight kiss that absolutely should not have happened, cowboy Josh Thalberg makes former Hollywood bad girl Whitney Winslow's pulse beat faster. But when she decides to use his gorgeous leatherwork in her new upscale lingerie shop, Leather & Lace, she's determined to keep their relationship strictly professional . . . even if she wants so much more.
Josh has never met a challenge he isn't up for. Which is probably why he allowed Whitney to persuade him to take the sexy publicity photo that went viral and now has every woman in America knocking down his door . . . every woman except the one he can't get out of his head.Â
But how to convince a reformed bad girl that some rules are worth breaking?
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A Valentine Valley Novel, Book 4
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where love captivates even the most guarded of hearts . . .
As an agent of the Secret SerÂvice, Travis Beaumont has become an expert at staying detached. With the upcoming wedding of the President's son to a Valentine Valley resident, Travis can't afford any distractions. But a sexy, local flower shop owner seems determined to push past all of his defenses.
Monica Shaw has always put the needs of others before her ownâeven if it's meant placing herself in harm's way. For a long time, a simple life running her flower shop has been enough, but when Monica meets a gorgeous, mysterious man who takes her breath away, she suddenly wants more. But can she convince a no-Ânonsense Travis that love is definitely worth the risk . . . ?
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A Valentine Valley Novella
Welcome to Valentine Valley! The Silver Creek Rodeo is in full swing and everyone's talking about the rancher who came to town . . .
Bed & Breakfast owner Amanda Cramer wants nothing more than a quiet, private life. Well, she wants guests too, but after her share of unwanted notoriety she's gotten comfortable hiding out in her inn . . . perhaps a little too comfortable. When her newest guest arrivesâtall, dark and breathtakingâAmanda begins to question her self-Âimposed exile.
Ex-Ârodeo star Mason Lopez knows all about the limelight. He'd avoid it if he could, but since one last ride could mean saving his family's ranch, he'll go all in. When he gets to Valentine Valley for the Silver Creek Rodeo, Mason checks into Connections B&B and finds himself immediately drawn to the beautiful, reserved woman who owns it.
Mason only has three days in town. Can he convince Amanda to open her heart to him and welcome the world back in?
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Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley
A Valentine Valley Novel, Book 5
Return to Valentine Valley, where Christmas lights are twinkling and first love burns brighter the second time around . . .
When Tony De Luca's ex, Kate Fenelli, waltzes through the door of his tavern and pulls up a bar stool, she turns his balanced world on end. Once they'd been each other's first love, first everything. But then life happened, and they walked away with broken hearts. Now Kate is back in Valentine, and they can't seem to stay out of each other's way. When Tony begins wondering what would happen if they rekindled the sparks, he knows he's in big trouble.
Kate can't believe she's sitting at Tony's bar spilling her life-Âchanging problems to him. He's as gorgeous as ever, and she can't seem to forget how incredible he always made her feel. Still the door on that chapter of their lives closed long ago. Yet with Christmas buzzing in the air, Kate can't help wondering if anything is possibleâÂeven a second chance with the only man she's ever loved.
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Photo by Jim Callen
EMMA CANE grew up reading, and soon discovered that she liked to write passionate stories of teenagers in space. Her love of “passionate stories” has never gone away, although today she concentrates on the heartwarming characters of Valentine, Colorado, a small town of her own creation nestled in the Rocky Mountains. Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband, Jim, and two rambunctious dogs, Apollo and Uma. Emma also writes
USA Today
bestselling novels under the name Gayle Callen.
www.emmacane.com
www.avonromance.com
www.facebook.com/avonromance
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Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch
Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley
The Cowboy of Valentine Valley
True Love at Silver Creek Ranch
Novellas by Emma Cane
“
The Christmas Cabin
”
(from the
All I Want for Christmas Is a Cowboy
anthology)
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