Lone Star Burn: Broncos & Bouquets (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page B

me laugh.”
    “And?”
    Laney knew what Raelyn really wanted to know. “And yes! He’s really hot.”
    “So, when’s the wedding?” Raelyn joked.
    “Stop. There’s not gonna be one. There hasn’t even been a first date, and there won’t be.”
    “Why? What’s wrong with him?”
    “Nothing.” There really wasn’t. Not one damn thing. “I just can’t get tangled up with a guy right now. The last one cost me my entire life and future.”
    “You really need to get over that.”
    “I can’t. I was stupid and if I forget it happened, I might repeat my mistakes.”
    “Listen.” Raelyn’s voice softened. “You need to forgive yourself. He was the pig, not you.”
    “It doesn’t matter. I should have known. The name should have rang a bell. Instead I was swept into the vortex of love and obsession and didn’t take the time to think rationally. It cost me my job, my reputation, my family. I can’t let it happen again.”
    “Okay. I get it. But despite your moment of stupidity, you deserve to be happy. Nothing you say can change my mind about that.”
    Laney didn’t know what she deserved, if anything. When you ruin people’s lives, you tend to think you don’t deserve any kind of happiness.
     
    *   *   *
     
    Sawyer lay in bed, unable to sleep. Four a.m. was going to be a bitch if he didn’t find some rest soon. But he couldn’t stop thinking about Laney.
    At first it had just been flirty fun, the thrill of the chase. He thrived on the challenge, just like taming a wild colt. But she was a hell of a lot harder to break. She was a stubborn one, despite the attraction she had for him. What he couldn’t figure out was why she was holding herself back.
    It had been a long time since Sawyer had dated anyone. The hookups over the last few years didn’t count. It had been years since he’d actually had a girlfriend, back when he was fucking up his life. When everything went to shit, she turned on him. Everyone did. Not one person stuck by him.
    He did his time and when he got out, he had nowhere to go. He’d sat at a diner booth in Fort Mavis with ten bucks in his pocket and a newspaper that had been left behind by the last occupant. The ad for Double C Ranch had been the answer to his prayers.
     
    Wanted: Ranch hands. Experience not necessary. Pays $250 a week plus room and board at the ranch. Contact David @ Double C
     
    A hard day’s work got him a roof over his head, some cash in his pocket, and a place where no one knew anything about him.
    Up until now, he’d been content with his life. He enjoyed his work and made a few friends along the way. He never wanted for anything he didn’t already have. Life was simple and he liked it that way. Simple meant staying out of trouble.
    But then Laney showed up. She made him want things he didn’t know if he had a right to want. She made him feel things he’d only heard about in fairytales. For the first time, maybe ever, he wondered about his future. Wanted to make plans for it.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Laney opened the back door of the coffee shop at 5:55 a.m. Jane, her boss, had already arrived.
    With a sly smirk, she said, “Your boyfriend’s waiting outside.”
    “What? I don’t have a boyfriend.”
    Jane pulled her into the café, the lights still off, and pointed out the front picture window.
    There he was. Sawyer. Leaning against a light pole, waiting for the coffee shop to open. Laney ignored the flutters in her gut. Ignored the fact that he looked sexy as fuck in jeans and a black tee shirt, black hat upon his head.
    Jane handed her the keys to the front door. “Go let him in.”
    Laney did as she was told and the second the door lock clicked, Sawyer looked up. Oh. My. God . Were his eyes extra blue today? A slow sexy smile curved his lips and she thought she might melt into a puddle on the floor.
    She regained her composure and pushed the door open.
    “Good morning, beautiful.”
    Don’t let that make you all mushy! “Are you ever