The Cowgirl’s Chosen Love Excerpt

Chapter 1

Zach Sorenson sat on the porch outside his best friend’s home, pretending to enjoy a cold one while laughter echoed behind him.

The deeper rumble of Finn’s chuckle meshed with his fiancée’s lighter voice. Maybe Zach should switch to something stronger. Whiskey, or gin, or hell—maybe even tequila. Although that last one could be dangerous.

He leaned back on the porch swing, legs stretched in front of him as he crossed one boot-clad foot over the other and stared over the landscape toward the Rocky Mountains.

It wasn’t that he begrudged anyone their good luck.

Begrudge? No. Be slightly jealous? Hell, he would admit to that one.

His name sounded. The door swung open beside him, and he twisted toward one of his new favourite people.

“Sorry it’s taken so long,” Karen Coleman offered. “Lisa and I will stop tormenting you. We’re finally ready.”

He rose to his feet as the rest of the party slipped out the door and headed to their waiting trucks. “Not a problem,” Zach insisted. “Trust me. I know better than to tell a woman to hurry up.”

He dodged to avoid being poked by Lisa. “You know it wasn’t only us,” she insisted. “Josiah takes forever to get ready.”

Laughter rumbled again as the girls slipped into their seats.

Finn turned to Zach after settling Karen in place. “Glad you’re coming to Rough Cut tonight. Sure you won’t join us for the weekend?”

Oh, hell no. Best friends or not, the last thing Zach wanted was to spend the next forty-eight hours as a fifth wheel. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve already made plans.”

Finn’s brow arched skyward. “Really?”

On his other side, Josiah stepped forward as well, curiosity written on the veterinarian’s face. “First time I’ve heard this news. You keeping secrets?”

“Minding my own business,” Zach drawled. He offered a wink to soften the words as he turned on his heel and headed toward the shed he’d commandeered to house Delilah, his 1955 powder-blue Corvette convertible “Catch you all at the pub.”

He left the top up for the short drive from the still-in-development Red Boot ranch into the small town of Heart Falls. The trip was barely long enough for an attitude adjustment. He was pleased that his oldest best friend and his newest best friend had both found women who appreciated them and filled their lives with everything good.

The hint of green-eyed jealousy in Zach’s gut got a quick, short blast of reality to knock its scaly claws out from under it. Someday he’d have that kind of relationship. Sure, life came with no guarantees, but he’d had enough good examples in his world to counterbalance the shitty situations.

When the time was right, he’d find someone. Someone who would be what he needed.

A soft snicker escaped. Thank God his friends couldn’t stroll through his brain right then, or he’d be teased mercilessly for the hearts-and-flowers turn his thoughts had taken.

Zach parked at the very edge of the lot and made his way into the pub, a blast of country music echoing over the wooden boardwalk as he pulled the heavy oak door open.

Inside, the strategically set lights were just bright enough to make everybody look good, and the rapid beat of boots against the dance floor set his fingers tapping.

And although they’d all arrived at the same time, his friends were thankfully focusing on enjoying themselves and not attempting to pull him into the mix. Lisa and Josiah hit the dance floor not even three seconds before Finn pulled Karen into his arms and twirled her against his body.

Zach lifted a finger at the bartender and ordered a beer.

The place was full of cheerful people, flirtatious glances, and a heck of a lot of sexual tension on the rise. He spotted a couple of the women he’d dated a few times over the past months, dipped his chin and offered a wink without any further promises.

Nice enough ladies, but there hadn’t been the spark he was looking for. Which, again, probably made him a bit of a diva, as Finn had teased at one point.

He liked a good time as much as any guy. He’d enjoyed some wild one-night stands and a few longer relationships over the years that had been very physically satisfying, but now he wanted something different.

Hell if he knew how to define it, but at some point, he figured with his good luck, whatever he was looking for would jump up and smack him in the face hard enough he couldn’t miss it.

He’d just drained his first beer when Finn danced Karen over to him.

Her expression was nothing but innocent as she held out a hand. “Dance with me?”

“Is the old man tired already? You should’ve picked me instead of him,” Zach said as he put down his empty beer and accepted her offer. “I’ve got way more stamina.”

Beside him, Finn thumped an elbow into Zach’s ribs before responding, “Go on and tell yourself more lies if it makes you feel good.”

Zach guided Karen to the dance floor, twirling her away from her man even as laughter drifted.

They moved together easily, a space between them as if they were brother and sister dancing—which was kind of how Zach considered both of these women in his life.

Amusement rose. As if he needed more sisters…

“What are you snickering about?” Karen asked.

He guided them past other dancers as he answered. “Figured you and Lisa would offer me sympathy dances. Just didn’t think you would start this soon.”

She hummed, following his lead as they moved past a tangle of less-coordinated two-steppers. “Heard some nonsense about you having big plans for this weekend. Considering Lisa and I were just talking about how you’ve been avoiding most of the local female population, you’re either a lying liar, or you’re a much better secret keeper than we imagined.”

The woman was razor-sharp, which meant she was potentially dangerous to his plans. Avoiding a weekend’s worth of watching his friends make goo-goo eyes at their ladies was high on his priority list.

But because she was so sharp, he felt safe offering a tidbit to tide her over and get her off his back. “Trust me. My plans for the weekend will make me happy.”

Karen sighed dramatically even as he twirled her past where Finn was now chatting with Lisa and Josiah at a table in the corner. “Those were the magic words to get me to mind my own business.” She gave him a stern stare, though. “As long as you’re happy. That’s all we want for you.”

“I know,” he said easily, slowing as the music segued into a new song.

He took a turn around the dance floor with Lisa next. Amusingly, almost the identical conversation escaped her lips the instant they started dancing.

“What’s this nonsense about you having plans for this weekend? You should come with us. You don’t need to stay here alone.”

“Honestly, I have been taking care of myself for over thirty years,” he assured her. “Go to the resort with Josiah. You all need a break before life gets busy again.”

Lisa dipped her chin, but she still looked as if she wanted to interfere.

Luckily Zach had lots of experience dealing with interfering women—with five sisters, he’d learned at an early age how to handle feminine wiles. “I mean it. Go have a good time. I have plenty of things planned to keep me out of mischief.”

She snickered. “Where’s the fun in that?”

When the song finished, he guided her back to Josiah. A moment later, Zach slipped away to grab another beer and let them have time on their own. The bar was full enough it was easy to find other people to talk with, although he avoided making too much eye contact with any of his previous female companions.

Again, it wasn’t them. It was all him.

He appreciated what his friends were trying to do. And by extension, their women. A kick of something warm struck his heart. It was good to know they cared.

Only—good friends weren’t quite what he was wishing for at the moment.

Standing quietly to one side of the dance floor offered a great opportunity to observe. Zach sipped his drink and considered his options. Some companionship this weekend would be nice, but none of the ladies in the room—

Julia Blushing spun past on the arm of one of the local farmers, and all of Zach’s mental ramblings stilled in an instant.

She wore faded jeans so white, he bet they were infinitely soft to the touch. She’d been dancing hard, and whatever jacket or overshirt she’d come in had been abandoned to leave her in a formfitting navy-blue tank top that caressed her curves in a dangerous way.

Her hair hung in waves, layers of red and gold shining under the lights as she twirled in the arms of a man Zach would give anything to change places with.

A green-eyed monster was back, but this one had a whole different set of teeth and claws that snagged his soul.

Here was the reason none of the other women in town had caught his attention in recent days. Zach had to admit the truth. He’d spent months trying to ignore the draw he felt toward Julia.

Talk about a complicated relationship, though. She was the recently discovered younger sister to Lisa and Karen. Definitely not someone to mess around with unless a guy wasn’t fond of keeping his balls attached to his body.

Only…

He wasn’t looking for someone to mess around with. Not anymore.

Zach wasn’t quite sure when his change of heart had taken place. All he knew for sure was when he’d come to Heart Falls with Finn, it had been situation normal, everybody in for a good time.

Now he was ready for the next thing.

She’s perfect.

His internal sidekick commented about the same moment Zach noticed Julia slide her dance partner’s hand off her ass and back onto her hip.

I could break every bone in that man’s hand without blinking.

Truth was truth, but the possessive streak wasn’t something he was proud of.

She twirled her way off the floor at the end of the song, escaping from her handsy partner with a laugh. Zach memorized the man’s face even as he forced his shoulders to remain against the wall, staying put instead of tracking the bastard down and offering a lesson in etiquette he’d not soon forget.

The beer in his hand wasn’t enough. He’d wait until his friends left and he got home before starting a little more serious drinking, though.

The catchy music continued, and for the next few minutes, he entertained himself checking out the people in the pub. Making a few bets as to who would be going home with whom after last call.

It was only a few minutes later when the woman he’d been fantasizing about taking home himself reappeared. Not in some other guy’s arms, thankfully.

Nope. Aimed at him and marching as if on a mission.

The tickle in his gut flared. That sixth sense he had set off alarms loud enough the place could’ve been on fire. It wasn’t a warning to be careful, but a heads-up to stay alert and be ready to leap.

Was she in trouble? He scanned the room even as he braced for whatever it was she was about to lay on his doorstep.

He couldn’t fucking wait.

Casual. Stay casual.

He worked to keep his smile low-key. “Hey, Jules.”

“Hey.” She was nearly his height, yet the breath she took was shaky enough to make him want to pick her up and protect her from whatever had hurt her.

He knew better than to offer that card right off the bat. Instead, he forced mild curiosity into his tone. “Problem?”

Even as she shook her head and offered a quick “nope,” she messed with his mind by laying a hand on his arm and sliding in close enough that as she went up on her toes, their bodies made contact.

That rush in his belly lit up to DEFCON 1.

“Favour, stat. Kiss me.” She whispered the words, but they rang in his head as loudly as if she’d shouted.

He caught hold of her hips to stop her from wiggling because his body had reacted far too quickly. Everything about having her in his arms was perfect…

And far too easy. He hesitated. “You playing a game again, Blushing?”

Her lips curled into what he recognized as a fake smile, her unnatural laughter scratching his nerves.

But her softness melted against him as she stroked her cheek past his until her lips met his earlobe.

Goose bumps rose on his skin.

“I swear I’ll explain, but you’ve got to kiss me, now. Like a girlfriend. Please.”

Desperation rang in her tone, and the urge to protect roared to the surface. Whatever the hell was going on, he could fix this. The fact it was exactly what he’d been hoping for, wishing for—

Call it the luck of the Irish, but he knew a gift when he saw one.

Zach slid his hand around her nape, cradling the back of her head. The other hand moved instinctively off her hip to her lower back, pressing her closer against him. Lifting slightly so they were lined up and body to body.

“No idea what you’re up to, but I’m game.”

A little gasp escaped her before their lips made contact. And yeah, maybe a gentle peck on the cheek or slow, soft kiss would’ve been a good place to start.

His instincts told him otherwise. He kissed her with everything in him, desire laid bare in his touch as he gave to her.

She needed his help—she had it.

She also had all of him, because his gut said she was who he’d been waiting for all this time.

He jumped with both feet.

 

**

 

There was a fine line between being out of control and scared to death, and out of control and thrilled. Being kissed senseless by Zach Sorenson fell into the second category.

Thrilling wasn’t always a good thing.

Still, Julia buried her hands in his hair and felt the bubbling rush of heat in her veins for just another moment. Because, damn, the man could kiss. His lips against hers were firm and demanding. His taste rushed through her. Her cheek tingled from where his five o’clock shadow had scuffed.

By the time he let her up for air, her face wasn’t the only part tingling.

Still, she reined in her libido best she could even as she savoured the hard muscles under her.

Their gazes met. His pupils were wide, his breathing slightly out of kilter, although nowhere near as erratic as her own gasping inhalations. People were watching—murmured words swirled as people swung lips close to ears to share secrets. A slow examination of the way their bodies aligned.

His hand at her back slid downwards. It stopped before it went into dangerous territory, but now it rested on the swell of her ass.

A shiver rippled over her.

A soft chuckle danced against her skin as he twisted her head just enough to hide her face against his chest while he spoke in her ear.

“Come on.”

An instant later, cool air filled the space between them. With strong fingers tangled around hers, he guided her toward the side of the hall and the emergency exit door.

She hesitated before he could tug her from the pub. It took a sharp squeeze on his fingers to get his attention.

He curled himself around her so he could hear her words.

“People need to see us,” she insisted.

“Some people need to not see us until I know what the hell is going on,” Zach insisted. “Talk first.”

She let him lead her, glancing over her shoulder to try to see if any of the key gossips of the community had spotted them.

Her gaze fell on her sister’s fiancée. Finn Marlette’s alert gaze followed her and Zach, and a rush of oh shit arrived.

She had damn good reasons for what she’d started, but she hadn’t thought this through before acting.

At this point the only choice was to go forward. She ducked her chin and slipped out the door at Zach’s side.

The ice-cold wind stole her breath and sent goose bumps rising over her heated skin. A second later a warm, soft jacket settled around her shoulders, right before Zach grabbed the lapels of the coat—his coat that she now wore like a shawl—and tugged her to face him.

“Why?”

A man of few words. She could work with that. Only when laughter rang from the front entrance barely fifteen feet to their right, Julia paused before diving into her explanation.

A group of three women were staring at them, gazes darting up and down. Were they the ones Julia had overheard? She supposed it didn’t matter, except for the fact she had to sell this bit of bullshit with everything in her.

She turned her focus on Zach, draping her arms over his shoulders and pressing their torsos together again. “I swear I will explain, but right now you need to lose that frown.”

“It’s hard to look like everything’s peachy keen when I don’t know what’s going on,” Zach said, but his lips curled upward, and his hands wound around her waist again.

Big hands, strong and controlling—

A shiver that had nothing to do with the cold evening air shook her from top to bottom. Julia fought the fear inside her and nodded briskly even as she let her fingers drift up to play with the curl of brown hair that had fallen over his forehead.

“Someone was gossiping. Really mean shit. Maybe even those women, and I guarantee you will agree to help when you hear the whole story. But for now, trust me?”

He didn’t answer. Then she couldn’t ask again, because his lips were on hers once more, the kiss making teeny electric zaps fly up and down her spine.

Her body liked this man. Which was a weird thing for her to acknowledge, all things considered.

At her back, footsteps echoed on the boardwalk. Feminine giggles rang as the group of ladies passed by.

Zach teased his tongue against hers, and a moan escaped. Honestly escaped, because the last thing she wanted him to know was how much being pressed against him affected her. Although—hello—the thick length of a healthy erection pressed against her belly.

So. She wasn’t the only one reacting to their little tête-à-tête.

Julia broke the connection between them this time, pressing a hand to his chest to open up enough room so she could gasp for air.

Under her fingers, his heart pounded.

His bare biceps flexed as he caught hold of her elbows. “Enough. We need to talk.”

“My place?” Having him come under her roof had the added benefit of adding fuel to the rumour mill if anyone saw them. Which, considering where she lived, chances were high.

He didn’t argue. Just wrapped that big hand around hers again and guided her down the boardwalk to the corner where they turned to the west.

They moved quickly. Zach remained quiet and didn’t ask any more questions, which was good, because although she intended to make everything clear…

Her brain whirled. How had this evening gone from amazing to hell and then to being kissed senseless by Zach Sorenson in such a short period of time?

He stopped at the front door of her apartment building before swearing softly. He turned on her almost accusingly. “Why is there no security?”

Her snort wasn’t very ladylike. “Gee. Not sure. Maybe because this is the cheapest place in town, and things like a doorman or a security system are low on their priority list?”

Zach’s blue eyes flashed for a moment, but he opened the exterior door and gestured her past him.

Across the street on the bench outside Connie’s Café, a couple of young guys whistled and shouted rude suggestions. Julia ignored them like usual.

She took the stairs to the second floor, automatically stepping around the worst of the stains on the carpet. It was impossible to tell which were old and which were new, and after one misstep into a fresh pile of vomit, she’d learned avoidance was simpler.

Key already in hand, she had her door open in seconds, this time waiting for Zach to enter first.

He put a hand on her back and guided her ahead of him, his silence growing louder. Which was fine, because all the voices in her head were shouting at the same time. What she really wanted was to make a cup of tea and sit in the dark for a while to let her world settle down.

What she wanted would have to wait.

She twisted toward him instead. “Explanation. Okay.”

He folded his arms over his chest, biceps bulging in that position. He examined her from top to bottom then shook his head. “Dammit, Jules, you look like shit. What the hell?”

There was no anger in his tone, just very controlled annoyance, but on top of everything else, it was the last straw.

Tears arrived as a sob burst from her lips.

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