My Girl
Gambling Hearts Book 3
by Jacquie Biggar
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sometimes, the right decision isn't the easiest one to make
Trish Sylvester knows her family and when they accept a week long stay at a rustic dude ranch, she is concerned- especially since it's at her ex's home.
Aaron is overjoyed at the opening of his family's guest ranch, until he learns their first guest is his ex-girlfriend, her parents--and a fiancé.
And that isn't the only surprise.
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“Are you a… friend of Trish Sylvester’s, then?” he asked, his gut tensing for the answer, though what did he expect? She was a beautiful woman, of course she would have moved on.
Kyle snorted, his eyes glassy now that the booze had kicked in. “That’s one way of putting it, yeah. We’re engaged.” He flashed a lop-sided grin. “I hooked a rich babe who knows how to—”
“Hey, watch your mouth.” Aaron’s fists clenched. He itched to knock those perfect teeth out of the asshole’s mouth. What did Trish see in this guy?
Kyle backed up a couple of steps—maybe he was smarter than he looked after all—and raised his hands in the air. “Take it easy, I didn’t mean anything by it. Trish is a sweet girl, I’m lucky to have her.”
“You’re preachin’ to the choir, man.” Aaron turned away, disgusted. “Trish and I go way back. You might want to find out who you’re sharing confidences with next time before opening a can of worms you can’t retract.” He reached for the door. “By the way, I don’t just work here. I’m part owner.”
Kyle’s eyes widened even as he swayed against the bar. Aaron shook his head. Idiot.
He took a steadying breath and stepped into the hall, straight into the oncoming path of his ex-girlfriend.
“Oh,” she stammered, slim hands bracing against Aaron’s chest. “I didn’t see you there.”
Aaron’s senses were overwhelmed with the scent and feel of Trish. His fingers gripped her hips, the urge to tug her closer so she could feel what she did to him riding him hard. Her green eyes pulled him into their depths, seeming to make promises he knew, knew, she wouldn’t keep. Damn it, what was it about this woman? Why couldn’t he get her out of his blood?
“I met your fiancé,” he said, his voice ripe with challenge. The outdoors clung to her skin, sun and flowers combining to intoxicate him more than the whiskey.
She lifted her chin, eyes narrowing. “What did you say to him, Aaron? I’d hoped we could all act like adults while we’re here.”
Aaron laughed, his hands doing the job his heart urged him to do, forcing her to come up against his chest with a soft oomph. “Darlin’, I’m definitely a man, make no mistake.” He leaned down and brushed her lips, setting up a warning through his chest. He was playing with fire, and if he wasn’t careful, there was little doubt who was going to get burned. Again.
“Aaron, stop this,” she murmured, though her lips parted on a sigh. “We can’t…”
He lifted his head and stared at her upturned face. “Can’t what, Trish? You invited yourself onto my territory and brought reinforcements. I want to know why.”
She moved out of his arms. He pretended not to feel the loss.
“We needed a break from the city,” she said. “Surely, you can understand that? Your sister sent an email to me highlighting the new business venture—congrats, by the way—and I thought it would be fun to come and check it out. End of story.”
He eyed her nervously tucking her hair behind her ear and knew she was bluffing. The question remained; why?
***
Excerpt 2
Plans for the upcoming Harvest Ball moved along at a steady pace, with Sophia in her element. Aaron did his best to stay out of the way, but his sister knew all his hideouts and eventually tracked him down in the horse barn.
“There you are, I was beginning to think you were avoiding me,” she said, entering Dickens' stall. “I need help.”
Aaron finished filing his horse’s back hoof before patting the smooth flank. He looked at Sophia over the broad back. “I knew it couldn’t last,” he sighed. “Okay, what do you need?”
She huffed out an exasperated breath. “Don’t sound so excited. I’m doing this for the ranch, you know.”
He did know. Unfortunately, it didn’t make having their home overrun by strangers any more palatable. In all fairness, Sophia had gone over and above on the website and the hacienda. He was no tech guru but even he would pay the astronomical prices to stay as their guest. Her sales pitch was nothing short of genius.
But she looked tired.
If only the agricultural firm he’d shown his ideas to would call back with a contract—none of this would be necessary. He ducked under Dickens' neck and came up next to his sister. “Shouldn’t you be taking it easy?”
She patted her growing baby bump and smiled. “You sound like Tony. I’m fine. It’s just there’s a hundred and one things to get done and only a few days left before the big event. This ball will give us the free advertising we need to get the guest ranch off the ground. I’ve invited some of my old contacts from New York and Trish promised to put the word out, too. She’s been great, Aaron. I would have been lost without her.”
The mention of Trish sent the now familiar fluttery feeling to his stomach. He’d spent the last few days rehashing that kiss by the fountain; the near-desperation in his voice when he’d begged her to come away with him. Her negative reaction.
He was an idiot to keep bashing his heart against the stone wall of Trish’s soul.
***
Excerpt 3
Trish followed Aaron through a narrow canyon, the red rock walls close enough to touch, and marveled at the vista opening out before them. A faint game trail led down to a verdant valley filled with lush grass, wildflowers, and even a gentle stream. No wonder the Shaughnessys kept this place a family secret.
“It’s stunning,” she said in all sincerity. Though it paled in comparison to the proud cowboy sitting his horse a few steps ahead of her. The late afternoon sun glinted like gold in his hair.
He glanced back and smiled. A real smile. It stole her breath. “Growing up, this was our playground,” he said, waving an arm to encompass the valley. “Whenever we got on Mom’s nerves—which was often,” he grinned, “Dad would bring us out here to blow off steam. We even stayed in the cabin a few times.”
Now that he mentioned it, she could see the dark brown roof of a log shack nestled under a giant cottonwood, the leaves a bright yellow gold. “It’s quite breathtaking.” And so different from the concrete jungle she’d grown up in.
“Come on.” He clucked to his horse and the animal began to make its sure-footed way down the steep grade.
Trish’s horse followed suit, not giving her time to get scared. She grasped the pommel with both hands, glued her gaze to Aaron’s broad back, and prayed. It was like going downhill on a roller coaster, but without seatbelts and a good deal slower—thank goodness. Pebbles rolled beneath their hooves, sending little puffs of dust floating into the air like signal beacons. Aaron controlled his mount with the slightest of hand movements, glancing back now and again to make sure she hadn’t fallen off, she guessed. No chance of that; he was going to have to pry her fingers loose when they reached the bottom.
And then they reached the valley, and she was struck by the peaceful setting. Birds flitted here and there, Lark Sparrows and Golden-cheeked Warblers, while a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perched on a fallen log watching them with inquisitive eyes. Bees buzzed, gathering the last of the year’s nectar, and a busy squirrel dashed across the trail, cheeks full of his fall harvest. Everywhere she looked, there was movement and yet she felt a deep calmness settle over her—as though this was a place out of time; a healing ground.
“Stupid really,” she murmured, “but I feel as though I’ve been here before. Maybe in my dreams?” She smiled to lighten the moment. “Was the cabin here when your family bought the land?”
Aaron dismounted at the foot of the stairs before answering. He folded his arms over the saddle to stare up at her from under the rim of his cowboy hat. “Nah. My great-granddad built it and brought his bride here until he could build her the hacienda.”
Trish looked at the ramshackle shack with new eyes. A gift for a bride.
JACQUIE BIGGAR is a USA Today bestselling author of Romantic Suspense who loves to write about tough, alpha males and strong, contemporary women willing to show their men that true power comes from love. She is the author of the popular Wounded Hearts series and has a new series in paranormal suspense, Mended Souls. She's been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happily-ever-afters.
Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family and loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She swears she can't function without coffee, preferably at the beach with her sweetheart. :) Free reads, excerpts, author news, and contests can be found on her website below!
Jacquie lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and loves to hear from readers all over the world! You can also join her street team on Facebook called Biggar's Book Buddies.
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