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    A Cowboy's Heart: The One that Got Away (Hearts of the West Book 1)
    A Cowboy's Heart: The One that Got Away (Hearts of the West Book 1)
    A Cowboy's Heart: The One that Got Away (Hearts of the West Book 1)
    Ebook77 pages1 hour

    A Cowboy's Heart: The One that Got Away (Hearts of the West Book 1)

    By Jennifer Lewis

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    About this ebook

    Bull Rider Jesse West is on top of the world and fighting for the title of a lifetime at the bull riding finals in Las Vegas—until he crashes into Tara Kent in the stands at the rodeo arena. He seizes the opportunity to confront the girl that broke his heart by disappearing out of his life.

    Tara Kent just ended a six year relationship with a man wouldn’t commit and is trying to revive her design career with a big job in Vegas. At the rodeo she’s stunned to discover that the top ranked rider is a high school classmate she once shared a magical kiss with before her life crashed down around her. She doesn’t want him to know her life is a disaster. Worse yet, she’s alarmed to discover that the chemistry between them is stronger than ever.

    Tara’s heart is fragile from fresh heartbreak and the last thing she wants is to put it on the line for a reckless cowboy. But Jesse wants Tara in his bed—he’s waited ten years—and he’ll stop at nothing to claim his prize.

    EXCERPT:
    Her eyes widened as he slid his arm around her waist. She sucked in a breath and tried to stay calm. Just dance with him, be nice, then wish him good night. She could do this.

    She tried to remind herself that this was her old friend Jesse, the sweet boy an inch shorter than her who she used to reminisce about blistering Austin summer days with when they were both freezing their butts off in a New England winter.

    It didn’t work.

    This Jesse was a whole different animal. His once skinny body was now ripped with muscle, no doubt gained from jumping on and off horses and bulls and heaving big saddles around. Formerly shy, he now oozed quiet confidence that disarmed her.

    His other arm circled her and he held her close and swayed gently in time to the music. His subtle masculine scent crept over her senses and she blinked, trying to halt the effect it had on her. She could feel her pulse rate accelerate and her breathing grow shallow. Her skin grew hotter by the second and she could barely stay upright on her feet because her knees were getting weak...

    “Are you okay?” He pulled her a little closer.

    Her breasts weren’t quite touching his chest yet—they weren’t that big—but any minute now her nipples were going to brush up against the crisp fabric of his shirt and—“I am feeling a little light headed.”

    “Don’t worry. I’ll catch you if you pass out.” His slow smile crept across his mouth—a wide, sensual mouth with perfectly shaped lips that she didn’t remember at all—and further unraveled her.

    Explore the Hearts of the West series:

    A Cowboy's Heart: The One that Got Away
    His Fearless Heart: The Bull Rider's Baby Surprise
    His Untamed Heart: The Cowboy's Christmas Reunion
    ...and a Box Set with all three stories

    Join the new release newsletter at www.jenlewis.com.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJennifer Lewis
    Release dateSep 8, 2016
    ISBN9781939941213
    A Cowboy's Heart: The One that Got Away (Hearts of the West Book 1)
    Author

    Jennifer Lewis

    Jennifer Lewis loves heat in all its forms including spicy food, steamy temperatures and smoking hot heroes. She is a USA Today bestselling author and her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. She lives in sunny South Florida and when she’s not sitting at her laptop she can often be found at the beach. Read more about her books or join her new release newsletter at www.jenlewis.com.

    Read more from Jennifer Lewis

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      Book preview

      A Cowboy's Heart - Jennifer Lewis

      HEARTS OF THE WEST

      A COWBOY’S HEART

      The One That Got Away

      By Jennifer Lewis

      HEARTS OF THE WEST

      The West family ranch predates Texas and contains some of the most beautiful and remote land in the Hill Country. The West men—a bull rider, a horse trainer, a wolf-researcher and a rancher—are fiercely independent and used to blazing their own trail—can they be tamed by love?

      A Cowboy’s Heart: The One That Got Away

      Bull Rider Jesse West is on top of the world and fighting for the title of a lifetime at the bull riding finals in Las Vegas—until he crashes into Tara Kent in the stands at the rodeo arena. He seizes the opportunity to confront the girl that broke his heart by disappearing out of his life.

      Tara Kent just ended a six year relationship with a man wouldn’t commit and is trying to revive her design career. At the rodeo she’s stunned to discover that the top ranked rider is a high school classmate she once shared a magical kiss with before her life crashed down around her. She doesn’t want him to know her life is a disaster. Worse yet, she’s alarmed to discover that the chemistry between them is stronger than ever.

      Tara’s heart is fragile from fresh heartbreak and the last thing she wants is to put it on the line for a reckless cowboy. But Jesse wants Tara in his bed—he’s waited ten years—and he’ll stop at nothing to claim his prize.

      Explore the Hearts of the West series:

      A Cowboy’s Heart: The One That Got Away

      His Fearless Heart: The Bull Rider’s Baby Surprise

      His Untamed Heart: The Cowboy’s Christmas Reunion

      Join the new release newsletter at www.jenlewis.com.

      1

      Why would anyone get on the back of a bull? Tara Kent couldn’t take her eyes off the cowboy being tossed around like a rag doll by a fearsome black beast. Their ringside seats at the bull riding event were close enough for them to flinch from the flying sweat—or blood—of the obviously insane men competing.

      They’re all thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies, darling. Melody’s leering half smile was just embarrassing. Mad as hatters but oh so hot!

      I prefer a man with brains, Tara insisted, trying to convince herself.

      And look how far that’s got you! Melody shoved her with a bony elbow.

      Hey! Tara wanted to protest, but the cowboy in the ring suddenly parted ways with the bull, rolled, jumped up and ran toward them, the bull hot on his heels.

      Tara shrieked as he vaulted over the fence in front of them and landed almost right in her lap. The bull’s huge horns thunked hard against the metal arena fence, and Melody screamed.

      Pardon me, ladies. The cowboy rose to his feet and doffed his hat. How was his hat still on his head after that exit? Sorry about the intrusion.

      He glanced back at the ring where the wranglers now had the bull under control and were guiding it out of the ring. Had to make a hasty exit.

      Uh, no problem. Tara brushed dust from her skirt where he’d crushed against her. He was at least six feet of solid muscle clad in well-worn denim and a leather vest to protect his ribs.

      Melody McClain. Melody shoved out her manicured hand and brandished a bold red smile. So pleased to meet you.

      Jesse West. He nodded his head. Pleased to meet you, too. He shook Melody’s hand then turned to Tara, his arm extended.

      Jesse West? She once knew a Jesse West. Couldn’t be the same one, though.

      She realized he was still waiting for her to shake his hand. She wrapped her fingers around his and managed a polite smile and…holy….something shot through her, starting with her hand and streaking right up her arm and clobbering her in the chest. Pleased to uh… Words failed her. Why was heat flooding her body?

      Her name is Tara. Tara Kent, Melody offered. She appears to have lost her manners.

      Her manners were probably somewhere down on the dusty floor. At least he’d finally let go of her hand, but now he was looking at her with warm chocolate brown eyes that did something very alarming to her insides.

      Tara. His eyes widened slightly. Jesus, Tara. Is it you?

      She blinked. Jesse. Seriously, where was her brain?

      Yes. He tipped his hat back slightly. His features were stronger, bolder and more chiseled than they’d been all those years ago, but now that she had a chance to look at him… It’s been, what, ten years?

      You two know each other? Melody’s question hovered somewhere outside them.

      Ten years. Yes. Phew. At least she could speak now. He was always good looking—in a raw boyish way—but the passage of years had been very, very kind to Jesse West. You’re taller.

      A smile creased his tanned face. Yep. And you’re more beautiful than ever. Holy cow, Tara. We need to catch up. Can I take you ladies out for a drink? I’m done riding for now.

      Of course, we’d love to, cut in Melody, before Tara even had time to form words. Jesse ignored Melody and kept his eyes fixed right on hers.

      Uh, a drink. Sure. That would be great, she stammered. She didn’t have to tell him the sad story of her broken engagement. She could just pretend like everything was great. A quick drink and—

      How did sweet, gentle Jesse West become a big, burly rodeo cowboy?

      Darling, aren’t you even going to look at your score? Melody seized Jesse’s arm. What does ninety-one mean? Is that good?

      It’s just fine. He smiled warmly at them. Let’s go.

      Jesse walked

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