Title All Cowboy and Pure Country (The Brothers of Dove Grey Series Book 4)
Author Rhonda Lee Carver
Genre Contemporary Western Romance
Book Blurb
Gianna Mosley has it all. As a top influencer engaged to a baseball star, Sunny Banks, what more could she want? A faithful fiancé? Her assistant announces on a radio talk show that she and Sunny are having an affair and they’re in love, and Gianna’s world comes crashing down. The media has a field day with the scandal and fans blame her. Fast forward two years, she’s moved on from Sunny, but when she reads that he’s engaged to her ex-assistant, Gianna can’t help but feel a slap in her face. Carter Dawson is celebrating his birthday over a couple of drinks and chicken wings at the local honky-tonk when he thinks it’d be funny to text his old friend and ask her to marry him. After all, when they were kids, they’d made a pact that if they were still single at thirty, they’d marry each other. When he wakes up the next morning with a fiancée, the joke is no longer funny. His name is plastered all over social media as the new Mr. Mosley. What the hell? She went about things a bit cockeyed. Now she’s fake engaged and needs to plan a staged break-up. However, she and Carter both warm up to the idea that a pretend relationship is more fun than the reality of being alone. Love ain’t so bad either. Both have some dragons to slay. Gianna hasn’t trusted anyone since her ex cheated. And Carter can’t live in the shadow of her past relationship. Will love triumph? Or are they doomed?
Excerpt
“You sure? It doesn’t look like you’ve gotten very far.”
Although he didn’t want her touching his ass, or rather he didn’t want her to realize he was a red-blooded man with a body that had a mind of its own, but what choice did he have? The last thing he wanted was for the wound to get infected. He knew how dangerous a farm injury could be. “It’s in a spot that’s hard to see.”
“Good thing you’re engaged to me. By all means, let nurse Gi take care of you.” She turned and sashayed to the door and stopped, glancing at him over her shoulder. “Come into my exam room.” She crooked her finger.
He hardened quicker than a race horse leaving the gate. Carter couldn’t comprehend what was happening to his body. Aliens had come down and took over every bit of his control.
Coming to Huston had nothing to do with anything except to end an engagement that would never get off the ground. However, it was becoming crystal clear that if he didn’t keep his head on track, he might end up making a fool of himself. The chemistry between them reminded him of a boiling pot. If he didn’t tend to it, they might just have a boiling over issue.
Inhaling deeply, he swiped up the supplies off the sink and took them into the bedroom. Gianna glanced up at him from where she sat on end on the bed, casually leaning back on her hands. The hem of the flowy skirt laid over her thighs like a satin kiss. Damn, he needed to get his head on straight.
“Where do you want me?” he asked.
She patted the bed and that smile—the one that could make a man crawl across the dessert for just one glance—curved those beautiful lips. There had to be at least a million reasons why he shouldn’t, but right then he couldn’t think of one that would keep him from going to the bed.
After dropping the armful of bandages and bottles next to her hip, he stretched out on his stomach then dismissed any shyness and gave the towel a toss. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her watching with zero humility. He counted to ten, backward and forward, and thought he had himself in control until he felt her breath on his skin.
He’d been bare-assed too many times in the last few days.
“Are these pitchfork wounds?” she asked in a stunned tone.
“Yeah.” A little mortification could only make a man stronger, he guessed.
“And how did you do this?”
He felt cooler air and then heard liquid splashing in a bottle.
“A farming accident during a bout of food poisoning.”
“I bet that was a sight to see.” He could hear the humor in her tone.
Why did people find this type of accident funny?
“Yeah, a real sight,” he muttered against his folded arms.
“Thank you again for doing this. Pretending to be my fiancé. I promise I’ll make it as painless as possible.”
“What are friends for?”
“Sunny has invited me, us, to a party. It’s for an award. He feels it’s time for us to bury the hatchet, so to speak.”
A second later he felt the wet cotton ball against his skin followed the sting of the antiseptic.
“That’s a play on words. Bury the hatchet,” he muttered. “How about you? Do you want to be friends with him?”
“No, not friends. If I can be in the same room with him without scratching his eyes out maybe that’ll show fans that I’m over him.”
“His fans? It just feels like this would be for him. Again, why the hell do you care what fans think?”
“Says the man who has no dog in this fight. Social media is my bread and butter. Without fans I wouldn’t be doing what I do.”
“So, is this influencer stuff what you really want to do?” He lowered his chin and rested it on his forearm.
“Sure.”
“Do I sense a bit of hesitation?”
“There are a few things I wouldn’t mind doing.”
“Like what?” He enjoyed hearing her talk.
“Okay, I’ll tell you what I’ve tossed around, but you can’t laugh.”
“No laughing.”
“There’s a list, so brace yourself. Sometimes I think I’d like to open an AirBnB.”
“What’s funny about that?” He relaxed into the soft blanket while her fingers brushed his skin. Focusing on her words helped him keep his mind off the tension in his body.
“I guess nothing.”
“What else? You said there was a list.”
“I’ve also seen myself opening a boutique. Perhaps have my own clothing line.”
“You can do anything you want to do,” he said.
“That’s what Mom and Ricardo tell me too.” She laid the used cotton ball aside. “At first glance it probably seems like I’m a spoiled rich kid who’s mooching off her parents.”
“That’s not what I see.”
“Tell me, what do you see?” Her touch paused.
“I see a strong-willed woman who makes people happy with her podcasts and ideas. Viewers look to you for information, and help in their relationships. I’d say you’re changing people for the good.”
“Thank you, Carter.” She sniffed.
“Why are you thanking me? I’m only telling you the truth.”
“Still as kind as ever, aren’t you?”
“Kind or upfront. Hopefully both. Do you want to go to Banks’ party?”
“Do you?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She finished up the bandage.
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Author Biography
Rhonda Lee Carver is a bestselling author of contemporary western and romantic suspense, but she loves to write other genres too. She's known for writing stories that keep readers laughing, crying, gripping the edge of their seats, and screaming all in one book...like riding a virtual roller coaster. Whether she's creating sexy cowboys or tough guys, or sassy, independent heroines, readers are sure to find strong, powerful, memorable characters that are relatable.
By day, she taps into her creative, fictional world but at some point she transitions back into reality where she's a volleyball-stands cheerleader, homework virtuoso (at least she thinks so), amateur nurse to skinned knees, mediocre chef with some awesome microwave skills, pet-guru (all the strays show up at her house), and a Jackie of all trades for her kids who are the loves of her life. Yoga and chocolate keep her sane. Hallmark movies require cuddling up with tissues because she can be emotional. She adds a sprinkle of her own real-life adventures in each story she spins because a little truth never hurt anyone. She wouldn't give up one thing in her crazy, chaotic, ever-amusing life, except, she might do magic tricks for the bungalow on the beach she's had her eye on (GOALS).
Writing for Rhonda is like falling in love and finding a new best friend over and over again. Her characters will find a place inside your heart too.
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