Stacey Joy Netzel Boxed Set (35 page)

Angela did a quick bounce on the bed before
hurrying over to look out the window. Miles and miles of lush green
hills were dotted with trees and fuchsia wildflowers against a
backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains and crowned by the bluest
skies she’d ever seen. Tears burned her eyes. This was the kind of
home she’d always dreamt of having, the kind of home she’d read so
many wonderful stories about.

No way in hell would she give it up without
a fight.

After trading her pumps for a pair of white
tennis shoes, she ran a brush through her hair and headed
downstairs, feeling like a little kid on Christmas morning. She was
hoping to get a quick look at the horses before supper. Angela had
never been on a horse, had never even touched one, but she’d always
hoped to learn to ride one day. And thanks to a little thing called
kismet, it looked like that day had finally arrived.

That is if James let her anywhere near
them.

The house was fairly quiet, although she
could hear faint sounds coming from the back. Probably whoever was
making supper. She had no idea whether or not they had servants,
but she figured they at least had a cook since James didn’t exactly
look like the chef type, and Reese had mentioned his brother was
single.

She slipped out the front door and followed
a stone path that led around back. A fenced in area she believed
they called a corral was set maybe a hundred feet behind the house,
with a structure directly to the left which she assumed was the
barn. A lone horse trotted inside the enclosure, and Angela’s
fingers itched to touch its shiny, chestnut brown coat and matching
mane. She hurried over and whistled to the beautiful creature,
hoping she could tempt it to come her way. Too bad she hadn’t
thought to buy a box of sugar cubes. She’d read that horses loved
them.

The gorgeous creature turned her way and
made a snuffling noise. It tossed its head, and then proceeded to
saunter over. Angela clapped her hands, just barely holding in a
squeal of delight. The horse stuck its muzzle through the fence,
and Angela gently rubbed the bridge of its nose. “Well, aren’t you
just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. Got a name?”

“His name’s Lucky.”

Angela swung around in surprise; she hadn’t
heard James approach. He strode up beside her, propped a boot on
the bottom rail, and leaned over to pat Lucky’s nose. Again, she
couldn’t help but notice how attractive the man was. “I suppose
there’s a story behind his name?”

He shot her a quick look, then returned his
attention to Lucky. She figured he meant to ignore her, but after a
few moments he said, “I came across him just as a mountain lion had
taken him down. If I’d been a minute later, he’d have needed
burying, not saving.”

Angela
gave a delicate shudder.
The thought of this beautiful
animal being eaten alive was a horrific one. Something she could
barely fathom having grown up in the city. “You’re a hero
then.”

His mouth crooked up at that. “Hardly. Just
happened to be in the right place at the right time.” He stood up
and stepped back, gazing past her as if something more important
had caught his eye. “Supper’s ready. And trust me when I say Meara
doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

“Is Meara the cook?”

His gaze swung to hers and that coldness she
had come to expect returned. “Meara’s as close to family as a body
can get without being blood related.”

“Sor-ry, I was just curious. You know, you
really need to do something about that attitude.”

“I’ll be back to my cheerful ol’ self just
as soon as you’re gone.”

Angela made a face at his retreating back.
Good luck with that, Cowboy, ’cause I’m not going
anywhere.

~~~

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Donna Marie Rogers’
other titles:

There’s Only Been
You
(contemporary small town
romance)

Meant To Be
(contemporary small town romance)

Writing As Liza James:

Game On
(contemporary erotic short story)

Mischief In The Dark
(Halloween erotic short story)

Hot For Teacher
(contemporary erotic novella)

Lying Eyes
(contemporary erotic short story)