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A Romance FOR EVERY MOOD™
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Brodie stared down at the woman in his arms
Her head rested below his chin, her hand lay on his chest. She slept peacefully, making an occasional deep breathing sound.
It felt so right to have her in his arms. He’d never needed anyone in his life, but last night he’d needed her. It wasn’t sexual, either. Not that he didn’t want her. But last night was about something entirely different—comfort, caring and mental nourishment so he could face another day. Holding on to Alex gave him that strength.
She stirred and sat up, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “Good morning,” she whispered.
He felt a catch in his gut at her sleep-filled voice. Her soft brown eyes were languid, sensuous, and he had a feeling she’d look like this after making love.
Raising himself to a sitting position, he flexed his shoulders. “Morning.”
She sniffed the air. “I don’t smell coffee. After spending the night on the sofa, I expect coffee to be brought to me.” Her eyes twinkled.
“I’m not used to getting coffee for a woman.”
“Cowboy, that is so hard to believe.”
He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I’ll bring you coffee any day of the week.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you for visiting TryHarlequin.com.
We hope you enjoy Once a Cowboy, written by popular Harlequin American Romance author Linda Warren.
Harlequin American Romance has been publishing contemporary stories for many years. Our books emphasize the importance of love, family and community in America today. We love to showcase the charm of small-town America and the ruggedness of western locales, but set our stories in big cities, too. After all, anywhere you live is home. And romance can happen anywhere.
If you’re looking for stories that will touch your heart and make you long for the comforts of home (and a hunky hero to call your own!) curl up and enjoy one of our books. This is romance the all-American way!
Happy reading,
The Harlequin American Romance Editors
Once a Cowboy
Linda Warren
MILLS & BOON
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning, bestselling author Linda Warren has written twenty-one books for Harlequin American Romance and Harlequin Superromance. She grew up in the farming and ranching community of Smetana, Texas, the only girl in a family of boys. She loves to write about Texas, and from time to time scenes and characters from her childhood show up in her books. Linda lives in College Station, Texas, not far from her birthplace, with her husband and a menagerie of wild animals, from Canada geese to bobcats. Visit her Web site at www.lindawarren.net.
This book is dedicated to my wonderful editor, Kathleen Scheibling. You’ve made the past three years a joy. Thank you.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Chapter One
The defunct air-conditioning spit out its last puffs of cool air about an hour ago. Since it was July in Dallas the office was hotter than the hinges of hell. An opened window only stoked the heat in the room. Alex Donovan, private investigator, squirmed in her chair and swallowed back a curse word. She never thought being hot could make her so damn irritable.
“I believe this is my son.”
The lady sitting across from her desk pushed a dog-eared newspaper clipping toward Alex.
Sweat trickled down Alex’s back and pooled at her waistline. One more minute and
