Title: Rancher in Her Bed
Series: Texas Cattleman’s Club: Houston #4
Author: Joanne Rock
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 1, 2019
Blurb
“Just because we leave the party
doesn’t mean the night has to end.”
doesn’t mean the night has to end.”
Rancher Xander
Currin won’t commit to anyone after tragedy broke his heart. But when his
feisty ranch hand Frankie Walsh puts herself at risk to secure her future, his
protective instincts kick in. He offers her a ticket to the rich and connected
at the Texas Cattleman’s Club gala. But soon combustible desires consume them
both…and someone’s going to get burned.
Currin won’t commit to anyone after tragedy broke his heart. But when his
feisty ranch hand Frankie Walsh puts herself at risk to secure her future, his
protective instincts kick in. He offers her a ticket to the rich and connected
at the Texas Cattleman’s Club gala. But soon combustible desires consume them
both…and someone’s going to get burned.
Purchase Links
Excerpt
“Frankie, wait.”
Touching her had been a mistake—he knew it as soon as soon
as his fingers landed on her sleeve that he wanted to linger. To glide his hand
up her arm and around her shoulder to draw her closer. But he could hardly yank
his hand back like he’d gotten scalded without revealing just how damned much
she affected him.
as his fingers landed on her sleeve that he wanted to linger. To glide his hand
up her arm and around her shoulder to draw her closer. But he could hardly yank
his hand back like he’d gotten scalded without revealing just how damned much
she affected him.
So he let his fingers rest lightly where they were.
“I was hard on you tonight. Let me at least walk you to your
door so I can tell myself I made an attempt to be a gentleman.”
door so I can tell myself I made an attempt to be a gentleman.”
“You’re my boss, not a gentleman,” she argued, then frowned.
“That came out wrong. What I mean is–.”
“That came out wrong. What I mean is–.”
“But as you pointed out earlier, we’re not on the clock
tonight.” His fingers grazed her bare skin on the underside of her wrist, a
surprisingly tender spot where he could feel her pulse thrum fast.
tonight.” His fingers grazed her bare skin on the underside of her wrist, a
surprisingly tender spot where he could feel her pulse thrum fast.
Her green eyes were wide in the glow of the dome light.
“Right.” Her voice was all rasp and no substance. She
cleared it. “Okay.”
cleared it. “Okay.”
He slid his hand away and stepped out of the truck, walking
around to her side.
around to her side.
He reached up to help her down, but she hopped out on her
own. Wary of his touch? Or stubbornly proud?
own. Wary of his touch? Or stubbornly proud?
Maybe a little of both. She was an intriguing woman.
“Thank you.” She chewed her lower lip and peered up at him
in the moonlight. “What time will I see you tomorrow?”
in the moonlight. “What time will I see you tomorrow?”
His gaze zeroed in on her mouth, his own suddenly dry as
dust.
dust.
“I’ll pick you up at seven.” He was already questioning the
wisdom of this bargain he’d made with her.
wisdom of this bargain he’d made with her.
If she was affecting him this much now, what would it be
like tomorrow night when they had a whole evening together? Already, the memory
of the feel of her made his hands itch to touch her again. He hadn’t thought
this through well at all.
like tomorrow night when they had a whole evening together? Already, the memory
of the feel of her made his hands itch to touch her again. He hadn’t thought
this through well at all.
She nodded, her dark braid sliding down her shoulder. “And,
just so I’m clear, will we be off the clock tomorrow too?”
just so I’m clear, will we be off the clock tomorrow too?”
Was she flirting with him? Or was he reading too much into
it because he wanted her?
it because he wanted her?
The tension of holding himself back was quickly knotting his
shoulders and they’d been together less than an hour.
shoulders and they’d been together less than an hour.
“I’m going to let you make that call. You can tell me how
much of the evening you want to be business and how much should be…” He
couldn’t think of any way to say it that didn’t sound like a come on. “Pleasure.”
much of the evening you want to be business and how much should be…” He
couldn’t think of any way to say it that didn’t sound like a come on. “Pleasure.”
She must have heard it too, because her lips parted in soft
surprise.
surprise.
“Good night, Frankie.” He was already imagining her in an
evening gown and liking what he saw.
evening gown and liking what he saw.
He played a dangerous game letting his thoughts wander
there, but he’d be damned if he could stop himself.
there, but he’d be damned if he could stop himself.
And with a silent nod, she pivoted on her boot heel and
disappeared inside her cabin.
disappeared inside her cabin.
Author Bio
Four-time RITA
nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn’t like. The author
of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently
focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by
nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her
life outlook perfectly–love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at
regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing
community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree
in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing
skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann.
When she’s not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite
sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded
sons.
nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn’t like. The author
of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently
focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by
nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her
life outlook perfectly–love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at
regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing
community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree
in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing
skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann.
When she’s not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite
sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded
sons.
Author Links
Xander is a man with a painful past who doesn’t allow anyone close and prefers to spend his time managing Currin Ranch. He is attracted and intrigued to Frankie, his employee, but is determined to keep his distance.
Frankie has been attracted to her boss from the moment she saw him, but she knows that she is definitely not her type. When he agrees to take her to the Texas Cattleman’s Club gala it sets into motion a chain of events that will change both their lives forever.
Secrets, twists and hot chemistry have you looking forward to more of this series. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 