Cowboy Crazy
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Other Titles by D'Ann Lindun
Marin's Montana Man
Blurb
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Check Out Lily's Summer Cowboy
Her Taylor Made Cowboy
Blurb
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Herded into Love
Blurb
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Author's Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue
Midnight Ride
Blurb
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue
Author's Note
Hitting the Right Note
Blurb
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Meet Cowboy and Some of His Friends...
His Christmas Hope
Blurb
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Sneak Peek at the Black Mountain Series...
About the Author
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Cowboy Crazy
Falling for the Men who Drive You Crazy
D’Ann Lindun
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction, distribution, or transmitted in whole or part in any form or means, or stored in any electronic, mechanical, database or retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Cowboy Crazy: Marin's Montana Man, Her Taylor Made Cowboy, Herded Into Love, Midnight Ride, Hitting The Right Note, His Christmas Hope
Copyright 2019 by D’Ann Lindun
Cover Design: Kim Killion
The Cowboys of Black Mountain:
A Cowboy To Keep
Ladies Love A Rodeo Man
Ladies Love Cowboys: the daughters of Clem Jamieson
Ladies Love Lawmen
Ladies Love Rock Stars
Promise Me Eden
*
Branded
Desert Heat
Ride A Falling Star
Shot Through The Heart
*
Anthologies:
Cowboy: Claimed
Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys
Cowboy, Mine
Cowboy Yours
Marin’s Montana Man
Marin’s Montana Man
After her ex-husband cheats on her, Marin Deni has no intention of ever falling in love again. When a friend’s brother arrives in town for a wedding, Marin’s resolve waffles. Can a sexy cowboy break through her defenses?
After a broken marriage leaves Wade Wainwright distrustful of women, can he let down his guard to love again?
DEDICATION
To the people of Montana, who suffered so much loss in the devastating fires of 2017.
CHAPTER ONE
Wade Wainwright couldn’t wait to crawl into bed, cover his head with a blanket and block out the world for the next twenty-four hours. He’d left Montana early in the morning hours and driven strait through to Lonesome Valley, Colorado. The clock on his dashboard said ten after midnight.
His baby brother was getting married at the end of the week, and as best man, Wade had a lot to do—mostly talk his brother out of marrying a woman he’d met only a few months ago. Worse, she was ten years older than Will.
Wade hadn’t met Lily yet, and he didn’t want to. She had to be a desperate, lonely old hag to prey on his brother. Anger filled Wade at the thought of his soon to be sister-in-law. She was his age, thirty-five, not Will’s.
He shook his head. Not happening on his watch.
With his mind on ways to break up his little brother and his fiancée, he almost missed the turn to his grandmother’s farm. What had once been a thriving apple orchard was now just a few acres. Gran had sold the land after Gramps died and taken off on the road in her big RV to explore the country.
She’d be here for the wedding, but until then she’d hired someone to take care of the house and yard. Wade was welcome to stay as long as he didn’t mind the housekeeper underfoot. He couldn’t care less as long as she left him alone.
He passed the big yard with flowerbeds everywhere, surrounded by enormous pines, and parked near the back door. With a tired sigh, he killed the engine and reached in the backseat for his bag.
As he exited his truck and walked toward the house, an outside light came on. A figure stood inside the doorway, hiding behind the screen. “Who’s there?” a woman called.
“Wade.” When no response came, he added, “Wainwright. Maggie’s grandson.”
Slowly, the door opened, and he spotted a woman in a pale pink nightgown with tiny straps that left her arms and shoulders bare. Dragging his gaze from her enticing tanned skin, to her wide honey-colored eyes, he spoke again. “Gran said I could crash here until the wedding. Didn’t she tell you?”
“No.” Still, she held the screen door like a shield.
“Can you call her, or something? I’m beat.” Exasperated, he shifted from one booted foot to another.
“You’re Wade? Maggie’s mentioned you a few times.” Slowly, she opened the door.
“I am.” He stepped by her, catching her scent as he passed. Something soft that reminded him of cotton sheets fresh from the clothesline. He was exhausted, losing it. “It’s been a long drive.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, maybe to cover nipples clearly visible through the thin material of her nightie. “I didn’t know you were coming, or I would’ve had something for you to eat. And a bed ready.” She colored a little.
He studied her in the low light of the kitchen. Short, dark hair that showcased big eyes and sharp cheekbones. “I ate, thanks. But, I sure could use a place to lay down. And I don’t care if it’s made, or not. I just want to sleep.”
“Do you know where the bedrooms are?” Again, the slight flush.
“It’s been a few years, but I remember,” he said.
“We have the one at the top of the stairs,” she told him. “But the other three are empty. I assume Maggie will want hers when she returns…”
A flash of disappointment went through him at ‘ours’. She had a husband, then. He shook it off. A woman wasn’t what he was here for. Talking his brother out of this foolishness was Wade’s one and only goal.
Still, he glanced at her ring finger. Bare. Odd. But, in this day and age, women sometimes didn’t wear a wedding band for a variety of reasons. His mother didn’t for fear it might get hung up in a rope, or the big equipment she handled.
“I can’t believe Gran forgot to tell you I was coming,” he grumbled.
The stranger shrugged her delectable shoulders again. “She might have meant to, but maybe didn’t have cell service where she was.”
He glanced around the spotless kitchen. “I could get a room in town…” He dreaded the ten-mile drive back to Lonesome Valley.
“There’s no need for that. Maggie wouldn’t like it if I turned away her own grandson.” She yawned, and he realized he wasn’t the only one tired.
“If you’re okay with me being here…”
“Of course.” She sounded anything but.
“Do you need to see my ID?” He reached for his wallet.
“Don’t be silly.” She cocked her head like a robin, and he realized he didn’t know her name. “Your grandmother has mentioned you, and besides, you look like Will.”
“You know my brother?”
A quick nod. “Yes.”
“And his fiancée?” he choked over the word. “Lily?”
Apparently, she caught onto his dislike because she raised her brows. “Lily’s wonde
rful. They both are.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he muttered.
A frown flitted across her face before she hid it. “Well, if that’s all…”
“Let’s go to bed.” Only when her cheeks blazed, did he realize what he’d said. “I mean—”
“I know what you meant.” She turned to the stairs, hesitating on the bottom one. “Just so you know, my door locks.”
Leaving him standing there with his mouth open, she disappeared.
~*~
Marin climbed the stairs on shaky legs. Telling herself it was the late hour, not the sexy-as-a-dream stranger standing in the foyer, she closed and secured the door behind her. She felt a little silly doing so, but better to be safe than sorry.
She scooted over her black cat, Inky, and slid under the covers next to him. “Well, that was weird. I wonder why Maggie didn’t tell me her grandson was coming?”
She had just closed her eyes when a thought crossed her mind. Lily told her Maggie had sent Will to help her, and they had fallen madly in love. Did Maggie think the same thing was going to happen between her and Wade? Her eyes flew open. Not in this lifetime.
For one thing, the guy was arrogant. Stuck-up as all get out and pretty darn sure he was hot as pavement in July. She grinned. He was too sexy for his jeans. Exactly what she wasn’t interested in.
A man like him had taken everything from her and she had no plans to let history repeat itself. With a final pat to Inky, she rolled over and forced images of the sexy cowboy out of her head.
~*~
Marin found Wade in her kitchen, rather Maggie’s kitchen, she reminded herself, early the next morning. He sat at the table, reading the local paper, drinking coffee. “You made coffee?”
Duh, Marin.
What was it about this guy that made her go stupid?
“I did.” He stood and moved to pour her a cup without asking. “How do you take it?”
“Cream and sugar,” she managed. A night’s rest had improved not only this guy’s disposition, but his looks, if that was possible. Dark blond hair cut short. Blue eyes and lips that made her think of naughty things he could do with them.
He set the cup in front of her. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Her cheeks heated. Damn her skin for being so prone to blushes. She sipped the coffee to hide her confusion. “That’s good.”
“I can make coffee.” He grinned and she forgot to breathe. “French toast, too. I was waiting for you to get up before I started it.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Great.” He moved to the stove. “Will your husband be coming soon?”
“My husband?”
He turned to eye her. “Last night you said ‘our room’. That lead me to think husband. Was I wrong?”
“Um, yeah,” she said. “I’m single.”
“Boyfriend, then?” Did a hint of jealousy creep into his voice?
“My cat, Inky.”
“What?” He looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“I sleep with Inky.” She pointed to the sleek creature, who wandered into the kitchen like he owned the place. Silly cat had no idea that they only resided here temporarily. Until she could get them back on their feet.
Wade grinned. “Lucky cat.”
Her face flamed. “Thanks.”
He turned to the counter and began making their meal. “I have to know one more thing before I feed you.”
She froze. “What?”
“Your name.” He looked over his shoulder at her.
“Marin Doy—Deni.” She reached over to pet Inky to hide her confusion. Getting used to her maiden name again proved to be difficult.
“Marin,” Wade repeated. “Pretty.”
“It’s Italian.”
He flipped the toast, then turned again to face her. The look in his eyes was warm. “I like it.”
“My mother picked it.” Why was she babbling? He didn’t care who named her, or why. “You’re Will’s eldest brother, right?”
“Second. There are six of us, all starting with W.” He turned and placed two slices of French toast on a plate, then set it in front of her. “Dig in.”
“That’s a bunch.” She took a bite of the bread. Delicious. “So good.”
“It’s my secret recipe.” He sat across from her and drizzled maple syrup on his toast.
“I love it.”
“So, Marin, what is it you do?” He took a bite and chewed, watching her over his plate.
How to answer that? Truthfully, she supposed. “I’m between jobs for a little while until I figure out what I want to do.”
He nodded and took another bite.
Although he didn’t comment, she felt compelled to elaborate. “My ex-husband took everything. I had nowhere to go, nothing to live on. I went to the church for help and they directed me to Lily. She and Will fixed it with Maggie for me to stay here until she returns this fall.”
“What will you do then?”
Fear twisted her belly and his delicious French toast lost all flavor. “I have no idea. I run a fruit stand out front and I have a little saved.” Not enough. Not even close to what she needed to rent a place.
“My gran will be home this weekend for the wedding.” Like she needed reminding her shelter here was only temporary.
“Yes, but not to stay. She plans to be here for the weekend, then leave again until the end of October.” So little time to plan and save. “What are you going to do today?”
He stood, picked up both plates and carried them to the sink. “Clean up here, then go to see my brother to try and talk some sense into his hard head.”
“What do you mean?” She also stood. “I can do the dishes. It’s only fair. You cooked.”
“I got them. I mean I’m going to try to convince my brother marrying a woman ten years his elder is foolish.” His movements were jerky as he filled the sink and washed the dishes.
“You can’t mean that.” She stared at his rigid back in disbelief. “Will and Lily are madly in love. Anyone can see it.”
“Love fades,” he said grimly.
She couldn’t argue with him there. She’d been crazy-in-love when she’d married Gary. Too bad he’d found a younger, hotter version of herself after only two years. “Sometimes.”
“And, what happens when they wake up and finally see the age difference? They’ll both be badly hurt.” He set down one of the plates a little harder than necessary.
Marin rescued the plate and dried it. “Lily’s only thirty-five, not fifty.”
“That’s not old…now.” He glanced at her. “But what about when she’s sixty and he’s fifty?”
“That’s only ten years between them.” Marin dried the second plate.
“It’s too much,” Wade insisted.
What was his issue with an older woman-younger man thing anyway? She opened her mouth to ask when someone pulled into the driveway and honked. “Oops. That’s probably a customer. I better see.”
Instead of a customer, a woman Marin assumed to be Wade’s grandmother, waved merrily from the door of an RV. “Hello, hello!” She stepped down. “You must be Marin.”
“I am. And you’re Maggie.” She forced enthusiasm into her voice. What if she decided to stay and not go back on the road? She’d be homeless.