Welcome to the Hot Summer Romance Giveaway Blog Hop! This is going to be another fabulous hop with tons of giveaways. I hope all of you are able to win several items this weekend. The hop sponsors are giving away a first and second place prize (leave a comment below to be entered in that drawing - maybe hop over to the main page and leave another comment to be sure you're in) and for MY CONTEST just get into the Rafflecopter below!
1st & 2nd Grand Prizes:
Kindle Fire
$50 Amazon Gift Card
~ Tonya's Prize Giveaways ~
$25 Gift Card
(winner's choice)
10 e-copies of
Come Tame Me
(as soon as it's released!)
Tentative Release Date: July 30th!!
Excerpt:
As Cassi stared at the barns and corrals, she knew this moment would come, just not so soon. Seeing Gabe again brought back feelings for him that she wasn’t sure she wanted rekindled. Ten years was a long time to harbor so many feelings. She had to sort them out, but how? He’d certainly kept in shape by running the ranch and from the looks of him, he did most of the heavy lifting.
Damnit!
She so wanted to stay mad at him for what had happened with that woman, but she couldn’t forget how tender he could be when they were together. He’d loved her; she knew that...and her gut told her to forget about the incident and move on.
“I’ve missed you.”
The sound of his deep voice melted her resolve all to quickly. Gently biting her lower lip, she met his dark eyes. He set his cup on the side table.
“You told me when you left to never try contacting you...ever. That’s the hardest thing in my life I’ve ever had to do.” Gabe leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs. “I’m sorry for the way things got left between us. I know I screwed up. What’s done is done...but what we had was good, Cass. I’ve held onto hope for ten years. I knew one day you’d have to visit here.”
She had so many questions. “And where’s that woman now?” Anger rose in her belly and she easily envisioned the incident in her mind. She hadn’t meant to blurt out that question but it’s the one that bothered her most.
Gabe tapped the arm of the log chair but kept his gaze on her. “She stayed with your father for about five years. When he fired Buck, she eventually moved in with him. He’s got a place about ten miles away and he’s still pissed at your father. They’ve had an ongoing feud between them ever since.”
Crossing her legs and swinging her foot, Cassi wondered if he’d tell her the truth with her next question. “When was the last time you saw her?” She hated being nosy but she had to know.
Without losing eye contact, Gabe leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I’ve not been with her since the night you and your mother walked into the bunkhouse. She and your father had the relationship until she got bored with him.”
She watched Gabe closely for a sign of lies but saw none. Gabe never flinched nor looked away. “I’m sorry I told you to never contact me. I’ve tried to forget what we had. I made myself believe you’d found a woman to make you happy...since I must not have done that for you.” A tear slipped down her cheek and made her mad that she’d let him see how much he affected her.
“My gawd, Cassi...I’ve thought of no one but you for ten years! Assuming you wanted nothing more to do with me, I didn’t try to find you.”
Through tear-filled eyes, Cassi admired Gabe, wishing things didn’t have to be so difficult. He’d only changed for the better, filling out his broad shoulders and his upper arms. Could she let him hold her without wondering if he wished she were someone else? Looking away, Cassi wiped her cheek.
This was too hard.
They would have to get past so many hurdles...but they did have time on their side.
Gabe stood and walked toward the steps. “If you decide to fire me as manager, I’ll understand.”
Cassi gasped and jumped up. “Gabe! That’s not what I want...”
He turned back and the hurt in his eyes stabbed her heart.
“I don’t know what you want, Cass.”
Damnit!
She so wanted to stay mad at him for what had happened with that woman, but she couldn’t forget how tender he could be when they were together. He’d loved her; she knew that...and her gut told her to forget about the incident and move on.
“I’ve missed you.”
The sound of his deep voice melted her resolve all to quickly. Gently biting her lower lip, she met his dark eyes. He set his cup on the side table.
“You told me when you left to never try contacting you...ever. That’s the hardest thing in my life I’ve ever had to do.” Gabe leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs. “I’m sorry for the way things got left between us. I know I screwed up. What’s done is done...but what we had was good, Cass. I’ve held onto hope for ten years. I knew one day you’d have to visit here.”
She had so many questions. “And where’s that woman now?” Anger rose in her belly and she easily envisioned the incident in her mind. She hadn’t meant to blurt out that question but it’s the one that bothered her most.
Gabe tapped the arm of the log chair but kept his gaze on her. “She stayed with your father for about five years. When he fired Buck, she eventually moved in with him. He’s got a place about ten miles away and he’s still pissed at your father. They’ve had an ongoing feud between them ever since.”
Crossing her legs and swinging her foot, Cassi wondered if he’d tell her the truth with her next question. “When was the last time you saw her?” She hated being nosy but she had to know.
Without losing eye contact, Gabe leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I’ve not been with her since the night you and your mother walked into the bunkhouse. She and your father had the relationship until she got bored with him.”
She watched Gabe closely for a sign of lies but saw none. Gabe never flinched nor looked away. “I’m sorry I told you to never contact me. I’ve tried to forget what we had. I made myself believe you’d found a woman to make you happy...since I must not have done that for you.” A tear slipped down her cheek and made her mad that she’d let him see how much he affected her.
“My gawd, Cassi...I’ve thought of no one but you for ten years! Assuming you wanted nothing more to do with me, I didn’t try to find you.”
Through tear-filled eyes, Cassi admired Gabe, wishing things didn’t have to be so difficult. He’d only changed for the better, filling out his broad shoulders and his upper arms. Could she let him hold her without wondering if he wished she were someone else? Looking away, Cassi wiped her cheek.
This was too hard.
They would have to get past so many hurdles...but they did have time on their side.
Gabe stood and walked toward the steps. “If you decide to fire me as manager, I’ll understand.”
Cassi gasped and jumped up. “Gabe! That’s not what I want...”
He turned back and the hurt in his eyes stabbed her heart.
“I don’t know what you want, Cass.”
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