Sons of Chance Book 11

Wild things can’t be tamed... Wrangler Luke Griffin refuses to be tied down like his unhappy dad. Always on the move, he’ll soon be handing in his notice at the Last Chance Ranch. But he’s curious about the woman studying an eagle family nesting on Chance land. When he stops under the observation platform, he’s doused by sticky green liquid and comes face-to-face with an angel. Through her binoculars, Naomi Perkins spots that gorgeous cowboy a mile away. Then she blows her cover by sliming him with her energy drink. On the plus side, she’s treated to a lust-inspiring view of his chest as he strips off his shirt. Even better, her nature-girl persona evidently appeals to him, although a brief affair is all this untamed cowboy can offer. She can’t resist. She loves wild things. And when it’s time, she’ll let him go. No matter how much it hurts.

Excerpt

“Naomi?”
The rich baritone made her whirl in its direction. She’d last heard that voice after being kissed senseless twenty feet above the ground. She found herself staring into Luke Griffin’s brown-eyed gaze. Her heart launched into overdrive.
They spoke in unison. “What are you doing here?”
“You first.” Luke tilted back his hat and stared at her. “You’re the big surprise. I thought you’d be curled up in your blue dome tent fast asleep.”
She fought the urge to grab his shirtfront in both hands and pull him into another kiss, one even more potent than what they’d shared earlier today. “I’m staying with my folks in town. And how do you know I have a blue dome tent?”
“I checked it out before I left.”
“For future reference?”
“No. In fact, that’s why I hotfooted it over here. I—” He gestured toward the band. “Love that song, but I don’t want to have to yell over it. Can we move outside for a minute?”
“Okay.” She gulped in air and did her best to calm down. When she agreed to this affair, she wanted to appear in command of herself, even if she wasn’t. He was used to sophistication, and she would exude that.
He held the door open and she walked out into the soft night air. He followed. As the door closed behind him, the music faded into background noise.
She turned to him. “Luke, I’m glad you’re here tonight, because—”
“No, wait. Let me say something first. I was off base today, and I apologize with all my heart. You’re not that kind of woman. I made a mistake and no doubt insulted you in the process.”
Yikes, now what? Right when she’d decided to accept his outrageous proposal, he’d withdrawn it on the grounds that she wasn’t that kind of woman.
She swallowed. “What kind of woman do you think I am?”
“The kind who needs stability. You deserve someone who wants to become a permanent part of your life, and I’m not that guy.”
“Luke, I don’t know what my life is going to be yet. You made me do some serious thinking today. I was shocked by your assumption that I’d want a fling, but—”
“I know you were, and I feel pretty rotten about that.”
“Yes, but you see, when it comes right down to it…” She placed both hands on his chest so she could feel his heart beating and know for sure that it was racing as fast as hers. This wasn’t a cold, calculated decision, after all. It was being made in the heat of the moment, and she was ready to dive headfirst into the flames.
She looked into his beautiful eyes. “I do want a fling with you, Luke.” Heat sizzled through her as she plunged into the fire. “In fact, I can’t think of anything I want more.”