By
Rhonda Lee Carver

She’s his best friend’s sister and off limits…but then again, he never cared much for limits.

Daisy Bloom had wanted her brother’s best friend, Boone Hawke, for as long as she could remember. Why couldn’t he see her for more than her brother’s little sister? She decided to take charge of her own fate and bring out a few tricks to get him to see her differently. A kiss, a flirty smile, and a flash of her “assets” might get him to bite the forbidden apple.

There was something in the water. Must be for Daisy to flirt with him. Brody’s little sister wasn’t so little anymore and Boone had noticed. She’d metamorphosed from the girl with the too-large glasses and oversized bibs, always wearing a smear of dirt on her cheek, to a seductive woman who had him in her crosshairs. Too bad she was off limits. There was a buddy code Boone didn’t plan to cross. Yet, what would one kiss hurt? One itty-bitty touch should put his fantasy to rest.

Wrong.

One touch sent them into a labyrinth of lust, secrets, and betrayal. A line had been destroyed and there was no going back,. They were caught in a mind-blowing, carnal web. Did they have a future together or would they crash and burn? Sometimes hard decisions needed to be made, and someone would be hurt.

Daisy Bloom has been in love with Boone most of her life. She’s had relationships but no one has come close to capturing her heart. Boone is her brother’s best friend and still sees her as a kid. You’d think he’d notice the difference now she’s thirty.

Boone has noticed Daisy, but years ago he promised Brody he wouldn’t date any of his sisters. He’s got a playboy reputation, and Brody and everyone else isn’t letting that go.

When Daisy’s sister Chynna gives her some ideas Boone takes notice and he’s conflicted. If he makes a move he’ll lose his best friend, and if he doesn’t it could lose her to someone else. He does give in and agree to help raise the money for the new town park and he a good idea for it and would discuss it at the Gender Reveal for his brother and sister-in-law.

This is a favorite scene.

“Want me to take over here?” Hank asked.

“Huh?” Boone pulled his gaze away from Daisy and pretended interest in flipping a burger.

“Let me have the spatula before we have more burgers on the ground than in our mouths.” Hank took the tool and manned the grill. “Word of advice, go speak to her.”

“What? Who?”

Hank’s laugh made a few bystanders turn to look. “Don’t deny it. Your interest in Daisy Bloom is about as subtle as an elephant in a china shop.”

Rubbing his jaw, he glanced at her and she was ladling punch into her cup. He removed his stare and concentrated on opening another package of buns. “It’s just taking me some time to get used to her without glasses.”

“I bet. And maybe that form fitting red dress too?” Hank teased. “Hi, Daisy.”

Boone looked up. How the hell did she move so quick?

“Boone, you ready to go over the details on the park?” Her tongue came out to roll across her plump bottom lip and he swore he broke one of the zipper teeth in his worn jeans.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he nodded and left the grill area. “Let’s walk.” If they were going to work together, he needed to clear the air. Walking around with a boner wouldn’t be productive, or healthy, for him. Once they were away from the crowd, he stopped and hooked his thumbs in his front pockets. “About last night—”

“Last night was—”

They both started in unison.

She laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“You go first,” he offered. “I was just going to say that I don’t want things to be awkward between us after last night.”

“Why would they be awkward?” He shifted on his worn boots.

Her cheeks flushed. “I-I was just a little tipsy.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell.” He chuckled. “Let’s walk over and sit down by the water.”

Once they were seated on the weathered wooden bench, she toed off her boots and set them aside. “Much better,” she said.

“When we were kids you were barefoot all the time.”

“I still am when I can be.” She crossed her legs and the slit of the dress parted, showing off her nice thighs. His gaze seemed to lock on her legs all the way down to her delicate ankles. Her toenails were painted a bright red. She had nice feet and he wasn’t sure he’d ever noticed anyone’s feet before now. Not that he was a foot man. He liked a woman’s smile, and she wasn’t lacking in that area either. “How about we go out and sit on the dock so I can dip my feet in the water.” She was already up and moving that direction.

He followed, watching the natural sway of her hips.

She sat down, tugging at her skirt, then dipped her toes in.

Toeing off his boots and socks, he joined her, sitting a little closer than he normally would.

“Want a sip?” she offered.

“Sure.” He took a swallow from her cup then handed it back, feeling a stiffness behind his zipper when she pressed her lips to the same spot where he’d drank. How could something so simple cause such a strong emotion in him?

He wanted to lick the remaining sweetness of the punch off her lips.

“About the committee, I know it isn’t your cup of tea, but I could use the help.” She rolled the tip of her finger along the rim of the cup.

He eased back onto his hands and stretched his legs. The coolness of the water helped to ease some of the heat in his veins. “I said I’d help and I meant it. I won’t back out. What happened to Mitch? I would have figured he’d fight tooth and nail to spend some time with you.”

“He wouldn’t face a duel for me.” She laughed.

“Huh?”

“It’s an inside thing. What I meant, a man would fight an enemy, face death, for the woman he loves, and Mitch has met her…and her name is Katherine.” She looked out across the pond where geese skimmed the top of the water. “We both thought it best that he does not help.”

“Katherine? Is that his ex?”

“Yes.”

“I’d forgotten about her.” He scratched his temple.

“Well, he hasn’t.” She brought the cup to her lips and sipped, then set it aside.

“Did this knowledge come after you rejected him or before?”

Her eyes widened. “How do you know that I rejected him?”

“The text I received from you pretty much gave it away. You wouldn’t have bothered with me if you were in a cowboy’s arms.”

“I would have never slept with Mitch,” she said quietly.

“You certainly seemed hell bent last night.” Anger boiled inside him.

“I-I…”

“What?”

“To sleep with a man I need more reason than loneliness.” Her eyes turned darker.

“How is it possible that you can be lonely?”

“I thought we came out here to discuss the park, not my love life, or lack thereof.”

“You and everyone else seem to enjoy discussing mine. Maybe it’s time I turned the tables.”

She shifted to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean everyone thinks they know what happens in my bed. I know a bit about loneliness myself.” He’d divulged more than he wanted to, but it felt right to allow her in.

She laughed but once she realized he wasn’t teasing her expression sobered. “Sorry, but…”

“There. Right there. You all think you know me.”

“Okay, then. Just as you’ve promised to not call me Frog again, I’ll promise not to assume you’re a playboy.” She held up two fingers pressed together in oath.

He sat up and pressed his elbows against his knees. “Oh sheesh. Saying that aloud makes it all sound even worse.”

She leaned over and lifted his shirt, looking at his back. “Nope, don’t see any.”

“And what don’t you see?”

“Claw marks. I’m sure if you bedded Talia her three-inch nails would have left permanent marks.”

“You’re funny. Can we please not mention her name again?”

“Sure, but it’s kind of hard when you’re wearing her scent.” She sniffed and wrinkled her nose. “Is that Eau de Taliette?”

“Yeah, you just keep getting funnier.”

“Okay. Okay. I brought you out here to discuss raising money, not putting my nose where it doesn’t belong. We should stay on track. We need a proposal and don’t have much time.”

“Is that why you’re no longer pissed at me? You want to reel me in to talk money?” He jerked up a brow.

“Your sparkling attitude keeps me from staying mad at you,” she teased.

“Fine. What do you have in mind?’

“A rodeo?”

“Takes too much time.”

“A dance?”

“Won’t raise enough money. Wouldn’t be worth our while.”

“How about a carnival? The committee put on one a few years ago and it did very well. We could dress you up as a clown and you can tie balloons into funny shapes for the kids.”

“Nope.” He shook his head.

She sighed and irritation crawled over her face. “You’ve shot down all my ideas so why don’t you name something, Einstein.”

“I do have some ideas, you know.”

“I believe you, but you have to communicate them so we’re not spinning our wheels.”

“If I could get a word in,” he huffed.

“Fine. Go ahead.”

“How about a concert?”

“Like a singing on stage concert?” She snickered. “I love the idea, but I’ve heard you sing and I’m even worse. We want to raise money, not destroy anyone’s hearing.”

“Jinx Crow.”

“Jinx? I haven’t heard that name in years. I thought after a few years of living the life of a popular music career he disappeared off the face of the earth.”

“He disappeared but not off the face of the earth. He retired because the life of a star wasn’t fit for him. Now he writes music for big hit artists. Imagine how many people would show up to hear him sing and for an autograph. He’s a hometown boy. People remember him.”

“Okay. I’ll bite. How can we get Jinx to come back to Cooper’s Hawk and do a concert? As far as I know he hasn’t been here since he took off for Nashville at eighteen. What makes you think he’ll want to come back now.”

“He owes me a favor and I haven’t called it in yet. He and I happen to stay in touch and it’s worth a shot.” He looked up into the sky and the large, puffy clouds.

She laid her hand on his bicep and he snapped his chin around to look at her. “See, Boone, this is why you’re a benefit to the committee.
Rhonda Carver. CowboyBoonefinal-with-toc (Kindle Locations 796-867). Kindle Edition.

When these two finally come together, it’s explosive and kept a secret. Someone is going to have to break it to Brody sooner or later, unfortunately he’s going to find out on his own.

This is a fun read with plenty of sizzle and a cowboy who needs to listen to his heart.

5 Contented Purrs for Rhonda!

Rhonda Lee Carver

Rhonda Lee Carver is a published book writer with a collection of print and eBooks under her wing. She is also a freelance editor. Her first book was published with Wild Rose Press in 2010.

She writes everything from contemporary to steamy to paranormal to suspense…you name it, she’s written it. Her specialty is writing men who love to get their hands dirty—hardworking, blue collar, heroes in everyday life.

When Rhonda isn’t crafting edge-of-your-seat, sizzling novels, you’ll find her with her children and husband watching soccer, watching a breathtaking movie, traveling to exotic places (with Bora Bora on her bucket list), doing (or trying) yoga, saving cats and dogs, and finding new ways to keep life interesting.

Rhonda thrives on making her readers happy. She believes life can be a challenge, but reading is a place where fantasy comes to life. Her motto: “Everyone deserves romance—one page at a time.“