Title: My Rodeo Man
Author: Bonnie Phelps
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
He’s not the man she wanted – he’s everything she’s trying to avoid – but he’s the man she fell for… hard.
Zach Kincaid was definitely not what Ashley Drayton was looking for – one more risk-taking, bad boy to add to the long list of men who had broken her heart – the last one leaving her nearly penniless and homeless. Aiming for a fresh start, Ashely moved half way across the country to Texas. From here on out, players need not apply for the key to her heart. So how in the world had this cocky, confident cowboy charmed his way into her affections?
Ashley Drayton seemed like the kind of woman who typically made rodeo champion Zach Kincaid turn tail and head for the hills. A spoiled, prima donna. And that list of hers? Her perfect man sounded like a real yawn. Zach isn’t in the market for a wife but when he is, it won’t be some opinionated Southern Belle. She’ll be a woman who can stand beside him in the hard-knock world of ranching and rodeoing. So why can’t he get her out of his mind?
A witty romance about discovering that Mr. Wrong… just might be Mr. Right.
Excerpt:
ZACH COULDN’T KEEP his eyes off the sway of her hips as she shuffled along in time to the music as they made their way to the dance floor. Lord have mercy on his soul, but every one of her jiggly women’s bits was designed to catch a man’s attention. He didn’t like the looks other men were giving her, and from the hard-eyed stares they were getting from their ladies, neither did their partners. Ashley seemed oblivious, at least he hoped she wasn’t trying to egg the other men on.
It wouldn’t bother him at all if they cut their evening short and headed back to her place now. But then again, as she wiggled her hips into him this wasn’t bad either. Her playfulness was infectious and so much more appealing than that business persona she wore like a dark cloud so much of the time she was in public.
“You want to get out of here?” Desire flowed through his voice like molten lava, searing and urgent.
She smiled up at him, calculation in her gaze. “Tell you what, let’s play a game of pool. You win, we’ll go home right after the game. I win, and we stay and dance for another hour. Deal?”
He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Little lady, I cut my teeth playing pool. I accept your challenge.”
“So you say,” she said as she traced his lips with her finger. Her breast casually bumped against his arm as she turned away.
It was then he realized he was in way over his head.
When they got to the pool table she neatly racked up the balls and then tested several cues for weight, balance and length before settling on one she liked. She pulled an elastic thing out of her purse and tied back her hair.
“Let me guess, you’ve done this before?”
“Three older brothers who all thought they were God’s gift to the pool-playing universe. It became my mission to prove them wrong.”
Her saccharin smile jolted every single one of his competitive genes into high gear. No way was this tiny, little thing going to beat him.
“Do you want to break, or should I?” She batted her eyes in challenge.
“You go ahead.” He bit back a groan as she placed that delectable bottom of hers against his family jewels and pushed him back. If he was going to keep his head in the game, he better position himself on the other side of the table. Once there, he discovered he got an eyeful of what seemed like miles and miles of cleavage that she made sure were displayed to advantage. Ashley took a deep breath and shifted her shoulders showcasing her breasts cushiony softness as she lined up her shot. He felt need slam into his gut. Maybe two could play at this game.
Zach put the wolf in his smile and hunger in his eyes as he softly caressed the satiny wooden edge of the table. Slowly the tip of his tongue traced his full lips. His fingers encircled his cue and gently traveled up and down the shaft. The tip of her cue skittered across the felt and her shot went wide.
She glared up at him and then arched like a satisfied cat. “I guess it’s your turn.” He had the feeling that payback was going to be a bitch, but he’d just have to man up and take it.
He positioned his cue to take his shot. Ashley traced the edge of her top from one delectable mound, down into the valley between her breasts and then up along her other creamy orb. She ran her hands down her sides pulling her shirt tight across her ample chest before settling them on her tiny waist. Zach drew back his cue, ready to let it fly, and she put her hands under her breasts and shifted. His cue dug into the felt and he didn’t even hit the ball.
“Sorry, my girls just needed a little adjustment.” She shrugged.
“That was dirty pool, no pun intended,” he ground out.
“My turn.” She bent at the waist, balanced the cue on the edge of the table and waggled her hips.
Zach stepped up behind her, the ‘V’ of his legs against her butt leaving no doubt what he would rather be doing and placed his hands on her hips. He reached for his beer. “’Scuse me sweetheart. Just need to get around you.”
“I’m okay calling this a draw if you are,” she whispered drawing in the breath of the drowning.
He raised his finger in the air. “Check please.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
What’s your favorite part about being a romance author?
The opportunity to take a couple from meeting to finding their happily ever after. Life is messy and we all carry baggage on our shoulders and in our hearts. It’s rewarding for me to help my characters navigate and eventually overcome the obstacles that are holding them back for fully engaging and trusting the person who is meant to be the love of their lives. I enjoy starting with the blank page and watching the story unfold. My tagline is: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Love.
Here’s my tip to add romance to your love life:
Stand in front of the mirror and say, “I am worthy.” You can’t embrace love until you can embrace yourself.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card.
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon CA account to win.
Runs February 1 – 28, 2023.
Drawing will be held on March 1, 2023.
Author Biography:
Bonnie is the author of 9 contemporary romance novels. During her professional life she used her writing skills as a fundraising and communication executive for several nonprofits. In the late 1980s, Bonnie authored a syndicated column in several California newspapers in which she shared the experiences and misadventures of life as a wife and mother. The jury is out on whether or not her children always appreciated her candor. Because Bonnie has romance in her soul, she also worked as a Wedding Planner for several years. Absolutely loved it!! She craves anything sweet, revels in any chance to travel, and is addicted to tracing her family’s roots. A native Californian, the author lives in Northern California with her husband.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://bonniephelpsauthor.com/