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#Giveaway Excerpt OUTLAW COWBOY by Nicole Helm @NicoleTHelm @SourcebooksCasa 6.3

April 17, 2016 By Mary 24 Comments

by Nicole Helm
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Title: Outlaw Cowboy
Author: Nicole Helm
Series: Big Sky Cowboys, #2
Pubdate: May 3rd, 2016
ISBN: 9781492621270
 

BIG SKY TROUBLE

Ever since his father’s accident, Caleb Shaw vowed he’d mend his wild ways, and he means to keep his word. He’s a changed man. A better man. And he knows he should want absolutely nothing to do with his crazy old life…or the maddening temptation that is Delia Rogers.

Because Delia? Is nothing but trouble.

Delia’s been stealing her sisters away from their violent father ever since she was old enough to fight back. But now with the police on her trail and all her bridges burned, there’s nowhere left to run but back into the arms of the one cowboy she knows she shouldn’t need. Caleb has always been too good for her, no matter how bad he claimed to be. Yet when close quarters turn into something more, Delia and Caleb are forced to decide what really matters: mending their reputations or healing their wary hearts…

 

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 Nicole Helm writes down-to-earth contemporary romance specializing in people who don’t live close enough to neighbors for them to be a problem. When she’s not writing, she spends her time dreaming about someday owning a barn. She lives with her husband and two young sons in O’Fallon, Missouri.

 Visit Nicole’s website for more down-to-earth contemporary romance!

 Question: Would you rather be without eyes or ears?

 Answer: I would rather be without ears. I can’t imagine how clumsy I’d be without eyes!

 

An Excerpt:

“I know. I’m not comparing, Delia. I can’t.” He shook his head as his gaze returned to hers.

If she looked closely enough, she could probably see her own reflection, but getting any closer than this already too-close cab of his truck held zero appeal.

“But if you had something that was yours, that made you who you are, that gave you a reason to get up in the morning, wouldn’t you do everything to keep it? Wouldn’t you fight to keep the thing that made you feel like you weren’t a complete waste of space?”

She should look away. She should get out of the truck or demand he drive her to her family home. She should do anything but keep his gaze and let his words wrap around her heart and squeeze.

She didn’t have a thing that made her who she was, or a reason to get up in the morning—at least not once Steph was out. Yet she’d always kept plowing ahead, because no matter how bleak things were, she knew who she was. Strong. Resilient. And she knew, deep in her heart most of the time, that once she did her duty to her sisters, there would be something waiting for her on the other side.

She hadn’t planned on it being jail, but even in her darkest moments she knew even that would be a temporary thing, as long as she could get Steph safe first.

All the crap Caleb was complaining about was easier, but somehow sadder, because he didn’t know how to go on without this beautiful, amazing piece of land that made her feel an aching kind of hope.

Hope. Somehow, it kept her going. It kept people like them going. And all of Caleb’s was tied up in something that could be taken from him.

“I’m not expecting sympathy,” he said, his voice hushed and his eyes on hers.

She felt herself lean forward, as if there was some force pushing her there. Him or the sun disappearing in his eyes.

“I just want you to understand why I did what I did. Helping you isn’t an easy choice for me. It threatens my only chance at this. But I want to do it anyway.”

She couldn’t swallow the lump in her throat, and her eyes burned. It shouldn’t make it better and it shouldn’t make it understandable. It certainly shouldn’t make her forgive him for trying to kick her off Shaw.

But she saw his battle, and that thing inside of him so lost he couldn’t find a center without the beauty that surrounded them, and that seemed more depressing than getting up every morning ready to fight. Thinking the only thing that made you worthwhile could be so easily taken away seemed worse than working to save people you loved. At least, at the end of the day, she knew she’d have her determination.

He cleared his throat. “Christ, Delia. Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying.”

He reached out and touched his thumb to an unruly tear trailing down her cheek. She had a handle on the rest, but that one escaped and now he was touching it. Her.

Why were they so close? Why was she letting him be this close? Letting him touch her? She should push him away. Knock that stupid hat off his head while she was at it. She should do everything but lean into that gentle touch. It was a lie, a distraction, anything but something she could believe in or allow.

But somehow their mouths were close, and her heart was beating frantically against her chest, pushing her even closer to him. With his mouth a whisper from hers, her body completely warm for the first time since she’d woken up in the Shaw house this morning, he didn’t press his mouth to hers. He shook his head.

“I can’t do this with you.” But he didn’t back away, and when his eyes searched her face, they didn’t seem to mean that at all.

“But here you are,” she managed to croak out, sounding not at all like the cool, unaffected, kick-ass woman she’d like to be. Here she was, letting him swoop in, letting him touch her and affect her. “I don’t trust you,” she whispered, because she had to put that between them. She had to remind herself.

“Good. I don’t trust myself.”

Why? Why did she feel sorry for him? He had everything, including all the power. But sympathy softened her heart against her will, because the jackass didn’t know himself at all, and that was damn sad.

She’d rather be stupid than sad. She’d rather feel than run away from it. So she did the stupid, feeling thing to do.

She leaned in and pressed her mouth to his.

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Comments

  1. Rhianona – Reader and reviewer of all sorts of books.
    Rachel B says

    April 17, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    my favorite place to read is curled up on my couch.

    Reply
  2. Erin says

    April 17, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    My favourite is snuggled up in bed at night

    Reply
  3. Anne says

    April 18, 2016 at 7:30 am

    On my cozy loveseat.

    Reply
  4. anxious58 – Avid Reader. Love most romance, Suspense, YA, And other fiction books.
    kim hansen says

    April 18, 2016 at 7:55 am

    Love seat indoors and the local park outdoors.

    Reply
  5. isisthe12th – United States – Hi! I'm a mom of three wonderful children. I love to read, cook and follow blogs.
    Linda Romer says

    April 18, 2016 at 8:36 am

    My favorite place to read is in the kitchen ♡ Thank you

    Reply
  6. carol L – New Jersey – Love books and reading. Antiquing,Estate sales and flea markets are a favorite pastime of mine as well. But books and reading are an addiction.
    Carol L says

    April 18, 2016 at 11:46 am

    I can read anywhere but enjoy it more at night in bed with all my pillows behind me.
    Carol Lr

    Reply
  7. Anita Yancey says

    April 18, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    My favorite place to read is in my big chair by the window in my living room.

    Reply
  8. Diane Sallans says

    April 18, 2016 at 7:03 pm

    on the lounge of my couch

    Reply
  9. dismise25
    missy ellis says

    April 20, 2016 at 9:41 pm

    couch

    Reply
  10. Nicole_Helm says

    April 22, 2016 at 12:07 am

    Nicole Helm, good deal, thanks. from sec.aliexpress.com

    Reply
  11. Megan Broderick
    Megan says

    April 22, 2016 at 11:49 am

    My favorite place to read is my bed, but that’s generally just my favorite place, period.

    Reply
  12. BookLady says

    April 24, 2016 at 4:05 pm

    My favorite place to read is in the recliner by the fireplace.

    Reply
  13. Suze says

    April 25, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    I have a sofa bed in my living room which is wonderful for reading.

    Reply
  14. Tanya phillips says

    April 25, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    I like to read sat outside my caravan in the sun

    Reply
  15. thedragonessofbooks
    rafaella says

    April 27, 2016 at 12:57 am

    Bed

    Reply
  16. donnasquaw1952
    Donna Harris says

    May 2, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    My favorite place to read, I love to relax and read on my daybed or bed!

    Reply
  17. Laura says

    May 6, 2016 at 1:02 am

    My favorite place to read is my bed. I like reading right before I fall asleep.

    Reply
  18. Emma says

    May 15, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    my favorite place to read is outside on my porch when it is warm. I am looking forward to reading Rebel Cowboy by Nicole Helm. Thank you for the opportunity to win.

    Reply
  19. Bonnie Gonzales says

    May 15, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    In my recliner in my living room when I’m home alone.

    Reply
  20. tracee says

    May 19, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    While I read, I like to sit by the big picture window, looking out at the trees and birds and…
    those darn deer eating my plants.
    wait, no.
    not the deer.
    but the rest, yes. 🙂

    Reply
  21. Angela Covarrubias says

    May 19, 2016 at 10:51 pm

    I love to read in bed at night after everyone has gone to sleep. That’s my time!

    Reply
  22. Veronika says

    May 21, 2016 at 4:25 pm

    My bed!

    Reply
  23. Laurie Nykaza says

    May 27, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    I like to read in bed where its quiet

    Reply
  24. kateivan
    Kate I. says

    June 3, 2016 at 9:17 am

    My favorite place to read is my luxuriantly appointed bed. Extra pillows and blankets make for a cozy nest!

    Reply

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