A Real Cowboy Never Says No Read online

  A Real Cowboy Never Says No

  ISBN 10: 1940968100

  ISBN 13: 9781940968100

  Copyright © 2015 by Stephanie Rowe.

  Cover design ©2015 MJC Imageworks. For more info on the cover artist, please visit www.mjcimageworks.com.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form or by any means or for any use, including recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the author and/or the artist. The only exception is short excerpts or the cover image in reviews.

  Please be a leading force in respecting the right of authors and artists to protect their work. This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel or on the cover are either products of the author’s or artist’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or the artist.

  For further information, please contact [email protected]

  A Real Cowboy Never Says No

  ***

  A Wyoming Rebels Novel

  Stephanie Rowe

  A Real Cowboy Never Says No

  A Wyoming Rebels Novel

  USA Today bestselling author, Stephanie Rowe, delivers a brand new series set in Rogue Valley, Wyoming, home to the Stockton brothers, a clan of fiercely loyal and honorable men, and the women who touch the hearts of these rugged, loner cowboys.

  ***

  The only reason rancher Chase Stockton and his brothers survived their brutal childhood was because they protected each other. Nothing will ever come between them…until a sudden tragedy calls in a life debt Chase can’t ignore, forcing him to make a choice that could destroy the very bonds that hold his family together.

  Mira Cabot has never asked for help, but when a sexy, protective cowboy makes her an offer she can’t afford to refuse, she finds herself on her way to Wyoming to be the shotgun bride of a man she has every reason…and no reason…to trust.

  The sizzling connection between Mira and Chase turns a rescue mission into something dangerously addictive, one that could either heal two broken hearts, or shatter them forever.

  “Rowe is a paranormal star!” ~J.R. Ward

  ***

  Praise for No Knight Needed

  “No Knight Needed is m-a-g-i-c-a-l! Hands down, it is one of the best romances I have read. I can’t wait till it comes out and I can tell the world about it.” ~Sharon Stogner, Love Romance Passion

  “No Knight Needed is contemporary romance at its best….There was not a moment that I wasn’t completely engrossed in the novel, the story, the characters. I very audibly cheered for them and did not shed just one tear, nope, rather bucket fulls. My heart at times broke for them. The narrative and dialogue surrounding these ‘tender’ moments in particular were so beautifully crafted, poetic even; it was this that had me blubbering. And of course on the flip side of the heart-wrenching events, was the amazing, witty humour….If it’s not obvious by now, then just to be clear, I love this book! I would most definitely and happily reread, which is an absolute first for me in this genre.”Becky Johnson, Bex ‘N’ Books

  “No Knight Needed is an amazing story of love and life…I literally laughed out loud, cried and cheered…. No Knight Needed is a must read and must re-read.”Jeanne Stone-Hunter, My Book Addiction Reviews

  ***

  Praise for Not Quite Dead

  “[Rowe] has penned a winner with Not Quite Dead, the first novel in her new NightHunter vampire series…an action-packed, sensual, paranormal romance that will captivate readers from the outset…Brimming with vampires, danger, resurrection, Louisiana bayou, humor, surprising plot twists, fantasy, romance and love, this story is a must-read!” ~Romance Junkies:

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Possessed

  “A story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and characters you won’t soon forget!” - Paige Tyler, USA Today Bestselling Author of the X-OPS Series

  “Stephanie Rowe has really outdone herself! Darkness Possessed is the perfect paranormal. Sexy, dark, and with enough twists to keep you glued to your seat with breathless anticipation. Zach and Rhiannon set the pages of this book on fire!” ~Kerrigan Byrne, International Bestselling Author

  “Darkness Possessed…is an action-packed, adrenaline pumping paranormal romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat… Suspense, danger, evil, life threatening situations, magic, hunky Calydons, humor, fantasy, mystery, scorching sensuality, romance, and love – what more could you ask for in a story? Readers – take my advice – do not miss this dark, sexy tale!” ~Romance Junkies

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Unleashed

  “Once more, award winning author Stephanie Rowe pens a winner with Darkness Unleashed, the seventh book in her amazing Order Of The Blade series…[an] action-packed, sensual story that will keep you perched on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning pages to discover the outcome…one of the best paranormal books I have read this year.” ~Dottie, Romancejunkies.com

  ***

  Praise for Forever in Darkness

  “Stephanie Rowe has done it again. The Order Of The Blade series is one of the best urban fantasy/paranormal series I have read. Ian’s story held me riveted from page one. It is sure to delight all her fans. Keep them coming!” ~ Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Awakened

  “A fast-paced plot with strong characters, blazing sexual tension and sprinkled with witty banter, Darkness Awakened sucked me in and kept me hooked until the very last page.” ~ Literary Escapism

  “Rarely do I find a book that so captivates my attention, that makes me laugh out loud, and cry when things look bad. And the sex, wow! It took my breath away… The pace kept me on the edge of my seat, and turning the pages. I did not want to put this book down… [Darkness Awakened] is a must read.” ~ D. Alexx Miller, Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Seduced

  “[D]ark, edgy, sexy … sizzles on the page…sex with soul shattering connections that leave the reader a little breathless!…Darkness Seduced delivers tight plot lines, well written, witty and lyrical - Rowe lays down some seriously dark and sexy tracks. There is no doubt that this series will have a cult following. ” ~ Guilty Indulgence Book Club

  “I was absolutely enthralled by this book…heart stopping action fueled by dangerous passions and hunky, primal men…If you’re looking for a book that will grab hold of you and not let go until it has been totally devoured, look no further than Darkness Seduced.”~When Pen Met Paper Reviews

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Surrendered

  “Book three of the Order of the Blades series is…superbly original and excellent, yet the passion, struggle and the depth of emotion that Ana and Elijah face is so brutal, yet is also pretty awe inspiring. I was swept away by Stephanie’s depth of character detail and emotion. I absolutely loved the roller-coaster that Stephanie, Ana and Elijah took me on.” ~ Becky Johnson, Bex ‘n’ Books!

  “Darkness Surrendered drew me so deeply into the story that I felt Ana and Elijah’s emotions as if they were my own…they completely engulfed me in their story…Ingenious plot turns and edge of your seat suspense…make Darkness Surrendered one of the best novels I have read in years.” ~Tamara Hoffa, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

  ***

  Praise for Ice

  “Ice, by Stephanie Rowe, is a thrill ride!” ~ Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  “Passion explodes even in the face of spiraling danger as
Rowe offers a chilling thrill-ride through a vivid—and unforgiving—Alaskan wilderness.” ~ Cheyenne McCray, New York Times bestselling author

  “Ice delivers pulse-pounding chills and hot romance as it races toward its exciting climax!” ~ JoAnn Ross, New York Times bestselling author

  “Stephanie Rowe explodes onto the romantic suspense scene with this edgy, sexy and gripping thriller. From the very first page, the suspense is chilling, and there’s enough sizzling passion between the two main characters to melt the thickest arctic ice. Get ready for a tense and dangerous adventure.” ~ Fresh Fiction

  “Stephanie Rowe makes her entry into Romantic Suspense, and what an awesome entry! From the very first pages to the end, heart-stopping danger and passion grab the heart. … sends shivers down the spine… magnificent… mind-chilling suspense… riveting… A wonderful romance through and through!” ~ Merrimon Book Reviews

  “[a] thrilling entry into romantic suspense… Rowe comes through with crackling tension as the killer closes in.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

  ***

  Praise for Chill

  “Chill is a riveting story of danger, betrayal, intrigue and the healing powers of love… Chill has everything a reader needs – death, threats, thefts, attraction and hot, sweet romance.” ~ Jeanne Stone Hunter, My Book Addiction Reviews

  “Once again Rowe has delivered a story with adrenalin-inducing action, suspense and a dark edged hero that will melt your heart and send a chill down your spine.” ~ Sharon Stogner, Love Romance Passion

  “Chill packs page turning suspense with tremendous emotional impact. Buy a box of Kleenex before you read Chill, because you will definitely need it! …Chill had a wonderfully complicated plot, full of twist and turns. “ ~ Tamara Hoffa, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Copyright Page

  Title Page

  Praise for Stephanie Rowe

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Sneak Peek: A Real Cowboy Knows How to Kiss

  Sneak Peek: A Real Cowboy Rides a Motorcycle

  Sneak Peek: No Knight Needed

  Sneak Peek: Fairy Tale Not Required

  Select List of Other Books

  Stephanie Rowe Bio

  Acknowledgements

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Mira Cabot’s first thought when she saw him was that cowboy hats didn’t belong at this funeral.

  Her second thought was that it was fantastic he was wearing one.

  There was nothing like watching a genuine cowboy saunter boldly into a conservative southern church full of overpriced black suits and expensive leather shoes to remind her that life was not over just because someone she loved was dead.

  She grinned, her first smile in what felt like years, knowing that AJ would have been thrilled to see the cowboy ignoring the rigid society rules at his funeral. He’d give the white cowboy hat two thumbs up, and he’d probably even toss in a bonus if the man didn’t take it off when he met AJ’s domineering father.

  She knew AJ had always figured he’d wind up being fêted in a small service by the river, where they’d spent hours as kids. His funeral of choice would have been kids, dogs, bare feet, and a local band playing his favorite country music as a reminder to everyone to get off their butts and live life.

  Instead, his father had taken over the largest church in town, and he’d booked the finest ballroom in five counties for everyone to retire to after the burial, because he was more concerned about status and money than he was about his dead son’s desires.

  The line inched forward, dragging her inexorably forward into the church where AJ’s dad was presiding, but the cowboy didn’t move from the doorway. Mira watched him standing in the doorway, surveying the church with methodical precision, as if he were taking stock of every person present. He was wearing jeans, but they looked sharp and crisp. His face was clean-shaven, but there were already hints of whiskered shadows caressing his jaw. His dark hair was barely visible beneath his hat, but it was clearly cut short. His blue eyes were shrewd and assessing as he scanned the occupants, apparently searching for someone. There was a life and energy exuding from him, as if he got up every morning and somehow managed to cram forty-eight hours of life into every single day.

  He made her feel weary and bone-tired in comparison, but at the same time, it was energizing. She hadn’t been around someone that alive in a long time, and it was a good reminder to get off her butt and get outside in the sunshine, just like AJ was probably shouting at her to do right at that very moment, stalking her from heaven.

  The usher, one of AJ’s cousins, took her arm. “First row, Mira? AJ always considered you his sister.”

  “You really think I’d be welcome in the family seats?” She almost snorted as she glanced at the front of the church. AJ’s dad, Alan Joseph Wentworth, Sr., was flanked by his attorney and his only remaining son, Thurston Wentworth, the hard-drinking underachiever who would now inherit the business, much to the dismay of the clan’s patriarch. Thurston looked presentable in a navy suit, and his hair was greased back to hide the unruly curls. Alan, however, was sheer, unassailable properness. His silver hair was precisely coiffed, and his crisp black suit fit him with the precision of a custom-made specialty.

  Alan looked up, catching her gaze, and his face hardened.

  She shot him a winning smile, the same “you don’t bother me” grin she’d been giving him for years, which was a bald-faced lie because the man scared the hell out of her. He was a man who got what he wanted, and he was willing to hurt anyone to get it, including his own son or the family who had given him refuge.

  Yeah, there was no chance she was going to sit with Alan today. “You know, that’s a great idea to sit in the front, Todd, but I might have to leave early. I wouldn’t want to disturb the service.” And she didn’t want her last tribute to AJ to be tainted by Alan. Instead, she gestured to the last pew. “I’ll just slide in the back here.”

  Not waiting for assent, she ducked into the last row of benches, breaking protocol since the seats in front of her weren’t full yet. Not that she cared, and neither would AJ. She wasn’t here for his family. She was here for him.

  She scooted into the far corner, letting the shadows of the balcony conceal her. She knew almost everyone who walked in, but very few of them would bother to notice her. Unlike Mira, the rest of the attendees were from the south end of town, the section of mansions and gated driveways that wished her end of town didn’t actually exist. A few of her friends from high school were there, but they’d moved beyond their shared teenage angst. Not a single one bothered to look over into her dark corner. There was a smattering of sharply dressed twenty-something men and women she didn’t know, and she figured those had to be AJ’s friends and co-workers from Boston, people from the part of his life she’d never known.

  As she sank onto the thick, well-worn cushion, she glanced back again toward the entrance, but the cowboy was no longer in the doorway. Without his energizing presence galvanizing her, the enormity of what she was facing settled heavily onto her shoulders once again. Grim reality wrapped around her like a shadowy cloak trying to suck the last remnants of energy from her soul. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to summon the inner strength that had gotten her through so much.

  She needed a plan. She needed to take action. But what action? What was she going to do?

  Sudden tears threatened, and she instinctively lifted her chin in defiance, willing them away.

  She knew exactly what she had to do, and she’d known it for th
e last four hours. She was going to have to quit her job, pathetic as it was, and move away from the only place she’d ever lived, and the only place she’d ever wanted to live, to somewhere that AJ’s dad would never, ever find her.

  ***

  Chase Stockton knew he’d found the woman he’d come to meet.

  There was no mistaking the depth of loathing in the gaze of AJ’s dad when he’d glared at the woman in the pale blue sundress. There was only one woman Alan could despise that much, and it was Mira Cabot.

  Chase grinned. After more than a decade, he was about to meet Mira Cabot in person. Hot damn.

  Anticipation humming through him, Chase watched with appreciation as she ducked into the last row of pews, her pale shoulders erect and strong as she moved down the row. She was a little too thin, yeah, but there was a strength to her body that he liked. Her dark blond hair was curly, bouncing over her shoulders in stark contrast to the tight updos of the other women in the church. He’d noticed her flip-flops and hot pink toenails, a little bit of color in the chapel full of black and gloom.

  Chase had hopped a plane to attend the funeral, but it hadn’t been just to honor AJ. He could have done that from his ranch in Wyoming. Nope, he’d come here to meet Mira, because he’d had a feeling this was going to be his only chance.

  He ignored the line of churchgoers waiting to be seated. Instead, he strode around the back of the last pew to the far side, where his quarry was tucked away in the shadows. As he approached, someone turned up the lights in the church, and the shadows slid away, casting her face in a warm glow, giving him his first view of the woman he’d been thinking about for more than a decade.

  Chase was shocked by the raw need that flooded him. Her eyes were the same deep blue as in her photo. Her nose had that slight bump from when she and AJ had failed to successfully erect a tire swing in her front yard, resulting in her crashing to the ground and breaking her nose. Her lips were pale pink, swept with the faintest hint of gloss, and her eyelashes were as long and thick as he’d imagined. Her shoulders were bare and delicate in her sundress, and her ankles were crossed demurely, as if she were playing the role that was expected of her. Yet, around that same ankle was a chain of glittering gold with several blue stones. He knew that anklet. He’d helped AJ pick it out for her twenty-first birthday.