Page 1 of Her Steamy Cowboy

Chapter One

JACE

I’m not usuallythe superstitious type.

But even I know that seeing my best friend dangling from a ladder that’s older than both of us combined is a bad omen for the new year.

I shake my head as I call out to her. “You’re going to give Mary Beth a heart attack if she sees you on that ladder.”

Lindsay doesn’t startle at my voice. Instead, she glances down over her shoulder at me. “Mary Beth left an hour ago.”

“All the more reason for you to get down from there.”

Even from here, I can see her rolling her eyes. “I’ll be fine,” she replies. “I’m almost done. I just need to take down a few more of these decorations.”

I cross the room in long strides. The usually pristine gift shop looks like Christmas exploded - half-opened boxes scattered near the register, price tags and ribbon scraps littering the polished wood counter. Between the racks of premium leather goods and hand-tooled saddles, bright garland still winds through the exposed beams like some festive snake refusing to be caught.

I plant my feet at the base of the ladder, steadying it with both hands. “I thought you were off today.”

“I was, but then Mary Beth had a doctor’s appointment in town and needed someone to cover.” Lindsay shifts slightly on the ladder, and her sweater rides up to reveal a strip of creamy skin above her jeans. “Figured I might as well make the extra cash now that the winter catalog is done. Plus, someone has to make sure this place doesn’t look like Santa’s workshop exploded in here past New Year’s.”

I tighten my grip on the ladder rails. “At least let me help.”

Lindsay arches an eyebrow at me. “I don’t know, Jace. Mary Beth went a little crazy with the hot glue gun this year. Pretty sure half these garlands are permanently attached to the beams.”

“I can handle a few stubborn decorations.”

“That’s what you said about helping with the window display last month.” She tosses a loose ornament hook at me. “And we both remember how that turned out.”

“Those mannequins were asking for it.”

Her laugh echoes through the small space. “Three hundred dollars worth of Western wear ruined because you couldn’t figure out how to dress a plastic cowboy.”

Suddenly, the ladder wobbles beneath her again, and I feel my blood pressure shoot up. “Lindsay, get your stubborn ass down here before this thing snaps in half.”

She looks down at me and giggles. “Sheesh. When did my best friend get to be so bossy?”

I feel a muscle tick in my jaw. “I’m serious, Lindsay. Get down and let me do it. You’re going to break your fucking neck if you keep tugging at itlike that.”

She rolls her eyes. “Stop being dramatic. I’m almost done.”

“Lindsay.”

“Don’t use that tone with me, Clayton.” She tugs at the garland again, sending a shower of pine needles down. “I’m not one of your horses.”

“I know you’re not.” I brush the needles from my shoulder, not taking my eyes off her. “They actually listen when I tell them to do something safe.”

Amusement flickers across her face. “Did you just compare me to a horse?”

“You started it.”

“Oh, so now this is my fault? Ugh,I swear, I have no idea why Mary Beth wrapped these darn things so tight.If I could just...” She stretches up on her tiptoes, talking more to herself than to me. “Get this last knot...woah!”

Everything happens at once.

The garland comes free with a snap, the ladder lurches sideways, and Lindsay gasps as she tumbles backwards.

Her body collides with mine, soft curves meeting hard muscle, and I stagger back as I wrap my arms around her.Then we hit the floor.

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