The Cowboy Next Door

By Ellie Davis

Lilah Thompson has returned home to Colorado as a Navy widow with an ugly secret. It has been six years since she escaped her parents' expectations and Clay Bradford's hopes. Now, all she wants is to hold it together and bide her time in her father's carpentry workshop until she decides what to do next.

But Clay has other plans. Six years has been time enough as far as he's concerned and Lilah's widowhood is less of an obstacle than she thinks it should be. He wants her back, regardless of her ugly secrets and her aimlessness. He knows exactly what her next move should be.

The Cowboy Next Door is a romance novelette incorporating a little bit of angst, a little bit of humor, and a little bit of erotica for the enjoyment of adults.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellie Davis
• Release date: Sep 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466027237

Ellie Davis

Ellie Davis has been writing since she could spell and taking it seriously since shortly thereafter. She lives in Connecticut in a sunny little apartment with her children and her cat.

Book preview

Lilah Thompson has returned home to Colorado as a Navy widow with an ugly secret. It has been six years since she escaped her parents' expectations and Clay Bradford's hopes. Now, all she wants is to hold it together and bide her time in her father's carpentry workshop until she decides what to do next.

But Clay has other plans. Six years has been time enough as far as he's concerned and Lilah's widowhood is less of an obstacle than she thinks it should be. He wants her back, regardless of her ugly secrets and her aimlessness. He knows exactly what her next move should be.

The Cowboy Next Door is a romance novelette incorporating a little bit of angst, a little bit of humor, and a little bit of erotica for the enjoyment of adults.

The Cowboy Next Door

by Ellie Davis

Copyright 2011 Ellie Davis

All Rights Reserved

Cover Photo by Janetto

Cover Design by Ellie Davis

Smashwords Edition September 2011

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, trademarked products, events, and locations are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold

or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person,

please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did

not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to

Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work

of this author.

THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR

by Ellie Davis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by Ellie Davis

Cass Gets Her Kicks: Galena, KS

CHAPTER ONE

Clay Bradford swaggered into the Thompson Carpentry workshop like he owned the place. Lilah looked up from the boat hull she was sanding and forgot to breathe. As his piercing blue gaze searched her out, she fought to keep at bay the sensory memories of their time together. She glanced down at her left hand, at the gold band on her ring finger gleaming in the late afternoon sunshine that poured through the open doors at the front of the shop. Her stomach lurched. She had managed to avoid him for months. She stifled a sigh. Hiding from him forever wasn't an option, but she had hoped for more time.

Lilah stood and dropped the sandpaper to the floor beside her foot. Hey, Bradford. She brushed her dark hair back from her face and forced a small smile. At least she could breathe again.

When Clay's lips curved, the lines at his eyes and around his mouth deepened, reminding Lilah just how long it had been since she had seen him smile.

Hi, Lilah. I heard you were back. His expression faltered and he lifted his hat to run a big hand through his sandy-colored hair. I'm sorry about Darren.

Lilah resisted the urge to wince. Thanks, she said, trying to inject the appropriate emotion into her voice. She still wasn't sure what that should be. Demure acceptance? Quiet grief? The only thing she felt was mild embarrassment. There was no pang of sadness, no overwhelming sorrow. She didn't deserve the condolences, not from him, not from anybody. Lilah cleared her throat and avoided his eyes. He had always been able to read her too easily and she wasn't ready for that. What can I do for you?

Clay looked at her with patient understanding. She resisted the urge to scowl.

Accepting her change of subject, he said, Mom's moving to a house in town, so I pulled some of great-grandma's furniture down from the attic for her. It needs some work. He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. Come see.

Lilah started for the front of the workshop. So, you're finally going to be living on your own, huh?

Clay shot her a dirty look. Mom lives with me, you know.

Oh, I know.

Shut up. But he smiled.

Lilah took a deep breath as she stepped out of the shop. She had a soft spot for Gold Rush and the sprawling rural community, despite having spent most of her teenage years plotting her escape from Colorado. No matter what, it was still home. Lilah took a moment to soak up the sun and breathe in the warm mountain air. Rustling beside her reminded her that there was work to be done and she hurried to the old Ford pickup. She peeked over the side of the bed as Clay lowered the tailgate.

Arranged carefully on a horse blanket was an antique spinet desk, a matching spindly-legged chair, two nightstands with drawers, and the pieces of a wooden four-poster bed. Lilah's eyes widened.

Wow. She leaned in and turned over one of the bed legs to study the woodworking. This is all Victorian.

That sounds right. I'm pretty sure it was all part of great-grandma's dowry. It probably came from the family estate back in England.

Eyebrows raised--he could still surprise her--Lilah shot him a look. Researching your family history? Really?

He shrugged. Winter nights get lonely and boring.

Laughing lightly and shaking her head, she turned back to the furniture. It was all high quality, solid wood. She tugged on the blanket to pull everything closer, wondering if she was up to the challenge. The