Cowboy with a Bite

By Juliet Chastain

One bad hand of cards has stranded Eliza Dunbro on a failing ranch in the middle of nowhere. She’d do anything to get back to the city, even seduce the handsome, pale stranger who rides into town. He’s sexy and rich—a perfect combination—but there’s something more about him that calls to her and make her think that sticking around might not be so bad. It’s been hundreds of years since anything or anyone has caught Daniel Hastings’ interest. The vampire doesn’t expect much in the two-bit dusty town he’s passing through to change that…until he sets eyes on the sassy, stubborn Eliza. A moonlit picnic is tossed aside for more carnal delights, and though he should be doing the enthralling, he finds himself caught in a spell of lust that Eliza weaves. Daniel finds himself afraid of cravings of a different kind...ones he can’t have.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Nov 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781509215935

Juliet Chastain

Fashion writer and photographer, Juliet Chastain says that, in a way, writing fiction is like fashion photography. You have a few elements—the models and the clothes in photography, maybe a character and a couple ideas in fiction—and you make them into an interesting story. Juliet loves to tell stories and if she isn't doing it with the camera she's doing it with her keyboard.

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Cowboy with a Bite

by

Juliet Chastain

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Cowboy with a Bite

COPYRIGHT © 2017 by Juliet Chastain

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Diana Carlile

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewilderroses.com

Publishing History

First Scarlet Rose Edition, 2017

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-1593-5

Published in the United States of America

Chapter One

Every single person in the run-down saloon stared at Daniel Hastings when he walked in a few minutes after dark. No problem, he was used to being stared at. After all, with his pale skin, almost colorless eyes, and dark blond hair, he didn’t look like most other people. What he wasn’t used to was being laughed at. The sniggers that ran up and down the bar surprised and rather annoyed him.

He inhaled deeply. The smell of beer, tobacco, and the unwashed bodies of hard-working men filled the room. Preferable to the odor of a roomful of perfumed dandies. He’d tired of that life—his elegant, decadent existence in Europe—and had crossed the ocean to America hoping to find something different. This tiny town of Haley, in the middle of nowhere, certainly was different. Everything was dry, dusty, and colorless, and so were the people who lived there.

He returned the smile of the sole woman in the place who sat at the far end of the scarred bar, self-consciously patting the elaborate mass of ribbons and curls that framed her narrow face.

Bit scrawny for my taste. If I took her in my arms, I’d feel every bone. I’d like someone with more flesh on her, but I can feed just as well from a thin woman as from a shapelier one.

A big man with a scowling, florid face turned on his bar stool to look him up and down. Whatcha smilin’ at, bunko?

I’m smiling at the beautiful lady at the end of the bar. Daniel bowed to her. I came in here looking for a good game of cards. He could sense trouble coming, which didn’t bother him particularly. He was stronger than any mortal—and faster.

Putting his hat on the bar, he parked himself on a seat facing outward, feet on the floor, ready in case the big man—or anyone in the saloon—would be foolish enough to attack him. The man next to him, who smelled strongly of cow and tobacco, made as if to push the hat off the bar. Frowning, Daniel looked him full in the face.

The cowboy paled, cleared his throat, and changed his mind. Don’t wanna cause no problems.

Then stay in your seat, friend, Daniel advised. I have no particular desire for any myself.

The big man lurched to his feet and came over to stand right in front of Daniel, meaty fists twitching. You think you’re a better man than us.

Not really. It’s true that I am better dressed, and cleaner, too, but does that make me better?

I can’t be a better man, he thought, because I’m not really a man at all. I was once, but that was a long time ago.

Leave him be, Billy Joe, said the man behind the bar. What you want to drink, mister?

Cognac. Daniel kept his unwavering gaze on Billy Joe’s angry face.

Sorry, but we don’t got that. We got whiskey and bourbon, and we got beer.

I’ll have bourbon, Daniel said. And please take care of the gentleman next to me at my expense.

You’re so white, Billy Joe said. I bet you never did an honest day’s work in your whole life. I bet you ain’t nothin’ but a goddamn sissy. He stepped closer, his broad, red face only inches from Daniel’s. His breath reeked of whiskey. And I don’t like the way you’re lookin’ at me.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t much care for the way you are studying me.

The man swung at him. Not as clumsy as Daniel had expected, but just the same, he wasn’t there when the fist should have hit him. He pushed Billy Joe so hard that the man fell backward to the floor.

Dicky, Albert, Billy Joe roared. Whatcha standing there for? Get the son of a bitch.

Two men charged Daniel. He sent one