Bidding for the Cowboy's Heart: The Cowboys of Whisper Colorado, #8

By Melissa Keir

Going once, going twice, sold…

Carlie Fulton, a former Broadway dancer, hightails it out of New York City as if her tail is on fire. Searching for a home with real friends, she escapes to Whisper and dreams of a life without her domineering father.

 

Marcus Wilson, a professional bull rider, enters a charity auction at the request of his best friend's wife, never expecting to find the woman of his dreams.

 

When Carlie's father shows up, Carlie enlists Marcus's help in a scheme sure to tick off her father, but will it lead to a happily ever after?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Keir
• Release date: Mar 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393271635

Book preview

Bidding for the Cowboy’s Heart

Melissa Keir

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

Bidding for the Cowboy’s Heart

Copyright © 2017 Melissa Keir

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All rights reserved.

5764 Woodbine Ave.

Pinckney, MI 48169

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Cover art By Shades of Rose Media

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Bidding For the Cowboy’s Heart

Going once, going twice, sold...

Carlie Fulton, a former Broadway dancer, hightails it out of New York City as if her tail is on fire. Searching for a home with real friends, she escapes to Whisper and dreams of a life without her domineering father.

Marcus Wilson, a professional bull rider, enters a charity auction at the request of his best friend’s wife, never expecting to find the woman of his dreams.

When Carlie’s father shows up, Carlie enlists Marcus’s help in a scheme sure to tick off her father, but will it lead to a happily ever after?

DEDICATION

For everyone who gives of themselves to work with children. They are a blessing.

And to the man who listens to all the different plot points and gives his insights.

CHAPTER oNE

Going once, the auctioneer called out. Going twice. He slammed down the gavel. Sold for one thousand dollars to the beautiful lady in the pink dress. I’m sure you will enjoy your private cooking lessons with Pierre.

Marcus pulled back the curtain and watched the chef of a nearby five-star eatery leave the stage and stroll over to the older woman. When Pierre stood in front of the winner, he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it before whispering something to her.

Smooth. Bet butter doesn’t melt in his mouth. I only hope I don’t fall flat on my ass. Marcus rubbed his damp palms on his jeans. How did I let Angela talk me into this? As a professional bull rider, he’d faced crowds every day. But on an almost two-thousand pound bull, he felt in control. He studied the way it moved, and he practiced. He trained to keep his body in the sweet spot and, more importantly, to escape without a horn through his behind.

What could I have studied for this auction event? Magic Mike? Moving his hips like he’d seen in a commercial, he broke out laughing. Nope. No Channing Tatum here.

Marcus scrutinized the audience until his gaze landed on his friend’s wife. The Heartsong Ranch was an equine therapy ranch where they helped kids and adults with a variety of physical and emotional issues. It was Jake’s baby and had grown in the last year. But he never turned away a patient based on insurance or lack thereof. This fundraiser would make a big difference in so many lives. For that reason, it’d become important to him.

Angela’s table was filled with beautiful women laughing and enjoying the event. Marcus knew many of them, from the blonde bombshell Realtor, Debra O’Neill, to the mousy teacher, Michelle Alt. He’d attended a few cookouts with them. Nice ladies, all married to his friends. Whoa. His gaze settled on the one woman he didn’t know.

She slid her hand through her long blonde locks and tucked them behind her ear as she laughed at something Angela said. The purple dress highlighted her tanned skin. He gulped. There was a lot of skin showing. The strappy shoes caught his attention as she tapped her foot on the table leg. He imagined those legs wrapped around his waist as she screamed his name.

As if sensing his gaze, she turned and searched the curtained stage. Does she have a husband showering her with passion or is she more into girls? Not that it would be bad...well, bad for me. Marcus released the curtain and straightened his belt, trying to hide his hard-on. While the tight jeans might earn some additional dollars, I don’t want some old granny getting up in my junk.

Marcus spun toward the sound of footfalls and saw the chef strutting across the backstage area. He appeared so full of himself with his cheesy grin and expensive suit, like he deserved every penny of the money he’d brought. Marcus tugged on his Stetson, trying to avoid eye contact with the show-off.

When he saw Marcus, Pierre paused. Did you see that? My date sold for the highest so far. Every woman wanted to learn to cook with me. The ranch will be sure to recognize me as the best.

Marcus patted the man on the shoulder. You deserve it. Before the chef could utter another word, he skedaddled out of there. Too bad the joker didn’t recognize sarcasm. No point getting into a pissing contest over an event he got wrangled into.

It’s all Angela’s fault. I’d rather go toe-to-toe with an ornery bull than that room full of horny women. He glanced heavenward. Sorry, Momma. Tugging a chain from under his shirt, Marcus kissed the cross he’d worn for