Colorado Cowboy: A Spicy Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Featuring a Cowboy Widower: States of Love

By Ann Omasta and Callie Love

Colt Zimmer's beautiful wife, Maddie, died in a freak riding accident. The last thing the grieving man needs is Maddie's pushy sister, Sadie, staking a claim on his land.

 

Widower Colt simply wants to mourn the loss of his beloved wife in peace on his sprawling Colorado ranch, Marigold Meadow.

 

City girl Sadie misses her older sister, Maddie, more than words can say.

 

Colt and Sadie have nothing in common, other than their love for Maddie and their grief over her passing.

 

When Maddie's will reveals that her half of Marigold Meadow has been left to Sadie, sparks are sure to fly. How will this work out? Find out in Colorado Cowboy.

 

The States of Love books are scorching stories with heat, heart, suspense, and laughter. They feature hunky heroes, strong heroines, seductive instalove, sizzling bedroom scenes, and satisfying happily-ever-after endings. Start anywhere. Binge-read them all. Giddy-up with Colt and Sadie now to satisfy your steamy romance craving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: More Happily Ever Afters
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201192334

Ann Omasta

Ann Omasta is a USA Today bestselling author.  Ann’s Top Ten list of likes, dislikes, and oddities: I despise whipped cream. There, I admitted it in writing. Let the ridiculing begin. Even though I have lived as far south as Key Largo, Florida, and as far north as Maine, I landed in the middle. If I don't make a conscious effort not to, I will drink nothing but tea morning, noon, and night. Hot tea, sweet tea, green tea––I love it all. There doesn't seem to be much in life that is better than coming home to a couple of big dogs who are overjoyed to see me. My other family members usually show significantly less enthusiasm about my return. Singing in my bestest, loudest voice does not make my family put on their happy faces. This includes the big, loving dogs referenced above. Yes, I am aware that bestest is not a word. Dorothy was right. There's no place like home. All of the numerous bottles in my shower must be lined up with their labels facing out. It makes me feel a little like Julia Roberts' mean husband from the movie Sleeping with the Enemy, but I can't seem to control this particular quirk. I love, love, love finding a great bargain! Did I mention that I hate whipped cream? It makes my stomach churn to look at it, touch it, smell it, or even think about it. Great––now I'm thinking about it. Ick! ** I would LOVE to send you a free copy of my novella, Aloha, Baby! Visit annomasta.com for details. ** Stay up-to-date on new releases and insider info by liking / following Ann: - Facebook: facebook.com/annomasta - Goodreads: goodreads.com/annomasta - Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/ann-omasta - Website: annomasta.com

Book preview

1

SADIE

My big sister, Maddie, was my inspiration. She was the most fun-loving, carefree, and fearless person I’ve ever known. She was a force to be reckoned with.

Even though I’ve had several months to process the news, I still can’t believe she’s gone. It simply doesn’t make sense. The world doesn’t make any sense without Maddie.

She was way too young to die. A freak accident on one of the horses she loved so much took her away from us way too soon.

I suppose it’s logical in a warped way. If Maddie could have chosen how she would die, she would have picked something dramatic and related to her precious horses. She died in much the same way as she lived––full-throttle and all-in.

Numerous times each day, I pick up my phone to call or text her. We used to share every little detail of our lives with each other. She was my person, and she was always there for me in a way that no one else ever has been. I’m not at all sure how I’m supposed to just carry on, when nothing feels right without her.

I know I’m not the only one aching from her absence. Her best friend, Vella, was thrown so off-kilter by Maddie’s sudden death that she quit her job, packed all of her belongings in her car, and drove to California.

Vella and I were never super close when Maddie was alive, but I knew the straightlaced woman well enough to realize that such rash decisions were completely out of character for her.

Vella’s life seems to be on track now, and I’m happy for her. She deserves that. We’ve even started talking to each other fairly regularly and have forged a tentative friendship with each other. It turns out that shared grief creates a strong bond.

Perhaps I should follow Vella’s lead and take off on a road trip. It seems to have worked out quite well for her. I could get in my car and drive until the crushing weight on my chest eases a bit. Unfortunately, I fear I would run out of pavement before this aching grief subsides.

Besides, I can’t run away from my problems, since Maddie had one last surprise up her sleeve.

The reading of her last will and testament shocked us all––especially me and her husband, Colt. Maddie left her half of the massive Colorado horse ranch, Marigold Meadow, which she and Colt owned together, to me. Yes, me!

I like riding horses, but I know nothing about running a ranch or taking care of the animals. I’m a city girl to my core. I’ve never understood Maddie’s fascination with farm life, and I doubt if I ever will.

I’d much rather take the subway to an art gallery, attend a live performance, or shop in a department store the size of a city block than muck out stalls, and I can’t understand anyone who wouldn’t make the same choice.

Except, Maddie didn’t choose the city. She wanted to live in the middle of nowhere with a grumpy cowboy and a bunch of stinky horses, and now she’s pushing that lifestyle onto me.

I don’t know Colt very well, even though he and Maddie were inseparable––especially after old man Maddox left his sprawling ranch to the two of them. Their romance was fast and passionate. I always wondered if it would end up burning out as quickly as it ignited, but I guess we’ll never know now.

Colt has never struck me as a particularly warm guy––except with Maddie. I’ve always wanted a man to look at me the loving way he gazed at my sister. But with the rest of us, his demeanor could best be described as aloof.

He’s a tough-guy cowboy, who doesn’t waste any words on silly sentiments or fluffy conversation. He calls things as he sees them and doesn’t seem to care what anyone else thinks.

Colt and I were both at Maddie’s funeral, but we were each too numb to interact very much. We haven’t spoken in the months since then.

The ranch has been tied up in probate court––even though Maddie’s will was perfectly clear that I should receive her half of the estate and no one contested it.

Whenever we were together before Maddie died, Colt always managed to be condescending about what he referred to as my city clothes and hoity-toity attitude.

Of course, I always responded that he is an arrogant know-it-all hick, which went over about as well as high heels work in a muddy field.

Maddie had tried her best to smooth things over between us, but having Colt and I in the same room simply does not work. Even Maddie had finally admitted that the two of us might never get along.

That’s why her decision doesn’t make a lick of sense. She knew we hate each other. She had to realize this would be an absolute disaster, so why is my sister sending me to run a horse ranch with her jerk of a husband?

It’s almost like I can hear her contagious laughter surrounding me in the car as I