Take Me Back: A Cowboy Second Chance Romantic Short Story

By Summer Cooper

"I'm not doing this again.  If you think you're going to get me back in bed, you're sorely mistaken."
He reached up and touched my face gently, "You know it's more than that.  I want a lot more than that."

Nicolette is a force of nature—she's the one.
And in my stupidity, I let her go.
After everything that happened... I was desperate to end the pain.
And just like that, the life we had built together was gone.
It wasn't her fault.
It wasn't mine either.
I know that now.
Is it too late to fix things after ten years?
Is it too late for a second chance at love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lovy Books Ltd
• Release date: May 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223511298

Book preview

PROLOGUE

I felt a bit like a voyeur as I peered into the barn and watched him step into his jeans, bringing them up over his bare backside in one smooth motion. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that I wouldn’t get to see more of his naked form and I found myself sighing in frustration. God, he was gorgeous.

Suddenly, he glanced over in the direction of where I was standing and I ducked low, praying to God that he hadn’t seen me spying on him. My heart was thundering in my chest as I hid on the other side of the large door, but I couldn’t help the big stupid smile spreading across my face.

I’d seen Bryan Hart naked! I couldn’t wait to tell Claudia, my best friend since kindergarten. She’d be so jealous. First, I’d to find my way back to the main house without Bryan catching me. I listened hard, trying to figure out if Bryan had already left through the other door. He was normally an early riser, getting up for breakfast with the rest of the ranch hands way before I got up for school. But this morning, he’d been running late and so my pa had sent me to go get him when he realized Bryan wasn’t around.

The ranch hands had stayed up late last night because there’d been a forest fire not too far from us. It was under control now, but Pa had been concerned the fire would spread to our property.

I’d pretended to be annoyed by Pa’s request, when secretly I’d been ecstatic, but I wasn’t ecstatic now given I was now hiding from Bryan. I slowly rose and peaked again into the barn and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t there. I quickly turned away and smacked into an unyielding figure that hadn’t been there a second earlier.

I stumbled back and my eyes grew wide. Bryan!

He frowned at me, still shirtless. My mind went blank and I knew I looked guilty and ridiculous with my mouth wide open as I stared at his chest. He was perfect. All the romance novels I’d read hadn’t prepared me for this moment. I was the heroine, right? Wasn’t this when I should say something clever and sassy then walk away?

But I couldn’t walk away, my legs wouldn’t move. My eyes were glued to his body, as I stood mesmerized by the sight of him. His long legs were covered in jeans that had seen better days. They were covered in dirt, dust and grime, but that did nothing to take away from my attraction to him. If anything, it made me want him more.

I felt myself blush as my eyes traveled upwards, taking in the lines of pure muscle that were his abs. His chest was wide and his shoulders… oh, God… I just wanted to run my hands over them. They looked like they could carry the world and then some.

Bryan Hart was the most beautiful man my eighteen-year-old eyes had ever seen. And he was also ten years older than me, and related to a family from the city that were rumored to be nothing but trouble. My father had allowed him to live in our barn two years ago. I never knew why Pa had been so generous to let a stranger live on the property, especially a stranger that he didn’t particularly like, but Pa was always a mystery. I knew his kindness wouldn’t be extended if he knew Bryan had been the subject of my lately, very racy dreams.

What are you doing here? Bryan asked, frowning. This was a difficult task given that I was a very tall girl, at least 5’11".

I—just—uh—

Spit it out. What are you doing out here spying on me?

I wasn’t spying! I said, blushing. I just… my voice trailed off. I really had no idea what to say. I’d never even spoken to him in the three years he’d worked for my dad. He wasn’t some high-schooler. Bryan was a real man. I was tongue-tied.

Get out of here, before you get me into trouble.

He turned away from me, making me feel silly and insignificant. I decided at that moment that I was done feeling like an inadequate little girl around him. I wasn’t going to let Bryan dismiss me so easily. He’d ignored me for three years. I was done being ignored.

I took a deep breath and scrambled after him. I didn’t even think about it as I reached out and touched him, stopping him in his tracks.

He turned around with a sneer on his face that promptly turned into a look of confusion when he saw my expression. I think what he saw there scared him.

I’m not a little girl anymore, Bryan.

I moved closer, so close my breasts were only a mere inch from touching his chest. For the first time ever, Bryan seemed caught off guard and unsure of himself.

What are you doing, girl?

My name is Nikki, I said as I slowly ran my hands up his chest. He took in a quick breath, and I started to enjoy how the tables were turned for once. For once, I’d taken his breath away.

And as I leaned against him, I said, I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m all woman now.

My lips closed over his.

1

Come on! Push it! Push it! I want everything you got! I yelled as my students groaned and moaned. Some of them fell to the ground, gasping in pain and I couldn’t help but smile a little inside. I was a beast.

Nikki, you’re a beast, said one of my clients, barely able to get the words out through his heavy breathing. I kneeled next to him with a big smile on my face. Jamison, you’re too kind.

He collapsed to the floor and I reached a hand out. He grasped it and I helped him stand up.

I’m not going to be able to sit on the toilet tomorrow, he complained as he helped put the equipment back to its designated areas. He was a sweetheart and always stayed around to help after class.

Too much sitting is a problem for Americans anyway. Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.

No. You’re trying to kill me.

I laughed and patted him on the back. You love it.

He tried to look contrite, and said with a sigh, You’re right. It just hurts so bad…

We laughed together and I told him I would see him next week as I tended to the few kettle bells that were scattered in the back of the room.

In the silence of the warehouse, I was left with my own thoughts. My assistant had offered to fill in for me tonight because all the drama that was going on in my personal life, but working out was my therapy. And I didn’t want to sit at home alone, thinking about the inevitable.

The inevitable found me anyway, in the form of my phone ringing, and I pointedly ignored it. I didn’t want to talk and I knew