A bright Texas morning. Bluebonnets fill the meadow where cattle and horses graze peacefully. A warm soft prairie breeze caresses the shady trees and ripples the grass.
On the lawn overlooking the meadow, in front of the large ranchouse, the hostesses and Oliver are busy preparing the barbeque for their special guest, author Jan Bowles.
Fairy lights and paper lanterns adorn the railings and trees surrounding the house.
Oliver, in blue denim shirt and jeans, and wearing a black leather Stetson and cowboy boots, tends the spit roast lovingly, making sure the heat is just right.
Cuddles and Junior, in their matching Stetsons, run to and fro, getting in the way, and stealing a sausage when no-one is looking.
Mary and Sharon are squabbling over who will wear the white Stetson and who will wear the black one.
"I should have the white one," Mary says, sticking her tongue out and whipping the hat from Sharon's head and plonking the black one in its place. "It goes with my boots."
"And your underwear," Sharon retorts. "If I were you dearheart, I'd pull my skirt down a few feet." She smiles sweetly. "Or did you forget your skirt altogether, and that's your belt?"
"As a matter of fact," Mary sneers, "it's a pair of shorts. They match my bikini top. She thrusts out her over-enhanced hooters proudly. "You really should get your eyes tested sweetie, you're almost as short sighted as Lyn." She looks around, shading her eyes from the sun. "By the way, where IS Lyn?"
Oliver looks up from the sizzling barbeque roast. "Oh we forgot to bring the breadrolls, Lyn's gone to fetch them, she thought she'd practice her driving skills."
"I'll see if there's any sign of her, Sharon says, leaping onto the fence and looking down the dirt track that leads to the ranch. She's looking very cool and chic, in a gorgeous white silk shirt, red bandanna, matching red cowboy boots, cut-off bluejeans and black Stetson. As the fence creaks under the weight of her curvacious butt, Mary points at her fellow hostess's rear and breaks into a fit of giggles. Sharon turns to glare at her, but before she can put cheeky Mary in her place, Lyn drives up in a cloud of dust.
"Phew, it sure ain't easy drivin' this rig," she gasps in what she fondly believes to be an authentic Texan drawl. "That Harri of mine seems to think he's a racehorse, I should have taken Cuddles, it would have been less strenuous. Still we got the rolls back here in time didn't we!"
She steps down from the buckboard and smooths her skirt down over her shapely legs before reaching for several large baskets of bread rolls, freshly baked by Oliver before the sun was up. She nearly trips over her own boots, about six sizes too big for her. The other two are so jealous of her petite tootsies they always make her wear oversized footwear. It's not easy being so dainty!
Before long, the preparations are completed. A delicious aroma of spit-roast beef, pork and chicken fill the air. The main table, covered with a white linen
cloth, has plates of salads and roasted vegetables and homemade breadrolls. On the barbeque, Texas beef steaks, sausages and beefburgers sizzle, and there is plenty of Oliver's special homemade Texas BBQ sauce.
For desert there will be delicious home made tirammisu with lashings of fresh dairy cream. There are also chocolate brownies and a beautiful angel's food cake covered with chocolate frosting and a sugar paste replica of Jan's book. Oliver has reserved several bottles of fine bourbon for the guests. Later, when everyone has eaten, there will be square dancing, followed by fireworks.
"Oh look," Sharon says, waving, here she comes!"
Jan rides up on a beautiful blanket spot Appaloosa. She looks gorgeous, in a blue and pink cotton shirt, blue jeans and a white Stetson, with the saddle blanket matching the blue of her shirt. "Hello, everyone," she smiles, leaping from the saddle as Oliver holds her horse. "It's such a lovely day, I thought I'd ride over."
The hostess run up to meet her, each giving her a welcome hug. Then they escort her to her seat and Oliver whips out a copy of her book. "Before I read an excerpt, Miss Bowles, would you autograph this for me."
"Of course," she smiles, and does so with a flourish.
Clutching the book to his chest and blushing furiously, Oliver begins to read:
BLURB:
English beauty Eva St. John is flown to Texas to shadow rugged billionaire oilman Jack McClaine, for the magazine article she is writing. He has a reputation as a fast living, womanising rogue, who has quite literally come from the wrong side of the tracks. A self-made man who always gets what he wants.
Still nurturing a broken heart and a secret past she left behind her long ago, Eva intends to remain professional at all times. But will she be able to resist the inevitable sexual advances of the predatory Texan Jack McClaine? And will she really want to?
As a rule Jack McClaine never mixes business with pleasure, but for the beautiful and intriguing Eva St. John he will make an exception. Who is she really? And what is she running from?
EXCERPT
“Why, Miss Eva St. John, I feel about as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party.” Jack McClaine spoke as mild amusement played around his silver-grey eyes.
Eva eyed him warily. It was only two days since she had first laid eyes on the rugged Texan. Now his lithe, athletic frame perched on the desk, her desk. He looked every inch at home, as if he belonged there. Wearing a light grey suit, he seemed to think his very tall six-foot-three-inch frame had somehow a right to be there.
“Just what is going on, Mr. McClaine?” Eva folded her arms across her chest, her mouth compressed with indignation, as she waited for his answer. Her gaze was drawn inexorably to his, and like a laser it burned into her. Then as a smile spread from his eyes down to the deep dimples at the side of his mouth, she felt the breath escape from her lips in a silent gasp. Why did he have to be so damned attractive? She had to fight the sudden urge to push the stray hair back that had fallen forward across his forehead.
“Mr. McClaine, are you going to answer my question?”
“Hold on now, darlin’, I thought we were on first-name terms already.” He smiled at her in amusement.
“No, we’re not.” She slumped into her chair and glared up at him. “Andrew Jameson could shadow you for a month. Why do you want me? I won’t be a pushover, you know. I’ll certainly write exactly what I think.”
He smiled easily and twisted around to meet her frosty gaze. “Now, why would I want Andrew Jameson to shadow me for a whole month? Live in my home. Share my food. Share my life. Why would I want him when I’d be much happier with you?”
Eva picked up a pen and pointed it at him. “You, Mr. McClaine, have a reputation. If you are expecting anything but a working relationship, then you are mistaken.”
“Well, that’s settled then, honey.”
She looked up watching the amusement play around his eyes. The creases channelled down to his mouth. “Don’t look so smug, Mr. McClaine. You may regret your decision to invite New Dawn magazine into your home. You may not like what I write. Be careful what you wish for, Mr. McClaine.”
“Darlin’, I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”
“I told you once before, Mr. McClaine, I’m not your honey, and I’m telling you now, I’m not your darling either.”
He laughed. “Eva, it’s just a figure of speech. It don’t mean anything.”
That afternoon a huge row developed with her boss, Simon Jessop, but he wouldn’t back down. If she pulled this off, he’d give her a raise. Even more than that, he’d give her a promotion. She wanted to know why he thought Jack McClaine specifically asked for her to do the article. His thoughts exactly mirrored her own. He had lifted his hands in the air, an expression of helplessness on his face, and said, “You’re a big girl, Eva. I’m sure you can handle yourself, and Jack McClaine.”
Well, thanks!
Eva felt like a dish served up specifically for Jack McClaine’s pleasure. What’s more, her boss had handed her over on a solid silver platter.
There is thunderous applause from the assembled guests and cries of 'Speech, Speech! Tell us about yourself."
Oliver holds up his hands for silence and Jan stands up.
"Hi everyone at the Author Roast and Toast, and of course Oliver.
My name is Jan Bowles and I’m an author of contemporary romances. I live with my husband in an old farmhouse in rural Lincolnshire, England, in the UK.
When I’m not writing I paint large landscapes and sweeping vistas. I also love walking, and looking in old antique shops. There just might be something someone has overlooked.
Now before the party begins, for the contest - tell me what you think Oliver's favourite Country and Western song would be - the winner will receive a download of 'Love Lessons With The Texas Billionaire'."
'The Return' Available Now from Siren-Bookstrand
