Charlene Sands - Stranded and Seduced

Should she pretend to be the woman he loves?

Working with new client and ex-lover Risk Boone is bound to be...enticing. So April Adams dons a fake engagement ring to ward off temptation. But when theyre stranded together at a remote lodge, theres no running from their attractionespecially after Risk hits his head and wakes up thinking Aprils his fiance! Will she tell him the truth...or go along for the ride?

Do you remember anything now? she whispered.

No, but I do know one thing. This feels right.

Well, yes, but...you dont remember me.

Youve been caring and worried and, well...I think I do know you. Somehow, I feel you with me. I see how compassionate you are, he said, taking her head in his hands. His eyes were bright and intense and, goodness, he looked like Risk again, even with the bandage around his head. And Im certainly responding to you. He planted a beautiful kiss to her mouth and then paused. Unless, we havent done this before? Have we? Tell me we have.

Weve done this before.

I need you, April. I need the connection.

She absorbed those words, which touched her deep down in her soul. Shed never reacted to any man the way shed reacted to him. This Risk was sincere, genuine and sweet. This Risk was in need of more than sex, but intimacy, a bridge to his past.

And today, she was it.

* * *

Stranded and Seduced is part of the
Boone Brothers of Texas series.

Dear Reader,

Sometimes things happen that change the course of your whole life. For River Risk Boone, losing his status as rodeo champ and being dumped by his superstar girlfriend do just that. Now Risk is immersed in the family business at Boone Incorporatedsomething far less thrilling...until he seeks the expertise of beautiful Realtor April Adams for a new Boone company acquisition. April desperately needs the sale of Canyon Lake Lodge to keep her agency afloat, but shes been personally burned by Risk once before, leaving her disheartened, so she and her friends concoct a fantastic lie to keep Risk from blurring the lines between professionalism and personal attraction.

Add in a vicious Texas storm, two people dedicated to their individual purposes, a remote abandoned lodge, undeniable sexual attraction, and we have ourselves a story!

Theres more to this tale than meets the eye, with several twists and turns along the way, but no spoilers here, I promise. Only a read that will hopefully entertain and make you smile, while stirring up deep emotions for two people totally attracted to each other, but not necessarily destined for love.

Until they are.

Happy reading!

Charlene Sands

Charlene Sands

Stranded and Seduced

Charlene Sands is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty romance novels. She writes sensual contemporary romances and stories of the Old West. When not writing, Charlene enjoys sunny Pacific beaches, great coffee, reading books from her favorite authors and spending time with her family. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter, write her at PO Box 4883, West Hills, CA 91308, or sign up for her newsletter for fun blogs and ongoing contests at charlenesands.com.

Books by Charlene Sands

Harlequin Desire

The Slades of Sunset Ranch

Sunset Surrender
Sunset Seduction
The Secret Heir of Sunset Ranch
Redeeming the CEO Cowboy

Heart of Stone

The Texans Wedding Escape
Heart of a Texan

Boone Brothers of Texas

Texan for the Taking
Stranded and Seduced

Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com, or charlenesands.com, for more titles.

You can find Charlene Sands on Facebook, along with other Harlequin Desire authors, at Facebook.com/harlequindesireauthors.

Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002

To my dear friends Mary and Richard.
Your friendship, love and support
mean so much.

Heres to more Palm Springs days
and happy times!

Contents

One

A pril always knew her luck would run out one day.

In a town the size of Boone Springs, she couldnt avoid River Risk Boone forever.

But she hadnt expected to see the tall, handsome Texan walk into her real estate agency that morning.

Her stomach in knots, she gazed at him from across her desk. He tipped his hat back, his eyes a mesmerizing dark brown, his skin still as bronzed as it had been in his rodeo days. Wearing crisp jeans and a tan button-down shirt, his business casual attire and good looks turned heads in the Texas town founded by his ancestors. Hed turned her head once, too, and that had been a big mistake.

Hello, April.

The deep timbre of his voice, the way he drawled her name, gentle and sure, rang in her ears. On wobbly legs she rose from her desk. Risk, w-what are you doing here?

His brows arched as he looked her over from head to toe, a gleam in his eyes as if he was remembering the night theyd shared. Heat rose up her throat, and she was stunned Risk still had the ability to jumble her thoughts.

Clovie, her assistant and good friend, gave her a quizzical look from the desk adjacent to hers. Clovie knew something about her past history with him.

Im here on Boone business. I understand youve spoken with my brother Masons secretary about the Canyon Lake property.

Yes, thats correct. I answered some of her questions about the lodge. But thats as far as it went. I, uh, do we have an appointment?

She knew darn well they didnt. And she also knew darn well she wasnt going to turn him away on some false premise that he needed to make one. She didnt know why shed asked that question, other than a bad case of nerves. Its not as if she could ignore a member of the Boone family. The three Boone brothers were wealthy cattle ranchers and entrepreneurs. They owned much of the town.

Never mind, she said. If you have questions about Canyon Lake Lodge, I can help you.

He gave her a nod. Apparently you did a great job talking up the lodge, because were definitely interested in finding out more about Risk stopped speaking. Oh God, hed noticed the pain in her eyes, the frown she couldnt conceal.

Two years ago, theyd spent one night together. She hadnt expected diamonds and flowers afterward, but she had expected him to be there when she woke up in the morning.

Listen, is there someplace we can talk privately? Risk asked after a long pause.

Clovie piped up instantly. Ive got the bank deposit ready, April. I was just leaving. She stood, gathering up a folder and hoisting her handbag over her shoulder. Ill stop for lunch and see you in an hour or so.

Okay.

Clovie dashed out quickly as both watched her leave and shut the door behind her.

Ask and ye shall receive. Aprils sardonic tone shifted Risks attention back to her. She was at a complete loss. Seeing him stirred up deep feelings of hurt and abandonment again. Mostly she hated that Risk Boone, the ex-rodeo champion, had treated her like one of his buckle bunnies when shed believed theyd really connected that night in Houston. Though hed once been her secret high school crush, the fantasy-come-true night theyd shared two years ago had turned into a bad memory.

April, look, Im here because you have the listing for Canyon Lake Lodge. Im the new head of real estate acquisitions for Boone Inc. My brothers want to expand the business and like the idea of opening a lodge. I didnt make an appointment because I wasnt sure youd see me. I owe you an apology.