James - The Trouble with Cowboys

Also by Victoria James

The Red River series

A Risk Worth Taking

The Best Mans Baby

The Doctors Fake Fiance

The Rebels Return

The Tall Pines Ranch series

Rescued By the Rancher

The Ranchers Second Chance

The Still Harbor series

Falling for the P.I.

Falling for Her Enemy

The Shadow Creek, Montana series

Christmas with the Sheriff

The Baby Bombshell

The Doctors Redemption

Baby on the Bad Boys Doorstep

The Firefighters Pretend Fiance

A Christmas Miracle for the Doctor

The A Billionaire for Christmas series

The Billionaires Christmas Baby

The Billionaires Christmas Proposal

Dear Reader,

Thank you for supporting a small publisher! Entangled prides itself on bringing you the highest quality romance youve come to expect, and we couldnt do it without your continued support. We love romance, and we hope this book leaves you with a smile on your face and joy in your heart.

xoxo

Liz Pelletier, Publisher

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright 2019 by Victoria James. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Entangled Publishing, LLC

2614 South Timberline Road

Suite 109

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com .

Amara is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.

Edited by Liz Pelletier

Cover design by Hang Le

Cover art by Cecilie_Arcurs/iStock

Paul Knightly/iStock

CampPhoto/iStock

Interior design by Heather Howland

Print ISBN 978-1-64063-541-8

ebook ISBN 978-1-64063-542-5

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition April 2019

To Liz Pelletier: Thank you for believing in me six years ago and publishing my first bookand thank you for believing in me now and publishing the characters and the story of my heart.

To Louise Fury: Thank you for your guidance,

your wisdom, and your encouragement.

Chapter One

Ty Donnelly would rather be knee-deep in cow manure than back in his hometown of Wishing River, Montana.

He pulled his trusty Chevy into an empty parking spot outside Tillys Diner, a long-standing town landmark, and sat still for a minute. Steady rain hammered against the roof of his truck and streamed down his windows as he peered out at the familiar sights of the town he hadnt seen in eight years. It was too early for stores and most businesses to be openexcept Tillys. Some things didnt change.

They probably still had the best coffee, the best breakfast, and the best gossip on Main Street.

Hed never been one for nostalgia, but it crept up his arm like a fast-moving spider, startling him. It was the damn town. It held too many memories, too many friends, too many secrets. He should just keep on going to the ranch and face everything he was hiding from. But after driving all night, he needed a coffee. Or maybe he needed an excuse to delay seeing his father. Even facing a diner full of gawking townspeople was more appealing than seeing his father.

Their final day together, his fathers last words to him had changed his entire life, and hed been running from them for eight years.

Hell. He ran his hand through his hair and glanced over at Tillys again before putting on his cowboy hat and finally pushing his door open. Cold rain soaked him as he ran up the steps to the diner. He pulled the door open, and a blast of warmth and a good dose of reality greeted him as he stepped inside. His past slapped him in the face, a little too harshly for a guy going on no sleep. Flatware clanked against dishes, and the animated conversation dwindled to that of a whispering brook. He walked forward, sure to keep his head up but eye contact to a minimum in the packed diner.

Making his way around the round tables with their vinyl-backed chairs, he gave an occasional nod and tip of his hat but made sure not to stop. By the time he reached the long counter at the far end of the diner, he felt as though hed walked through fire. He took a deep breath and held on to it for a moment as he recognized the man sitting at the counter. Dean Stanton. One of his former best friendsand now his fathers doctor. He hadnt expected to see him this soon.

Dean, he said, bracing his arms on the counter. Dean gave him a nod like he was a stranger. He hadnt seen him in eight years and hadnt had any contact until Dean had called, telling him his father had suffered a stroke. He could still hear the censure in his friends voice. Dean had also made it pretty clear he was calling as his fathers doctor, not as his old buddy. He looked the sameolder, sure. Judging by his clean-shaven appearance and expensive-looking clothes, he seemed like he had his life together, too. Ty was the one still in faded jeans and an old cowboy hat.

He kept his eyes trained on the kitchen door and sure as hell hoped Tilly would come out of there soon, because he needed a coffee and then he needed to get the hell out of Dodge. When the door swung open a minute later, it wasnt Tilly. He didnt know who the waitress was. He may have been driving all night, his eyes sore and tired, but there was no stopping the instincts he was born with as he gazed appreciatively at the woman in front of him. Her honey-colored hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she had familiar, large chocolate-colored eyes. She was wearing a T-shirt with Tillys scrolled across the front, the shirt clinging to very nice curves. Her jeans were dark and showed off nicely rounded hips. When his eyes traveled back up her curvy length, her brown eyes were on his, and any of the warmth hed detected was replaced by an unapologetic disdain.

What can I get you? she asked, now wiping the counter and not making eye contact with him.

Large coffee to go? He ignored the various glass-domed cake stands filled with muffins, doughnuts, and pies, even though he hadnt eaten in twelve hours. Tilly was known for the best and freshest baked goods for miles. He just wasnt in the mood for eating.

She didnt actually give him an answer, only sort of gave a nod. He noticed she glanced over at Dean before grabbing a white paper cup and pouring the coffee. She handed him the drink and a plastic lid. Thatll be a dollar and fifty cents. Cream and sugar are over there, she said, pointing to the far side of the counter.

He laid the correct change out in front of him. Hows Tilly?

Dead, she said, walking away with the carafe of coffee in her hands. Damn. He hadnt expected that. Hed kinda assumed Tilly would always be here. He glanced over at the waitress again, studying her profile as she refilled Deans cup. Hell. He knew her. Tillys granddaughter. Shed always been at the diner with her grandmother. As a little kid and then later as a teenager. Now shed turned into this gorgeous woman. It was well known that Tillys daughter had saddled her with her baby and taken off. No one really knew much about her after that.