Vicki Lewis Thompson - Cowboys Like Us: Cowboys Like Us Notorious

Ten years ago, the passion was ignited
And its only gotten hotter with time!

Join the editors in celebrating
a decade of wonderful authors,
irresistible storiesand great sex!

Look for all six

Special 10 th Anniversary Collectors Editions
from The Original Sexy Six authors .

Check out:

THE BRADDOCK BOYS: TRAVIS
and THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE
by Kimberly Raye

HOTSHOT and GOING FOR IT
by Jo Leigh

UNDENIABLE PLEASURES and YOU SEXY THING!
by Tori Carrington

COWBOYS LIKE US and NOTORIOUS
by Vicki Lewis Thompson

TOO HOT TO TOUCH and EXPOSED
by Julie Leto

EXTRA INNINGS and IN HIS WILDEST DREAMS
by Debbi Rawlins

Harlequin Blaze

Celebrating 10 years of red-hot reads!

Dear Reader,

Writing romance novels is my dream job. And when youre lucky enough to have a job like that, the years go by like greased lightning! Blaze is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month? Impossible! But true, and Im thrilled to be here wearing a party hat and throwing confetti around with my Blaze launch buddies (aka The Original Sexy Six) and Blaze Senior Editor Brenda Chin.

Brenda and I have been friends and colleagues for longer than either of us is willing to admit. She edited my first Blaze, Notorious, which is included in this volume, and my current Blaze, Cowboys Like Us. Both books feature yummy heroes who look great wearing jeans, boots and a Stetson. Thanks for making me and my cowboys look good for all these years, Brenda!

This is the sixth book in my Sons of Chance series, with three more arriving in the summer of 2012! Im grateful for all of you who visit the ranch through my stories. I love hearing from you! You can email me through my website at www.vickilewisthompson.com. Please do!

And finally, thanks to all the readers whove helped make Blaze such a roaring success in the past decade. Heres to ten more years of hot heroes and happily-ever-afters!

Celebratingly yours,

Vicki

Vicki Lewis Thompson

COWBOYS LIKE US

NOTORIOUS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompsons love affair with cowboys started with The Lone Ranger, continued through Maverick and took a turn south of the border with Zorro. She views cowboys as the Western version of knights in shining armorrugged men who value honor, honesty and hard work. Fortunately for her, she lives in the Arizona desert, where broad-shouldered, lean-hipped cowboys abound. Blessed with such an abundance of inspiration, she only hopes that she can do them justice. Visit her website at www.vickilewisthompson.com.

Books by Vicki Lewis Thompson

HARLEQUIN BLAZE

544WANTED!

550AMBUSHED!

556CLAIMED!

618SHOULDVE BEEN A COWBOY

624COWBOY UP

CONTENTS

COWBOYS LIKE US

To my grandmother, Nellie Sharpe,
a die-hard baseball fan. Your legacy
jumped two generations to live on in your
great-granddaughter Audrey, who eagerly awaits
that first crack of the bat every spring.

Prologue

August 8, 1963
from the diary of Eleanor Chance

NOW THAT JONATHANS seventeen and chasing after girls, I decided to find a hobby so I wouldnt be forever worrying about him. This summer I became a Chicago Cubs baseball fan! I figured that both Jonathan and my dear husband, Archie, would share in this new passion and wed have some family togetherness listening to the games on the radio here at the Last Chance Ranch.

So much for that idea. Turns out neither of them have the slightest interest in the sport, but I love it! I dont care if my Cubbies dont win very often. Theyre historic, dating way back, and Wrigley Field is a piece of history, too. Besides, I like the teams name. Bear cubs are the cutest things ever, and I should know. Here in Jackson Hole we have bears aplenty.

I suppose I could have picked football or basketball, but I dont understand those rules as well. Baseball has always made sense to me. Hearing the crack of the bat sends a chill down my spine, especially in games like today! Ron Santo hit a home run in the bottom of the tenth to beat the L.A. Dodgers, which is amazing because the Cubs arent doing so hot, as usual, and the Dodgers are leading the National League.

When I announced this thrilling victory at dinner tonight, Jonathan and Archie both smiled and said that was nice, but I could tell they dont give a flip. Too bad for them. Theyre missing some great entertainment. Ive sent away for a Cubs baseball cap. Im going to wear it, too.

Present Day

LOGAN CARSWELL, FORMER catcher for the Chicago Cubs, had two surefire remedies for a troubled mind, and he couldnt use either one. Booze was out because hed taken pain meds for his knee so he could dance at Alex Kellers wedding reception in Shoshone, Wyoming. As for the second method, he didnt know any of the women in this tiny town well enough.

Eventually, in spite of the meds, his knee began to bother him. Retreating to one of the Spirits and Spurss well-worn bar stools, he swiveled to face the dance floor, where Alex was two-stepping with his bride, Tyler. Logan had known him ever since they were both kids living in the same Chicago neighborhood.

Alex had never had trouble getting girls, with his all-American blond good looks. Add to that his natural charisma behind a microphone, and hed been able to pick and choose. Apparently hed chosen Tyler, a dark-haired Italian beauty, or shed chosen him.

Near as Logan could tell watching the happy couple on the dance floor, they were both quite pleased with the situation. Alex was obviously in love and seemed to have his life together at last. Logan should be so lucky. But he refused to allow his problems to cast a shadow over this celebration.

Can I get you anything, Mr. Carswell?

Logan swiveled back to the bar and concluded that luck hadnt totally deserted him. Of the two bartenders working the wedding reception, hed drawn the girl instead of the guy.

Hed noticed her earlier. She wore her sun-streaked brown hair in a no-nonsense ponytail and didnt seem to go in for a lot of makeup. Her hazel eyes tilted up slightly at the corners, adding a touch of the exotic to her girl-next-door appeal.

From her enthusiasm and ready smile, he guessed she might be exactly his typea born optimist. He could sure use a dose of optimism right now.

As he gazed at her, he realized she was looking right back with similar interest. Hed built a night of outstanding sex on less. But Shoshone was a folksy town, and one-night stands wouldnt go unnoticed around here the way they would in Chicago.

Still, he could flirt with her a little without doing any harm. He tipped back the Stetson that Alex had insisted he buy, along with the requisite jeans, boots and yoked shirt. I think this is the part where the teetotalling stranger orders a sarsaparilla. He wished he could remember her name, but if someone had mentioned it, hed forgotten.

She laughed. Sorry. Dont have that. But the root beer is excellent.

Thatll do.

After placing a coaster decorated with a bucking bronco in front of him, she picked up a glass mug. Her nails were short and unpolished, her movements quick and efficient. How do you like Shoshone so far?

Friendly place.

We think so.

He grabbed the first conversational topic he could think of. Is it true that this bar is haunted?

So they say. Thats why its called the Spirits and Spurs. She filled the mug to the top, and foam oozed over the lip. Personally, Ive never seen a ghost in here, but some claim they have.