Theodore Winters has no idea what it is exactly he wants in life. While away on a trip, the shy loner encounters a wealthy and smooth talking cowboy, Riley Illingsworth III. Time together helps him see past his own dark shadows that won't let him believe there could be anything more between them. When Theodore realizes that there might be more to it, it is already too late.
Being lonely is nothing new to someone who would rather keep himself distracted by his work than deal with the reality that faces him. Much to his surprise, he finds his new boss wants to give him more than just a promotion and as if his life weren't already chaotic enough, Riley returns with one goal in mind. To finish what he started.
Theodore must choose which path, he believes, will lead him to what he really wants. Will he choose with his mind or will he choose with his heart.
Being lonely is nothing new to someone who would rather keep himself distracted by his work than deal with the reality that faces him. Much to his surprise, he finds his new boss wants to give him more than just a promotion and as if his life weren't already chaotic enough, Riley returns with one goal in mind. To finish what he started.
Theodore must choose which path, he believes, will lead him to what he really wants. Will he choose with his mind or will he choose with his heart.
EXCERPT:
“How many?” asked the kind hostess.
“Just one.” I smiled.
“Follow me, please.”
“Here you go. Your waitress will be right with you.”
“Whoa.” I paused, staring down the long the picnic table of people, where four more guys were sitting as well. “There are people at this table.”
A half tired grin appeared, obviously she wasn’t in the mood. She said with a resented huff, “Well, excuse me if we’re not a five star restaurant in Switzerland. You want to eat or not?” she scolded and stormed off.
“Wow.” Is all that seemed to come out as I took my seat.
***
The heat around my neck became very warm, so I took off my scarf. An enthusiastic voice carried over from further down the table.
“Aw shucks, don’t mind her, partner,” he said, tipping his hat as he slid down next to me. He extended his hand. “Riley Illingsworth the III, at your service.” A wink followed his introduction. His words carried a Texas twang to match the huge black cowboy hat.
“Theodore Winters.” I squinted at the name. “I’m sorry, Illingsworth the III?”
His head tilted with a knowing familiarity, as if he had heard the exact question far too often. “I know.” He sucked in a breath, as the most gorgeous dimples I had ever seen exposed themselves under the dim lighting. He folded his hands. “My momma raised me after my old man flew the coop.”
“Huh?”
“My old man. He left us when I was young. My momma and I, we went to stay with my Gramps out on the farm. At least my old man turned out to be filthy rich and didn’t leave us broke. My momma never wanted his money so she put it all in my name.”
“That was nice of her.”
“Yep, now I’m a rich bastard.” He chuckled as he gave a swinging nod. “More money than I know what to do with.”
“Well, you might not want to mention that to too many people.”
“That’s mighty nice of you there. Caring about me and all, but I promise ya, I can take care of anything that comes my way.”
I didn’t doubt his words, considering the dominant and confident tone he used. “If you’re rich, then why are you here in this place?”
“Hey now, bite that cute little tongue of yours, city slicker. I don’t take much to liking the rich folks myself, but it’s because I’ve met way too many that can be downright annoying and a bit selfish, if you ask me. Ya know, with all their politics and the likes. Hell, I like to keep myself grounded. If there’s one thing, my momma taught me? You don’t forget where you came from.”
I gave a subtle nod. “She sounds like a wise woman.”
“Hell yeah, she is!” He chuckled again as his the weight of his hand slapped the table. I jumped, then he slapped a hand over my shoulder. “Wow. Sorry there, Theodore. I can get a bit loud sometimes, so I’m told.”
“Rowdy and loud! Yeehaw!” yelled a voice from further down the table.
Riley shrugged a nod at his buddies. . “Aw, come on now. You cowhands go find another pot to piss in!”
I lowered my gaze to the table, as everyone else’s eyes seemed to mistake us for entertainment at this point.
“Aw, damn, I did it again. Hey bubba, I’m sorry. Please accept my apologies?” he asked, taking off his hat. I’m assuming he did as a courteous gesture. Nobility?
Glancing over his way, I couldn’t help it. I let out a small laugh. “Fine. You’re forgiven.”
“Hot damn. Also, if you don’t mind me say’n. Theodore. Well, that’s an adorable name,” he said with a gentle smile and a soft raspy tone. He looked back to see if his boys were watching him. A rushing heat filled my cheeks. Still, I didn’t say anything to let on. Then after looking back at me, he said, “How bout’ I call you Teddy for short? Would you mind that at all?”
“Sure, whatever.” I shrugged.
“Listen to me go on about myself. Excuse my rudeness handsome, people say I can be a talker sometimes. What about you, Teddy? What brings the likes of a handsome, hotshot college boy, all the way out to these parts? I can’t imagine your boyfriend ought to be too happy right now. Especially, if he saw you talk’n with the likes of someone like me.”
“No boyfriend.” I replied with a soft shrug. A hint of a smile slipped and I let my eyes fall to the table which seemed the safest place for them right now. Damn this guy, what gives? He’s got me smiling like a damn school girl.
“What’s that? You ain’t got a boyfriend?”
I laughed. “No. To be honest, I don’t even know why I’m here. I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
He placed his hat back on his head. “Not even a little bit?” he asked allowing his eyes to dance a flirtatious play at me. Oh my god, this cowboy’s too much. “Aw, come on now, there’s gotta be a reason. Hell, you’re quite a looker. I’d say you’d get to have any man in here if you wanted. And if that were so, I have to say. I’m a bit jealous about them pretty little blue eyes you got there.”
Don’t blush, don’t blush. I glimpsed up as if I could stop the heat in my cheeks from rising, again!
“Aw see there? If I didn’t know any better.” He let out a chuckle.
That deep sounding voice and my god, those dimples, too damn sexy. Riley began to look around. I asked, “Are you expecting someone?”
“Nope.” He grinned. “Just looking for all your friends.”
A subtle laugh escaped, a self betrayal of revealing the reality of my living truth. “You’re looking at them.”
“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Well, in that case.” I jumped at another slap of his heavy hand over my shoulder. “Then add me to the list.” He tipped his hat after rubbing my shoulder. Geez, the guy is a brick house. He had to be, with all the strength he had in his fingers alone. Though oddly comforted by his sincerity as it were, I wasn’t sure I understood his intentions. Hard to tell behind all his kindness and his insane, overwhelming presence. Not just in spirit, but in size as well.
“Thanks. You don’t have to make excuses for me. It’s okay. Really. I’m used to it.” I nodded knowingly. “I’m, not really one of those people who hung with the popular crowds. Anyway, I just graduated from college about four months ago and decided to take a little time off before I started looking for a job right away.”
“Uh-huh,” he said, rolling his tongue over his lips while raising his chin at me. “So let me see if I’m hear’n ya right? A handsome, smart college graduate, came all the way out to Colorado,” he said, with a pointing finger down on the table, “to go skiing? Alone?” He shook his head with a curious look. “Now why don’t that sit right with me, I wonder.”
I shrugged again. “It’s no big deal. I do a lot of things alone.”
The rest of Riley’s friends jumped up from the table and were beginning to head out. “Hey Riles! You a come’n?”
Riley gave a nod at the guys. “Well, that’s my cue,” he said, standing up and placing his big cowboy hands on his hips. My eyes glanced at his Texas size belt buckle and then shot all the way up to his devilish green eyes. Talk about tall and big in Texas. Now I see why he said he could handle himself.
“Good meeting you.” I nodded, almost sad at the thought of him leaving.
“Hey, listen, we’re heading down to the slopes. Wanna join us?”
I politely smiled. “Nah, I’m good,” I answered, shaking my head. “Besides, I just got here. Think I’m staying in for the night. You know sit down with a good book.” Riley’s brow rose as if trying to convince me how much I’d regret it later. “Or watch a good show or something, you know,” I said, smiling again.
He pursed his lips as the corner of his mouth raised in question. He gave a polite tip of his hat and just smiled. “All righty then, partner. If that’s what you want. Well, I suppose I might be seeing you around?”
“Sure. See ya around.” Riley’s dark, jet black hair lay flat just beneath the rim of his hat. The back of his neck, exposed, clean. I somehow found that appealing and sexy. I imagined my lips pressed against his sweet skin. His jeans were tight and snug around his thick, muscular legs. He looked to be about five inches taller than my five feet eight. This cowboy had the charm of a gentleman, and one of the gentlest voices that could make a grown man melt. Geez, and that ass? Wait, I thought, cowboys didn’t have an ass. I glimpsed down as a sudden blood rush between my legs worked its way through me, grabbing my immediate attention. Pulling them together into a tighter squeeze, I subtly crossed them. I cleared my throat, smiling at the waitress who showed up out of nowhere.
“How many?” asked the kind hostess.
“Just one.” I smiled.
“Follow me, please.”
“Here you go. Your waitress will be right with you.”
“Whoa.” I paused, staring down the long the picnic table of people, where four more guys were sitting as well. “There are people at this table.”
A half tired grin appeared, obviously she wasn’t in the mood. She said with a resented huff, “Well, excuse me if we’re not a five star restaurant in Switzerland. You want to eat or not?” she scolded and stormed off.
“Wow.” Is all that seemed to come out as I took my seat.
***
The heat around my neck became very warm, so I took off my scarf. An enthusiastic voice carried over from further down the table.
“Aw shucks, don’t mind her, partner,” he said, tipping his hat as he slid down next to me. He extended his hand. “Riley Illingsworth the III, at your service.” A wink followed his introduction. His words carried a Texas twang to match the huge black cowboy hat.
“Theodore Winters.” I squinted at the name. “I’m sorry, Illingsworth the III?”
His head tilted with a knowing familiarity, as if he had heard the exact question far too often. “I know.” He sucked in a breath, as the most gorgeous dimples I had ever seen exposed themselves under the dim lighting. He folded his hands. “My momma raised me after my old man flew the coop.”
“Huh?”
“My old man. He left us when I was young. My momma and I, we went to stay with my Gramps out on the farm. At least my old man turned out to be filthy rich and didn’t leave us broke. My momma never wanted his money so she put it all in my name.”
“That was nice of her.”
“Yep, now I’m a rich bastard.” He chuckled as he gave a swinging nod. “More money than I know what to do with.”
“Well, you might not want to mention that to too many people.”
“That’s mighty nice of you there. Caring about me and all, but I promise ya, I can take care of anything that comes my way.”
I didn’t doubt his words, considering the dominant and confident tone he used. “If you’re rich, then why are you here in this place?”
“Hey now, bite that cute little tongue of yours, city slicker. I don’t take much to liking the rich folks myself, but it’s because I’ve met way too many that can be downright annoying and a bit selfish, if you ask me. Ya know, with all their politics and the likes. Hell, I like to keep myself grounded. If there’s one thing, my momma taught me? You don’t forget where you came from.”
I gave a subtle nod. “She sounds like a wise woman.”
“Hell yeah, she is!” He chuckled again as his the weight of his hand slapped the table. I jumped, then he slapped a hand over my shoulder. “Wow. Sorry there, Theodore. I can get a bit loud sometimes, so I’m told.”
“Rowdy and loud! Yeehaw!” yelled a voice from further down the table.
Riley shrugged a nod at his buddies. . “Aw, come on now. You cowhands go find another pot to piss in!”
I lowered my gaze to the table, as everyone else’s eyes seemed to mistake us for entertainment at this point.
“Aw, damn, I did it again. Hey bubba, I’m sorry. Please accept my apologies?” he asked, taking off his hat. I’m assuming he did as a courteous gesture. Nobility?
Glancing over his way, I couldn’t help it. I let out a small laugh. “Fine. You’re forgiven.”
“Hot damn. Also, if you don’t mind me say’n. Theodore. Well, that’s an adorable name,” he said with a gentle smile and a soft raspy tone. He looked back to see if his boys were watching him. A rushing heat filled my cheeks. Still, I didn’t say anything to let on. Then after looking back at me, he said, “How bout’ I call you Teddy for short? Would you mind that at all?”
“Sure, whatever.” I shrugged.
“Listen to me go on about myself. Excuse my rudeness handsome, people say I can be a talker sometimes. What about you, Teddy? What brings the likes of a handsome, hotshot college boy, all the way out to these parts? I can’t imagine your boyfriend ought to be too happy right now. Especially, if he saw you talk’n with the likes of someone like me.”
“No boyfriend.” I replied with a soft shrug. A hint of a smile slipped and I let my eyes fall to the table which seemed the safest place for them right now. Damn this guy, what gives? He’s got me smiling like a damn school girl.
“What’s that? You ain’t got a boyfriend?”
I laughed. “No. To be honest, I don’t even know why I’m here. I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
He placed his hat back on his head. “Not even a little bit?” he asked allowing his eyes to dance a flirtatious play at me. Oh my god, this cowboy’s too much. “Aw, come on now, there’s gotta be a reason. Hell, you’re quite a looker. I’d say you’d get to have any man in here if you wanted. And if that were so, I have to say. I’m a bit jealous about them pretty little blue eyes you got there.”
Don’t blush, don’t blush. I glimpsed up as if I could stop the heat in my cheeks from rising, again!
“Aw see there? If I didn’t know any better.” He let out a chuckle.
That deep sounding voice and my god, those dimples, too damn sexy. Riley began to look around. I asked, “Are you expecting someone?”
“Nope.” He grinned. “Just looking for all your friends.”
A subtle laugh escaped, a self betrayal of revealing the reality of my living truth. “You’re looking at them.”
“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Well, in that case.” I jumped at another slap of his heavy hand over my shoulder. “Then add me to the list.” He tipped his hat after rubbing my shoulder. Geez, the guy is a brick house. He had to be, with all the strength he had in his fingers alone. Though oddly comforted by his sincerity as it were, I wasn’t sure I understood his intentions. Hard to tell behind all his kindness and his insane, overwhelming presence. Not just in spirit, but in size as well.
“Thanks. You don’t have to make excuses for me. It’s okay. Really. I’m used to it.” I nodded knowingly. “I’m, not really one of those people who hung with the popular crowds. Anyway, I just graduated from college about four months ago and decided to take a little time off before I started looking for a job right away.”
“Uh-huh,” he said, rolling his tongue over his lips while raising his chin at me. “So let me see if I’m hear’n ya right? A handsome, smart college graduate, came all the way out to Colorado,” he said, with a pointing finger down on the table, “to go skiing? Alone?” He shook his head with a curious look. “Now why don’t that sit right with me, I wonder.”
I shrugged again. “It’s no big deal. I do a lot of things alone.”
The rest of Riley’s friends jumped up from the table and were beginning to head out. “Hey Riles! You a come’n?”
Riley gave a nod at the guys. “Well, that’s my cue,” he said, standing up and placing his big cowboy hands on his hips. My eyes glanced at his Texas size belt buckle and then shot all the way up to his devilish green eyes. Talk about tall and big in Texas. Now I see why he said he could handle himself.
“Good meeting you.” I nodded, almost sad at the thought of him leaving.
“Hey, listen, we’re heading down to the slopes. Wanna join us?”
I politely smiled. “Nah, I’m good,” I answered, shaking my head. “Besides, I just got here. Think I’m staying in for the night. You know sit down with a good book.” Riley’s brow rose as if trying to convince me how much I’d regret it later. “Or watch a good show or something, you know,” I said, smiling again.
He pursed his lips as the corner of his mouth raised in question. He gave a polite tip of his hat and just smiled. “All righty then, partner. If that’s what you want. Well, I suppose I might be seeing you around?”
“Sure. See ya around.” Riley’s dark, jet black hair lay flat just beneath the rim of his hat. The back of his neck, exposed, clean. I somehow found that appealing and sexy. I imagined my lips pressed against his sweet skin. His jeans were tight and snug around his thick, muscular legs. He looked to be about five inches taller than my five feet eight. This cowboy had the charm of a gentleman, and one of the gentlest voices that could make a grown man melt. Geez, and that ass? Wait, I thought, cowboys didn’t have an ass. I glimpsed down as a sudden blood rush between my legs worked its way through me, grabbing my immediate attention. Pulling them together into a tighter squeeze, I subtly crossed them. I cleared my throat, smiling at the waitress who showed up out of nowhere.