Series: Selkirk Family Ranch, #1
Author: Irene Vartanoff
Self-Published
Release Date: June 15, 2015
Pages: 226
Buy Link: Amazon
Blurb:
Abducted by rancher Baron Selkirk—okay, it was an accident, but now he won't let her go!—former TV child star turned horse whisperer Addie Jelleff enjoys a respite from the media circus that ruined her quiet retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but she's due back to town to defend her actor pal at his trial very soon. Baron's vast, isolated ranch is only one of his many attractions, but he's awfully domineering and she can't possibly give in to their growing attraction while she's virtually his prisoner, can she? Baron sees the situation differently. Forced to drop his geology career and take over the family ranch, he's frustrated by too many people saying no to him. Isn't he in charge? Why is Addie so mysterious about her past and her commitments to another man? Why won't she give in to Baron, when every time they touch, they catch fire? It's a battle of wills—with neither one backing down. Addie can tame the wildest stallion, but taming her own growing attraction to the high-handed rancher and keeping him from breaking through her defenses requires all her strength—and some help from unexpected sources.
“Why do I get the feeling that you do not want to cooperate and arrange to get me back north?” she cried.
“Because it’s true.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“You were in sad shape earlier today,” he said. “Would it hurt you to stay here for a while and recover fully?”
“If it was my free choice, that would be different,” she said, crossing her arms and glaring at him.
“At this moment, I don’t believe you’re in any shape to make a rational free choice about yourself, so I’m choosing for you. For now, you stay on my ranch, where you will be safe and can recover.” His expression was adamant.
She let out an exasperated breath. “We’re getting nowhere.”
“Then go back to bed. Rest.”
He’d defeated her for the moment, but only for the moment, she promised herself. She walked toward the kitchen door. “Good night.”
He moved away from the stove to intercept her. “No need to wear yourself out all over again. I’ll carry you up,” he said.
She stopped dead. Being in his arms, alone with him, in the middle of the night? That would be asking for trouble. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
“Are you?” Baron gave her whole body a comprehensive look, but lingered on her face. His eyes held an expression she understood all too well. What he wanted from her in the middle of the night was clear.
Her breath was giving her trouble again. Her limbs tingled and her breasts ached. She whirled and sped out of the kitchen, not daring to look back. It took all her energy to climb the stairs, shaky as she was now from the awareness that had suddenly spring up between them. She locked her bedroom door, trying to keep herself in as much as keep Baron Selkirk out. This never happened to her. She could not recall ever being so sexually carried away over so little. Over a mere glance. A few seconds more, and they could have been having sex on the kitchen counter.
Baron held his breath until she turned on the landing and was out of sight. Finally, he exhaled. What the hell just happened? They’d gone from arguing to sizing each other up as potential lovers. He knew the signs. What about his offer to carry her up to bed? Sheer madness. She was smart to turn him down, because he would have been in that bed with her, making love to her despite her fragile condition. From the look she’d given him, she’d considered it.
He policed the kitchen, stowing the plate and the pitcher of tea, and turning off the lights. His pulse was still jumping. Feisty Addie did that to him, turned him into a tyrant who wouldn’t hear of letting her leave. Were all men pigs? Offering to carry her to bed. Right. Genius. He was lucky she hadn’t laughed in his face. She’d gone pink instead. He’d seen the flush that rose in her cheeks. Her hands had trembled a bit, too. She’d known what he wanted. Maybe she’d wanted it, too.
The nightgown under her robe had hidden her major assets modestly, but had ended above her knees, showing off nicely shaped legs and pretty toes with pink polish. He shoved his feet into his boots, and flung on a coat. He needed to walk this off. Women knew how to make the most of their power over men. Here he was salivating over Addie, a near stranger, because he’d seen her toes. Too bad his housekeeper hadn’t found Addie a granny gown that reached the floor and hid those toes. Whatever a granny gown was.
“Because it’s true.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“You were in sad shape earlier today,” he said. “Would it hurt you to stay here for a while and recover fully?”
“If it was my free choice, that would be different,” she said, crossing her arms and glaring at him.
“At this moment, I don’t believe you’re in any shape to make a rational free choice about yourself, so I’m choosing for you. For now, you stay on my ranch, where you will be safe and can recover.” His expression was adamant.
She let out an exasperated breath. “We’re getting nowhere.”
“Then go back to bed. Rest.”
He’d defeated her for the moment, but only for the moment, she promised herself. She walked toward the kitchen door. “Good night.”
He moved away from the stove to intercept her. “No need to wear yourself out all over again. I’ll carry you up,” he said.
She stopped dead. Being in his arms, alone with him, in the middle of the night? That would be asking for trouble. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
“Are you?” Baron gave her whole body a comprehensive look, but lingered on her face. His eyes held an expression she understood all too well. What he wanted from her in the middle of the night was clear.
Her breath was giving her trouble again. Her limbs tingled and her breasts ached. She whirled and sped out of the kitchen, not daring to look back. It took all her energy to climb the stairs, shaky as she was now from the awareness that had suddenly spring up between them. She locked her bedroom door, trying to keep herself in as much as keep Baron Selkirk out. This never happened to her. She could not recall ever being so sexually carried away over so little. Over a mere glance. A few seconds more, and they could have been having sex on the kitchen counter.
Baron held his breath until she turned on the landing and was out of sight. Finally, he exhaled. What the hell just happened? They’d gone from arguing to sizing each other up as potential lovers. He knew the signs. What about his offer to carry her up to bed? Sheer madness. She was smart to turn him down, because he would have been in that bed with her, making love to her despite her fragile condition. From the look she’d given him, she’d considered it.
He policed the kitchen, stowing the plate and the pitcher of tea, and turning off the lights. His pulse was still jumping. Feisty Addie did that to him, turned him into a tyrant who wouldn’t hear of letting her leave. Were all men pigs? Offering to carry her to bed. Right. Genius. He was lucky she hadn’t laughed in his face. She’d gone pink instead. He’d seen the flush that rose in her cheeks. Her hands had trembled a bit, too. She’d known what he wanted. Maybe she’d wanted it, too.
The nightgown under her robe had hidden her major assets modestly, but had ended above her knees, showing off nicely shaped legs and pretty toes with pink polish. He shoved his feet into his boots, and flung on a coat. He needed to walk this off. Women knew how to make the most of their power over men. Here he was salivating over Addie, a near stranger, because he’d seen her toes. Too bad his housekeeper hadn’t found Addie a granny gown that reached the floor and hid those toes. Whatever a granny gown was.
About the Author
Award-winning author Irene Vartanoff started reading romances and comic books as a teenager. Emilie Loring and Superman were her gateway drugs, which led to the serious stuff, Gothic novels and Lois Lane comics—and romance comics.
Writing romance comic books and working on staff at Marvel Comics and DC Comics absorbed her early career years, aspects of which are gently spoofed in her superhero adventure novel, Temporary Superheroine.
Editing for major publishers of romance Harlequin, Bantam, and Berkley inspired her next career shift to writing novels. Captive of the Cattle Baron is her first sweet contemporary romance. Visit her at www.irenevartanoff.com
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