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What The Cowboy Prescribes...
Mary Starleigh
For weeks, I've needed a partner for my country clinic. Well, I've finally found one–right under my own roof! My guest room's temporary occupant is a rugged hunk who looks more comfortable wearing a Stetson than a stethoscope, and he has secrets–big secrets.He's also tender, grumpy and practically irresistible! Steve Hartly says he doesn't practice medicine anymore, but I see the longing in his eyes and have felt the warmth of his touch. Somehow I've got to find a way to help him while protecting myself. Because even I don't know how to heal a broken heart…
Meg didn’t feel like a stranger in Steve’s arms.
In fact, she felt practiced and confident kissing him. She didn’t care that Steve Hartly was completely and positively wrong for her in every way. She kissed him with all she had, refusing to harbor any negative thoughts.
Too soon he pulled away, leaving her lips bare and wanting. Meg’s heart thumped against her chest. Steve made her feel womanly and out of control all at the same time.
Why had she returned his kiss with such fervor? She needed him to help her, not kiss her. If she could get him to practice medicine again, he could save her clinic. She wanted to keep everything aboveboard—shove her physical needs out of the way.
Hoping to clear her mind, she breathed in the rich, thick morning air. Even in her confusion she knew one thing.
She wanted to understand Steve Hartly.
Dear Reader,
March roars in in grand style at Silhouette Romance, as we continue to celebrate twenty years of publishing the best in contemporary category romance fiction. And the new millennium boasts several new miniseries and promotions…such as ROYALLY WED, a three-book spinoff of the cross-line series that concluded last month in Special Edition Arlene James launches the new limited series with A Royal Masquerade, featuring a romance between would-be enemies, in which appearances are definitely deceiving.…
Susan Meier’s adorable BREWSTER BABY BOOM series concludes this month with Oh, Babies! The last Brewster bachelor had best beware—but the warning may be too late! Karen Rose Smith graces the lineup with the story of a very pregnant single mom who finds Just the Man She Needed in her lonesome cowboy boarder whose plans had never included staying. The delightful Terry Essig will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone with The Baby Magnet, in which a hunky single dad discovers his toddler is more of an attraction than him—till he meets a woman who proves his ultimate distraction.
A confirmed bachelor finds himself the solution to the command: Callie, Get Your Groom as Julianna Morris unveils her new miniseries BRIDAL FEVER! And could love be What the Cowboy Prescribes… in Mary Starleigh’s charming debut Romance novel?
Happy Reading!
Mary-Theresa Hussey
Senior Editor
What The Cowboy Prescribes…
Mary Starleigh
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
To Susan McKeague Karnes, Liz Lounsbury, Tina Oldham and Donna Smith, fellow writers, who challenge, inspire and support.
Books by Mary Starleigh
Silhouette Romance
What the Cowboy Prescribes… #1437
Silhouette Yours Truly
The Texan and the Pregnant Cowgirl
MARY STARLEIGH,
born in North Carolina, is a ninth-generation Southerner. She claims her Southern background is where she acquired her love of romance. “I adore creating characters who are brave, honorable and find true love.”
She writes full-time, teaches English and creative writing part-time at a small Texas college and mentors high school students. Her husband, a pilot, reads all her romances. They have one daughter.
Contents
Chapter One (#ua6333e47-4caf-5cb8-8010-4686c634d208)
Chapter Two (#u8d33717d-c61f-592c-94bf-a63dd5ac3608)
Chapter Three (#u72f9b76f-2f6e-5bb5-bed9-0b3a4721404e)
Chapter Four (#u5f14f325-e2db-5e4c-836d-fdf220df15aa)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One
“Sunshine needs a doctor.”
Meg Graham jumped at the desperate words and her heart thumped hard against her ribs. Cal Bradford’s scared face stared back at her. She stood and grabbed her medical bag. “Who is it?”
“Erin Waldron.”
Meg pushed past Cal, sprinted out of her office and clinic, and down the sidewalk to the Sunshine Café.
Out of breath, weary, and fighting a feeling of dread, she pulled the door open and rushed into the restaurant. A stranger was kneeling beside Erin. The man’s dark gaze was filled with concern and he was patting the healthy but frightened child.
Meg steadied herself by inhaling deeply.
“Listen, little guy, you choked because you didn’t take your time chewing.”
The man’s compassionate tone filled Meg with relief.
Erin nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“Thank you.” Sue Waldron was standing close by her son. “Erin and I were on our way to get feed for his horse…and we just stopped…thank you so much.”
Sue’s voice broke, and Meg slid an arm around her shoulders.
The stranger stood and gazed down at Meg. He towered over her. “Erin’ll be fine. I’ve checked him.”
“Come on, Erin, we’d better get home,” Sue said.
Mother and son collected their belongings and headed for the door. Erin turned around and waved. “Thanks, mister.”
A smile and deep emotion graced the man’s face for a quick moment, then vanished.
Meg gripped one of the Sunshine’s red plastic chairs. “I can’t thank you enough. I’m Meg Graham, Jackson’s only doctor.” She stepped forward and extended her hand.
“No problem.” He nodded, shook her hand quickly, then turned and walked to his table. After placing a few bills by his check, he shrugged into his jacket and headed for the door.
“Hey, wait a minute. I’d like to know your name,” Meg called as she crossed the room.
As if not hearing her, he opened the door, stepped outside and pulled it closed behind him. Meg stared at the door for a moment, then grabbed the knob. She yanked it open and walked out into the Texas sunshine.
The man pivoted back toward her. Furrows gnarled his forehead and a look of pure aggravation darkened his handsome face. Chestnut hair, the color of a wild horse she’d ridden once, was combed back from his forehead. A black turtleneck accented his tanned skin and was tucked neatly into new jeans that had been pressed to a knife’s edge.
Her hand found his arm, and the rich, soft cashmere of his jacket. “At least tell me your name so I can thank you properly. Are you a doctor?”
“I was.”
“And your name?”
“Steve Hartly.”
His dark, smoky voice wove a spell around her. “Are you just passing through Jackson?” she pressed.
“I stopped for lunch.”
The color of his eyes, like dark Texas earth, again reflected the strong emotion she’d seen inside the café, when he was comforting the child.
Meg’s hand dropped to her side and she took an exhausted breath. “Thanks for stepping in and helping Erin.”
Steve studied her for a moment, then jammed his hands into his pockets. “You’re welcome. But there’s no need to thank me. It was a simple procedure.”
Before she could say anything else, he turned to leave.
Her hand flew to his arm again. At the touch, his biceps hardened, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
He turned back. “I need to get going.”
Meg caught a glimpse of their reflections in the mirrorlike, plate-glass window. Steve was at least a head taller, and the painted yellow heart on the café’s sign was accenting both their shimmering images.
Another fluttering of butterflies assaulted her.
“It’s tough being the only doctor in town,” she blurted. Now why had she said that?
Silently he studied every inch and curve of her body, then glanced into her eyes. “You look like you can handle just about anything.”
As if on the wild horse again, Meg felt her stomach flip-flop.
“Well…y-yes,” she stuttered, confused at her physical reaction to the stranger.
“I’ve got to be on my way.”
For some crazy reason, she didn’t want Steve to leave. “Sorry your lunch was interrupted.”
“No problem.” His right brow arched slightly, making his face more asymmetrical, yet more handsome.
“Sunshine has great food. You’ll have to…” The rest of her suggestion evaporated. What was she planning to say?
Steve brought his hand to his chin and studied her again.
“You might want…” Meg was finding it hard to complete a thought. “My office and clinic—” she pointed down the sidewalk “—right there.…”
She glanced back to the reflection in the café window. Why hadn’t she combed her hair earlier?
His brow arched again.
“Ever practice in a rural area?” she queried.
Steve shook his head.
“Well, it’s very interesting. Busy, though. Jackson’s a wonderful place.” She poised her hand on her hip. His eyes remained on her, and her mouth turned as dry as a Texas wind.
Darn it!
What was wrong with her? She’d felt so tired before she’d come down to the Sunshine, yet at the moment she was feeling so alive. Maybe all she needed was a good night’s sleep.
The sun came out from behind a feathery cloud, and Steve squinted a little. Tiny crinkles formed around his eyes and added to his attractiveness. There’d be no sleeping with this man around. Coming from out of nowhere, the thought jarred her.
Steve cleared his throat. “I should get going.”
Before she could say another word, he walked to a shiny black BMW sitting two parking spaces down from the Sunshine Café. His muscular legs carried his massive frame with ease.
Meg leaned against the concrete wall and crossed her arms. Steve opened the car door and climbed in. Through a lightly tinted windshield, she could see him settle himself against the seat and start the engine.
Then his attention shifted to her. His strong jaw accented his full mouth, and one dark brow arched higher than the other again, adding to his powerful, mysterious persona.
Meg’s stomach fluttered once more. She was either hungry or tired, and right now she couldn’t do anything about either state. She gripped her arms in a self-conscious hug, then raised her right hand and waved goodbye.
Steve didn’t smile, only nodded, then maneuvered the soundless automobile out of the parking space onto Main Street.
She chewed the inside of her cheek and shoved her hands into her pockets. Thank goodness that was over. But she was glad he’d been around to help Erin.
