Free Second Sunrise Cowboy (Second Chance Book 8) by Rhonda Lee Carver

nails.”
    The rest of the day Cash spent in silence. He went alone to check the perimeter of the property and mend a fence, needing the space and to connect with nature. He had a lot to think about before he saw Dakota that evening.
    When his chores were finally finished, Cash drove up to the house. He had a layer of dirt from head to toe, and if he stomped his boots he’d probably send a cloud of dust around his head. He needed a good scrubbing and a beer.
    Sliding out of his truck and stretching his aching back, he marched up the stairs to the porch.  Flipping through the day’s mail, he tripped over something. “Shit!” A large manila envelope had almost caused him to break his neck.
    He looked down at the offending obstacle, wondering where in the hell it came from. He read the wide label. “Texas Bachelors.”
    Never heard of it.
    Grabbing it up, he carried it inside with the rest of the mail, dropping everything on the table. He overlooked the bills and stared at the large, mysterious package. Sliding his finger under the flap, he broke the seal and peered in. Inside he found a pile of envelopes, dumping the contents onto the table and scattering the parcels. They all had his name on them. His curiosity growing, he picked up the loose, folded piece of paper, smoothed out the folds and read it...
     
    “Dear Mr. Bailey.
    We are so pleased to spotlight you as this month’s bachelor of the year. Hundreds of men were nominated and we narrowed it down to you. Congratulations. I’m forwarding the letters you’ve received here at the magazine.”
     
    He ripped open one envelope, practically shredding it, pulling out the one page letter inside, reading…
     
    “Dear Bachelor of the month.
    After reading your article in Texas Bachelors, I just knew I had to meet you. I’m a single mother myself with two children. I understand what it’s like to lose a loved one…”
     
    He dropped the paper to the table.
    “What the hell?”
    He grabbed another, opened it, read it, and the three after that all mentioned an article in the magazine—each one made him sicker.
    Grabbing his cell phone out of his back pocket, he hit quick dial. On the third ring, Hope answered. He sighed. “Would you happen to know anything about an article in the Texas Bachelor?” he asked.
    The line remained silent for a good ten seconds. “Uhh…well, why are you asking?”
    “I have about a hundred letters on my table from women who want to meet me. Now, I know I didn’t sign myself up for this, so can I get an explanation?”
    Her moan cracked the line. “I’m sorry. With Delores’s death, I’d completely forgotten all about it.”
    “Forgotten what exactly?” He gripped the phone tighter.
    “I came across an ad in the magazine, Texas Bachelors. They look for top bachelors looking for love. On a whim, I decided to enter you. I guess women liked you, huh?”
    “At any time in this did you think you should ask me first? Or take into consideration I’d never do something as crazy as this?”
    “Yes, and that’s why I didn’t ask.” Marah’s cries sounded in the background. “You know we did this because we love you.”
    “We as in Tucker was in on this?”
    “After the fact.”
    “I’m going to wring his neck for not telling me,” he growled.
    “If you’re not going to help yourself, someone has to. Don’t be mad at me or your brother. I’ve got to feed Marah, but we’ll talk soon.
    Once he hung up, he stared at the envelopes scattered around the table. He didn’t have time to think about it right now. It was already five-thirty and he still had to shower.
     
    ****
    Dakota stared into her open suitcase. She had all of her best clothes with her and still had nothing to wear. It wasn’t as if she needed to dress a certain way. So then why did her stomach get all tight and her palms clammy? She didn’t need to impress anyone, especially a tall, sexy cowboy.
    Who was she kidding? She’d thought about Cash all day,