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

and she still couldn’t seem to get enough. He was a bittersweet poison rushing through her veins.
    Cash was a real cowboy, rough and tough, and his looks could upend any woman, especially one who hadn’t been around a man in a long time.
    Where would all this lead? And did it matter? She needed to extricate all naughty thoughts of Cash, his calloused hands and charming smile from the recesses of her mind. She needed to think of the future and how the heck she’d get off Havens Ranch because currently, she was stuck.
    Rubbing her temples, she made a wish that the throbbing didn’t turn into a migraine—a huge one with a capital C etched on her forehead for the man who’d done nothing but haunt her every waking hour since they’d met. She wasn’t desperate, didn’t even want a male persuasion.  So why all the fuss?
    Her emotions were whacked. After all, she’d been on a non-stop emotional roller coaster for the last few months. Losing Delores had been the toughest hill and she didn’t see a descent anytime soon.
    Pulling a blue, short-sleeved shirt from the suitcase, she held it up to her body, checking herself in the mirror. Too dressy.
    She then tried a long-sleeved blouse. Too warm.
    Finally settling on a v-neck, she pulled it on.  Then her favorite skinny jeans.
    Since working at the diner, she’d stopped worrying about her appearance. A world of a difference from when she worked at the boutique. No surprise. Waitresses worked twelve hour shifts with only a five minute break all day. Dakota had been lucky to get a good night’s sleep just to get up and go at it again. The boss had been a slave driver, and she should be happy she had gotten away.  It’s just too bad her wallet squeaked because it was so empty.
    This was only a hurdle she’d have to jump. She’d been in worse spots before. She would make it out of this bad situation stronger.
    She had half a mind to open a map, close her eyes and point—wherever she landed, she’d go. But at thirty-two, could she be so careless? No, it was time to start getting her life in order.
    But where did she belong?
    Here maybe?
    The Bailey family was kind. She felt she already knew them and had become fast friends with Hope.
    Whoa, slow down. She was getting ahead of herself. Job offerings in the small town would be limited, if not obsolete.
    The loneliness grew like a black hole in her heart. She missed having someone to talk to, someone to listen. Warm hands on a cold night…calloused, ranch-handling hands. Her mouth went dry. She hadn’t been this confused and crazy, since high school.
    Last night she’d finished reading Delores’s letter and cried herself to sleep.
    Her aunt had written about Becca and how fast she was growing up. Delores had loved the little girl and worried about her. She’d also mentioned Cash and the loneliness she saw in his eyes, and she wished he’d find someone to love again. Dakota’s heart went out for Becca, and maybe for Cash too.
    With one last brushing through her hair, she slid into sandals and went downstairs.
    Hope caught her before she stepped through the door. “Thank you for this, Dakota.”
    “I’m glad I can help. Becca is such a sweet child.”
    “Do you have a second? I wanted to run something by you before you left.” Hope joined Dakota on the porch. She nodded. “I remember you telling me that you wanted to open a coffee shop and, while at the doctor’s office today, I overheard someone talking about a price reduction on a building here in town. The owner is in a hurry and wants to unload it. I just thought you might be interested.”
    Dakota shrugged. “I’m afraid even a reduction in price is outside of what I can afford right now.”
    “I knew you would say that.” Hope smiled, holding out a piece of paper.
    “What’s this?” Dakota took it.
    “It’s the number to a realtor friend who can help you if your situation changes. I’d love to have you stick around.”
    “It’s a lot to think