Cowboy Charade [The McAlisters of McKenna Downs 1] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Read online

  The McAlisters of McKenna Downs 1

  Cowboy Charade

  Danielle Hartwell flees Chicago after witnessing her ex-boyfriend murder someone. A handsome cowboy helps her avoid detection when Gavin's men go looking for her.

  Heath Brodie is charmed by the curvy blonde, but there's just one problem. Danielle doesn't like his father, Malachi Brodie, a judgmental preacher. Heath leaves out his last name when he introduces himself, hoping that doesn't come back to bite him.

  When Danielle arrives home in McKenna Downs, David and Brighton McAlister confess their love for her. They're willing to share her with Heath, but the cowboy is wary of their proposal since he grew up in a traditional home.

  Danielle’s ex-boyfriend is still out there hunting her. Can the men protect her from him?

  What happens when a biker with an ax to grind decides it's time for Heath to pay for what he did ten years ago?

  NOTE! This is book 1 of 4 in The McAlisters of McKenna Downs collection. These books are not stand-alone. Each is a continuation of the previous book and must be read in the numbered order. The final book contains a happily ever after for the heroine and all her men.

  Note: This series runs on a parallel timeline to The Huntingtons of McKenna Downs

  Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys

  Length: 54,263 words

  COWBOY CHARADE

  The McAlisters of McKenna Downs 1

  Zoey Marcel

  LOVEXTREME FOREVER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: LoveXtreme Forever

  COWBOY CHARADE

  Copyright © 2015 by Zoey Marcel

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-63259-548-5

  First E-book Publication: June 2015

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2015 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Cowboy Charade by Zoey Marcel from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  About the Author

  COWBOY CHARADE

  The McAlisters of McKenna Downs 1

  ZOEY MARCEL

  Copyright © 2015

  Chapter One

  Late August 2014—Chicago, Illinois

  Murder, that’s what she’d seen.

  Danielle Hartwell hurried through the crowded airport, trying to maintain inconspicuousness at the same time. She knew she was being followed. She’d seen two of Gavin’s men searching the place like secret agents hunting down a suspect, or thugs on the prowl per the daddy gangster’s orders. Fortunately they didn’t see her. Regardless, they were getting closer.

  She hurried through the terminal with her small carry-on. It was all she had.

  Taking a seat next to a man who appeared to be close to her age, she glanced back over her shoulder. The sinister ghouls were closing in. They still didn’t see her, but they would if she didn’t do something. No time to get away.

  She took off her gray hoodie so they would see her top underneath and probably pass over her since it was a different color and they wouldn’t be expecting that. If they didn’t see her face, she might be okay.

  She scooted closer to the man and leaned in to whisper pleadingly to him. “I’m being followed. If I kiss you, will you play along? Please.”

  The man turned his head and looked at her. Subconsciously she noticed that this man had the face of someone who should be stared at and drooled over all day long.

  He didn’t say anything, but the approval in his slight smile gave away his consent. He put his arm around her and bent his head to meet hers. Slanting his face over hers, their lips met. Through her paralyzing fear, her mind registered the softness of his lips, the wet, sinful heat of his mouth, the seductive agility of his skilled tongue, and the undeniable chemistry between them. She hadn’t felt a connection like that in a long time.

  They made out slowly for what had to be a few minutes. She had to make sure the men walked past her without seeing her.

  Then again, a make out was attention drawing, although probably not so much when one had homicide on the brain.

  She felt a spike of heat pulse through her at the man’s low moan that vibrated in her mouth. His arms around her made her feel safe, like he would keep her hidden from the evil that sought her life, protect her.

  Her white knight became the typical “Yep, there we go” hormone-driven male when he groped her breast through her shirt. That really shouldn’t have surprised her. She knew how men were and hadn’t exactly been around a gentleman in a long time.

  What did surprise her was the way her body responded to the suggestive touch. His boob-grabbing hand, like his mouthwat
ering kiss, electrified her. She felt her nipples pebbling in her bra cups and her pussy moistening.

  His hand eventually went under her top and smoothed over her lower back. Well, good heavens, didn’t he comprehend that they were in an airport—as in a public place with people and the unspoken standard of “Please don’t fuck in front of everyone. Okay? Okay, then.”

  Danielle broke the kiss, a little blown away by the breathy sigh that floated past her lips. Damn, what a kiss. Her ex-boyfriend Gavin had been decent at it, but this man’s kiss was dynamite.

  His enamored smile had a subtle cockiness that was fiercely titillating.

  “Sorry. I just wanted to make it realistic,” the guy said with a crooked grin that made her heart flutter.

  She figured he was talking about the titty handling. A small smirk played on her face as she glanced around for the thug duo, attempting to be discreet. “I’m sure.”

  “You going to Sioux Falls?” he asked.

  Seeing that the crime baddies were gone, she turned back toward this attractive stranger. “Yeah. You?”

  “No. I’m actually going to Dallas. I just decided to ask you about some random other city.”

  Through the heart-pumping madness, she managed to narrow her eyes playfully at the appealing man sitting next to her. “Smart-ass.”

  “Sorry. I couldn’t resist.” He extended his hand to her. “I’m Heath, by the way.”

  “Danielle.”

  She shook his hand, sinking into a welcoming state of warmth and security when they touched. She didn’t know if it was Heath giving off good-guy vibes, or if the realization that she was finally going home was starting to sink in.

  “Pretty name.”

  “Thanks. I like yours. It reminds me of candy.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”

  The last of the passengers were boarding the plane. Heath and Danielle headed over.

  “Mind if we sit together?” he asked.

  “I don’t mind, but the person sitting next to me might not want to move.”

  “He’ll move. Anybody will move for Grant or for Franklin if it comes to that.”

  After they boarded and Heath had employed good old Franklin to get the man next to her to move, he sat down next to Danielle. She was next to the window, and he sat in the aisle seat.

  When the plane took off, she felt an enormous weight lifted from her chest and shoulders. She was free.

  Now that the whole life-or-death scenario was out of the way, she was able to really get a good look at Heath. He was a cowboy. Her heart melted when she saw his brown leather boots, his light-blue-and-white flannel shirt, and his faded jeans with the shiny belt buckle.

  While her natural taste in men was somewhat diverse and generally outside the realm of Western-looking ranchers, she’d always gotten happy whenever she saw a cowboy. They reminded her of home.

  This man made her realize that her varied taste in men had gotten a whole lot more flavorful. Cowboys were definitely to be added to the repertoire when Heath was the man in question. He was clean-shaven and probably about twenty-eight, like her, or right around there.

  His dark-brown eyes brimmed with sensuality, but there was a richness of spirit, or perhaps just enough vulnerability that shone through, to prove he was made of flesh. His heartthrob sex appeal combined with the human side he exuded without even speaking was deeply appealing in a way that felt real and sympathetic—the difference between Spider-Man and Superman.

  One was a strong, noble hero who bled.

  The other, while commendable, was unreachable. He wasn’t human.

  Heath’s eyes had a sexy slant to them that was subtle but really gave his face character and boosted his attractiveness all the more. The darkness in his eyes melted into the rich warmth of sepia brown when he was this close to her.

  He was quite a bit taller than her. Probably about six foot one would be her guess. She liked that he had a strong, healthy medium build. He looked like the kind of guy who worked out just enough to have a nice figure but sure as hell wasn’t going to devote his life to the weight rack or pass up a brownie in a mad quest for the elusive eight-pack.

  Not that she took issue with bodybuilder types of men. Who the hell would? The muscled hotties. Her preference was merely that every man find his physical ideal. For some men that was lean or stocky. For others it was he-man or somewhere in the middle. When a man reached the fitness level, or lack thereof, that looked best on him personally, that was sexy to her.

  She preferred men who viewed women the same way.

  Heath’s hair was a pleasing shade that flirted with dark blondness but had remained true to light brown.

  He turned to her with a smile that was as flirty as it was sweet. “You’re not gonna leave me in suspense forever, are you?”

  Danielle stared at him blankly for a minute. If she weren’t so hungry and shaky from the adrenaline letdown, she probably would have answered him.

  “About what that was back there in the airport.”

  Evasion was always good, although she supposed she did owe the man some kind of explanation. One generally did when softly mauling the face of a complete stranger. Not that she made a habit of such things.

  “I had somebody following me, so I needed a way to hide. Thank you, by the way. It worked really well.”

  Heath cracked a smile that made her breath catch. “It was my pleasure. Who was following you?”

  The devil.

  “Just my ex.”

  “Was he harassing you to get back together with him?”

  Well, if killing a witness was an invitation for that…

  “No. It was just a misunderstanding.”

  “Must have been some misunderstanding. You looked scared. You’re still shaking.”

  She touched her wrist to stop her trembling. “I’m just hungry. Oh, there’s the flight attendant. Can you ask her when the meal will be served?”

  “Sure. Excuse me.”

  The female flight attendant stopped and gave him her attention.

  “What time are you guys serving the grub?” he asked.

  “We’re actually not serving a meal since this flight is so short.”

  “What?” Danielle lurched forward so she could peer over at the woman, who had unwittingly become her enemy. Her stomach growled in protest, gnawing on itself in a way that caused her pain.

  “I’m sorry,” the flight attendant said. “I would be happy to bring you some peanuts or crackers. Would you like something to drink, too?”

  Danielle nodded, eyes welling. If she spoke, she’d probably lose it.

  “Okay. I’ll get that for you. Anything for you, sir?”

  Heath waved her off. “Nah, I’m good.”

  “I’ll be right back.” The lady smiled at her and then walked away.

  Danielle’s bottom lip quivered, and her vision got misty.

  Oh no. Don’t cry in front of this good-looking stranger.

  That was all she needed, to blubber all over him because, God forbid, she didn’t get food this second. He’d think she was Mrs. Jabba the Hutt. In reality, she hadn’t had a meal in two days.

  Heath’s brow furrowed, but his voice resonated with concern. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, feeling a tear slip down her cheek. Her vision was blurred with self-pity as she struggled to climb over him. “Excuse me.”

  She hurried to the lavatory and shut herself in there. The bathroom was small, but it offered her the isolation she currently needed. A sob escaped, and she put her hand over her mouth. Tears streamed down her face, followed by a feeble sound of misery.

  Her stomach rumbled, clearly pissed.

  Peanuts and crackers are yummy. No big deal. It’s better than nothing.

  “Fuck you,” her stomach seemed to reply.

  A knock on the door made her jump a little and stole a gasp from her. She wiped her face with frantic movements, pouting at the reflection of her grief-soaked eyes in the small mirror.
Keeping her head down, she opened the funky door.

  Heath stood there, expression compassionate and tone gentle. “You all right?”

  She nodded, stepping back for him when he came inside with her. He shut the door behind him, staring at her.

  “You’re crying.”

  “I’ll be okay.”

  He cradled her jaw in his hand and swept her in his warm gaze. “Tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.”

  She burst into tears again. He looked puzzled, but he didn’t treat her like the nut job he probably thought she was. Instead he enfolded her in his arms and rubbed her back while she cried into his shirt.

  He smelled amazing, like a brisk morning at dawn in a dense forest. She inhaled the crispness of his cologne, savoring the freshness of first light, the cool, earthy notes of the woods.

  “What is it, sugar? I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”

  She mewled pitifully against the softness of his shirt. The pet name was endearing, even if they were perfect strangers. Sugar reminded her of sweetness, innocence lost. She was good at sex. That was her only strong point. Her ex-boyfriend Cash, who’d been with her before she and Gavin were an item, had told her so. She’d taken it as a compliment.

  Until now, she hadn’t realized how much she missed being thought of as the sweet good girl. She’d wanted to be the bad girl. Now she wanted to go home and get back something precious that she’d lost.

  “I…haven’t…eaten…” Her words came out in jerky spurts as she choked them out while blubbering on the poor guy. “In two days. I’m so hungry.”

  She wailed against him.

  “What? Why not?”

  She felt weak, shaky, and like she might pass out from food deprivation.