Melanie Summers, a feisty zoologist with big dreams, has just made a deal with her father. She has to spend a full month in the Wyoming wilderness and show her father she can handle being in a remote area while managing her Type 1 diabetes before he'll agree to fund an expedition for her to go to Africa. She knows he's convinced she'll fail.

But she's not about to let any man underestimate what she can do. Especially not the sexy rodeo cowboy she's hired to help get her through the month in the wilderness.

Stoney Buxton needs to raise cash fast to save the family ranch after a barn fire injuried his father and left the family finances in ruin. Re-entering the rodeo circuit seems like the best way to get the money he needs. That is until Melanie Summers shows up at his ranch flashing easy money. To everyone else, her offer seems like the answer to all his prayers. But one look at her long legs and pouting lips and Stoney know this high society gal is going to be nothing but trouble for his cowboy heart.


EXCERPT:

"I don't think you understand, Miss...?" He flipped his hand, palm up and waited for her reply.

"Ms. Summers. Melanie Summers. And I understand perfectly. I understand that I am in need of a guide for the next four weeks." She sucked in a deep breath as he moved a step closer.

"What you're asking for is impossible at best." He shook his head at the absurdity of her request. "Have you ever been in the wilderness? Have you ever even saddled a horse?"

She lifted her chin defiantly, the spark in her soft brown eyes fired up like the heat of the sun beating down on them. Her voice was sure. "I know perfectly well how to ride, Mr. Buxton."

"I'm not talking equestrian jumps that a poodle could land at the country club. I'm talking wild terrain where you are no better than the animals that consider you their prey. Have you ever had eight hundred pounds of snarling grizzly breathing down your neck? Ever felt a hungry mountain lion's eyes on your back as she stalks you?"

She gasped softly, a small flash of uncertainty creeping into her sun filled eyes.
Stoney sputtered. "Just as I thought. Lady, roughing it isn't staying at the local motor lodge-"

Her eyes flew open in sudden surprise. "Wait a minute. The local motor lodge? My father got to you." She said the words as a statement, he noticed, as if she was already convinced that it was fact.

Stoney arched an eyebrow.

"This just stinks!" Balling her fists, she spun on her heels, muttering something unladylike under her breath as she took a few steps along the corral he'd been repairing in the feed yard. Her soft red cotton shirt clung to her back, defining the lines of her slender figure as she took each labored breath. He couldn't help but wonder how it would feel to run his hand along her small back.

As she turned to face him again, he saw that her determined fire was back. "No matter. This isn't between you and my father; it's between you and me. If you're holding out for more money, then fine. Whatever it is that he promised you for turning me away, I'll top in return for getting me safely through the next month."

"Look, lady, I haven't a clue what you're talking about. But my refusal has nothing to do with money."

She cocked her head in disbelief. Her anger had vanished with the dust and was replaced with blue-blooded charm. "Oh, it's always about money, isn't it?"

His jaw tightened. Yes, there was something definitely wrong here. And money had nothing to do with it. It had everything to do with this beauty standing in front of him, who was clueless about what she was getting her pretty little hide into. "No," he replied tersely.

"Mr. Buxton, I need your help."

"Tourist season is in full swing. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding someone else."

He turned his back to her and began walking along the fence toward the barn, almost forgetting... Abruptly, he glanced up and saw the charred remains of the barn. The place where all his troubles had started just one year ago. It hadn't taken but a second for him to hear her boots digging into the dusty gravel behind him, jarring him from his thoughts.

"Then I'll do it myself," she said to his back.