BUY
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To Claim her Cowboy
Paulie McGuire has come to the conclusion he’s meant to go through life alone, until Maryanne Bennett challenges him with a kiss.
Bodyguard and ranch hand, Paulie McGuire, is no stranger to heartache. The few women he’s dated have rejected him for one reason or another, instilling in him the belief he’s meant to live life alone. But when Maryanne Bennett kisses him of her own free will, a feeling hints he may have another chance at something long-lasting. She’s sweet, kind, and the prettiest girl in Reno. She’s also destined to become country music’s hottest new star. She says she wants a lifetime with him, but threads of a conversation suggests he may be wrong about her, too.
Growing up in a family of singers, Maryanne Bennett has idolized her aunt’s fame in country music for several years. Her dream is to one day stand in the spotlight and hear the fans cheer for her, but that dream shifts when her aunt hires a bodyguard. Tall, with muscles she adores, she’d rather have a lifetime with Paulie McGuire than the spotlight, and with a little brazenness on her part, that just may happen. But first, she must find a way to convince him to forget past rejections and put his trust in her.
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Paulie guided the truck out onto the main road. “Have to tell you, when I heard you sing earlier, I had no idea that was you. Your voice had a twang that I didn’t hear at the Christmas show.”
“That’s because mid-October I start practicing to lose that twang. You hearing a difference means I succeeded.”
“You shouldn’t lose the twang. It suits you. Got a feeling Bailey’s gonna feel the same and hire you.”
“You think so?” Maryanne’s entire being brightened.
“I do. Working for her, I’ve heard plenty of females sing. Some are good. Some are just okay, but you… you got a voice that sends chills through a body.”
“Chills?” She wrinkled her nose.
“The good kind of chills. People pay attention to that, and want to hear more.” He pulled up in front of Myrna’s house.
“Thanks, Paulie.” She leaned toward him and softly kissed his lips. “Coming from you, that means a lot.” She opened the door and got out. “Enjoy the afternoon.”
He watched her walk up the driveway, insert a key into the lock on the front door and go inside, fingered the jewelry box in his coat pocket.
Do something fun, Bailey’s voice echoed between his ears.
Letting go of the box, he took his cell phone out of his other pocket and dialed one of several numbers he memorized over the past year.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Maryanne. Do you want to have lunch with me?
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