Worth the Risk. Charlene Sands
Sleeping with Jackson was a stupid move.
But not remembering all of it? Now that was just plain wrong. She was experiencing the guilt without as much as a hot spicy memory to go along with it. Now, she’d never know. There would be no repeats of last night.
Yesterday, she’d gone to the annual shoe convention, hoping to muster some interest in her failing business. The economy was slumping and only the stronger companies were surviving. No one was interested in infusing capital in her small, very unique boutique.
No one … except Jackson Worth.
Then it dawned on her. Her head spun and her eyes widened with realization. “Oh my goodness, Jackson. We’re … partners.”
Jackson’s mouth quirked with a quizzical smile, then he sighed deeply. “We made a deal before the champagne arrived, darlin’. You signed on the dotted line. Boot Barrage is now half mine.”
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Red Ridge for my final Worth story! In Worth the Risk, we are reunited with Sammie Gold from Carrying the Rancher’s Heir. Sammie is hoping to make a fresh start in Arizona, and literally gives handsome, fun-loving ladies’ man Jackson Worth the boot! The hunky cowboy has labeled his sister-in-law’s best friend and new business partner “off-limits.” (And we all know how well that works out in romance novels!)
I had fun researching and virtual shopping while designing Sammie and Jackson’s Boot Barrage. And hey, I even fashioned my very own style of boots. You’ll have to look for the Mariannas in the story and tell me what you think!
I’ve really enjoyed writing each and every one of these romances, so my farewell to the Worth family is a little bittersweet. With this last book, I’ll have to say goodbye, temporarily at least, to the wonderful state of Arizona and glorious sunsets, jutting crimson mountains and the fictitious town of Red Ridge, one of the greatest places on earth. I will say goodbye to Worth Ranch and to Tagg, Clay, Chance and Jackson. Each one of these wonderful Worth men have kept me up nights. A girl can’t ask for much more than that!
Thanks to all of you for supporting, enjoying and encouraging me while I spent time in Red Ridge. I promise you more rugged cowboys to come!!
Stories “Worth” Reading!
Carrying the Rancher’s Heir The Cowboy’s Pride A Cowboy Worth Claiming Worth The Risk
With love,
Charlene Sands
About the Author
CHARLENE SANDS is a USA TODAY bestselling author of thirty-five romance novels, writing sexy contemporary romances and stories of the Old West. Her books have been honored with the National Readers’s Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award and she’s a double recipient of the Booksellers’ Best Award. She belongs to the Orange County Chapter and the Los Angeles Chapter of RWA.
Charlene knows a little something about true romance—she married her high school sweetheart! When she’s not writing, she enjoys sunny Pacific beaches, great coffee, reading books from her favorite authors, spoiling her two cats and loving up her new baby granddaughters! You can find her on Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to visit her website for fun blogs and her ongoing contests at www.charlenesands.com.
Worth The Risk
Charlene Sands
This book is dedicated to my dear pals at LARA. Many
thanks for your constant support,
friendship and encouragement.
I appreciate every member of the chapter!
These wonderful people include:
Debbie Decker, Tanya Hanson, Robin Bielman,
Kathy Bennett, Lynne Marshall, Ericka Scott, Maria
Seager, Erica Barton, Dee J. Adams, Eden Bradley,
Jennifer Haymore, Carol Ericson, Linda O. Johnston,
Samantha Le, Allison Morse, Christine London, Sandy
Robinson, Jody Brightman, Roz Lee, Robena Grant
and Christine Ashworth. To Rick Ochocki for always
making us laugh at the meetings and to so many others!
You all rock!
One
A woman’s boots.
They sat on the floor, next to the bed. A fancy curlicue design stitched on smooth chocolate leather trailed to the top of the zippered knee-highs. Seeing them brought a smile to Jackson Worth’s lips. He lifted his arms quietly, stretching out while trying not to awaken his sleeping companion. Images invaded his mind of how sexy she’d looked wearing those boots and how turned on he’d been sliding them off her coltish legs. Her short skirt and scoop-necked top had come next, with very little effort on his part, as he recalled.
It didn’t make a lick of sense. But he couldn’t deny that after taking one look at his sister-in-law’s best friend, Sammie Gold, approaching him at the hotel bar last night, with her familiar sweet smile, slender hips swaying and those incredible boots catching the overhead lighting, he’d been thunderstruck with lust.
But Jackson Worth was no fool. There’d be hell to pay for what he’d done. He’d hear it from both his brothers, Clay and Tagg, but the worst of the wrath would come from Callie. Tagg’s wife would take his head off and probably threaten to disown him.
Bright sunshine seeped in through the drapes and he closed his eyes, trying to ward off the headache pounding in his skull. The woman beside him on the king-size bed stirred and the scent of jasmine filled the air. Jackson breathed it in, and damn if his sated body didn’t react, just from the sweetness.
Never before had he mixed business with pleasure, but this time, he’d outdone himself.
Sammie rolled over and her arm flopped onto his chest, her fingers on his skin, soft and possessive. She murmured something in her sleep that sounded too much like “boot-scooting boogie.”
He glanced at the top of her pixie-cut, brown hair with colors of caramel, chestnut and rum blending like those of a rare gem. She was cute but not the kind of woman he usually dated. He winced at how that sounded, even to him.
He hadn’t dated her. He’d slept with her.
Yep, Callie wasn’t going to be happy when she found out. Without giving Jackson so much as a verbal warning to be on his best behavior, his sister-in-law had asked a favor of him, giving him her full trust.
Sammie’s had it rough lately. She’s lost her father and her business. Take her under your wing, Jackson. Help her. Please. It means a lot to me.
He’d blown that trust to hell.
Slowly, Sammie lifted her head off the pillow. Disoriented, she peered at him with deep brown eyes. “Jackson?”
“Morning, darlin’.”
Her gaze darted around the elegant room. She blinked and refocused, then shook her head to clear it. All the color drained from her face and her eyes grew round as poker chips. She lifted herself up, the covers falling away from her unclothed body. Her breasts appeared, small, round and firm. Jackson silently groaned. If she were any other woman, they’d be halfway to heaven again this morning.
With a gasp, she looked down and grabbed the sheets to her chest. “Oh, no!” She sent him a questioning stare, blinking rapidly. “We didn’t.”
It