Curves and the Rodeo Star (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 4) by Jenn Roseton

“ Good job, boy,”
Emma murmured as she left the dusty ring, the faint fragrance of dirt
and horses teasing her senses. The chestnut quarter horse whickered
softly as she led him to the trailer, the June sun beating down on
them. She thought she’d had a good chance of winning the
barrel racing at the Coldwater Springs rodeo, but her timing had been
slightly off. It wasn’t Pirate’s fault.
    “ Hey, Emma!”
She turned around to see Sarah McCord, a curvy brunette, waving at
her.
    “ Hi, Sarah.”
She smiled in response and walked over to Sarah and her cousin Libby,
a voluptuous blonde.
    “ Hello, handsome,”
Libby crooned, holding her hand out for Pirate to sniff. “He
really does look like a pirate with that white patch over his eye.”
    “ Congratulations on
coming second.” Sarah joined Libby in making a fuss of Pirate.
“You looked good out there.”
    Emma smiled wryly.
“Thanks. I know it’s not the National Finals, but I
still wanted to win.”
    “ Sarah told me
you’ve won practically every year since she was in high
school.”
    Emma’s cheeks
warmed and she patted Pirate’s neck. “We both like
winning.”
    Libby waggled her left
hand in front of Emma. “Ahem.”
    Sarah chuckled. “She’s
been doing that with everyone she hasn’t seen in a while.”
    Emma gazed at the
sparkling cushion cut diamond ring on Libby’s finger, then
smiled at the blonde. “Are you engaged, Libby?”
    Libby grinned. “The
wedding is set for September.” She stared at her ring. “I’ve
been engaged for four months and I don’t think I’ll ever
stop admiring it.”
    “ You’ll have
to stop admiring it next week, so you can concentrate on sending out
the invitations,” Sarah reminded her.
    “ You’re
right.” Libby patted Pirate, then grinned. “You’re
invited, Emma.”
    “ Thanks.”
Emma smiled in pleasure. “Are Cassie and Luke back from their
honeymoon yet?”
    Sarah shook her head.
“They’re coming back next week.”
    “ Aruba.”
Libby sighed dreamily. “I hope Jake is taking me somewhere
like that.”
    “ Oh?” Emma
raised her eyebrows.
    “ He wants to
surprise me.” Libby giggled. “He knows I love
surprises.”
    “ Hey, Emma!”
A burly man approached the trio. “A guy’s been looking
for you. He was over by the holding area.”
    “ Thanks, Fred.”
    The man nodded and
continued on his way.
    Emma shrugged. “I
have no idea who could be looking for me. I guess I better take
Pirate back to the trailer.”
    “ Bye, Pirate.”
Libby patted the horse one last time.
    Emma led her horse back
to the area that housed the competitors’ trailers. Once she
rubbed down Pirate, she’d check out the holding area and see
who was looking for her. Maybe someone was interested in agisting
their horse.
    “ I’ll be back
soon, boy.” Emma put away her grooming kit and took a long
swallow of water. Checking that Pirate was secure in the trailer,
she turned in the direction of the holding area.
    “ Emma Banks?”
    She blinked. Six feet of
pure male blocked her way, dwarfing her height of five foot six. His
dark russet brown hair brushed his denim shirt collar, while his
emerald green eyes looked at her assessingly. A hint of five o’clock
shadow graced his ruggedly handsome face, and his broad shoulders
filled out his denim shirt nicely. Appearing to be in his early
thirties, his faded jeans clung to his leanly muscled hips and
thighs, ending in practical, dusty boots.
    “ Yes?” Her
stomach fluttered. He was the finest looking man she’d seen in
a while.

    Cade frowned at the woman
standing in front of him. Her honey blond hair was tied back in a
practical braid touching her shoulder blades. Heat stirred in his
lower body as he realized he’d been silently cheering her on in
the barrel racing, admiring her skill. Her jeans and light purple
long-sleeved western shirt clung to her luscious, ripe figure in all
the right places.
    He cleared his throat
when he realized he’d been