Taking Catie: The Temptation Saga: Book Three Read online

  A throat cleared behind him. He turned. Angelina.

  “You still here? Thought you’d marched out in a huff.”

  “A hundred it is then, hand.”

  “There ain’t enough money in the world for me to put up with you calling me ‘hand.’”

  “That’s what I call all the hands.”

  “They have names, you know.”

  “You expect me to remember all those names?”

  “Why not? They remember yours, don’t they?”

  “That’s different. I’m the boss’s daughter, and there’s only one of me.”

  Thank God. If another Angelina existed, he’d lose all hope for the world. “You’re not the boss’s daughter here.”

  “I’m the boss’s sister-in-law.”

  “Whatever. You want my help? The price is a hundred an hour, and if you call me ‘hand’ one more time, all deals are off.”

  “Fine. Rafe, then.”

  “How about Mr. Grayhawk?”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Oh, I am, Miss Bay.” Let’s see how she handles this one.

  “Of course you should call me Miss Bay. I’m the boss and you’re the help.”

  Help? Seriously? Normally he’d think twice about getting into it with his boss’s sister-in-law, but Chad McCray respected him and his work, and this little snot brought out the worst in him. “I obviously have something you want. I won’t deal with disrespect from anyone, especially not a flouncy ranch girl.”

  Hands to hips again. Did she have two indentations there? “Girl? I happen to be thirty-two years old.”

  Thirty-two? He’d have guessed her younger than his own age of twenty-five. The years had been kind to Miss Bay. She had the skin and body of a nineteen-year-old. She was a beauty. On the outside, at least.

  “Thirty-two years old and acting like a spoiled brat? Grow up, Angelina.”

  “Miss Bay.”

  “Angelina. And you’ll call me Rafe. I hate Mr. Grayhawk.”

  She tapped her foot on the barn floor. “It was your idea.”

  “I was trying to make a point. You were being disrespectful.”

  “I’m not used to being respectful to hands.”

  “Well, get used to it. We’re people, just like you, and disrespect hurts us, just like it hurts you.” Though he doubted she’d ever experienced disrespect.

  Her eyes widened—just a little, but he’d made her think. For a second, anyway.

  “All right…Rafe. When can we start?”

  “You got a horse?”

  “Yes. Just bought her. A beautiful black mare named Belle.”

  “Have her brought over by seven tonight.”

  “Okay.”

  “And I’ll see you tomorrow. Six a.m. sharp.”

  This time when her hands flew to her hips her eyes turned to saucers. “Six a.m.? Sorry. I don’t do the crack of dawn.”

  Rafe shook his head. “And you expect to own your father’s ranch someday? Do you have any idea what time he gets up? Chad and Catie are up before five every morning.”

  “I’m not Catie.”

  She was right about that. Did the two of them really come from the same gene pool? The physical evidence was there, but little else.

  “Six a.m.,” he said, “and wear clothes suitable for riding.”

  She stormed out, sulking.

  Rafe chuckled. No way would she show up.

  Message from Helen Hardt

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Taking Catie. If you want to find out about my current backlist and future releases, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelenHardt and join my mailing list: http://helenhardt.com/signup/. I often do giveaways. If you’re a fan and would like to join my street team to help spread the word about my books, you can do so here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hardtandsoul/. I regularly do awesome giveaways for my street team members.

  If you enjoyed the story, please take the time to leave a review on a site like Amazon or Goodreads. I welcome all feedback.

  I wish you all the best, and keep reading!

  Helen

  Also by Helen Hardt

  Sex and the Season:

  Lily and the Duke

  Rose in Bloom

  Lady Alexandra’s Lover

  Sophie’s Voice

  The Perils of Patricia (coming soon)

  The Temptation Saga:

  Tempting Dusty

  Teasing Annie

  Taking Catie

  Taming Angelina

  Treasuring Amber

  Trusting Sydney

  Tantalizing Maria (coming soon)

  Daughters of the Prairie:

  The Outlaw’s Angel

  Lessons of the Heart

  Song of the Raven

  Steel Brothers Saga:

  Craving

  Obsession (coming soon)

  Possession (coming soon)

  Collections:

  Destination Desire

  Her Two Lovers

  Non-Fiction:

  got style?

  Acknowledgments

  Taking Catie (formerly Rodeo Queen) is a puppy love turned true love story and marks the last of the hunky McCray brothers. But don’t worry, Bakersville is home to many more gorgeous men!

  So many people helped along the way in bringing this book to you. Celina Summers, Michele Hamner Moore, Jenny Rarden, Coreen Montagna, Kelly Shorten, David Grishman, Meredith Wild, Jonathan Mac, Kurt Vachon, Yvonne Ellis, Shayla Fereshetian—thank you all for your expertise and guidance. Eternal thanks to Waterhouse Press for the expert rebranding of the series.

  And thanks most of all to you, the readers. Up next is Catie’s older sister, Angie, who meets her match in a hot ranch hand in Taming Angelina. Don’t miss the thrilling fourth installment in the Temptation Saga!

  About the Author

  Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.

  http://www.helenhardt.com

  http://www.helenhardt.blogspot.com