Her Uniform Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 3) Read online

  “Kade, wait. Look, I’m sorry. I really am.”

  He halted and turned to face the clinging designer. “Fine. Duly noted.”

  “No.” She frowned. “It’s not fine. I accused you of something horrible, and I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

  Shit. Tears were filling her eyes again.

  “I think it’s wonderful that you help out the Humane Society.”

  He did more than that, but he wasn’t about to enlighten the crazy woman. “Thanks.” His tone gave away his less than sincere thoughts, but he didn’t care. He was ticked off. Damn high-n-mighty Pennsylvanian.

  “Why are you so sensitive? I said I was sorry.”

  “Why indeed.” He stepped closer then stalked the frustrating Yankee when she backed up. “Tell me, Ms. Wyne.” He didn’t stop until her back hit the front of a stall. “There are several other people who live on this ranch, did any of them cross your mind as being the culprit?”

  Eyes round, she swallowed and slowly shook her head.

  Kade bit back a curse. “Figures.”

  He stepped away, and then changed his mind. Grasping the spokes on either side of her head, he pulled himself in and stared into her widening brown eyes. “Just what the hell is your problem with me, lady?”

  Her Uniform Cowboy

  Harland County Series

  Book Three: Kade

  By

  Donna Michaels

  NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author

  HER UNIFORM COWBOY

  Harland County Series/Book Three: Kade

  Copyright © 2013 Donna Michaels

  Cover Art by JT Schultz © 2013

  Excerpt from Her Forever Cowboy Copyright © 2013 Donna Michaels

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web -without permission in writing from the author. For information, please contact the author via email at [email protected]

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  ISBN-10: 1494742012

  ISBN-13: 978-1494742010

  License Statement

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please download an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  What they’re saying…

  About Her Unbridled Cowboy:

  “I love Ms. Michaels’ voice and she knows how to hook her readers in from the very beginning. I love how she develops her characters and makes them so believable that you feel as if these are real people you could become friends with. I highly recommend this second novel in the Harland County Series and I’m eagerly looking forward to book three and four. Don’t pass this series up!”

  —Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick

  About Her Fated Cowboy:

  “As always, this author perfectly blended an amazing storyline, which contained characters you just can’t help but fall in love with and she worked her magic in creating a masterpiece of the heart. I even enjoyed her sense of humor sprinkled throughout, which was placed in all the right places. This is one story I highly recommend and one author I just can’t read enough from. Since this is the first book in the Harland County series, I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book.”

  —Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick

  About Captive Hero (Time-shift Heroes Series-Book One):

  **2012 RONE Awards Finalist for Best Time Travel**

  “Captive Hero” is a compelling story about two star crossed lovers. They make an amazing couple. Their banter, chemistry and the deep love that is obvious in their interactions make them a true pleasure to read about! The story is full of twists, unexpected revelations interwoven with moments of peace and love. It’s an amazing adventure that will tug at the reader’s heartstrings and refuse to let go!”

  —InD’tale Magazine, Awarded Crowned Heart of Excellence

  About Cowboy-Sexy:

  “A blend of military man and cowboy …ohh my. The connection between these two is electric. This book is full of real life struggles that military couples face. These details give the story a lot of depth and heart. Yet despite the difficult topics tackled, the upbeat dialogue makes this a fun read. Readers will race through this story and then preorder the next book in the series to see what is in store for outrageous Brett.”

  —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

  Also by Donna Michaels

  ~Novels~

  Cowboy Payback (Cowboy-Fiancé Sequel)

  She Does Know Jack

  Royally Unleashed

  The Spy Who Fanged Me

  ~Time-shift Heroes Series~

  Captive Hero (Time-shift Heroes Series-Book One)

  ~Harland County Series~

  Harland County Christmas (Novella/Brock and Jen)

  Her Fated Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book One)

  Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book Two)

  Her Uniform Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book Three)

  Her Forever Cowboy (Harland County Series-Book Four)

  Her Healing Cowboy (Harland County Series Book Five)

  ~Citizen Soldier Novels~

  Wyne and Dine (Citizen Soldier Series-Book One)

  Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series-Book Two)

  ~Novellas~

  Knight’s SEAL(Dangerous Curves/Hot SEALs Kindle World Crossover)

  Cowboy-Fiancé (formerly Cowboy-Sexy)

  Thanks for Giving

  Ten Things I’d Do for a Cowboy

  Vampire Kristmas

  Valentine’s Day Do-Over

  Valentine’s Day Do-Over Part II: The Siblings

  UPCOMING RELEASES:

  ~Dangerous Curves Series~

  Locke and Load—(Book 2/Nikki /Rel. 09/14/2015)

  ~Harland County Series~

  Her Indulgent Cowboy (Book 7/Jesse)

  ~Citizen Soldier Novels~

  Wyne and Song (Book 3/Ethan/Rel. Nov. 2015)

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for purchasing Her Uniform Cowboy. This is the third book in my Harland County Series. Unruly cowboys and the women who tame them.

  In this story, I’ve incorporated a few similarities to my life. Like my husband, the hero is in the National Guard, and like me, the heroine deals with the same thyroid condition I have for years. I thought it was time to put both in a book, and Her Uniform Cowboy was the perfect candidate.

  Kade Dalton has been on several deployments with the Texas National Guard and suffers with a few lingering issues. The tough, handsome sheriff, a consummate helper, doesn’t realize he also needs help. It takes a strong, understanding ‘cowboy tamer’ to stand by him.

  Brandi Wyne is the perfect match for the cowboy guardsman. Diagnosed with hypothyroidism, she’s had weight issues and boyfriend issues, and needing a clean break from her life up north, she’s hoping to build a new one in Texas—without a military presence. But of course, the matchmaking parents of her friends have other ideas.

  When their need for each other becomes too strong, soon Kade and Brandi are in a relationship that heals as well as frightens, pushing them each to fac
e their demons, and discover, together they can overcome their past.

  Another hot, heartfelt, sexy read, this story also includes some of the other characters in the series. Once again, their participation rounds out this book and sets the stage for the next. I’m also creating a spin-off series-Citizen Soldier Novels-set in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, featuring Brandi’s National Guard brothers briefly introduced in this story.

  Thanks for reading,

  ~Donna

  www.donnamichaelsauthor.com

  Dedication

  To Harland County fans, and my wonderful street team, my minions, I hope you enjoy the story of Connor’s best friend Kade, the helpful, haunted cowboy/sheriff and his tough journey.

  To my husband Michael, my family, the HOODS, my cp JT Schultz, and Jinny and Kelly and my editor, Stacy, for their help and appreciation for this series.

  Table of Contents

  What they’re saying…

  Also by Donna Michaels

  Dear Reader

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  Fallen Soldier Table

  Chapter One – Her Forever Cowboy

  For announcements about upcoming releases and exclusive contests:

  Chapter One

  He left behind a fiancée and six-month old little girl…

  Try as he might, Kade Dalton couldn’t get that fact out of his head. He’d lost a soldier during his last deployment with the Texas Army National Guard. And that soldier had had dependants.

  He failed.

  Grumbling a curse, he slammed his mug on the counter and strode for the back door. Just because he was up before the ass-crack of dawn, didn’t mean he had to wake the whole ranch. Not that the household wouldn’t be up in a while anyway. His cousin, Kevin, usually left early for his commute to Houston for his vice president job at McCall Enterprises. Jen, Kevin’s sister, would be up soon too, thanks to her four-year old son, Cody. And her husband, Brock, had Shadow Rock, the Dalton family ranch to manage. But even though they would all be up soon, Kade quietly closed the door before heading to the stables. He had no desire for his family to realize how poorly he slept, or worse, to start his day with a lecture.

  Yes, he knew it wasn’t his fault the soldier had died.

  He was just doing his job.

  These things happen.

  It’s unfortunate, but a part of war.

  Well, not on his watch. Not during his three previous deployments. Christ. He was the First Sergeant on the last two tours. He was responsible for the soldiers under his command. Therefore, I was responsible for the man’s…

  Kade closed his eyes and inhaled while he worked to get his mind out of Afghanistan and rejoin his body back in the states. The scent of dirt and manure mixed with the fragrance of roses from a nearby trellis.

  Home.

  Still somewhat cool, the early June morning air felt good on his heated skin. Another deep breath rushed through his lungs. He was home where he belonged. In Harland County, Texas. On Shadow Rock Ranch. His Guard family—minus one—was home where they belonged. He had people here who depended on him. Animals that depended on him. A community that depended on him.

  Every morning he told himself this.

  Every morning he got out of bed and went to work.

  Every damn morning he felt like screaming.

  And that...Pissed. Him. Off.

  He wasn’t weak. Hated being weak. Almost as much as he hated being on edge. And he was on edge. Ever since that damn day.

  Gravel groaned a muffled protest under his two-hundred pound stride. Keeping busy was the key. So, he helped out around the ranch. Worked with the horses. Went to auctions discerning which would make good stock horses. And being on edge was the main reason he’d agreed to take over the sheriff’s position when the former one had approached him with the offer to finish out the man’s term.

  Harland County Sheriff?

  Not something Kade had ever aspired to be. No. He liked horses and ranching and giving up one weekend a month and two and half weeks a year to Uncle Sam in the Guard. Never had Kade ever thought about being a sheriff. Yet, here he was, decked out in the tan uniform, weapons belt, badge and hat. Been that way for the past month. Harland County was fairly quiet, mostly rural, not much crime going on. Still, the extra job helped with his edginess.

  So did sex.

  Hell yeah. But his mutually agreed upon one-nighters had ceased once he’d accepted the badge. Didn’t seem right. And looking for a relationship was out of the question. He wasn’t about to stick some poor woman with his sorry ass. Hell no. Not until he got through some issues. Besides, relationships involved sharing more than a body, and his heart was off limits. Closed off. Locked up tight. In fact, no woman had ever reached his heart in over two decades. If it wasn’t for the way he felt about his family and friends, Kade would question if he even possessed one.

  Bypassing his truck, he headed for the stable on the far right. The quiet stable. The one which housed the abused and abandoned horses. Currently, there was only one. Thank God. That meant most of his fellow Texans were taking their ownership responsibilities of the magnificent creatures seriously. Horses weren’t toys you could ride whenever you fancied. They weren’t pets you paid attention to occasionally. They required work, maintenance, human touch and…

  Son-of-a-bitch, he was edgy again. Nothing pissed him off more than a neglected or abused animal.

  Stepping inside, he sucked in air heavy with the smell of more dirt and manure, but this time laced with the sweet scent of hay. The combination instantly calmed, took off some of that damn edge, and he headed to the first stall.

  For several years now, he enjoyed working with the local vet to nurse the horses in this stable back to health. He’d made it Shadow Rock’s practice to volunteer the stable to the Humane Society. It was a project of his, one he hoped to expand in the future. Now that he was more than likely home permanently, he needed to draw up plans to—

  Sweet mother of Texas…

  He stopped dead at the entrance.

  …that is a beautiful sight to behold.

  Bent over, lightly rubbing down one of the horse’s legs was a local designer. A beautiful transplant from Pennsylvania. God, she was curvy and hot and he wondered if she felt as soft as she looked. Something he would’ve discovered within the three months he’d known the woman if it weren’t for two things. One, Brandi Wyne was not a one night stand, and two…she had an aversion to the military.

  The fact she was the only woman to spark part of him to life with just her mere presence didn’t sit well with Kade. Hell no. So you’d think he’d be able to order his legs to slowly back out of the stall before being seen by the sexy woman whose big brown eyes, full of warmth and understanding, sucked him into a false vortex of hope. But no. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward like a complete idiot.

  Seems his legs took orders from a body part due south of his brain.

  Without his permission, his gaze ran down to her battered boots then back up, noting strategic creases in her well-worn jeans where they hugged her long, lean legs and mouthwatering ass.

  What he wouldn’t give to be those jeans…

  About the same time that thought flashed through his fogged mind, the designer stiffened and slowly straightened. Awareness zinged around them, overloading the air with so much energy the poor horse shifted her stance in agitation.

  Damn. The last thing he wanted was to spook the abused mare.

  Intending to ask the woman to step away
from the horse, he got as far as opening his mouth, but not a damn sound came out when she turned and glared at him, gaze full of pure venom.

  He was the one to take a step…backward.

  “You,” she snapped, jabbing a finger at him while she marched forward, hair bouncing around her shoulders in a flurry of sun-streaked caramel waves. “How could you? I would expect this kind of behavior from someone irresponsible. Not you. Wow. This…this is unforgivable.”

  Stopping in front of him, she inhaled, her rant obviously not over. And damn, he wished he knew when he’d lost contact with his tongue because it was not taking orders from his brain at the moment. No, the only part of his foolish body responding was still in the southern region.

  “You know what? I’m calling the police.” She shoved a hand in her pocket and came out with her phone. “Oh, wait…” Snorting, she turned in a circle, arms flailing. “Can’t do that. They’d only send me you!”

  He watched as the phone made its way back into her pocket with an angry thrust before the designer advanced closer. Kade backed up, leading the crazy woman out of the stall and away from the nervous horse. Half of him wanted to set the beauty straight, the other half wanted to set her against the wall, press into her luscious curves and put her delectable lips to better use.

  He did neither.

  “Well?” she asked, hands jammed on her hips, head tipped back, chest heaving.

  His gut took an invisible blow. Damn…the woman was gorgeous.

  “Well?” she asked again. “What do you have to say for yourself? This is inexcusable. How could you? Did it make you feel like a big boy, treating such a beautiful creature that way? Huh? Did it? Seriously, who do you think you are?” the banshee continued, not giving him a chance to speak. “You think because you’re in the Guard or because you’re the sheriff you can do what you please? Well, you can’t. You’re not going to get away with this. You hear me? You’re accountable for your actions just like everyone else, mister.” She pressed closer, her heaving chest now brushing his in tantalizing bursts with each indrawn breath. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”