Designs on the Cowboy

Designs on the Cowboy
Roxann Delaney

A Cowboy Fixer-UpperLoner Dylan Walker spent the last fifteen years pushing other people away. Once a showpiece of Desperation, Oklahoma, his family’s century-old ranch house has fallen into disrepair since his parents passed. Still, Dylan thinks his sister went too far in hiring a renovation expert to invade his home and his life.Peppy former prom queen Glory Andrews has her work cut out for her building a reputation as the town’s premier interior designer. The Walker job is the first big step toward reinventing herself after an ugly divorce. She can’t fail—and she won’t.Even if Dylan seems dead set against change. But Glory is doing much more than redecorating a home—she's determined to show Dylan that he can let go of the past and they can have a future together. If only the stubborn cowboy will let her!

A Cowboy Fixer-Upper

Loner Dylan Walker has spent the past fifteen years pushing other people away. His family’s century-old ranch house, once a showpiece of Desperation, Oklahoma, has fallen into disrepair since his parents passed. Still, Dylan thinks his sister went too far in hiring a renovation expert to invade his home and his life.

Peppy former prom queen Glory Andrews has her work cut out building a reputation as the town’s premier interior designer. The Walker job is the first big step toward reinventing herself after an ugly divorce. She can’t fail—and she won’t. Even if Dylan seems dead set against change.

But Glory is doing much more than redecorating a home—she’s determined to show Dylan that he can let go of the past and they can have a future together. If only the stubborn cowboy will let her!

Dylan shouted from the hall. “What the devil are you doing in there?”

The last thing Glory wanted was for him to see the room before it was completely finished.

“Just having a new light fixture hung,” she said, joining him. “Is there something you needed?”

“Yeah, you.”

Glory’s breath caught and she stared at him. She felt warm deep inside.

“There’s some delivery guy downstairs” he said, frowning. “I need his truck out of my way, now.”

It took Glory a few beats to catch up. She felt like a fool. “Of course,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t wobble. “I’ll get the guys to unload it now.”

“Good.” Dylan turned and bounded down the stairs, leaving Glory wishing she could stop the lustful thoughts she was having about him. Dylan wasn’t interested in her. Except for a few rare moments, he’d been nothing but cold and unreachable. But as she called to the boys to come help, it took more concentration than it should have to slow the pounding of her heart.

Dear Reader,

My great-aunt and her husband lived in a house that had been built in the 1890s. He was born there in 1900 and lived there all his life, until the two of them moved into town to live in the nursing home. They’re gone now, but the house still stands at the curve in the county road, a reminder to me of summer visits and holidays spent with cousins and relatives of all ages.

There was something about that grand Victorian farmhouse, handed down from one generation to the next, that fascinated me. With tall ceilings and transom windows over the doorways, a beautiful wood staircase enclosed in a room of its own and the two triangular porches where family often sat and enjoyed the summer evenings, it enthralled me each time we visited.

When it came time to write about Dylan Walker’s home, a large old farmhouse that had been passed down from one generation to the next, my aunt and uncle’s house couldn’t have been more perfect. Join Dylan and Glory as they learn just how even the saddest of memories can become the best.

Best wishes and happy reading!

Roxann

Designs on the Cowboy

Roxann Delaney

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roxann Delaney doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t reading or writing, and she always loved that touch of romance in both. A native Kansan, she’s lived on a farm, in a small town and has returned to live in the city where she was born. Her four daughters and grandchildren keep her busy when she isn’t writing or designing websites. The 1999 Maggie Award winner is excited to be a part of the Harlequin American Romance line and loves to hear from readers. Contact her at roxann@roxanndelaney.com or visit her website, www.roxanndelaney.com (http://www.roxanndelaney.com).

In memory of Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Milt Harrington.

Contents

Chapter One (#u033720b4-98ed-580b-aac3-a4e9b7bbeebe)

Chapter Two (#uf480da60-5728-55a3-8691-9d0086d6c376)

Chapter Three (#ub2766c97-c81b-5321-b220-b368e1381423)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One

“So this is how you honor the memory of our parents.”

Dylan Walker didn’t bother to look up from the melting ice cube floating in the glass of amber liquid he held. Nobody but his sister talked to him that way. Because she was eleven months older than him, she thought she had the right. He usually disagreed, but at that moment, he didn’t care.

“Nice of you to drop by, Erin.”

The sound of her boot heels on the old linoleum kitchen floor grew closer. “I had a feeling it had come to this,” she said.

He detected a note of sadness in her voice, but ignored it. “It’s no big deal to have a drink, now and then.”

“It is when now and then becomes every day.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I do know. You and I have been running from the same devil for all these years. It’s time to stop.”