Sofia Hunt

Riding the Circuit

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Riding herd on a rodeo queen?
 
Professional rodeo cowboys and Special Forces Reservists, Riley Backstrom and Jonah Yates never figured to be spending their spare time guarding a rodeo queen, especially not feisty, headstrong Mitzi Garrison.
 
Believing her stalker is harmless, even fictional, Mitzi resents her father’s hiring of bodyguards. She doesn’t want the two cowboys underfoot, especially Riley considering their past history. But history or not, Mitzi can’t resist either man and soon becomes involved with both hot cowboys and at the same time.
 
Despite giving them her body, she refuses to give them her cooperation when it comes to guarding that body until one night when the danger presented by her stalker becomes a reality.

What They're Saying about Riding the Circuit: 

"Exciting, hot read with characters you grow to love."

Romance Book Craze (4 martinis)

 

"The relationship between Mitzi, Riley and Jonah is hot."

Literary Nymphs (4 martinis)

 

Excerpt

“A rodeo queen? You want us to fucking babysit a rodeo queen?” Riley Backstrom shook his dark head in amazement. He rocked back on the worn heels of his cowboy boots and speared the man behind the desk with his patent intimidating glare.

“Just for a few months.” Lee Bristol ran a nervous hand along the edge of his scarred oak desk.

“No. Effing. Way. The US Army didn’t spend hundreds of thousands of dollars training us for this.” Riley crossed his arms over his chest. He ground his teeth together and braced himself for the hard sell to come.

“Her daddy is the North American Rodeo Association’s biggest sponsor. We can’t afford to lose his sponsorship money. It’s a favor, payback for all the bucks his family’s poured into the rodeo over the years.” Lee, the president of the association, looked to Riley’s buddy, Jonah Yates, for a little help. “Jonah, can’t you talk some sense into him? I need you two to guard Mitzi Garrison.”

Jonah had perfected his laid-back, country-boy charm. Yet, at the mention of a certain rodeo queen’s name, his laughing blue eyes turned to ice faster than a top roping horse charged out of the box.

“No can do. There’s no sense in what you’re askin’ us.” Jonah’s good-ol’-boy Oklahoma accent got stronger when he was on the verge of digging in his heels. He shoved a hand through his unruly brown hair, which was badly in need of a pair of scissors.

Riley vigorously nodded his agreement. “Damn straight. Garrison can afford to hire a professional bodyguard. Besides, we’re talking Mitzi Garrison. I don’t want a thing to do with that she-devil. I’ve been down that path.” No way in hell would he do this for anyone, and especially not for her. He glanced again at his buddy, who was regarding him with open curiosity. Riley turned away. He fisted his hands and braced his legs, preparing for battle, physical and emotional.

“She refuses to accept a professional bodyguard.”

“Not our problem.”

“Ah, but it is. Her father wants you two, and he’s used to getting what he wants.”

Riley couldn’t argue that point. Garrison’s tenacity and ruthlessness were as legendary as his devotion to his only daughter.

“Why us?” Jonah kept glancing at his buddy. Riley knew he’d aroused his suspicions.

“Your background in Special Forces, the fact that you already travel the circuit.”

“We’re reservists.” Jonah plucked a mint from the bowl on the desk and sucked noisily on it.

“You go through the same training as any Special Forces soldier.”

“Yeah, so?” Riley started backing toward the door. “Not interested.” He scowled and pinned the man with his best “go to hell” expression.

He had to give the NARA president credit. Lee wasn’t giving up. Not yet. The man held his ground. “She’s in danger, being stalked by an unstable admirer. If this nutcase causes an incident—”

“I don’t buy that. Have you met her? I pity any man who crosses that one. She’s headstrong and spoiled rotten. No way am I spending even a minute in her company.” Riley snorted his disdain. One second in that barracuda’s company would be one second too long.

“She’s a piece of work, that one. Sorry, no deal.” Jonah backed up his buddy like he’d been doing for years. Riley relaxed a little.

Besides, the complaints were accurate, as Riley knew all too well. Mitzi Garrison had bigger balls than most men, an iron will, a wild streak a Texas mile long, and one hell of an opinion on anything and everything. The good lord had disguised it all behind a deceptively sweet face and a body lingerie models would kill for. She’d fooled more than one man on the circuit and left a trail of broken hearts trampled under her lethal red cowboy boots.

The association president lowered his voice and leaned forward. “There’s money in it for you. A lot.”

Jonah hesitated and took the bait. “Money? Since when does the NARA pay for bodyguards?”

“They don’t. Garrison is paying.”

Riley shot a quick look at Jonah. His buddy’s eyes narrowed as he calculated the monetary value of dogging that redheaded ballbuster. “How much?” Jonah stifled a yawn, but he didn’t fool Riley. Shit, Jonah was caving.

“Twenty-five thousand dollars and your expenses.” Lee leaned forward. “Including your entry fees.”

“No shit? Just to watch a rodeo queen? For how long?” Jonah ignored the warning glare Riley shot him.

“The next few months while she travels the rodeo circuit. I’ll give you a list so you make sure you compete in the same ones.”

“Sorry, not worth it.” Riley spoke for both of them and reached for the doorknob.

“Wait.” Jonah grabbed his arm. “Let’s discuss this first.” He nodded at Lee. “Give us a few minutes.”

The man stood. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be in the next room.”

Riley sighed. He’d meant what he said. He didn’t want anything to do with Mitzi “Wildfire” Garrison or her powerful father. Unfortunately, it looked like this wasn’t going to be his day, and the next several weren’t looking so hot either.

 

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