Excerpt: The Wild Ones by M. Leighton

Released: August 1, 2012

Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.

Camille “Cami” Hines is the darling daughter of the South’s champion thoroughbred breeder, Jack Hines.  She has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses.  Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was pretty happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future. 

But that was before she met Patrick Henley.

“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her.  He’s considered the “help,” which is forbidden fruit as far as her father is concerned, not to mention that Trick would be fired if he ever laid a hand on her.  And Trick needs his job.  Desperately.  His family depends on him.

The heart wants what the heart wants, though, and Trick and Cami are drawn to each other despite the obstacles.  At least the ones they know of.

When Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome.  It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, secrets that could tear them apart.

Excerpt

“Do you like it? I mean working with the horses here?”

“I love working with horses. It’s what I was going to specialize in after school. As for working here,” I pause, just to see what she does. After a few seconds, she glances at me from beneath her lashes.

She just can’t help but be sexy.

“I’m discovering it has its definite…benefits.”

She grins. “Is that right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say in my best Southern drawl.

“And what would those be?”

Good God, she’s teasing me!

“The view around here is very nice for one thing. Rounded hills, lush valleys, gently-curving roads, tight, firm…turns.” I look over at her from the corner of my eye and grin. “And sometimes there’s a hint of strawberry in the air. Makes my mouth water.”

“Wow, it, uh, it sounds pretty spectacular when you put it like that. But I’m sure it’s just a plain ole place, much like any other.”

“See now that’s where you’re wrong. This place is special. I knew it from the start. This is the kind of…place that gets under your skin and won’t let you have a moment’s peace until you give into it.”

“But you don’t want to give into it.”

“I didn’t say that. I said I couldn’t give into it. There’s a big difference.”