Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas by Randi Alexander Page A

took her arm. "What
happened?"
    "Dallas." Her lips tightened.
    Boone took her other arm. "What happened? Is he
okay?"
    "He's fine, besides being an asshole." She shook
off both of them and walked to the bar. "That phone call I got
yesterday?"
    Gieselle sucked in a breath. Something bad? She'd been so
involved in her own drama, she'd never asked Kira about it.
    Boone led her over to the bar.
    Kira found a shot glass. "I'd left a message and asked
my dad's attorney to run a background check." She grimaced at Boone.
    "On me?" His brows furrowed.
    "Sorry. I was worried, with this whole jackpot
thing." She smiled at Gieselle. "He's squeaky clean."
    She nodded. "I could have told you that."
    Boone wrapped his arm around Gieselle's shoulder and kissed
the top of her head. "That doesn't explain why you're leaving."
    "I got another call today." Kira downed a shot of
tequila, choked, then waved a hand. "I don't want to talk about it."
She strode to the door. "I'm sorry to leave like this, Gieselle, but I
booked the last seat on a flight out in…" She checked her watch.
"Shit, I've gotta run."
    "Wait." Gieselle grabbed her wrist. "Stay
here in the suite tonight and we'll fly back tomorrow."
    She snorted. "Right, with you two banging the headboard
all night?"
    Boone fought a grin. "You're welcome to stay, Kira.
We'll keep the banging to a minimum. I'll even keep the asshole out. Jayden,
too."
    "Thanks for the offer." She smiled at Boone.
"I'm leaving, though." Kira gave her a fast hug. "We'll talk
when you get home." She opened the door and did a finger wave at Boone.
"Have fun. Merry Christmas. And happy birthday, Gieselle."
    Gieselle took Boone's hand. "You can call me
Gigi." She glanced his way. "It's kind of growing on me."
    Kira turned and stepped out the door. "What have you
done to her, Boone?" A laugh softened her words.
    He closed the door and took her into his arms. "What
have I done to you, Gieselle?"
    She pressed her hands to his chest, admiring her beautiful
bracelet. "More than you can imagine, cowboy."
    His stomach rumbled. "We need room service."
    "We do. Then more banging of the headboard."
    Boone shook his head. "I wonder what that goddamn
Dallas did."
    "I'm worried about the phone call. Something about
him?" She sighed. "I'll find out tomorrow when I get home."
    He frowned at her. "About that. I was thinking."
    "Uh oh."
    "Mom's doing Christmas dinner for the family tomorrow
night."
    "And you're driving home tomorrow." The thought of
saying goodbye stung like a million wasps.
    He slid his hand up her spine to her neck and traced his
thumb along her jawline. "I'm gonna let Dallas and Jay take my truck back.
And…" He stared into her eyes. "I want you to fly back with me."
    Everything inside her froze.
    "I know it sounds like too much too soon, but I can't
let you go yet. I'd like you to be there with me. To meet my parents and the
whole damn herd of Hancocks."
    She remembered to breathe. "Really? You want me there
for your family Christmas?"
    He smiled. "I sure as hell do."
    Real tears rolled down her cheeks this time. "Boone.
I'd love to."
    "Woo-hoo!" He picked her up and spun them in
circles. When he set her down, he wiped the tears from her cheeks. "No
more cryin' until after you see what a weird bunch we are."
    "If they're anything like you, I think I'm going to
like your family. A lot." She pressed a kiss to his lips. "But what
will they think of a buckle bunny from New York?"
    He laughed, tipping his head back like a kid. "Aw,
Gigi. They're going to love you." He grinned. "Trust me."
    ####
     
    Here's a sneak peek of the second book in the Cowboy
Jackpot Series which will be coming in January
     
    Dallas and Kira's story: Cowboy Jackpot: Valentine's
Day
     

Chapter One
     
    Dallas Burns shifted on the plush chair in the high-stakes
area of the Old West Casino in Las Vegas. He tipped his black cowboy hat back
on his head and glanced around the red velvet-lined room.
    Hell, he hoped his buddies didn't see him