The More I See: a western romance (Texas Hearts Book 3)
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The More I See: a western romance (Texas Hearts Book 3)
A Contemporary Western Romance from New York Times and New York Times Bestselling author Lisa Mondello - The Gentry boys tales continue with THE MORE I SEE, book 3 of Texas Hearts.
As a top-notch cutting horse trainer, Cody Gentry was riding high until he lost his eyesight after a freak chemical accident. Unable to see the hand in front of his face, never mind the horse or cattle he trained, he knows his life is over and slips deep into depression. His whole future hinges on the success of an eye surgery that could give him his old life back.
When guide dog trainer, Lyssa McElhannon, arrives on his ranch like Florence Nightingale coming to save him, he wants no part of her or her guide dog. But something about Lyssa's musical laugh coupled with her tenacity digs under his skin and won't let go. Having been blind most of her life, Lyssa understands the paralyzing fear Cody feels after losing his vision. But she refuses to let the stubborn cowboy waste his life away sitting in a chair when she knows first-hand that a good guide dog can change his world. She just needs one month to prove it to him.
Falling in love with Cody was not part of Lyssa's plan, nor was having him open her eyes to see that there was a whole lot of living she'd been missing.
EXCERPT:
"I was told I could find Cody Gentry out here by the pool," she finally said.
His face twitched slightly. "Who's looking?"
The timbre of his voice was deep, with a faintly ominous edge that reminded Lyssa of the voices she'd heard as a child when she and Kim would sneak downstairs in the middle of the night and watch old horror flicks on cable. She couldn't see the movies, she'd only heard the voices, and that added to the mystery, raised the level of anticipation, sending shivers racing up her spine. Cody wasn't anything out of a horror flick. She ignored the swell of apprehension that had her confidence faltering.
She knew better than to extend her hand in a normal greeting for her introduction. It'd be rude since Cody couldn't see her. Instead, she hoped her voice sounded pleasant. "I'm Alyssandra McElhannon."
He didn't move. "What do you want?"
"I brought Otis," she said cheerfully.
"What's Otis?"
"Otis is a who, not a what."
Cody's whole body stiffened. His voice was controlled, but edgy enough to send shivers chasing over her skin. "Apparently someone failed to give you adequate information. I'm not training cuttin' horses anymore."
"Otis isn't a horse. He's a dog. Your guide dog. I'm here to train the two of you to work as a team." Otis, like many dogs trained as seeing aids for the vision impaired, were a lifeline to independence.
He sat still, unaffected. It wasn't at all the reaction she'd been expecting.
"Not interested."
"And you would be Cody Gentry, I take it?" she asked.
"I just said I'm not interested."
"And I heard you. My job is to make you interested."
"Says who?"
She said, "Mike Gentry for one."
He groaned and straightened up in his chair. "My father sent you?"
"That's right. He didn't tell you I was coming?"
"Did he already pay you for your troubles?"
"Well, yes, a portion is--"
"Then you're fired. I'll make sure you get the rest of the money you're owed. I'm sorry he wasted your time."
Cody was as difficult as Mike Gentry had warned but in a totally different way than Lyssa had prepared for.
"In the first place, the school pays my salary. Second, training my dogs and students is never a waste of my time. Furthermore, you aren't the one who hired me, your father did. In fact, he asked me to stay on at the ranch until you and Otis were working well together. So, you can't fire me, no matter how much you squawk."
He made a face that made her laugh. "Squawk?"
Crossing her arms across her chest. "I call it like I see it."
"Listen, Ms. McElfen er McEllaf... What's your name again?"
"McElhannon," she said slowly. "Alyssandra Orchid McElhannon."