{"product_id":"2940013578593","title":"Cowboys and Olympians (Contemporary Romance)","description":"Two worlds collide as champion reining horse trainer, Leo Richards crosses paths with Olympic dressage hopeful, Katie Shulman. They meet at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, and Leo falls madly in love with Katie. Sparks fly, and so do hooves. \u003cbr\u003eBut she wouldn't be caught dead with a cowboy. Katie was brought up in a well-to-do family, cowboys have no place in her life. She refuses to acknowledge the cowboy, but secretly fantasizes about him. Instead, she has her sights set on Swedish Olympian, Lars Knepfel, and a scholarship to train with him in Europe.\u003cbr\u003eWhen things get complicated, Katie returns to the U.S. and accidentally comes across Leo. Each decline giving into their emotions, until one night, a passion storm roars through a small Texas town, starting a chain of events neither thought possible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEXCERPT:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLeo sat on the edge of the bed. His emotions were a tangle in his head. The evening had been fantastic. He was finally able to talk to Katie on civil terms. The tension between them seemed to melt, and perhaps she showed some interest. Reaching into his shirt, he took out Misty’s ring. He held it, feeling the delicate gold band. Leo looked up to the heavens. “Are you sure it’s okay?” he said softly. “You know I’ll always love you—you made me what I am. Without you, I would have been just another cowboy making a living on the dirt…” \u003cbr\u003eLeo was quiet, seemingly waiting for a response. “But now, Katie’s come into my life, and I hope you’re okay with that. She’ll probably never be just like you; you knew how to make me reach forward and go for the prize—to grab the brass ring.” Leo felt a tear run down his cheek, the ache in his heart was excruciating. \u003cbr\u003eHe was torn between two women—one in the past and one in the present. If he clung to Misty’s empty embrace, it would only lead him to ruin. His grief weighed him down, taking his life and livelihood with it. \u003cbr\u003eLetting the chain run through his fingers, Leo found the clasp. Fumbling about, he tried to unhook the ends. He knew he needed to get on with his life; but this was an agonizing decision. As the chain fell from his neck into his hand, he looked at the ring. “You said it was okay, Misty, and you know if you were here today, you’d be the only woman I’d ever want.” More tears streamed down his cheeks. \u003cbr\u003e“But God took you from me, and our baby. He called you to heaven with no warning. It wasn’t fair. My life fell apart without you.” He tried to sniff back the tears. “Now I might have a chance to be someone again; Katie seems like a wonderful woman once you get to know her. I think you’d approve.” Leo stood and went to the dresser.\u003cbr\u003e “I gotta move on with my life; I have to be someone again. If I don’t, I’m gonna lose everything I worked so hard for…I hope you understand.” He opened a drawer of a small jewelry box and gently placed the ring inside. It was time to start over.","brand":"Sturgeon Creek Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47079588921584,"sku":"2940013578593","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013578593_p0.jpg?v=1763582569","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013578593","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}