8 Seconds to My Heart Series by Barbra Campbell

Growing up around rodeos had taken me through every feeling in the book: anticipation, excitement, fear... The last one being the hardest. Rodeos weren't all fun and games. The animals didn't compete according to anyone's pre-set rules. And protective gear could only do so much if a 2,000 lb bull slammed his foot onto your chest, or any body part.As a doctor, I cringed at the thought of men putting themselves on the back on danger. But truthfully, I couldn't get rodeos out of my system... moreGrowing up around rodeos had taken me through every feeling in the book: anticipation, excitement, fear... The last one being the hardest. Rodeos weren't all fun and games. The animals didn't compete according to anyone's pre-set rules. And protective gear could only do so much if a 2,000 lb bull slammed his foot onto your chest, or any body part.As a doctor, I cringed at the thought of men putting themselves on the back on danger. But truthfully, I couldn't get rodeos out of my system. I wasn't going to stop attending any sooner than cowboys would stop competing.Man vs. Beast.It called to me at a primal level and I had the utmost respect for the athletes who saddled up night after night on the rodeo circuit. As a doctor, I also had a special skill set I could put to use and joined the volunteer medical team.The one thing that kept me sane was distance. Emotional distance. Watching a stranger in a cowboy hat, nice-fitting Wranglers, and boots, straddle an animal was easier when I didn't have a connection. I cheered for them, gave them medical advice, and sent them on their way.Then Colt ended up in the medical trailer. I was supposed to x-ray him, assess the damage, and give him the verdict. I'd known who he was before he ever said his name and I was about to do the one thing I promised myself not to do. Fall for a cowboy. less

I loved having it all... a successful career, independence, and my choice of guys.Life was all fun and games until I set my sights on a Travis Parker, a rodeo cowboy who had no intention of settling down. We should have been a perfect match--love 'em and leave 'em. No hard feelings. But he did things to my body and my heart no man had ever done.And as his doctor, I had to do the one thing he'd hate me for... tell him he couldn't ride until he passed a concussion test... moreI loved having it all... a successful career, independence, and my choice of guys.Life was all fun and games until I set my sights on a Travis Parker, a rodeo cowboy who had no intention of settling down. We should have been a perfect match--love 'em and leave 'em. No hard feelings. But he did things to my body and my heart no man had ever done.And as his doctor, I had to do the one thing he'd hate me for... tell him he couldn't ride until he passed a concussion test.This dirty-sweet, insta-love, short story won't waste any time satisfying your craving for strong heroines and sexy cowboys! less

Taking my brother to the doctor shouldn't have been intimidating. Anyone who rode wild animals for a living had been in a doctor's office a time or two.But most doctors weren't petite, sexy, women name Daisy. Talking to her was scarier than straddling a horse for the bareback bronc riding event. And no way was I going to embarrass myself by hitting on her in front of either of my brothers. They were both the heartthrobs of the arena, and I'd suffered my share of women using me to get to them... moreTaking my brother to the doctor shouldn't have been intimidating. Anyone who rode wild animals for a living had been in a doctor's office a time or two.But most doctors weren't petite, sexy, women name Daisy. Talking to her was scarier than straddling a horse for the bareback bronc riding event. And no way was I going to embarrass myself by hitting on her in front of either of my brothers. They were both the heartthrobs of the arena, and I'd suffered my share of women using me to get to them. The chances of a driven woman like Daisy being interested in a cowboy had to be pretty slim anyway.When she sent an after-hours text message asking about my brother, I seized the opportunity. One thing led to another, and I wasn't the type of guy to kiss and tell, but I didn't wake up alone.Saddle up for this dirty-sweet, insta-love, short story romance! less

The 4th short story in the 8 Seconds to My Heart cowboy series.--Violet--Raising three girls on my own wasn't easy. Structure and boundaries helped me survive after my husband left us for a groupie. He'd been a top bull rider and let his ego get ahead of his responsibilities. I kept attending rodeos for the girls, but once they were out of the house, I moved to the city and never set foot on the dirt or bleachers again. One last way to distance myself from my ex... moreThe 4th short story in the 8 Seconds to My Heart cowboy series.--Violet--Raising three girls on my own wasn't easy. Structure and boundaries helped me survive after my husband left us for a groupie. He'd been a top bull rider and let his ego get ahead of his responsibilities. I kept attending rodeos for the girls, but once they were out of the house, I moved to the city and never set foot on the dirt or bleachers again. One last way to distance myself from my ex.But after several years of city life, I was yearning for my rural roots. It was time to take control of my painful past and do the things that had always made me happy.It was easy in my mind. My daughters were all doctors and volunteered at rodeos. I could hang out with them and see if the thrill of the events still stirred my soul.--Beau--Running a ranch, making a living off livestock, and having three rodeo cowboys as sons taught me to enjoy every second of my life. Every day was a blessing and an opportunity.The only way it would have been better was if I'd found a way to do it with a good woman by my side. Our lean years had been too much for my wife and she'd walked out on me and the three boys. Flexibility and spontaneity kept us sane.Long past any thoughts of sharing my ups and downs with a woman, I spied a rare beauty sitting alone at the rodeo. Her boots and jeans were far too pristine to be a real cowgirl, but she wanted to look the part and I wanted to teach her what cowboys were all about.After a couple of rejections, I could have accepted that she wasn't looking for a man to save her. But I sensed her control and distance were a facade. There was a woman who yearned for the simple life underneath her carefully crafted demeanor.Whether she saved herself, or let me help, she deserved to be happy. And I wasn't about to let her accept anything less.Enjoy this dirty-sweet, insta-love, short story romance! less