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       He could still taste Catherine on his lips.

      The temptation to take her back into his arms was damn near overwhelming.

      Cody looked down into her dazed, upturned face. His breathing had yet to return to normal. “If you’re waiting for me to say I’m sorry, you’ve got a long wait ahead of you,” he warned.

      Catherine moved her head from side to side—slowly so as not to fall over. “I don’t want you to say you’re sorry,” she whispered.

      “Good,” he finally declared. He pulled his Stetson down farther until the brim all but obscured his eyebrows and hid his eyes. “’Cause I don’t know why the hell I just did that, but I know I’m not sorry that I did,” he emphasized.

      And then, just like that, Cody turned on his heel and went back to his vehicle.

      Dear Reader,

      Welcome back to Thunder Canyon, Montana, and the fine citizens of that town who make life there so very interesting. Last time, I got to write about Calista Clifton, one of eight brothers and sisters (perhaps you see a pattern here?). This time around, my book centers on Catherine Clifton’s story. Catherine is the oldest girl and has always been the caretaker in the family (my lord, can I relate to that), sublimating her own needs and dreams in order to care for everyone else. Well, now just this one time, it’s her turn to get something. Jasper Fowler’s neglected antiques store had closed its doors and was up for grabs. Summoning her courage, Catherine took the plunge, buying it with the intention of turning it into not just a place where forgotten antiques were kept to gather dust, but a shop where vintage clothing and intriguing one-of-a-kind items were sold. Catherine was looking for customers. She certainly wasn’t looking for a man to win her heart, but she got both in Cody Overton, a genuine cowboy who was still grieving for his late wife eight years after he’d lost her.

      This is a story about two lonely, independent and self-sufficient people who found each other and accidentally wound up filling the void in the other’s life. I hope you like it.

      As always, I thank you for reading my book, and from the bottom of my heart I wish you someone to love who loves you back.

       Marie Ferrarella

      About the Author

      MARIE FERRARELLA, this USA TODAY bestselling and RIT^A® Award-winning author has written more than two hundred books for Mills & Boon, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, www.marieferrarella.com.

      Real Vintage Maverick

      Marie Ferrarella

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

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      To

       Stella Bagwell,

       who is strong enough

       to actually live the life

       I can only write about

       Prologue

      The sound of her laughter filled his head as well as his heart, echoing all through him. Generating within him, as it always did, a feeling of tremendous joy and well-being.

      It was one of those absolutely perfect Montana mornings that begged to be pressed between the pages of his memory. Cody Overton tried to absorb it as much as possible, instinctively knowing that it was important he do so.

      Very important.

      He and Renee were at the state fair—Renee always loved the state fair—and, as always, the love of his life had coaxed him onto one of the gaily-painted horses on the weathered carousel while she had mounted the one right next to it.

      “Tame stuff,” Cody had pretended to grumble before they got on—as if he ever could have denied Renee anything. “At least let’s ride the Ferris wheel instead.”

      But Renee paid no attention to his protest. His wife absolutely loved riding the carousel; she always had, even when they’d been in elementary school together. He’d teased her that he was surprised she hadn’t insisted on their taking their wedding vows sitting astride two of the horses on the carousel.

      Renee had laughed and said that they would have had to wait for the state fair to come through and she hadn’t wanted to delay becoming Mrs. Cody Overton a moment longer than she had to.

      She had always had a sense of urgency about living life to the fullest. It never made any sense to him.

      Until, sadly, it did.

      “Maybe, if we close our eyes and wish real hard, the carousel’ll go faster. C’mon, Cody, give it a try. Close your eyes and wish,” she’d entreated, wrapping her hands around the horse’s pole before her. She was like a ray of sunshine. “Don’t you believe in wishes?”

       Not anymore.

      The words seemed to silently resonant in his head even as the carousel began to speed up, spinning faster and faster. Just as she’d wished it would.

      And as the speed increased, so did the sound of her laughter, until that was all there was, just her laughter overpowering everything else.

      And all the while, they were spinning ever faster and faster.

      Cody kept trying to see her, to fix his eyes only on his beautiful Renee, but suddenly, he couldn’t find her, couldn’t see her.

      Couldn’t see anything at all except a sea of smeared color bleeding into itself.

      She was gone.

      Twenty-five years old and she was gone.

      His soul realized it before his mind did.

      He began calling out her name, but nothing came out of his mouth except for an anguished, guttural cry.

      With a start, Cody bolted upright in his bed. As always, when this dream came to him, he was covered in sweat and shaking.

      The crisp September weather had slipped into the bedroom, thanks to a window he’d forgotten to close, but he was still sweating.

      Still shaking.

      Still praying it really wasn’t just a dream. That Renee was still alive and with him.

      Nurturing a hope that was completely foreign to his very practical, pessimistic outlook, Cody slowly looked to his

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