Read an Excerpt from Abby's Cowboy by Kathy Carmichael

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Billionaire Harold Hopewell traveled the world, encountering people and letting their stories touch him. In death, he is giving back, leaving an unusual will filled with life-altering bequests to the people he met along the way. Read the Inheritance Series, and let their stories touch you.

Rancher Josh Callahan is astonished when he learns he has inherited the two Corgis he once returned to their owner Harold Hopewell, as well as a truckload of cash—and an interior designer. Designer Abby Palmer is excited about making over Josh's beautiful old farmhouse, whether the stubborn cowboy likes it or not. Between the dogs, the debris and the designer, Josh is in over his head—and his heart.

All of the stories in the Texas Two-Step romantic comedy series are sweet, charming and emotional contemporary romance. Each story stands alone, but all Texas Two-Step novels and novellas feature love stories about members of the Nelson, Murphy or Palmer families — and sometimes, more than one!

Excerpt:

Abby Palmer glanced around the tiny living/dining room belonging to her thesis committee advisor and mentor. The room was crowded with graduates, professors and their assistants. The party Professor Adams was throwing for the masters graduates was in full swing, and no one would be the wiser that Abby's pockets had been stuffed with contraband.

Abby teetered around the buffet table, kissed Professor Adams on the cheek and thanked her for everything. She exited quickly and started tottering toward the Performing Arts Center, where she was due for the graduation ceremony and photos in forty-five minutes.

She had plenty of time to make the ten-minute walk. As she skirted the corner from West 27^th Street to 11^th Avenue, she noticed a commotion ahead, and the sound of yipping dogs. Was it a dogfight?

Before she knew it, she was in the center of the uproar, created by two small, barking dogs. They circled, then launched themselves at her, and she reassessed—two small hellhounds.

Everything would have been okay if it hadn't been for the crack in the sidewalk, or her stilettos—or if she'd stayed in bed that morning with the comforter drawn over her head.

But she took a step back from the dogs, her stiletto's tiny heel landing in said concrete crack, sending her flying backward onto the hard sidewalk. The tumble knocked the breath out of her. "Omph."

The dogs sprang into frenzied action, apparently pleased by the turn of events. Abby threw her hands over her face and curled into a ball as they sprang at her.

Then came the yipping, chomping, tearing, ripping—and drooling.

Enlightenment penetrated. They weren't after her, they were after her contraband! "No, you nasty hellions. No! Those are my wienies."

Someone grabbed the Hounds of the Baskervilles, and pulled them away from her.

Abby glanced up to thank her rescuer, but the words died on her lips as her gaze met his. Her eyes widened, as if they needed the extra light to take in the sight before her. The man had to be the handsomest cowboy she'd ever laid orbs on.

He gave her a cocky grin. "Your wienies?"

She flushed. "Cocktail wienies. From the party."

He glanced down at the sidewalk beside her. "I see."

She could tell he was holding back a laugh and not bothering, thank goodness, to call the question of why she was toting pocketsful of the party staple.

He reached out a hand to take hers, to pull her to her feet.

At the contact of his hand on hers, though, the last thing she wanted was to stand. She yanked and pulled him down toward the concrete beside her.

It almost worked, but he found his footing. His darn cowboy boots were a lot steadier than her chosen footwear.

"Whoa," the cowboy said.

Now her flush turned into a full-fledged blush. What was she thinking? The last thing she needed was a man right now, no matter how much she admired the way his checkered shirt highlighted his strong arms and the breadth of his shoulders. She gave herself a mental shake, then pushed herself into a sitting position. "Sorry."

He tugged gently on her hand and she regained her footing. Sort of. One leg was now taller than the other. One glance down showed her the reason. One of the stilettos no longer had a letto—the heel had separated completely. She wouldn't have expected it with such expensive shoes.

With a sigh, she began brushing down her graduation gown.

Her brows drew together.

To be more accurate, she tried to smooth what was left of her graduation gown. The entire bottom hem was in tatters.

She raised her hand to her mouth to smother the scream that was due to commence in about ten seconds—and that's when she realized her hair had come out of its bun. The bun she'd worked so hard to perfect that morning.

At least she hadn't been wearing her graduation cap along with the gown, but really?

Broken shoes, her graduation gown torn and her hair all in her face? Not to mention being covered in doggy slobber. She checked the time. She was due for graduation photos in half an hour. What was she going to do?

The cowboy leaned forward and started brushing at her thighs with his free hand, the other still holding onto the Corgis' leashes, as if brushing her graduation gown would repair the tears and remove the drool. And it occurred to her—the cowhunk was getting a little too personal with his pats.

She batted at his hand. "Hold it right there, cowboy."

"Just trying to help." He held up his hand and the two dogs yipped toward her, but he maintained control of them, thank heavens. No telling what they'd destroy on her next.

"I'm fine. Perfectly fine." Abby bit her lip to keep from yelling at him. "As for you, Devil Spawn—" she pointed at the female dog "—and you, Were Demon—" she pointed at the male dog "—stay back."

"I'm sorry for my dogs—"

"Just keep better control of them in the future."

"But, can't I…"

"Nope," Abby cut him off.

"But…"

"I'm good." She yanked off her damaged shoe, scooped up the broken heel, then up-and-down stalked off, one heel high and the other flat, toward the photo and graduation venue, her long auburn hair snarled and trailing down her back, and her graduation gown tatters flapping like an old flag in the wind.

Yup. She'd truly believed it was going to be the best day of her life.