by C. J. Welles
Dare to Love
Texas Boys #2
By C.J. Welles
Dare to Love
Texas Boys #2
Published September 2017
Copyright© 2017 C.J Welles
All rights reserved
Cover designed by KatDeezigns
Formatting by C.J. Welles
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to the retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Disclaimer: This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, incidents, and businesses are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
All song titles, lyrics, film titles, trademarked statuses and brand names mentioned in this book are the property of, and belong to, their respective owners. C.J. Welles is in no way affiliated with any of the brands, artists, musicians or songs mentioned in this book.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Playlist
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Author’s Note
About C.J. Welles
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my two beautiful boys.
Once upon a time, I thought the day would never come when I would be graced with a child, but I am proud to say I have two amazing boys.
Daddy and I are so very lucky to have you both in our lives.
Every day I wake up and know I am going to spend the day with your smiling faces.
Each day I get to see how much you change and watch as you learn new things. But every day that you both learn, you teach me new things as well.
You both make me so proud and happy.
Love you always and forever
Love mummy
xxxx
Dare to Love Playlist
Just to See You Smile – Tim McGraw
Rodeo – Garth Brooks
Whiskey Lullaby- Brad Paisley
Drink a Beer – Luke Bryan
I Drive Your truck – Lee Brice
For the First Time – The Script
Wasn’t Expecting That – Jamie Lawson
Homeboy – Eric Church
Oh, Tonight – Josh Abbott Band
Springsteen – Eric Church
Hard to Love – Lee Brice
My Next Broken Heart – Brooks & Dunn
Stay – Florida Georgia Line
I’m Movin’ On – Rascal Flatts
Let Her Go – Passenger
If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw
You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone – Brooks & Dunn
Breakeven – The Script
Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
The Fighter – Keith Urban
New Man – Ed Sheeran
Two Night Town – Jason Aldean
In case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young
Hurricane – Luke Combs
Jack Daniels – Eric Church
Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Good Time – Alan Jackson
You Ain’t Here to Kiss Me – Brett Young
Prologue
Krystal
I KNOW THE end is coming. Every day it gets harder and harder to hold onto life. I know it won't be long until I close my eyes for the last time. I can feel the cancer has taken over. It's pulling every bit of life out of my body.
Six months ago, I was scared about the day it would happen. The day I would say good-bye for the last time, the last time I would get to see my friend’s beautiful faces. But now I’m ready to welcome the day. I’ve had just about as much as I can take.
I slowly turn my head to the side when I feel Bry move next to me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I say softly, then flinch. Even talking hurts these days.
"It's okay. I need to go see Jace soon, anyway. I'll send mom in to sit with you."
He knows it's about to happen. For the past two weeks, he hasn't let me be alone.
"Okay," I croak out, breathlessly. He gently wraps an arm around my waist and nuzzles his face into my hair before placing a kiss on my forehead.
I watch as he gets up and gets dressed in his faded jeans, black t-shirt and a checked shirt over the top. The only thing that Bry ever changes about his appearance, is his belt buckles. He has more belt buckles than what I have pairs of shoes.
He sits on the edge of the bed and puts on his boots – which should be at the front door or in the mudroom. Caroline would scold him if she saw him wearing them inside. He looks over to me once he’s finished.
"I’ll let mom know that I'm leaving, and she’ll be here in a few moments," he says as he stands up. "I'll be back in a few hours, sweetheart." He smiles at me, but I can see it's broken. My cancer isn't just breaking me, it has broken Bryson as well.
I take in his beautiful face and try to etch every detail of him into my memory as he walks out. Once I know he won't be coming back in, I slowly lean over and open my side table drawer. I carefully pull out a wad of letters and place them on the bed next to me.
"Hey, darlin'," Caroline says, as she walks in the room.
“Hey,” I reply in a whisper. When I slowly lift the letters, she frowns at first, then a look of recognition settles on her face. She shakes her head back and forth. “Please, please do this for me," I whisper as I hold them out to her.
"It will mean more if they come from you."
"No. I want them to read them after."
“Okay, darlin'. You rest up," she says as she sits next to me. She grabs my hand and holds it gently between us on the edge of the bed.
"Thank you," I croak out softly.
I close my eyes and I can feel it's time.
I can hear Caroline's voice far away calling my name. "Don't you do this. He will be back, just let him say goodbye,” she says with a broken sob.
I can't though, I know my time is up.
I will try to remember everything about the only man who has been there for me. The only man who put me before himself. I hope that where I am headed to, I can remember my friends and family and Bryson’s beautiful face.
“Krystal.”
The last thing I hear before I give into the darkness is Bryson shouting my name.
***
Chapter One
Bryson
I WATCH THE CLOCK as it counts down.
Ten, nine, eight...
I grab on tighter to the rope as the bull tries to buck inside the chute.
"It's not too late to pull out," Ryan yells at me.
I don't respond as I stay in my zone.
I need to do this.
Three, two, one…
I hear the gate slam open and the bull throws us out into the ring.
I do what I do best, I hang on for my life.
Eight seconds is normally a short amount of time, but when you are taking on 1,600 pounds of a pissed off and maniac beast, it's a fricken long time. I slightly shift my body to the right as the bull bucks to the left. Tightening my grip with my thighs around the bull's midsection, I ride like my life depends on it as I feel the adrenaline surging through my body.
This is what I’ve always lived for. I'm an adrenaline junkie and I crave the high that I feel when I'm in the ring for eight seconds. I crave the adrenaline that keeps my heart pumping.
It takes away the painful memories that flood my mind every second of the day. When I am in this ring and riding these beasts for those eight long seconds, I can pretend that everything in my life is fine.
I hear the bell ring and see the rodeo clowns running towards me, as I twist my body around and jump off the bull. This is one of the hardest parts, not getting an angry bull head-butting you up the ass as you dismount it.
I can still feel the blood roaring through my body as I walk out of the ring. The crowd is cheering for me and I can hear girls asking me to marry them, but I block them out.
Ryan and Nath, my twin brothers, race towards me and are grinning from ear to ear. "You've come out on top tonight," Nath yells happily.
“That’s great,” I mumble.
As I walk out the back of the arena, a few other riders call out 'Good ride’ and others congratulate me. None of their words mean anything to me though. I don't do it for the fame or the praises. I purely do it for my own need.
There are only a few things in my life that have made my pulse beat like crazy and the adrenaline surge through my body; The beast-sized bulls, Krystal and the girl who fucked me over.
"Bry," Nath calls out. "There's a lady from Bull Riders Star who wants to interview you. Tonight's win has you sitting in the fourth spot for the championship series."
"Not interested," I grunt.
"Come on," Ryan says "You're the hottest rider around. Everyone wants to interview the rider who has come back after a year off and is now smashing them all."
"I don't give a fuck, I'm not interested," I yell as I smash through the back door of the arena into the cool night air. The air hits me in the face like a brick wall and I feel the adrenaline fading away.
I hear footsteps behind me and I know my persistent brothers are following me. "Bry, don't be a dick. It's a fifteen-minute interview," Ryan says.
I ignore them both as I stomp to my trailer. We all used to use the same trailer but since Krystal died, I need my space. Nath and Ryan now book into hotels local to where I’m riding. The trailer has two bedrooms and a small bathroom, which includes a toilet. The kitchen and sitting room are together. The sitting room is only big enough for a small two-seater table and a pull-out sofa bed. It's small but it's all us guys needed.
“You really need to move past this,” Ryan says as he walks in behind me.
“What the fuck would you know?” I yell as I spin around to face him. “Do you know anything about what I am going through? Piss off and get the hell out,” I roar.
I see Ryan about to argue and I’m ready to kick his ass, but Nath grabs him by the shoulders and drags him out the door.
What the fuck does he know? He wasn't the one to spend day after day with Krystal as her body slowly gave up. He wasn't the one who was sitting with her as she was bent over the toilet emptying her stomach. He wasn't the one who watched as every day the light faded from Krystal’s eyes.
Sitting on the couch, in the small area that I call a living room, I sigh as I lean my head back. I pull my wallet from my pocket and open it up then grab the letter that's folded up. It’s been sitting in my wallet for eight months now and it’s looking a little worn and the edges are starting to tear.
My heart clenches when I lay eyes on the photo in my wallet and I see her smiling face looking back at me. It was taken just before she passed away. She had changed her hair back to her natural blonde instead of dark brown. She looks sick and skinny in this photo, but it's the last one I have of her. Even though she looks sick, she is still stunning.
Krystal was beautiful inside and out. Every day she was in my life, she showed me how beautiful her soul was.
I close my wallet up and toss it on the small coffee table next to the couch. I open the letter and read it from start to end. I already know it word for word, but it gives me peace when I read it.
*
“IN A BETTER mood this mornin’?” Ryan asks as he walks into the trailer the next morning. I just look up at him and glare, which has him rolling his eyes. “I guess not,” he mumbles as he sits on the sofa.
“Are we headin’ out today or hangin’ ‘round here again tonight?” Nath asks as he grabs an orange from the fridge.
I shrug my shoulders as I continue to eat my breakfast. I usually love visiting Kansas City, but this weekend I’m just not feeling it. “If you want to,” I mutter between mouthfuls of corn flakes.
“A few of the guys are going to The Shootout for Rowan’s birthday. Tucker said about it last night,” Ryan says.
“Sounds good,” Nath answers.
I hold back a growl as I nod my head in agreement. Those two assholes always gang up on me. There’s no way we’re leaving this city without going to that party. It's just easier to agree now and get drunk tonight than argue all day then end up at the bar anyway.
“So,” Nath draws out as he sits at the small table with me. “Are you going to stop being a dickhead and do the interview for Bull Riders Star?”
“Probably not. I know what they’re going to ask and want to know. The bull riding world doesn't know about Krystal and I don't want them to. I don't want them to pick apart our relationship.”
“They won't do-”
“They will, and you know it,” I growl, cutting him off. “In the end, it’ll be Krystal's fault that I dropped out the previous year.”
“I don't think so. Bull Rider Star has always been honest and fair.”
“I know, but as soon as I give in to one, the rest will start hounding me. Currently, the majority of them have given up.”
“Make it an exclusive,” Ryan adds. “Do a ‘tell-all’ interview.”
I shake my head as I stand up and chuck my dishes in the sink. “No, my answers still no. They can ask all they like but I won't be givin’ in.”
“As much as I love spendin’ time with Y'all, I got somewhere I need to be,” Nath says as he walks out of the trailer. “See ya back here at six.”
“He’s definitely seeing someone. He’s forever going off and not telling me where he’s going.”
“So, I wouldn't tell you either. You’ve got the biggest mouth in Texas.”
“No Bry, that's you. Well, was you.”
“How’s Makayla?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Don't know,” he answers with a shrug.
I raise my eyebrow as I hold back a smirk. Makayla has just started dating a guy from our hometown. He’s only lived there for the past year and he works at the bar with Joe.
“Haven't talked to her for a few weeks,” he mumbles.
“Hmmm. Well if I was you, I’d be doing all I could to get her back.”
“She wasn't mine, to begin with,” he growls as he stands up. “I’ll be back later.” He stomps out the door and slams it closed.
I knew bringing up Makayla would have him hightailing it out of here. Now that I have the place to myself, I clean up my mess then go lie down for a sleep. Sleep didn't come easy last night, and I know it will be late when we get in tonight.
***
Chapter Two
Casey
“I CAN’T BELIEVE I’m managing to get yo
u to come out tonight,” Carmen says as she begins to curl my hair.
Carman has been my hairdresser for the past two years. We clicked the first time I came here and have been friends since.
I roll my eyes at her, knowing she can see it in the mirror. “I’m not a hermit. I do go out.”
“Not very often. Tell me, when was the last time you went out and had fun.” I open my mouth to argue but she cuts me off. “Not work or family related.”
“I don't know. Probably back when we went clubbing.”
“That was six months ago.”
“Whatever. Is your cousin going to care that I’m coming with you?”
“Nope. It’s Rowan, he’s laid back and couldn't care less. Plus, it's just at The Shootout, it's a public bar and anyone can go there.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“It's a country bar, that’ll be why.”
“Hey, I grew up in a country town. My dad is a truck driver and my mom was a housemaid for a family who lived just near our hometown.”
Carmen looks at me like I’ve got two heads. “I’ve known you for two years and you've never come across as living in a country town. You live in business attire and stilettos. I don't think I’ve seen you look twice at a cowboy.”
“I’m a real estate agent who lives in Kansas City. I work at least sixty hours a week, there’s no time for me to wear anything but my work clothes or sweats, once I'm finally home after a long day.”
“Well, you've surprised me, Miss Country Girl.”
We chat for the next half an hour while Carmen finishes my hair. My natural hair color is light brown, but recently Carmen colored it chocolate brown with caramel highlights. It usually sits between my shoulder blades, but now that it's curled it's a little shorter.
“Is Brett coming as well?” Carmen asks me once she’s finished and we’re standing at the front of her shop.
“Yeah, maybe. Probably not.” Carmen gives me a weird look. “I don't know. I haven't asked him.”
“Things still weird with you two?”
I shrug slightly. “Yeah, maybe.” I fiddle around with my keys as I avoid her eyes. “I’ve been ignoring him. Things are just awkward between us now. I shouldn't have gone there with him.”
