Chapter Twenty-Five
Justin opened the door to the cabin and scooped Emily up in his arms like a new bride that Sunday afternoon. He waltzed across the floor with her and sat down on the sofa with her in his lap.
“Have I told you today that I love you?” he asked.
“Ten times, but I kind of like to hear it.”
“I love you, Emily. And I’ve got something that I really want you to look at.”
Her eyes went to the bed. “You mean other than that?”
He grinned and pointed to the coffee table.
“What’s this?” She slid off his lap. “It’s your new…oh, my gosh.” She picked up a page from a magazine showing a two-story house. “Where did you get this?”
“Larry gave it to me.” He pointed at one part of the blueprints. “This is your big pantry. This is the closet for nothing but your shoes. And this is a bathroom with a garden tub so we can go skinny-dippin’. When it’s all finished, will you move in with me?”
“Do we have to wait that long?” she asked.
Justin’s heart almost jumped right out of his chest. He hadn’t even let himself hope that she’d be willing to live with him that soon.
“All I’ve got to offer until the house is built is this cabin, but the door is always open to you, darlin’. So do you approve of the plans? Do you want to make changes?”
“They’re perfect. It’s my dream house. Don’t change a single thing. I can’t wait to live in it.” She stood up and led him toward the bed but then stopped midway and pointed toward the kitchen table. “Why’s that lollipop stuck inside the empty beer bottle?”
“To remind me every day that you are the special one,” he answered. “Every single step of this journey we’re on together is on your time, darlin’. But just so you know, I’m ready for you to move in with me right now, and I’m ready for one of them lifetime commitment relationships,” Justin said.
She pushed him backward on the bed. “I’ll tell my landlady that I’ll be moving out at the end of the month.”
He pulled her down beside him, gave her one of those long kisses that almost fogged the windows, and whispered, “I love you, Emily.”
“I love you, Justin. Is the door locked?”
“You bet it is,” he said.
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About the Author
Carolyn Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Publisher’s Weekly best-selling romance author and RITA® Finalist who has sold more than four million books. She presently writes both women’s fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title, and contemporary series. She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher who is the author of nine mystery novels. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. For a complete listing of her books (series in order) and to sign up for her newsletter, check out her website at www.carolynbrownbooks.com or catch her on Facebook/CarolynBrownBooks.
Also by Carolyn Brown
The Longhorn Canyon series
Cowboy Bold
Cowboy Honor
The Happy, Texas series
Toughest Cowboy in Texas
Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas
Luckiest Cowboy of All
The Lucky Penny Ranch series
Wild Cowboy Ways
Hot Cowboy Nights
Merry Cowboy Christmas
Wicked Cowboy Charm
High Praise for Carolyn Brown
“Carolyn Brown makes the sun shine brighter and the tea taste sweeter. Southern comfort in a book.”
—Sheila Roberts, USA Today best-selling author
“Like a good piece of chocolate, there’s nothing more delicious, memorable and addictive than a Carolyn Brown story.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Carolyn Brown’s cowboys are as real as they come.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Carolyn Brown writes about everyday things that happen to all of us and she does it with panache, class, empathy, and humor.”
―Night Owl Reviews
THE LONGHORN CANYON SERIES
“A slow-simmering romance…that’s sure to please fans of cowboy romances.”
―Publishers Weekly on Cowboy Honor
“Western romance lovers are in for a treat. This wickedly saucy series is unputdownable. There’s no one who creates a rancher with a heart of gold like Carolyn Brown.”
―RT Book Reviews on Cowboy Bold
“Lighthearted banter, heart-tugging emotion, and a good-natured Sooner/Longhorn football rivalry make this a delightful romance and terrific launch for the new series.”
―Library Journal on Cowboy Bold
“Everything you could ever ask for in a cowboy romance.”
―The Genre Minx on Cowboy Bold
THE HAPPY, TEXAS SERIES
“Wonderfully charming characters…This sweet, heartwarming romance is sure to increase Brown’s fan base.”
—Publishers Weekly on Luckiest Cowboy of All
“Goes down like a cup of hot cocoa—warm and sweet.”
—Entertainment Weekly on Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas
“A truly romantic cowboy story…full of love, hope, loss, and second chances. Top Pick.”
―Fresh Fiction on Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas
“One of the best feel-good reads I’ve had the pleasure of reading yet this year! It tugged on your heart strings and had you cheering for true love.”
―Once Upon an Alpha on Toughest Cowboy in Texas
Second Chance Cowboy
A Crossroads Ranch Novel
A.J. Pine
The night Ava Ellis let Jack Everett go, her heart was breaking. She was young and scared—and secretly pregnant with Jack’s baby. Now, ten years later, the sexy cowboy is back and Ava finally has an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past. But how will he feel about the son he’s never known? Could this be their second chance—or their final heartbreak?
New York Boston
Acknowledgments
Thank you, first and foremost, to you—the reader. To those of you who followed me from my romantic comedies to my foray into the wonderful world of cowboys, I’m so grateful for your continued support. And welcome, new readers. I’ve got two more sexy stories coming your way for Luke and Walker!
A huge thanks to my fabulous editor, Madeleine, for your excellent guidance on Jack and Ava’s story. Can’t wait to work on Luke next.
Thank you, Courtney, for finding the Everett brothers a great home.
To my wonderful critique partners and friends—Lia Riley, Chanel Cleeton, Jennifer Blackwood, Megan Erickson, and Natalie Blitt—I love you all to pieces. Your friendship and support are everything—as are our daily conversations that usually leave me laughing until I’m crying.
Jennifer Ryan, I cannot thank you enough not only for reading and giving Jack and Ava your stamp of approval but for being a fabulous friend and mentor. You are truly the best.
Thank you, S and C, for being the best fans even though you’re not old enough to read my books yet. I love you to infinity.
Prologue
Ten Years Ago
Ava snaked her fingers through Jack’s and squeezed.
“Come on,” she said. “It’s going to be fun.”
His head fell back against the seat as he put the truck in park. Parties weren’t his thing, especially here. He’d only been at Los Olivos High School for five months, so celebrating graduation as the odd man out wasn’t exactly top on his list.
But it was top on Ava’s list, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the girl who’d made those months bearable.
No. That wasn’t fair. Time with Ava was more than bearable. It was everything that got him out of bed i
n the morning and kept him from cutting class when he would have been fine taking the GED, even if it meant losing his baseball scholarship. It’s how he endured not being able to play his senior year. And it was the reason that maybe—after college and getting some distance from this place—he’d be able to come back and see it differently.
“I love you,” she said softly, her pale cheeks turning pink as she leaned across the center console and kissed the corner of his mouth.
He blew out a breath and skimmed his fingers through her thick, auburn waves.
“And I know you’re leaving soon for summer training, but I think we should tell my parents about us. Unless—I mean if this is only a senior year thing.”
He tugged her closer, his palm cradling the back of her neck as he brushed his lips over hers. “You’re it for me, Red,” he whispered against her. “But I thought they were still getting over you and Golden Boy breaking up.”
She groaned. “I know you know Derek’s name.”
The corner of his mouth quirked into a crooked grin. “Doesn’t mean I have to say it.”
“You wanted to wait, remember?” she reminded him. “Because my dad is way overprotective.”
Jack laughed, the sound bitter, and his smile faded. “And thinks I’m gonna be like my father. I got it then, and I get it now.”
It didn’t matter that Los Olivos was an hour away from Oak Bluff, Jack’s hometown. News traveled fast when three new students transferred into a school second semester. And a drunk almost killing his oldest son was the best sort of gossip for a small California wine country town.
It wasn’t as if he didn’t have the same fears. The apple usually didn’t fall too far from the tree.
He hadn’t planned on anything more in Los Olivos than biding his time and getting the hell out of town when summer came.
He hadn’t planned on her. So when he’d suggested they keep the relationship quiet—that he didn’t want to make waves in her seemingly perfect life—she hadn’t argued.
She cupped his cheeks in her palms and tilted his forehead to hers. “He doesn’t know you. Plus I’m not good at secrets. Or lying. As soon as he sees how amazing you are, he’ll know there’s nothing to worry about.”
He closed his eyes as she kissed him. Maybe this could be him now, the guy a girl brought home to her parents instead of the one people whispered about when they thought he couldn’t hear.
“I love you, too,” he finally said. “In case you didn’t know.”
He felt her lips part into a smile against his.
“Oh, I know,” she teased. “But I like to hear you say it.”
Both of them startled at the sound of the passenger side window rattling.
“Party’s out back!” someone yelled as another graduate drummed against the glass again.
Ava giggled. “One hour,” she said. “If it sucks after an hour, then we leave. Promise.”
He pressed a soft kiss against her neck and she shivered.
“Anything for you, Red.”
He leaned across her and opened her door. Then he hopped out of his own and met her at the passenger side.
Maybe this was what it had been like for his parents before it all went to hell—when his mom was alive and his dad sober. He couldn’t remember anymore. The past five years couldn’t be erased, but maybe whatever the future held could cushion the blow.
Ava swayed when her feet hit the ground outside the truck, and Jack caught her by the elbow.
“Hey there,” he said. “You okay?”
She forced a smile even as her stomach roiled.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’m fine. It’s just so hot out tonight.” Thankfully, that was the truth—even if it wasn’t her truth. “I need to splash some cool water on my face. That’s all. Head out to the bonfire, and I’ll be right back.”
He hesitated, but she needed to get inside—quick.
“Go.” She nudged his shoulder. “I’ll meet you out back.”
“I’ll come with you,” he said insistently, and she could see the worry in those blue eyes.
“Ava!”
They both turned to where a group of girls were coming up the street toward Jack’s truck, her friend Rachel heading up the pack.
“Ohmygod,” Rachel said in one breath. “Please tell me you know where the bathroom is and that you can get me there safely.”
Saved by the drunk friend.
“See?” Ava said to Jack, grabbing Rachel’s hand. “I’m not alone. See you in five minutes.”
He ran a hand through his overgrown blond waves, then kissed her on the cheek.
“Five minutes,” he relented. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, afraid if she opened her mouth again her lie would be exposed. Instead she and Rachel ran for the front door of the house up the drive.
Once in the bathroom, she dropped to her knees in front of the toilet and emptied her stomach.
“Damn,” Rachel said. “I thought we prepartied too much.”
But Ava hadn’t had one drink that night. And this was the fourth time this had happened in the span of a week.
She grabbed a wad of toilet paper and wiped her mouth, then flushed and turned toward the sink.
“Yeah,” she said absently. “Too much prepartying.” She cupped cold water in her palms and drank, then thankfully found a tube of toothpaste in the medicine cabinet. “I’ll see you out there.”
She slipped out of the bathroom and into the small hallway off the foyer, heart hammering in her chest.
She pressed a palm against her flat belly. She would have to take a test to confirm, but she was already over a week late. It looked like she had something to tell Jack before they broke the news to her parents that they were dating.
“There you are,” a voice crooned from the end of the hall.
Ava rolled her eyes. “Not now, Derek,” she said, attempting to push past him as he came nearer. Instead he backed her into the corner where the wall met the doorframe to the guest bedroom.
“Not funny,” she said, trying to slip out from where his arm palmed the wall above her shoulder.
“I miss you,” he said, his breath tinged with the scent of liquor.
“You’re drunk. You always miss me when you’re drunk.”
His free hand cupped her breast and she swatted it away. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
But he wasn’t deterred. This time he pressed the length of his body against hers. “Come on, babe. I know how much you like taking in strays, but enough is enough. Two years, and you never gave it up for me, but you give it up for that trash from Oak Bluff?”
He ground against her pelvis, pressed his fingers hard against the base of her throat. He was too close for her to knee him in the balls—too big to push away.
“Stop it, Derek.”
Golden Boy. Right. Nothing could be further from the truth.
She pushed her palms into his chest, but he wouldn’t budge. It only made his weight against her feel heavier, his fingertips on her skin pressing harder.
Over his shoulder she saw Rachel step out of the bathroom. The girl caught Ava’s eye and grinned, then pressed her fingers to her lips in a promise to keep quiet as she started backing away. After all, Ava and Derek Wilkes had been the couple most likely to—well—everything just before the holidays. Until she wouldn’t give him what he wanted for Christmas. To Rachel this probably looked like reconciliation.
“Rach—” she started, but Derek shut her up by pressing his lips to hers.
This wasn’t happening. Except it was. So she bit down on his lip.
“Shit!” he growled, backing away and swiping the back of his hand across his mouth, his skin smeared with blood. “You little—”
He reached for her again, but his hand never made contact. In a blur, someone slammed Derek up against the adjacent wall.
“She said stop, asshole.”
Jack was seething, something dark and dangerous in his eyes.
>
“Thanks for breaking her in for me,” Derek said with a sneer. “But I think I can take it from here.”
Jack slammed him against the wall again.
Derek laughed.
Ava yelped, and Jack’s eyes met hers.
“I’m okay,” she said. “Let’s just go.”
But then his gaze dipped to her collarbone. She ran her fingers over the skin, wincing when she felt the beginnings of bruises.
That was all it took for Jack to lose his focus—and for Derek to throw the first punch.
Ava watched in slow motion as Jack’s head snapped to the side and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. And then before she knew it, Derek’s head crashed into the wall as Jack’s fist collided with his face again and again until blood poured from Derek’s nose and a group of guys Ava hadn’t seen arrive were pulling Jack from his limp human punching bag.
She hadn’t even known she was screaming until the commotion settled and one of the guys let go of Jack to keep Derek—now unconscious—from crashing to the floor.
Jack stared down at his bloodied knuckles, then up at her, his eyes wide with horror.
“I’m him,” he said softly—like he hadn’t meant anyone else to hear but himself—as sirens wailed in the distance.
Chapter One
Jack glanced down at his rumpled shirt, then ran a hand through his perpetually overgrown hair. Despite a sleepless night, he had somehow made the five-plus hour drive from San Diego to the outskirts of San Luis Obispo County—and the blip on the map that was Oak Bluff—without killing himself. A shit night of sleep was the norm. Spending the entire morning on the 101 with only the two cups of coffee he’d bought on his way out of town and thoughts he’d rather not have the time to think? That was another story. A man alone with his thoughts for too long was a dangerous combination. It was one of the reasons he rarely came home. Another one of those reasons was about to make his way six feet underground.
Cowboy Brave Page 27
