The Chestnut Ranch Cowboy Billionaire Boxed Set: Three Sweet Cowboy Billionaire Novels (Chestnut Ranch Boxed Sets Book 1)

by Emmy Eugene

  “You’re not going out with him,” she muttered to herself. They were simply going Christmas shopping for their kids. That was it.

  She’d spoken to Travis every day that week, both on the phone and through texting. He’d just finished telling her that his parents were moving back to their house tomorrow morning. She was happy for him, because he’d been stressed dealing with his momma and daddy in the homestead, and she didn’t blame him.

  She didn’t live in Johnson City for a reason, though she loved her parents and wanted to go visit them often. She and the girls were going next Saturday, as a matter of fact, and she needed a couple of gifts for her parents too.

  That was all this evening was. Shopping. She’d told Henry that in no uncertain terms. He’d said he was fine with that. He just wanted to provide a “nice Christmas” for their kids, and Janelle couldn’t argue with that. She wanted the same thing.

  So she went down the steps, the sidewalk, and around his sports car to the passenger side. She sank into the seat, feeling like she’d just folded her body in half the car was so low. She didn’t complain about it, though.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “Audrey can stay until nine.” The mall closed then anyway, and she and Henry didn’t need to stop off for coffee or ice cream.

  “We better get going then.”

  “It’s six-fifteen.”

  “And I haven’t bought them a single thing,” he said.

  Janelle worked not to roll her eyes. At the same time, she wondered what her life would be like if Henry was capable of being true to her and their family. The past week with him hadn’t been terrible, though there were still little clues that he hadn’t changed. He checked his phone almost constantly, and every time he texted, Janelle wanted to rip the device from his hand and see what he was saying, and to whom.

  She’d had to tell herself over and over that it was none of her business. He wasn’t her husband. She had a boyfriend. Henry couldn’t hurt her anymore.

  But somehow, having him here this week had also endeared him to her, reminded her of what it was like to have a family with a mom and a dad and kids. And the fact was, Henry Stokes was Kelly’s and Kadence’s father.

  Russ Johnson was not.

  Everything inside Janelle felt knotted and confused, and she didn’t know what to do about any of it.

  Henry did not turn up the radio like Russ did. He didn’t sing along, and he didn’t say anything. Janelle stared straight out the front windshield too, only looking at him when he asked, “Did you eat?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t, so do you mind if we stop somewhere?”

  “Yes,” she said. “You just said we might not have enough time to get everything you want by nine. We don’t have time to eat out on a Friday night. Everywhere will be packed.” She glared at him. “And this is not a date. I’m not going to dinner with you.”

  Henry blinked at her, his dark eyes so mesmerizing.

  No, she told herself. He was not mesmerizing. He was not handsome. He’d cheated on her dozens of times. She was not taking him back.

  “Do you ever think about us being a family again?” he asked, swinging his car into a drive-through line at a fast food joint.

  Janelle sighed heavily, the only answer she was going to give him. Besides, he already knew the answer to the question.

  “Because this past week has been really nice,” Henry said, his voice quiet, almost like he didn’t want to scare her away. “I love seeing the girls every day. I like spending our evenings together, like we used to. It feels…good, don’t you think?”

  The past few evenings had held a new kind of charm that Janelle had previously been missing in her life. But she didn’t want the life she’d had with Henry before. And he didn’t seem capable of a different kind of life.

  “Henry,” she said. “It has been nice. But that’s because you’re on your best behavior. It’s been four days.”

  “Five,” he said.

  “And you never discipline the girls, and you’re not there in the morning when it’s completely chaotic and we’re all trying to get ready to leave. This morning, Kadence purposefully left her gum on Kelly’s chair, and there was a screaming match, crying, and then a wardrobe change.”

  She cocked her eyebrows at her ex. “So you get to see them after school, when they’re so excited to tell you about their day. You take them for food and sweets, and spoil them rotten. So yeah, it’s great. But it’s not real.”

  “I’m willing to get more real,” he said, and he seemed so genuine. “I’m different now, Janelle. Honestly.”

  “Really? A month ago you showed up at your ex-girlfriend’s house, drunk, and wanted to sleep with her.” Janelle lifted her eyebrows and stared him down. “Do not tell me you’d be faithful to me, or that you even have feelings for me.”

  Henry reached over and took her hand in his. “I do, Janelle. You’re my first love. My wife.”

  She snorted and delicately removed her hand from his. “The only reason I’ve allowed you to even stay in this town is because of Kelly and Kadence. I can pretend for them. They’re not here. I don’t have to pretend right now. And you know what, Henry? Neither do you.”

  He didn’t deny that he’d been pretending, and he inched forward to the speaker to place his order. With that done, he said, “I want to try again.”

  “Henry.”

  “I think we can make it. I’ve always thought that.”

  “I have a boyfriend.”

  “That’s easy to fix,” he said, taking her hand again. “Come on, Janelle. Just tell me you’ll think about it.”

  Janelle looked at him, and so many thoughts entered her mind. So many emotions flooded her. She had no words, and she couldn’t speak.

  “Just think about it,” Henry said again, and this time, Janelle nodded.

  The next morning, she rose early despite it being Saturday. Shopping with Henry had been…nice after their talk in the drive-through. They’d walked around the mall, with the festive music playing, and the scent of marshmallows and hot chocolate on the air.

  They had shared coffee after the mall closed, and Audrey had stayed until ten after Janelle had asked her to. The teenager didn’t care why Janelle had needed to stay out later, and she didn’t ask any questions. She didn’t judge.

  But Janelle felt all kinds of uneasy. She shouldn’t have agreed to go shopping with Henry, simple as that. He’d promised to give her the weekend to think, and the next time he’d see her would be Monday evening, after he picked up the girls from school.

  Janelle really needed to figure out what she was doing. Russ had a family party in less than a week, and she’d told him she’d be there. She gazed up at the ceiling, helplessness filling her. “Why did Henry have to come back into town now?” she whispered. “What am I supposed to do?”

  She hadn’t spent a lot of time in church, but there were dozens of chapels around the Texas Hill Country. Maybe she should go tomorrow. See if she could find some answers to the mess her life had become.

  After she’d finally decided to end her marriage, she’d gone to church with her parents. She remembered the peace and comfort she felt there, and she reached over to her nightstand to pick up her phone.

  Her mother never slept past seven, so Janelle didn’t feel bad dialing her despite the early hour. “Momma,” she said when her mother had answered. “How are you?”

  “Janelle,” her mother said. “It’s great to hear from you. We were just talking about you and what you might be doing for Christmas.”

  Janelle did not want to tell her mom that she’d been spending any time with Henry. She could practically feel the disappointment coming through the line already. “We’re coming on Christmas Eve,” she said. “Is that still okay?”

  “Oh, yes. Daddy just bought the ham and the turkey.” She gave a light laugh. “He couldn’t decide what to have this year.”

  “Should I make my sweet potato cassero
le then?” Janelle asked. “It goes well with ham or turkey, and Kelly’s been dying to learn the recipe.”

  “Sure,” her mom said. “I love seeing her creations online. What did y’all make this week?”

  Janelle went on to tell her about the gingerbread cookies that Kelly had insisted they make after the class at the community center. “And cake pops,” she said, though she hadn’t posted those on any social media, nor had she taken any to her co-workers. “And upside-down caramel apple cake. That was a big hit.” And her suggestion.

  “Sounds lovely,” her mother said. “And how are the dogs?”

  “Doing really well,” she said. “Russ’s brother comes home tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens with them after that. If they’re ready for adoption, I might not have them much longer.”

  “But you’re going to keep King, right?”

  “Yes,” Janelle said with a sigh. “I don’t see how I can give him up. It would break Kadence’s heart.” And Janelle had grown quite fond of the mutt sleeping on her feet too. He was warm and comforting, and she never had to be alone.

  “What else is going on?” her mom asked. “Are you still seeing Russ?”

  “Yes,” Janelle said. She’d never told her parents that she’d freaked out about him meeting the girls. And she hadn’t told them about last weekend either. “He met Kelly and Kadence last week. We went out to his ranch and helped him with a project.”

  “Oh, my,” her mother said. “So it’s serious.”

  “I mean, yes,” Janelle said. She had plans to go to his family party. They were planning a Christmas celebration for next Saturday too. Him, her, and the girls. Privately.

  If that wasn’t serious, what was?

  Plus, she’d told Henry she was serious with Russ. She couldn’t bring up Henry, and she never wanted to mention her doubts to her mom. But she did say, “Momma, if I wanted to go to church up here, where would you recommend?” and that probably told her mom how uncertain she was anyway.

  “Let me call Pastor Belluise. He’ll know, as he has a sister who lives up by you.”

  “In Chestnut Springs?”

  “Oh, I think she’s in Llano, but closer than we are.”

  “Mom, Llano is pretty far from here.”

  “Closer than here. I’ll call him and call you back.”

  “Okay,” Janelle said, barely getting the word out before her mom hung up. She shook her head, wondering if she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life. Her mom had always been a little disappointed in Janelle for her lack of faith, despite her other accomplishments in life.

  Since she was up, she dialed Russ, almost desperate to see him. She needed to be reminded that she liked him more than Henry, desperately.

  “Hey, sugar,” he said, and Janelle smiled at the simple sound of his voice.

  “It’s so good to hear you,” she said. “I’ve missed you this week.”

  “I know,” he said. “I’ve missed you too. What are you doing this morning? I’m moving my folks back to their place, and then maybe we could go to breakfast.”

  “That sounds amazing.”

  “All of us?”

  “Yes,” she said, though she could call Henry to take the girls if she had to. But then she’d be going back on their deal for her to have the weekend to think.

  “And we’re having a big meal tomorrow afternoon to celebrate Seth and Jenna’s return. Do you want to come to that? Girls and all.”

  “Yes,” she said again, though a tingle of nerves ran through her at such a big family gathering. Then she reminded herself that she knew the Johnsons, and she knew Jenna Wright. She worked at the elementary school where Kelly and Kadence attended, and the atmosphere at the ranch was calm and peaceful.

  Only her business dinners were made of stress. And Henry’s friends, who wore stuffy suits and constantly carried tumblers of scotch. Janelle had not missed those outings, and she wouldn’t even be able to dress the part anymore. Not with her bunions.

  “Great,” Russ said. “So I’ll stop by after I finish with my parents, maybe around nine or nine-thirty.”

  “Sure,” she said. “I can’t wait.” She hung up, knowing she’d spoken true. She couldn’t wait to see Russ again. She needed the reassurance that the feelings she had for him were real and shouldn’t be ignored simply because her ex had come back into town and asked her to think about getting back together with him.

  She knew what heartache that brought her, and she couldn’t endure it again. She wouldn’t put her girls through having Henry back for a week, only to wake up and find him gone again.

  “Momma?”

  She rolled over at the sound of Kelly’s voice. “Yeah, baby?”

  “Where’s Daddy?”

  All at once, Janelle realized with horror that she’d already done that. She’d already allowed Henry back into their lives for a week, and then he’d left for the weekend.

  Probably has to go check on a girlfriend somewhere, she thought, and San Antonio came to her mind.

  “Daddy will be back on Monday,” she said, smoothing back Kelly’s hair. “It’s just us this weekend, and we’re going to go to breakfast with Russ in a couple of hours.”

  “Russ?” Kelly didn’t smile. “I don’t want to go to breakfast with Russ.”

  “Why not?”

  “I thought you and Daddy were going to get back together,” Kelly said, her fists curling into balls. “Why did he leave?”

  Janelle wanted to tell her the truth about her beloved father. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. “I don’t know, baby. He said he’d be back on Monday. That’s all I know.”

  Kelly sat down on the bed, and Janelle wished she knew what to say. Kadence pushed open the door a few inches, and she said, “Come on in, sweetheart.”

  Her youngest climbed right into bed with her, and Janelle liked the two of them with her, as well as King. “The dogs are barkin’, Momma.”

  “Well,” Janelle said with a sigh. “We better go get them fed and out for the day. We need to clean their pens too. Then we’re going to breakfast with Russ.”

  Kadence cheered as if Janelle had just told her they were going to Disneyland, and Janelle smiled at her. At least one daughter was excited about seeing Russ that day. But Janelle couldn’t help wondering if what she was doing was okay. Would Kadence be confused about things if Janelle spent all week with Henry, and then dated Russ on the weekends?

  Janelle sure was confused, and she hoped her breakfast in a couple of hours would help shed some light on her situation so she’d know what to do. She didn’t want to hurt her girls, and she didn’t want to lose her heart. But would one always be at the mercy of the other?

  Chapter Nineteen

  “All set, Momma?” Russ looked around the living room, the new flooring looking amazing. “I think this looks so good.” He toed the rug Griffin had chosen. Griffin had taken care of all of the remodeling, and Russ was grateful for that.

  “Yes, baby,” his mom said. “Thanks so much, Russ.”

  His daddy already lounged in a new recliner, the TV remote in his hand. “Yes, thanks, Russ.”

  “No problem,” Russ said, though having his parents at the homestead hadn’t been his favorite thing ever. But it had only been six days, and they’d all survived. His parent’s house was now water and mold-free, with new flooring and furniture if what they’d had couldn’t be salvaged. “See you guys on Thursday.”

  “Love you, sugar.”

  Russ loved his mother too, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek before he left. He had twenty minutes to get to Janelle’s, but he was already in town. He never could quite figure out how to waste time, so he simply pulled up to her house ten minutes early.

  He could sit on her couch as easily as behind the wheel, and he climbed the front steps and knocked on the door.

  A scream came from inside the house, and it sounded like Kadence. Russ wasn’t sure if he should open the door and go help, or give Janelle her privacy to calm down her
kids before she let him in.

  He decided to hold his ground, and the door opened a few seconds later. Kelly stood there, and she looked down at Russ’s cowboy boots and back to his face. “Hey,” he said, feeling completely out of place. “Did your mom tell you we were goin’ to breakfast this morning?”

  Kelly didn’t say anything. She simply left the front door open and walked away.

  “O-kay,” Russ said, not quite sure what he’d done wrong. He hadn’t seen Kelly since last weekend, but she’d seemed happy enough to be on the ranch. She’d laughed, and she and Kadence hadn’t fought hardly at all. She had left early, but there hadn’t been a reason other than a movie with her father.

  Ah, her father, Russ thought. He’d spent all week wrestling with his inadequacies to be Janelle’s boyfriend, let alone an instant father to two little girls. And Henry was back in town for a few weeks, and Russ knew Henry had been spending a lot of time with the girls.

  “Hey,” Janelle said, out of breath. “Come in. It’s not super warm out there.”

  “Right.” Russ stepped into the house and closed the door. “I know I’m early. Anything I can do to help?”

  “No, Kadence just stepped on something.” Janelle gathered her hair into a ponytail, revealing her slender neck, and Russ’s hormones fired. She exhaled and gave him a fast smile before dropping her arms. “That was a lie. Kelly took her painting and ripped it in half, because she doesn’t want to go to breakfast.”

  Janelle’s bottom lip trembled, and she looked away. “I just need a few minutes to get everyone together.”

  “We don’t have to go to breakfast,” Russ said.

  “Yes, we do.” Janelle turned around and went into the kitchen, where she helped Kadence tape together her painting. She said something to the little girl, dried her tears, and Kadence faced Russ and skipped over to him, the painting held in her tiny fingers.

  “Look,” she said. “It’s your dogs.”

  Russ took the painting, which definitely had three figures on it. “Would you look at that?” Thunder was black and white. Winner was brown and white. Cloudy Nine was white. He could easily distinguish them, and he beamed down at Kadence, a sense of love overcoming him that he didn’t entirely understand.