by H. J. Bellus
“Amen.” Granddad raises his glass of sweet tea.
“I’m in.” Marvel raises his milk.
Challis bends over and kisses his temple. “Thank you.”
I grab the frosty longneck in front of me. “When did you become so smart, asshole?”
The room erupts in laughter. Maverik tosses a fork at me, Marvel shakes his head as he devours his food, and Challis leans into me, soaking up the moment not touching her chili. We’ve all found our home.
Looking to each face surrounding me, I know that a gold buckle would never amount to anything without them in my life. Our table may be tiny, but our hearts and passion are fierce. We are the Slatters.
THE END
Find out who is behind the scandal in book #2 of the Silver Star Ranch Series. Maverik Slatter’s book will be out in Jan. 2016. Enjoy Chapter 1
Rules of the Ride
Book #2
A Silver Star Novel
Chapter 1
Maverik
Splitting pains shoot around in my head, mouth dry, and a nauseous feeling already swirling around in my gut…yep, drank way too much last night. Rolling over in bed, my arms land across the warm skin of another body. Peeling my eyes open I see Ella in all her naked glory with her messy blonde hair sprawled across the pillow and my sheets.
“Fuck,” I grumble trying to sit up in my bed, throwing my feet to the floor. Jake looks up at me with that face saying, “You’re screwed, man.”
Looking down, I’m naked as the day I was born, and as the events of the night before play out in my head, I realize I am fucked beyond belief. I finally gave into Ella, and now it looks like another ten years of heartache once she climbs in her fancy little sports car and drives away.
“Mav.” I turn to see her rustling around in the sheets and then her baby blues look up at me. “Come back to bed.”
Her tattoo dances up the side of her ribs and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of staring at it. I had no idea she got it the day she left town. My name in western font goes from right underneath her armpit down to the top of her hips. Then my mind goes back to that vicious cycle and anger begins to boil up in me. She left me. Actually she chose to leave years ago, and I’ve let her right back into my life.
Hell, not only life, but my heart, bed, and soul.
Her palm brushes down my back and it’s something about her touch that I’ll never be able to let go of. The day I ran into her weeks ago in town, I should’ve turned and walked away, but like a fool I stared at her.
I feel the bed dip and then her arms drape around my neck with her breasts pressed up against my back. Her lips play with the lobe of my ear. My hand automatically goes to the back of her head, wrapping my fingers into her blonde locks.
“What’s bothering you, Mav?”
I shake my head side to side. “Nothing.”
“Then how about you lay back down with me?”
“I need to get an early start with Merek and Challis’s reception today.”
Yes, Granddad finally convinced the two assholes to have a wedding reception on the ranch. It’s something he wanted and set Marvel and myself down and told us he’d whip our asses if we eloped. He explained he only let Merek do it because he knew Merek would do whatever in the hell he wanted.
Cold air sweeps across my back as Ella falls back onto the bed. I twist to see her covering her front with my sheet and that sad look that covers her face.
“I get it.”
“Ella,” I yell standing up to my feet and dragging my hands through my hair. “What in the hell are we doing here?”
She shrugs, with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I love you, Maverik.”
“You don’t love me. You love being with me and what we used to be, but you’ll have no problem hopping in that fancy sports car of yours in one week and bolt from me once again.” My fist goes straight through the drywall.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her jump back further into bed and feel like an even bigger asshole, if that’s possible. Staring down at her bright blue eyes, I realize that I’m already gone and have no chance of survival with Ella back in town.
I drop to my knees on the side of the bed, grip her thighs, and tug her toward me until she’s straddling my torso. Tears stream down her face and she does her best to hide them from me with her long hair.
“I’m sorry.” I tilt her chin up. “Ella, let’s just focus on the reception today.”
She takes a moment to gain her composure before she speaks. “Who says I’m leaving this time?”
“Nothing keeping you here.”
Her hand touches my bare chest and then drifts over to my beating heart. “I want this, Maverik.”
My phone goes off. I twist toward the nightstand and take the call.
“It’s Challis,” I whisper.
“Maverik.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m freaking out. The DJ isn’t here and the dance floor is all wrong. Someone left the irrigation on out by the pond and everything is swamped.”
I interrupt her, “Slow down, Sis. Where’s Merek?”
“He’s picking friends up at the airport. I have a hundred things to do.”
She continues to frantically ramble on in panic mode and I wonder if she’ll ever realize that we’ll always have her back. Calling me is one huge step for the feisty little shit. She generally bottles everything up until she explodes in a fit of anger.
“It’s not funny,” she yells as I laugh on my end of the phone.
I stand and look for my clothes. “I’ll be right over. I need breakfast and a pile of ibuprofen.”
“Okay.” I hear a loud clatter in the background. “Granddad is here trying to help. He cooked up breakfast.”
“Be there in a minute, Sis.”
Ending the call, I toss my phone down onto the bed next to Ella.
“So, that’s it, Maverik?”
“What do you want, Ella?” I ask as I pull on my pants trying to keep my balance.
“I want you.” She stands, still covering her naked body.
Before I pull up the zipper on my jeans, I go to her, spinning her around and pinning her against the wall. I plant both of my palms on the wall framing her face.
We’re so close I can feel her breath on my skin and damn near taste her sweet lips.
“I’ve wanted you for forever and that never stopped you from walking away from us. You’ve been gone for nearly a decade.”
“How many times can I say sorry, Maverik, before you’ll forgive me?”
“I have my family and this ranch. They come first in my life. They’ve never walked out on me for bigger and better opportunities like you did.” I step back before I find my lips on hers. “I’ll see you at the reception tonight if you’d still like to be my date.”
As the rage tears through my body, I still love the woman and would do anything to make her stay here with me or just lose myself in her until she leaves once again, but I listen to my brain for once and fight for me. I don’t just want Ella Francis for a couple of weeks. I want her for a goddamn lifetime and am ready to force her hand.
Acknowledgements
As always, I have to tip my hat to my readers and friends who inspire me every single day to keep writing. Without your support these characters would never be born. Your encouragement goes a long ways from brightening my day to giving me strength to carry on with my dreams. Thank you so damn much.
Social Media Links
Website: www.hjbellus.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHjBellus
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7079478.H_J_Bellus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HJBellus
Next Release From HJ Bellus
The Hunted
A Romantic Suspense With a Twist
August 2015
Merek & Challis Playlist
These two were on the road a lot together and developed quite the collection of good ol’ country music. I ho
pe you enjoy it. I know it’s been on repeat since this project started.
Drink In My Hand- Eric Church
(Merek’s Theme Song)
Heart Like Mine- Miranda Lambert
(Challis’s Theme Song)
Lonely Eyes- Chris Young
(Night in the bar when Merek meets Challis)
A Guy Walks Into a Bar- Tyler Farr
(Night in the bar when Merek meets Challis)
No Doubt About It- Neal McCoy
(Merek & Challis’s song)
Tomorrow- Chris Young
Neon Light- Blake Shelton
Sangria- Blake Shelton
Girl Crush- Little Big Town
Say You Do- Dierks Bentley
Goodnight Kiss- Randy Houser
How Country Feels- Randy Houser
Boots On- Randy Houser
Sparks Fly- Taylor Swift
Friday Night- Eric Paslay
Diamond Rings and Old Barstools- Tim McGraw
Give Me Back My Hometown- Eric Church
Hell On The Heart- Eric Church
Good Hearted Woman- Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
Take Your Time- Sam Hunt
Night Train- Jason Aldean
Bottoms Up- Brantley Gilbert
Bad Blood- Taylor Swift
Hurt Somebody- Dierks Bentley
Every Mile a Memory- Dierks Bentley
I Hold On- Dierks Bentley
Felt Good On My Lips- Tim McGraw
She’s My Kind of Rain- Tim McGraw
Get Your Shine On- Florida Georgia Line
Round Here- Florida Georgia Line
Cruise (REMIX)- Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
Get Your Shine On- Florida Georgia Line
Holy Water- Big & Rich
Save a Horse- Big & Rich
Rollin’- Big & Rich
We Are Tonight- Billy Currington
Cowgirls Don’t Cry- Brooks & Dunn
Back- Colt Ford with Jake Owen
Every That Glitters- Dan Seals
All Over The Road- Easton Corbin
Dirt Road Anthem- Jason Aldean
Church Pew or Bar Stool- Jason Aldean
Just Passing Through- Jason Aldean
Feel That Fire- Dierks Bentley
Come a Little Closer- Dierks Bentley
Free and Easy- Dierks Bentley
Straight Tequila Night- John Anderson
Broken Lady- Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
Goodbye Lady- Micky and The Motorcars
Like A Wrecking Ball- Eric Church
Already Gone- Sugarland
Halfway Down- Patty Loveless
Just a Fool- Christina Aguilera with Blake Shelton
Unhappily Married- Pistol Annies
Give in to Me- Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester
Heads Carolina, Tails California- Jo Dee Messina & Tim McGraw
Ain’t In It for the Money- Micky and the Motorcars
It Ain’t Easy- Jason Aldean
Gonna- Blake Shelton
Ready to Roll- Blake Shelton
If My Truck Could Talk- Jason Aldean
Days Like These- Jason Aldean
Why Don’t We Just Dance- Josh Turner
Riser- Dierks Bentley
The Only Way I Know- Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan
Love Like Mine- Nashville Cast
Even If It Breaks Your Heart- Eli Young Band
Drinking Class-Lee Brice
Her Man- Gary Allen
The One- Gary Allen
It Would Be You- Gary Allen
Nothing On but the Radio- Gary Allen
Every Storm- Gary Allen
Pieces- Gary Allen
Right Where I need to Be- Gary Allen
Best I Ever Had- Gary Allen