by C. J. Welles
The End
Keep reading for a sneak peek into Dare to Love, the next book in the series.
Dare to Love
Texas Boys #2
∞∞∞
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 goodbye 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. Bryson 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, Caroline frowns. 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 be read after... after I-" I let my words hang in the air. I know it's going to happen, but I can't voice the words.
“Okay, darlin'. You rest up," Caroline 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 one 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.
Acknowledgments
Firstly, I want to thank you for reading this book. It means so much.
Mum, thank you for the hours you put into helping me complete Dare to Dream. I think you know the story as well as I do. You have been such a big help to me with this book and over the years. I wouldn’t be the person I am now, if it wasn’t for you.
I want to thank my husband for sticking by me with every new book release. I can't thank you enough for the support you have shown me.
Loren, thank you for being the first person to read the completed first draft. Thank you for taking the time to edit it as well. x
My lovely sister, you have been a gem. After numerous (I’m talking hundreds) messages, phone calls and emails I have sent you over the weeks, it wouldn’t bother me if you didn’t want to hear the words Callie or Jace ever again.
Thank you to James for replying to all my random messages asking about Stripper club names, helping to make decisions when I couldn’t and anything else you helped with.
Chloe, you have become one of my closest friends and I cherish our friendship. You are amazing at what you. Please don't ever give up because you are my inspiration and my author hero. Thank you for everything.
Lastly, I want to thank my two beautiful boys. I love waking up every day and knowing I get to spend my day with you. Not only do you learn new things, but you both have taught me so much as well. You two are the ones who make me want to achieve my goals.
Mummy loves you both so much. Xx
Playlist
Footprints – Sia
Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band
Far Away – Nickelback
Springsteen – Eric Church
Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran
Barefoot Blue Jean Night – Jake Owen
Wasn’t Expecting That – Jamie Lawson
Just Give Me a Reason – P!nk
Jack Daniels – Eric Church
I Want You – Kings of Leon
You Don’t Know Jack – Luke Bryan
Like I’m Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainor
Right Where I Need to Be - Gary Allan
It’s Time – Imagine Dragons
Don’t Wanna Know – Maroon 5
Drunk – Ed Sheeran
Only Love Can Hurt Like This – Paloma Faith
Be Somebody – Kings of Leon
Roses – The Chainsmokers
Sangria – Blake Shelton
Strip It Down – Luke Bryan
Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
Burnin’ It Down – Jason Aldean
Hungover & Hard Up – Eric Church
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean
Hard to Love – Lee Brice
Deleted Scenes
Jace
WHEN WE ENTER Platinum Girls I am shocked. I was expecting some dive place, but it’s the total opposite.
The stage is all black with angled mirrors running along behind it. There is a girl dancing on a pole and you can see her reflection everywhere.
There’s a bar that runs along the back wall and has chrome bar stools along it. There are diamond lights hanging down from the ceiling. On one side of the stage is three corner lounges the rest of the room is filled with smaller tables and chairs. The floors, walls, and ceilings are all black. But with the lights, mirrors and chrome everywhere it looks good.
Bryson heads for the three corner lounges. And we all follow. He pushes Ethan down on the one closest to the stage and sits next to him. I join them along with Bryson’s twin brothers. The rest of the guys grab seats or head to the bar for drinks. One of Ethan’s work colleagues brings over a tray of Heineken's and shots and places it in front of us. This is going to be one long night.
I can tell I will be waking up with a hangover.
We all down them and then watch as the girls come out one by one and dance. I sit up when I see a dark-haired girl walk onto the stage. She is hot as hell wearing a tiny tight little American flag dress. She would have to be a size eight with at least D size tits.
Queen of New Orleans by Bon Jovi starts playing and she starts to dance. This song definitely suits her. Man, she can dance. Every time she bends down I can see her ass and black thong underneath her dress.
When the song finishes, she moves from the stage to the floor and Sexy Can I by Ray J begins playing. First, she walks to Ethan and gives him a lap dance that I know he won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
It must be the alcohol, I don’t know why I do it, but when she stands up
and walks away from Ethan, I pull her into my lap. She grinds her ass into me and I grip her hips as I thrust my hips up to her. She stays there for a while and man I am horny as hell. When she stands, she turns and winks at me and I place a bunch of dollar bills in her hand.
Once she moves away I stand and head for the bar. I need to rearrange the massive boner I’ve got going on. I down a tequila shot then walk out back looking for a toilet.
I see the girl who gave me a lap dance just down the hall and I call out. She turns to me “Are you stalking me?” she asks with a smile
I laugh “No was just goin’ to find the toilet to deal with the problem you created for me.”
She laughs, and I smile. “That was all you, but I can help with that.” She reaches for my hand and drags me down the hall then opens a door. Inside is obviously her dressing room. There are racks of clothes, a bench with a mirror behind it and makeup and crap scattered everywhere.
Closing the door behind us she places her hand at the bottom of her dress and pulls it over her head. Fuck, she has a hot body. I grab my shirt at the back of my neck and rip it over my head then throw it on the ground. Next goes her bra and thong then her sweet little ass is in front of me naked. I hurry and loosen my belt and drop my jeans to my ankles.
I slide on a condom I pulled from my wallet then grab her at the back of her thighs and lift her up. She wraps her legs around my waist and I thrust forward and bury myself deep inside her.
I pound into her hard and fast and I feel her hot pussy clench around my cock. She moans into my ear as she comes with a quiet moan, but I keep up my relentless pace. When I hear something behind me I pause briefly and turn just in time to see the back of a blonde-haired girl wearing a black cowboy hat. I don't see her face before she slams the door. She would have got a lovely view. Teaches her for not knocking.
Picking up my pace I slam into the chick hard and she comes again with a scream this time.
“That’s it, sweetheart,” I groan. A few thrusts later and I feel my balls tighten just before I come.
Placing the girl on her feet, I remove the condom and toss it in the trash can before I get dressed. She doesn’t say anything as she pulls on her thong and a different dress.
See this is what I don’t miss about random hookups. The awkwardness after the deed has been done as you’re getting dressed.
When I was playing NFL, I had girls lining up, wanting to have sex with me and I just got over it. In the end, they all looked the same and performed the same.
I shove my hands in my pockets. “So, um, thanks for the help,” I say awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.
“No problems.” I turn and grab the door handle and walk out. Just as I'm about to close it she calls out to me, “By the way, I don't usually do this.” She gestures to us both and the room.
I smile. “Yeah, sweetheart, I don’t either,” I say then close the door.
Walking back out to the club, I grab a beer and plonk down next to Bryson. “For someone who was against coming here, you seem to have enjoyed yourself.” He says with a laugh and raises his eyebrow at me.
I growl, and he smirks.
When I don’t comment, he laughs again.
“How the hell do you know?” I growl out.
He lets out a booming laugh. “Well because you must have given her a good ride for her to try to rip your hair out.” I shake my head and ignore him. He’ll just continue to talk shit if I answer him. “Anyways you just missed the sexiest girl here tonight. She kicked ass at dancing and was all over me.”
“Of course, she was.”
“Thompson, you’re not the only one who can get any action. She was rubbing herself all over him here on the couch,” Ryan pipes in.
“She was dressed as a hot cowgirl. With the shortest daisy dukes I’ve ever seen,” Bryson says.
“With a black cowboy hat?” They nod. “Yeah, I seen her, she walked in on us in the girls change room. She quickly ran out.” They all laugh.
“You watch, I’ll be sticking my dick in her tonight. She wanted me bad. She won’t be running from me. She mustn’t have liked your hairy ass.” I shake my head.
He’s just too much sometimes.
We watch a few more girls and keep celebrating Ethan’s last night as a free man. Literally. Once Nicole gets his last name, he is fucked.
***
Jimmy
“YOU NEED TO DEAL with it and do it now,” Gabriella Reeve yells at me from across the room. Oh, this bitch gets on my nerves. If it wasn’t for the fact that she is my business partner’s wife, well widow now, I would kick her out.
“Do not talk to me in my office like that. Martin isn’t here anymore to stick up for you.”
“My husband owns this company, Jimmy. So, you do as I say.”
“Yeah, and I am a partner, so don’t give me that shit.” I pick up the files on my desk and wave them in front of her. “This contract can’t be changed, Gabriella. Dexter and I have looked over it and there is no way of getting around it,” I say for the hundredth time. She is just not getting it into her thick fucking head.
“Yes, it can. Something has to be able to change,” she whines at me. She is really getting on my nerves.
One day, a long time ago, I used to like Gabriella. Actually, I thought I loved her. Then twenty-two years ago she just up and left me. It was four years before I saw her again and she was marrying Martin.
“What is wrong with the fact that he left half of it to her? She is his daughter after all,” I grumble. I’m over this whole subject.
“He left her fifty percent of a multimillion dollar law firm and half of our properties and she doesn’t even deserve them. Where has she been the past four years? Where was she when he was dying of cancer?”
“Where the fuck were you?” I yell. This bitch drives me mad. I don’t know how Martin put up with her. “You can’t stand there and point the finger, you hypocrite. You were off spending his money while he was dying. Jesus Christ. If he wants his daughter to have his money, let her.”
She lets out a bitter laugh that chills me. “Yeah well, that’s the problem. She ain’t his daughter,” she roars. I frown at her.
“She isn’t?” I ask confused. Martin never said anything about it.
“She’s yours.”
I snap around and stare at her.
***
Jace
“ARE YOU GOING bowling with the girls?” I ask Bryson as he walks into my office.
“Yeah,” he grunts. “I said no fuckin’ way. But then Krystal was doing this thing she does with her tongue and I was a goner. She thinks I don't know what she’s up to, but I’m not stupid.”
I burst out laughing. “Krystal was telling Callie all about it.”
“What Krystal doesn't realize is that I’m going to say yes anyway, but if I refuse first up, she gives me a kickass head job.”
“Yeah, I didn't need to hear that,” I groan, as I reach into my desk drawer and pull out the blue velvet ring box.
I open the ring box and show Bryson. “Oh gosh, Jace. You shouldn't have. But oh, my god, yes, yes, yes,” he drops to his knees in front of me.
“Get up, you dickhead.”
Bryson laughs as he stands up. “You’re serious about asking Callie? You don't think it's too early?”
“No. Callie is what I want for the rest of my life.”
“Damn, Jace, I’m happy for you. When are you goin’ to ask her?”
“Was goin’ to do it tonight between dinner and bowling.”
“So, you want Krystal and I there or not?”
“I need Krystal to help me.”
I tell him my plan and then I hope to God Callie says yes.
***
Titles by C.J. Welles
Texas Boys
Dare to Dream #1
Dare to Love #2
Dare to Want #3
Dare to Hope #4 (TBR 2019)
Dare to Trust #5 (TBR 2019)
Texas Boys Standa
lone Spinoffs
Meant To Be
Bianchi Empire Series
Claiming Luca #1
Loving Arianna #2
Marcus’ Maid #3
Zander’s Valentine #4
Forever & Always Series
Forever Yours
Our Forever (TBR 2019)
About C.J. Welles
C.J. is an indie author who lives with her husband and two boys in Australia.
She writes romance filled with sexy alpha males and sassy heroines. She loves writing and reading country romance that include sexy cowboys. The ones who are tough and rugged but are easily brought to their knees with love.
Of a day she is a stay at home mum to her youngest then at night she writes her novels.
C.J. currently has nine titles published. Forever Yours was published in early May 2017, followed by Dare to Dream at the end of May. In August and September 2017, C.J. published the four Bianchi Empire novellas; Claiming Luca, Loving Arianna, Marcus’ Maid and Zander’s Valentines. In October 2017, C.J. published Dare to Love, book #2 in the Texas Boys series.
In 2018 C.J. published Meant To Be (A Texas Boys Standalone spin-off) and Dare to Want: Texas Boys #3.
10 Quick facts
1. Favourite quote: "Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire." - Jeniffer Lee
2. Favourite singers: Ed Sheeran, Eric Church, Kings of Leon, Luke Bryan and Amy Shark
3. Favourite ice-cream is Cookies and cream.
4. Pretty Woman is my all time favourite movie.
5. Celeb crush: Scott Eastwood and Zac Efron
6. Favourite alcohol: Jack Daniels and coke
7. She has one tattoo and her ears pierced twice.
8. Her greatest fear is drowning.
9. Favourite Authors: Chloe Walsh, Jordan Marie, Bella Jewel, J.L. Berg, Meagan Brandy
10. She's one of those weird people who doesn't drink coffee or tea.