Cowboy Town
by Kasey Millstead
Series: Down Under Cowboy, #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 18, 2013
Ever since her parents passed away in a tragic car accident, Eden Cross has been living a quiet, stable and predictable life in inner Sydney – the total opposite of her carefree, relaxed, happy-go-lucky past. Her parents passing and the fact she’s an only child meant Eden was left with her best friend, Jules and Matt, her boyfriend of three years as her only family. That was until she discovered something about Matt that would turn her life upside down. Eden leaves Sydney in a hurry and begins an adventure that takes her across four Australian states before she lands in Pine Creek, Northern Territory.
Jackson Henley has lived in Pine Creek his entire life. He runs a massive cattle and cropping station with his twin brother, Jeremy, which they inherited when their parents retired. He’s had a bad experience with relationships courtesy of The Bitch - Dannika, so lately he’s preferred to play the field. That is, until he comes face to face with the stunning brunette beauty who’s behind the bar at the Cow and Calf. The problem is, she won’t tell him her name, she won’t give him the time of day, and she won’t give him a chance to prove himself.
What’s it going to take for Eden to give Jackson a chance? Does he have the patience to even bother fighting for her? How will he handle the competition?
In the end, will Jackson have what it takes to convince Eden to start living again, instead of just existing?
At what point do you stop wanting someone you know you can never have?
Ava Crawley only had one dream in life; grow up and marry the boy next door, Jeremy Henley. When she was twenty, her dream was crushed by her nasty, vindictive, deceitful sister Kennedy. Unable to handle the hurt, Ava fled.
Jeremy Henley is a Sky Cowboy in Australia’s Northern Territory. Along with his twin brother, Jackson, he is Pine Creek’s finest catch. Jeremy doesn't give a damn about that, he only cares about the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen; Ava Crawley. After years of waiting for Ava to show an interest in him, an opportunity presents itself and Jeremy takes it. Then, Ava up and leaves for France. No explanation. No goodbye. Nothing. She doesn't come back for three years, and when she does, Jeremy has a baby son.
Will Ava and Jeremy be able to overcome the pain of the past and give their love a chance? Or, will Ava lose her life just as she’s starting to live her dream?
Ava & Jeremy's story is the second in the Down Under Cowboy Series.
My decision for moving from Sydney, NSW, to Pine Creek NT, was purely selfish...to begin with.
My best friend, Edie, had gone off on an adventure to find herself, and instead she'd found the love of her life. Not wanting to be left behind, I decided to follow her. I made this choice for a few reasons. First, I didn't want to be without my best friend. Second, I'd slept with my boss, and trust me, once that happens, shit just gets awkward! And third, on a visit with Edie, I'd met a man.
Clay Forde.
A hunk of Aussie, crocodile egg collecting, cowboy, badass, hotness.
We had a one-night stand...and then another one when I visited again.
Then, I found out I was pregnant.
So now, moving to the Northern Territory wasn't just about me escaping the awkwardness at work, or tagging along with my best friend. It was about developing a relationship with a man I hardly knew, who I was about to have a baby with.
I'm loathe to admit it, but I'm scared and I'm nervous. But most of all, I'm petrified he's going to reject me. Because even though our "relationship" so far has been limited to two sexual encounters, I can't help the feelings that have taken root in my bones...feelings for Clay. And the worst part is, I don't even know if he feels an inkling of what I do.
“Hey, gorgeous, can I get another beer?” I turn my attention from the one-man show and spot Luke, the guy who was here yesterday, and he’s waving an empty glass at me.
“Sure thing,” I reply. I grab a glass and pull his beer, hand it to him, take his money and return his change.
“So, Dory’s put ya to work, has she?”
“Just helping her out for tonight,” I smile, then sweep my gaze along the bar checking that no one needs refills. It’s during this exercise that I spot the man who has just walked in. My breath gets caught in my throat as I watch him take a seat at the bar. I see his lips move and he’s smiling at people but it’s too loud to hear what he’s saying. I’m captivated. He’s utterly gorgeous. The epitome of Cowboy Hot. His hair is dark and his jaw is square. His body is built – broad across the shoulders and narrowing slightly at his hips. He spots someone across the bar and hands them a fully-fledged, bright white, straight-toothed smile. My breath leaves me in a whoosh, and then catches again as what has to be his twin slides onto the stool beside him. Oh my fucking god.
I’ve got a job to do. I have to pull it together. It’s not like I’ve never been in contact with good looking guys before. I worked in one of Sydney’s hottest bars for four years for fuck’s sake. I mentally slap myself across the face and tell myself to pull it together. Then I walk across to where they’re sitting and set about getting their order.
“What’ll it be, boys?” I ask in my most relaxed I’m-not-affected-by-you-at-all voice.
Hotty One unashamedly rakes his gaze over my body. Slowly. So slowly, I feel my blood start to heat – just from him looking at me. I must be going mad. Perhaps it’s the heat up here. I’m not used to it all. I really should have worn some linen shorts instead of jeans.
“You, later,” he winks suggestively when he finally pulls his eyes to mine. Now, don’t get me wrong – the wink was hot. Fucking hot. It was the way he said it that turned me off. You know those guys that can get anyone they want? Yeah, they’re not so bad. It’s the ones who can get anyone they want, and they know it, and they show it – that’s the turn off. Just with that line, Hotty One has shown me he’s a player, unfaithful, untrustworthy and most definitely not the kind of guy I want to get involved with – in bed, or out of. But, as a woman, I’d rather die than have him know how he affected me, so I tilt my head to the side, smile my cheeky smile and say, “Not tonight, handsome. Or ever. Drink?”
Kasey Millstead lives a quiet life in country New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and their four young children. She enjoys baking, singing (ridiculously out of tune) & spending time with friends and family. Kasey has always harboured a deep love for reading and writing, and she is now lucky enough to be living her dream of being an Author.
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