 | FOREVER HOME Texas Brides of Pike's Run Series Book 19 Contemporary Romance Jessie Townsend is done with love. She has her family shop, Main Street Antiques, to run, and her sweet father to look after. She has plenty to keep her busy and fill the void her ex-fiancé left when he broke her heart. Wyatt Davis, part owner of the Swinging A ranch, is feeling his age. He's thirty. Still young, but...too old for the life he used to live. He's done with one-night stands, with drinking all night and staying out until morning. Which irritates him. But what's a cowboy to do when he begins to change? Go after Jessie Townsend, that's what. But she's not interested. Which is a helluva thing. Because Wyatt's pretty sure he's in love and wants a "forever home"...with her. PURCHASE FOREVER HOME |
FOREVER HOME
When he reached the well-hidden overgrown path that led to his favorite spot on the river, he slowed down and guided his truck carefully down the incline. Coming out from under the branches of pine, he hit the brakes. A silver Jeep Wrangler was sitting in his spot.
Taken aback, Wyatt put the truck in park and blinked at the vehicle. So, he wasn’t the only one who knew about this secluded fishing hole.
Intrigued, he turned the truck off, then climbed out. His boots crunched on gravel, and he eyed the Jeep as he walked toward the bank. An Astros bumper sticker, along with one for Texas Country artist Roger Creager and another for Kylie Frey, had been placed in strategic spots on the back of the Jeep.
He came around the stranger’s car and looked toward the big oak.
And there, at its base, sat the only person Wyatt had ever come across in the ten years he’d been visiting the fishing hole.
Jessie Townsend.
He stopped dead.
She also gaped at him, a straw hat covering her hair that she’d done up in two braids. She wore overalls and a tank top. She had her fishing line in the water.
His pulse began to race, and he was so damned surprised, he couldn’t think of a blessed thing to say. Questions blasted through his mind. How long had she been coming? Why did she come? Why did she like the spot?
It was unbelievable. Fate. Destiny.
Right?
He ran a hand down his face and tried to get control of the emotions racing through him.
She cleared her throat. “Morning.”
He quickly lowered his arm and said hastily, “Morning. Sorry to intrude. Forgot my hat.”
Her gaze lowered to the cap resting in the dirt next to the roots of the tree. “I had wondered who that belonged to.”
With his mind still reeling with the discovery that they not only shared a love of fishing in the quiet of the morning, they also liked the same spot, he went forward. He stooped down and picked up his cap.
She watched him as he settled it on his head. He kept his stare on the river. And his mouth clamped shut.
She didn’t like him. Had rejected him twice already. He’d be a fool to try a third time.
He let out a breath, forced himself to meet her gaze and nodded once. “Sorry to interrupt. Enjoy your morning.”
“It’s no trouble. Thank you.”
He turned and began walking away, but with each step came a warning. His gut clenched with the feeling that he shouldn’t go. That he hadn’t been wrong. There was something different about her.
With a growl of frustration, he pulled up. Before he could talk himself out of it, he whipped around and strode back to her side.
She was looking at him, as if she’d expected his return.
He stopped and lowered to a squat, bracing his forearms on his thighs. “How long have you been comin’ here?”
“Consistently?” She shrugged. “About four years. Since I graduated. But I found this spot when I was fifteen. Couldn’t use it often because I wasn’t driving yet.”
He nodded. “It’s been ten years for me. I’ve never stumbled upon anyone else. Thought I was the only person who knew about it.”
She gave him a soft smile. “Me, too.”
He held her gaze, falling into her warm, brown eyes, and feeling his heart thump wildly. He couldn’t remember the organ ever misbehaving in the same manner. After a few quiet moments in which he couldn’t tear his focus from her, he said, “I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta try again.” He took a deep breath, then said, “Have supper with me. Just one meal. That’s all.”
She looked away, giving him her profile.
This time, he saw pain in the sweet, feminine lines of her face. It was there, hovering, controlling, and he realized she’d been hurt before. Which told him more about her and why she couldn’t take a chance on him. He couldn’t blame her.
She shook her head. “I can’t. I apologize.”
He exhaled slowly. It would be wrong to tell her that he thought there was something special about her. If it weren’t for how his heart went haywire when he was around her, he wouldn’t be able to believe the statement, either. Besides, he didn’t want to tell her what she caused in him, since he really couldn’t define it himself.
“All right. No harm done.” He rose.
She looked up at him.
He couldn’t help but grin at how cute she looked. What a woman. She was stunningly gorgeous one minute, then adorable the next. If he’d known his life was going to lead him to meet her, he never would’ve dated others. “Hope you catch something. I didn’t.”
She laughed lightly. “See you around, Wyatt Davis.”
Well…probably not. He doubted he’d run into her again. Even if he did, he was done asking. She’d been hurt, and he couldn’t be trusted. He knew that.
He left, disappointed but damned amazed by the woman he couldn’t have.
When he reached the well-hidden overgrown path that led to his favorite spot on the river, he slowed down and guided his truck carefully down the incline. Coming out from under the branches of pine, he hit the brakes. A silver Jeep Wrangler was sitting in his spot.
Taken aback, Wyatt put the truck in park and blinked at the vehicle. So, he wasn’t the only one who knew about this secluded fishing hole.
Intrigued, he turned the truck off, then climbed out. His boots crunched on gravel, and he eyed the Jeep as he walked toward the bank. An Astros bumper sticker, along with one for Texas Country artist Roger Creager and another for Kylie Frey, had been placed in strategic spots on the back of the Jeep.
He came around the stranger’s car and looked toward the big oak.
And there, at its base, sat the only person Wyatt had ever come across in the ten years he’d been visiting the fishing hole.
Jessie Townsend.
He stopped dead.
She also gaped at him, a straw hat covering her hair that she’d done up in two braids. She wore overalls and a tank top. She had her fishing line in the water.
His pulse began to race, and he was so damned surprised, he couldn’t think of a blessed thing to say. Questions blasted through his mind. How long had she been coming? Why did she come? Why did she like the spot?
It was unbelievable. Fate. Destiny.
Right?
He ran a hand down his face and tried to get control of the emotions racing through him.
She cleared her throat. “Morning.”
He quickly lowered his arm and said hastily, “Morning. Sorry to intrude. Forgot my hat.”
Her gaze lowered to the cap resting in the dirt next to the roots of the tree. “I had wondered who that belonged to.”
With his mind still reeling with the discovery that they not only shared a love of fishing in the quiet of the morning, they also liked the same spot, he went forward. He stooped down and picked up his cap.
She watched him as he settled it on his head. He kept his stare on the river. And his mouth clamped shut.
She didn’t like him. Had rejected him twice already. He’d be a fool to try a third time.
He let out a breath, forced himself to meet her gaze and nodded once. “Sorry to interrupt. Enjoy your morning.”
“It’s no trouble. Thank you.”
He turned and began walking away, but with each step came a warning. His gut clenched with the feeling that he shouldn’t go. That he hadn’t been wrong. There was something different about her.
With a growl of frustration, he pulled up. Before he could talk himself out of it, he whipped around and strode back to her side.
She was looking at him, as if she’d expected his return.
He stopped and lowered to a squat, bracing his forearms on his thighs. “How long have you been comin’ here?”
“Consistently?” She shrugged. “About four years. Since I graduated. But I found this spot when I was fifteen. Couldn’t use it often because I wasn’t driving yet.”
He nodded. “It’s been ten years for me. I’ve never stumbled upon anyone else. Thought I was the only person who knew about it.”
She gave him a soft smile. “Me, too.”
He held her gaze, falling into her warm, brown eyes, and feeling his heart thump wildly. He couldn’t remember the organ ever misbehaving in the same manner. After a few quiet moments in which he couldn’t tear his focus from her, he said, “I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta try again.” He took a deep breath, then said, “Have supper with me. Just one meal. That’s all.”
She looked away, giving him her profile.
This time, he saw pain in the sweet, feminine lines of her face. It was there, hovering, controlling, and he realized she’d been hurt before. Which told him more about her and why she couldn’t take a chance on him. He couldn’t blame her.
She shook her head. “I can’t. I apologize.”
He exhaled slowly. It would be wrong to tell her that he thought there was something special about her. If it weren’t for how his heart went haywire when he was around her, he wouldn’t be able to believe the statement, either. Besides, he didn’t want to tell her what she caused in him, since he really couldn’t define it himself.
“All right. No harm done.” He rose.
She looked up at him.
He couldn’t help but grin at how cute she looked. What a woman. She was stunningly gorgeous one minute, then adorable the next. If he’d known his life was going to lead him to meet her, he never would’ve dated others. “Hope you catch something. I didn’t.”
She laughed lightly. “See you around, Wyatt Davis.”
Well…probably not. He doubted he’d run into her again. Even if he did, he was done asking. She’d been hurt, and he couldn’t be trusted. He knew that.
He left, disappointed but damned amazed by the woman he couldn’t have.
REVIEWS FOR FOREVER HOME
"This is a classic romance story where you know from page one that the man and woman are going to get together. But what makes the story a fun read is their journey to get there. Wyatt Davis has a reputation as a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy and at thirty, he's ready for a change. Jesse Townsend has had her heart broken when on the night before her wedding, her fiance cheated on her with another woman. She's spent the last two years protecting herself from ever having to feel that kind of hurt again. She's lost herself in her work, running an antique store and participating in the local heritage society dedicated to preserving the past. So, when Wyatt asks her out, she immediately turns him down, then turns him down four more times. He has to get inventive to find ways to be around Jesse because he knows she's something special. One of the things I enjoyed as a lover of Texas music and the artists who make it, is all the references throughout the book to different artists who I also follow and admire, such as Curtis Grimes, The Turnpike Troubadours, Cody Jinks, Zane Williams and many more. This is truly a fun read, especially if you're from Texas. And, of course, it has a happy ever after ending. If you are a lover of classic romance with a few twists, you will enjoy this book."
-- Amazon Reviewer
"Kara O'Neal is one of my favorite writers! Her stories are compelling and her characters are so real you feel you know them! Highly recommended!"
-- Bookbub Reviewer
-- Amazon Reviewer
"Kara O'Neal is one of my favorite writers! Her stories are compelling and her characters are so real you feel you know them! Highly recommended!"
-- Bookbub Reviewer
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