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  Christmas Eve With the Texas Boys

  C.J. Welles

  Christmas Eve With the Texas Boys

  Published December 2019 by C.J. Welles

  Copyright 2019 by C.J Welles

  All rights reserved ©

  Cover designed by Graphics by Tammy

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Disclaimer: This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, incidents and businesses are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All song titles, lyrics, film titles, trademarked statuses and brand names mentioned in this book are the property of, and belong to, their respective owners. C.J. Welles is in no way affiliated with any of the brands, artists, musicians or songs mentioned in this book.

  Table of Contents

  Author Note

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Acknowledgments

  Playlist

  Titles by C.J.

  About C.J.

  Follow C.J.

  Author’s Note

  Dear reader,

  Firstly, I HIGHLY recommend you read the first three books of the Texas Boys series prior to reading this Christmas novella. It’s full of spoilers for the other books and I’d hate to ruin them for you.

  Now that we’re past the warning, I hope you enjoy this novella of the Texas Boys gang. It was fun to write and giving them all a chance to talk again. I loved being back in the mind of Callie and Jace who I haven’t written about in a long time. This novella is more about catching up with where they’re all at before I publish the last two books in the series.

  There are even a few characters who you’ve never met before and some you’re yet to read in their POV.

  I wish you a Merry Christmas, and I hope you enjoy the Texas Boys.

  Love C.J.

  xx

  Dedication

  Christmas Eve With the Texas Boys is dedicated to everyone who has contacted me in anyway wanting more of the Texas Boys. This is just a short story to feed your desires until I publish the last two books of the series.

  Love C.J.

  xx

  Chapter 1

  "Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling."

  —Edna Ferber

  Jordan

  “You know this isn’t my scene,” I mumble to my best friend, Jenna.

  “We’re just going to stop in for a few drinks,” she says as she pulls my car into the parking lot of a small country bar. If it was just me, I’d keep on driving through until I reached Dallas, but Jenna is happy to stop at every town we pass.

  Jenna and I have been friends since I began my nursing degree seven years ago. Our lecture, Mr. Martin, paired us up for an assignment, and we’ve been by each other’s side since then. One thing about us, though, is that I’m a homebody, and Jenna is a party girl. But somehow, we both managed to complete our degree, and some days I still wonder how, after the excessive amount of parties that Jenna dragged me to.

  “Can’t we just keep driving? We’re only an hour or so away.”

  “No, that's not as much fun. Jeez Louise, it’s Christmas Eve, live a little.”

  I ignore her as we get out of the car with me reluctantly following her. Snow lightly falls above us, but it’s not enough to set yet. I look up at the sky, and by the looks of it, there’s a promise of heavier snow later on.

  It’s just gone two in the afternoon, and the parking lot is nearly deserted with only three trucks, a little buzz box similar to mine, and a tractor and trailer taking up parking spots. Walking into the bar, I see that there are around a dozen people here. Payphone by Maroon 5 is playing softly on the speakers, and a lady sitting at a table with two other people is humming along to it.

  Jenna and I walk to the bar where the barmaid is restocking the pre-mix cans in the fridge, and we occupy seats towards the left-hand side of the bar. We’ve sat at the other end of the bar to two other ladies who are drinking cocktails. A man who has his head down and staring into his glass that’s half full of amber liquid sits two seats along from us. He doesn’t look up as my bar stool scrapes along the floor, and I place my bag on the stool between us.

  Jenna orders us a beer each, and I go to protest to say I just want a soda, but only a moment later, the barmaid places two Budwiser’s on the bar in front of us. Without hesitation, Jenna grabs her beer and knocks it back while I slowly sip mine. I sit silently as Jenna talks to the girl behind the bar. I’m shy, unlike Jenna, and I don't interact with others as easily. It takes a while for me to be able to spark up a conversation with a stranger. After five minutes of talking, they introduce themselves, and I hear that the barmaid's name is Sasha.

  As I listen to Sasha and Jenna talk, my eyes wander to the guy that’s now taking a swig of his drink. Everything about him screams that he’s heartbroken. I don’t know how, but he is. His shoulders are slumped, his head is bent down, and he’s barely looked up from his glass. He’s studying his drink as if it holds all the answers in the world for him. I probably sound stupid for saying it, but I just get a heartbroken feeling from him.

  “So, what brings you to town?” Sasha asks, just as I drag my eyes from the guy and tune into their conversation.

  “We’re heading home for Christmas. After being on the road for three hours, I wanted to stop for a drink, and this town was the next one we hit,” Jenna answers.

  “Where have you come from?”

  “Shreveport. We both work in the ER at the hospital there.”

  “I take my hat off to you. I don’t know how you work in the ER. The things you’d see.”

  “Sometimes, you see things that make you stop and think about how lucky we are to be alive, but mostly it’s just cuts, broken arms, or people coming in from the flu,” Jenna answers. She turns to face me. “Well, I’ve been lucky so far. Jordan, not so much.”

  My heart clenches when I think about what Jenna’s most likely talking about. Just last week, an old lady was rushed in by an ambulance. She had been hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing. We did all we could, but she flat-lined before the doctors could get her to the theatre. That’s only one of many incidents for me. I seem to draw the short straw and get patients who don’t always walk back out of the hospital. Sometimes it’s taxing and very hard to continue my job, but then I think about all the patients that I help who do make it out alive.

  I tune out the conversation as I look around the bar. As much as I’m out of my comfort zone, I like this bar. It's got a warm and welcoming feeling to it. There’s a pool table on one side of the room, and just near it is a dance floor. I can picture people doing line dancing to a good ol’ country song. Opposite the dance floor, in front of the bar, are several tables and chairs. Only two are being occupied as it’s currently quiet in here. On the other side of the bar, sits an air hockey table and a dartboard on the wall. Next to the dartboard is a blackboard with a column of names and scores next to them.

  The thing I like most about this bar is the memorabilia on the walls. The wall
s are covered in it. There’s anything from signed posters of bull riders, to the American flag. A few license plates are screwed to the wall above the liquor cabinet. One is a California plate, one a Montana plate, and then three Texas plates. There’s another one which I don’t recognize at first. It takes me a moment, but I soon realize it’s from South Australia.

  “What’s with the plate from Australia?” I ask, pointing to it up on the wall.

  “Ol’ Joe went to Australia with his wife many years ago. While there he found a car that he liked and so bought it. When he registered it here, he added the plate to his wall. It was the first one he put up.”

  I had been facing Sasha, so I never expected the guy just along the bar to answer me.

  “That’s cool. What was the car?” I ask as I turn to face him.

  “Just a dirty old panel van that he paid three thousand for. But he said it holds more memories than a hundred-thousand-dollar car would to him,” the guy replies. His rough voice sends a shiver over my body, and I have to try hard to not stare at his lips.

  “That’s pretty cool.”

  “Yeap. Joe’s like that. He doesn’t need to flaunt his money. He’s just happy with the simple things in life.”

  “That’s a good way to live life,” I reply.

  The guy gives me a nod then turns back to his drink. He drinks quickly and has barely finished one drink before he orders another one. As he waits for his drink, I take a chance to look at him.

  He has short dusty blond hair, which is all messy. I’m guessing it’s from wearing his Stetson, which is now resting on the bar beside him. I caught a glimpse of his eyes as he was talking, and they’re dark brown, like a chocolate color. He’s wearing a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His forearm muscles flex with every movement of his arm, and I have to tell myself to not drool over them.

  I’m tempted to keep checking him out, but I’m sure I’ll get caught soon if I do. The last thing I need is for Jenna to notice and make a big deal out of it. Turning back to the bar in front of me, I take another small sip of my drink.

  “Did you hear that?” Jenna asks me, getting my attention a few minutes later.

  “No. What?”

  “Bryson Miller lives not far from here,” she excitedly says with a massive smile on her face.

  “Bryson Miller?” I question. I wouldn't have a clue who he is.

  “A fan-fucking-tastic bull rider. I’ve followed his riding career for years. My brother is friends with him, and they have competed together a few times. I’ve never met him, though.”

  “What’s your brother's name?” the same guy who was talking to me about Joe asks.

  “Tucker Andrews. And, well, when I say brother, it’s by adoption. But we’re as close as any other siblings.”

  “Yeah, I knew he was adopted. It’s not something that he hides.” Tipping his beer back, he takes a long skull, but his eyes don’t leave mine the entire time.

  “How do you know Tucker?” Jenna asks.

  How does this guy know Tucker? Jenna is my best friend, and even I’ve only met him a handful of times.

  “The rodeo circuits. My brother is a bull rider.”

  “Really? Who is he? I know a lot of them as our whole family is into bull riding. Since I was seven, I’ve enjoyed watching it.”

  A smirk crosses the guys face before he talks. “Bryson Miller,” he answers with a wink.

  “No fucking way,” Jenna basically squeals like a young girl at a Justin Bieber concert. “You’ve got to be kidding me. No way. I don’t believe you.”

  “Don’t believe me if you don’t want, but it’s your loss," he replies with a shrug of his shoulders.

  “Well, I do. But seriously, what’s the chance?”

  “You wanna talk to him?”

  “Does a bear shit in the woods?” Jenna hastily replies. “I know who you are now,” she says as the guy pulls out his cell. “You’re one of his twin brothers. I’ve seen you two with him a lot.”

  “Yeah, either one of us travels with him, if not both of us.”

  “Which one are you? Nathan or Ryan.”

  “Ryan. I’d love to lie and say I’m Nath, but those days are over.”

  “Why?” I ask, feeling curious.

  “Nath’s now engaged, has a daughter and a baby on the way, so I thought it’s time to stop giving his name to girls.”

  “Wow. I don’t know what to say,” Jenna replies.

  Neither do I.

  Ryan puts the phone to his ear, then a few moments later, he’s talking to someone on the other end. I watch him as he chats, and I get mesmerized by his full lips as they move with each word.

  “Yeah, I’ll see you later.” He hangs up and looks at Jenna. “Sorry, sweetheart. He’s got something going on. Well, he says he does.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Leave your number, and I’ll get him to call you. But,” he looks right at Jenna with serious eyes. “I’ll let you know now. He’s happily taken and so no pulling any shit. If you’re after him for anything apart from talking about bull riding, forget it now.”

  Hah, as if. Jenna’s had her eyes set on one of the doctors in the ER since the day she started working there. No one – and I mean no one – will deviate her eyes from Rory.

  “I’m not a homewrecker,” Jenna replies, her tone icy.

  “Okay,” Ryan replies as he holds his hands up in surrender. “Just wanted to lay it all out now. If you’ve known of Bryson for a while, you know he went silent for a year. There was a reason for it, and I’ll always protect him. Which means, I gotta make sure I’m not going to get him tangled up with a buckle bunny.”

  Jenna gives Ryan her number, then he stands and walks to the jukebox. A few minutes later, Not Today by Imagine Dragons begins to play. I only know what the songs called as the name comes up on the screen along with the video clip.

  Jenna excuses herself and goes to the toilet. While she’s gone, I keep flicking my gaze towards Ryan while I finish my drink. As I do it, I notice that the other two girls sitting along the bar keep checking him out as well. One of them, a tall, leggy girl with blonde hair, gets up and sashays towards him, leaning her hip against the jukebox. As she talks to him, she trails her hand down from his bicep to his wrist. I turn away when she leans in closer to him.

  Something about seeing her close to him like that makes me feel uneasy.

  Jenna returns and orders us another drink each.

  “This is my last one,” I say. “Otherwise, we won’t be able to drive.”

  “I know. We’ll get going soon.”

  As we chat and drink, I begin to like the place more. The few people who are here are friendly, and the entire bar is welcoming. If we didn’t need to get home for Christmas, I might actually like to stay the night.

  Chapter 2

  Snowflakes and gin shots

  Ethan

  Entering Joe’s Bar, I find Ryan leaning up against the jukebox, talking to a tall, skinny blonde girl. She might be tall, but she looks like she’s barely legal. I keep walking and head to the bar and get Sasha’s attention. The last time I came home was for Thanksgiving, and Sasha had just started working here. I had stayed at the bar until she closed it, then went back to her apartment with her where we talked until sunrise. I never touched her, but still had a good night.

  “Hey, Ethan,” Sasha says from halfway along the bar. She saunters my way and stops directly in front of me. “What can I get you?”

  Her smooth voice hits my ears, and for a moment, I wish I could feel something for her.

  Just anything that is more than friendship and will quieten the other feelings I have for someone else.

  “Just a beer, thanks.” I pull out the stool next to me and sit down before resting my elbows on the bar. “How've things been?”

  “Good. Enjoying a quiet afternoon here.”

  I look around the bar and notice that it is surprisingly calm for a Friday. I know it’s Christmas Eve, but I
thought there’d be a few more people than this.

  “Has Joe been in already today?”I ask when Sasha places the beer in front of me.

  “Yeah, he left an hour ago. Said since it was quiet, he was heading home to the family,” she replies then turns around to pull out the tray of glasses from the dishwasher behind her. “He said I can close up whenever. I just can’t kick anyone out before ten.”

  I could see Joe saying that. I never worked here, but Ryan did for two years. He said Joe was the most relaxed boss he’s had.

  “Ethan fricken Lewis. What are you doing here?” Ryan’s voice booms throughout the bar, and the few people who are here turn to look in his direction. “I thought you’d be spending today with the family.”

  So did I until seven hours ago.

  Until my life flipped on its axis.

  “I’ll head there later before we go to Jace and Callie’s. I just wanted to have a few drinks first.” And try to forget about the fuck show my life has turned into.

  Five months ago, Roy Bell approached me and offered me the job of my dreams. I would have thought the offer was too good to be true, but he had it written in writing before he asked me. Roy Bell is part owner of R.B & J.W Lawyers and asked me to join their firm as a silent partner. I was blown away at first, but after a little negotiation, I accepted the offer.

  For the past four months, life has been great. I’ve been flying through life, loving every moment of it.

  That was until I had a weak moment and fell into bed with one of his daughters. Then I fell in love with another of his daughters.

  And now seven hours ago, I found out that I got his daughter pregnant.

  His daughter, Nicole.

  My ex-wife who had cheated on me. Hence the ex part.

  The morning after I got shitfaced drunk and woke up in Nicole’s bed, naked as the day I was born with her curled up next to me, I regretted it. Now, I know it was a fucking mistake.