Cowboy Dreams: Down Under Cowboy Series, #3

By Kasey Millstead

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.

Cowboy Dreams (Down Under Cowboy Series) is the 3rd instalment of the #1 Bestselling series. Each book can be read as a stand alone as each of books is about interconnecting characters and they all have happy ever afters. However, the author recommends they be read in order to avoid spoilers.

Cowboy Town (Edie & Jackson) 
Sky Cowboy (Ava & Jeremy) 
Cowboy Dreams (Jules & Clay) 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kasey Millstead
• Release date: Jun 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9780992535308

Book preview

by

KASEY MILLSTEAD

Cowboy Dreams

All rights reserved.  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.  This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher.

Thank you for respecting the work of this Author.

Cowboy Dreams is a work of fiction.  All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book are either from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, with exception to Artists named, and their song lyrics, and direct quotes from movies whose titles have been named.  Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Copyright © 2014, Kasey Millstead

Dedication

To Jovi

You taught me the hard way that life is too short.

Five and a half years with you wasn’t long enough; but for a parent, forever isn’t long enough.  I love you with my whole heart.  I miss you even more. xx

––––––––

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.

Ray Bradbury

Dedication

To Poppy Skip

Come to Me

God saw you getting tired,

And a cure was not to be.

So he put his arms around you,

And whispered, ‘Come to me.’

With tearful eyes we watched you,

And saw you pass away.

And, although we love you dearly,

We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

-Anonymous

Other titles by Kasey Millstead

Steele Investigations

Sapphire

Emerald

Down Under Cowboy Series

Cowboy Town (Eden & Jackson)

Sky Cowboy (Ava & Jeremy)

Cowboy Dreams (Jules & Clay)

Cowboy Christmas (A Henley Christmas Novella)

Stand Alone Novels

Fighting to Stay

Illicit Desire

COMING SOON

Cowboy Struggles (Ava & Jeremy – a Novella)

Tatted Cowboy (Laura & Luke)

Rogue Cowboy (Sienna & Zeke)

Cowboy Redemption (Kennedy & Kye)

Cowboy Endings

INFERNO

Vengeance is Mine

ADD THEM TO YOUR WANT-TO-READ SHELF ON GOODREADS.COM

Acknowledgements

Troy – God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you... 

To my four beautiful babies – I love you beyond measure.

To Mel and Wurry, I think I II III IV III II says it all. Mwah.

Thanks to Meri for listening to me rant and rave and for letting me bounce ideas of you.

Thanks to my mum and dad, the best parents, ever.  And an extra special thanks to my mum who implanted a deep love of reading in me at a young age by reading The Adventures of Blinky Bill & Nutsy to me every night when I was a little girl. 

If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.

Stephen King

Thank you to Emily, again, you’ve gone above and beyond for me.  Never underestimate the depth of my appreciation for you and everything you do for me.  I’ll never be able to thank you enough!

Kylie at Give Me Books blog – You. Are. Amazing!  You’ve become a great friend and I can’t wait to work with you more. Your dedication, hard work, professionalism and honesty is an inspiration.  You are one of the most devoted and enthusiastic bloggers I’ve ever met and I’m so glad I found you.

Thank you to the super talented Ari at Cover It! Designs for creating such a beautiful cover.

Desiree, my Personal Assistant, thank you so much for everything you do!  You’ve been amazing and the work you’ve done for me has taken a weight off my shoulders!

The girls in my Street Team, thank you! I can’t wait to get to know you all better.  Thank you for loving my work as much as I do.

To each and every blogger that participates in my cover reveals, blog tours and book blitzes – THANK YOU!!!  I wish I could list you all individually, but that would be a novel on its own!  Thank you for everything you do.  Your hard work never goes unnoticed and it’s appreciated from the bottom of my heart.

To the girls in 101 – Wow! You ladies are such knowledgeable, friendly, helpful people.  I’ve learned so much since I found y’all, and I’m so very grateful. <3

Lastly, thank you to each and every one of you that reads this book.  You are making my dreams come true.

www.kaseymillstead.com

www.facebook.com/authorkaseymillstead

www.twitter.com/kaseymillstead

Goodreads.com – Kasey Millstead

If you liked Cowboy Dreams, please consider leaving a review.

PROLOGUE

What the fuck moments.

We’ve all had them – you know, like the time your friend sends you a link for a YouTube video of a woman who shoves yarn inside of her vag and knits it as she pulls it out?  You watch the video and the only thing running through your mind is, What the fuck?!

My biggest what the fuck moment came about four months ago.  When, not even three minutes after I followed the instructions to a tee, two bright pink lines showed up on the flimsy white stick I’d urinated on.

I’m pregnant.

What. The. Fuck?!

The bonus of the situation was that I knew immediately who the father was; sexy as fuck, soulful eyed, Clay Forde.

I guess the piercing in his dick didn’t hinder the speed or quality of his swimmers!

***

CHAPTER 1

The last thing I’m expecting when I walk into the hospital room in Darwin, is to see my best friend propped up by a bunch of pillows.  A big smile is plastered on her face and her baby belly is deflated because she’s already had the damn baby before I got there!  I stare at her, unable to look away, unable to fully comprehend the situation.  I feel like I’ve been blindsided.  All the while the only thing that’s running through my mind is, what the fuck!

The nurse hadn’t said anything to give me any indication that Edie had already given birth.

Nope. 

Just in here, is all she said to me as she extended her arm in the direction of the open door.

I walked on in, with visions of Edie bouncing on one of those giant balls with sweat running down her forehead.  She’d be panting out expletives at Jackson because he wasn’t taking the pain away...you know, typical labour scenes you see in the movies.  I had planned on coming in all Florence Nightingale-like, saving the day with my hilarious wit and distracting her from the pain. 

Somewhere deep down, I may have also been hoping I’d be able to distract her from my own protruding stomach, at least for a few days until I worked out how I was going to explain my situation.

Alas, the gods of distraction were not on my side. 

What the fuck? I gasped, not so quietly.

Edie takes one look at me and her eyebrows nearly leave her face, they rise so high.  Looks like I’ve got my own what-the-fuck question.

From the corner of my eye, I see Jackson come out of the bathroom looking confused.

I hear Jeremy clear his throat, Right, we’ll be off.  We’ll catch up with ya later, yeah?   You need anything, Edie, let Ava know.  He says to Edie, his tone expressing how uncomfortable he feels

Sure.  Thanks for coming in guys.

C’mon Oscar.  Let’s get home. 

Jackson’s family makes a hasty exit as well and I know no amount of post-birth excitement is going to distract Edie from my baby belly surprise.

***

Perhaps you should leave us for a moment, babe, Edie suggests to Jackson.

He looks between us and smirks.  No worries.  Walking past me, he stops and leans in to kiss me on the cheek.  Good to see ya, Jules.

You too.  Congrats, I reply.

He shuts the door behind him as he leaves.

What’s this all about? I ask, waving my hand in the direction of the baby, trying to lighten the mood.

She arrived in a hurry.  Don’t hold it against her.  Or me, for that matter.

It’s a girl? I choke.

Uh-huh.  Olive Rose.

A tear escapes and I quickly swipe it away.  Straightening my shoulders to toughen myself up, I announce, I’m going to need to hold the baby before we converse about our joint surprises.

Okay, Edie giggles.

I lift baby Olive out of the clear hospital cot thing she’s lying in and hold her close to my chest.

She’s so precious.  Hello, baby girl, you’re so beautiful.  I’m your Aunty Jules, yes I am, I coo to her.  Gosh, she’s the spit of Jackson, isn’t she?  Oh, and she smells so good!  She’s all dark skin, dark hair and blue eyes with the most gorgeous little button nose I’ve ever seen.

She is, Edie agrees.  Jackson says she smells like cookie dough.

Cookie dough?  More like uterus.  But damn, Edie, your uterus smells delish, I laugh.

Edie bursts out laughing, startling Olive and she begins to cry.  Shh, baby girl.  Are you hungry?  I hand her to Edie and watch fascinated, as she lifts her top and maneuvers Olive so she latches onto her nipple.

Does that hurt?

Not really, Edie shrugs.  If she’s not on properly it does.  But otherwise it’s fine.  Anyways, enough of the small talk bull crap.  What is this all about?  She repeats my question from earlier and waves in the direction of my stomach.

What? I say innocently.

Don’t fuck with me Julia Ramsay, she orders sternly.

Don’t swear in front of the baby, Eden Cross, I mimic her tone.

Ugh, she huffs in frustration.  Soon to be Henley, she grins, waggling her fingers at me.

No way!  About time that hottie put a ring on your finger.

Soooo?

Oh fine, I sigh.  Where do you want me to start?

The beginning is always good.

Well, I’m pregnant. Surprise!

Ha ha.

Okay, I relent.  You know how I came to visit you the first time and I slept with that guy, Clay?

Edie nods.  Well, it was supposed to be a one night stand, and it was...until the next time I came to visit and we hooked up again.  After I got back, I started the process of selling my house and quitting my job.  Then I started to feel a bit sick, not like fluey sick, just nauseous all the time.  But, it was worse in the morning and late at night.  I took a pregnancy test when I realized I was late and it was positive.

Shit.

Pretty much, I agree.  I’ve wanted to tell you so many times but it was never the right time and then I changed my mind and wanted to tell you in person.  I think I was just trying to avoid telling you.

Why?  Edie looks hurt.

It’s not like you think.  I just...I don’t know. I guess I felt kind of ashamed and I was confused and scared.

Have you told Clay?

I shake my head no.

Do you plan on doing that soon?

Maybe, I shrug.  To be honest, I’m not sure I can handle his rejection.

Why do you think he’d reject you?

A short bark of humourless laughter escapes my throat.  He made it clear he only wanted a one time thing.  Trust me, he won’t want a kid.

Yes, but that one time ended up being two times.  He must feel something for you.

She puts Olive over her shoulder and pats her back before attaching her to the opposite breast.

Okay, I know you’re blinded by love and blessed newborn baby joy right now, but I can tell you that the only thing Clay Forde feels for me is sexual attraction.  Nothing else.  I’m positive he doesn’t feel baby mama vibes for me.

She shakes her head at me and smiles a little.  I think you need to tell him as soon as possible.  He has a right to know, whether he wants to be involved or not.

I will.  I just want to get settled first and then I’ll deal with that.

How far along are you?

Five months, I answer meekly.

Five months?!  What the fuck Julia?

"Stop calling me Julia."

Jesus.  You’re over halfway pregnant! Luckily you moved up here now or I might not have known until you rocked up with a baby in your arms.

Don’t be so dramatic, I snap.

"That hardly leaves anytime at all to plan an awesome baby shower.  By the time I get out of here and get settled with the baby, another month will be gone.  I should have started planning this at least four weeks ago, she continues talking as if I hadn’t butted in.  If the shower is shit, it’s your fault for not giving me enough time," she glares at me.

Well, I only found out four months ago so...whatever, I say lamely.

Your turn.  How did I miss the birth of my niece?

She arrived in a hurry.  Jackson had to deliver her on the bathroom floor at home, she answers on a smile.

Oh my god!  Seriously?

Yep, she laughs.

I bet that was an eye opener for him.

"It was definitely funny, after."  She yawns and I know she must be exhausted, so I stand to leave.

We’ll talk more later, but right now you need some rest.  I lean down and kiss Olive’s soft little forehead.

I’ll give Jackson a call and let him know you’re headed out so he can give you the keys for the cottage.

That’s cool, you sleep and I’ll ring Jackson.

You sure?

Yeah, it’s fine.  He’s probably out in the waiting room anyways, I laugh.

Most likely, she agrees.

I give her a hug and kiss her cheeks.  "I never