Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel)

Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel)

Copyright © 2014-2015 by J.B. Morgan

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval systems, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means such as: electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner, and/or publisher, except where permitted, of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, media, brands, and incidents portrayed in this book are used fictitiously or are used from the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, events or places, brands or trademarks, events/ incidents or media, are coincidental and not intended by the author. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Quote

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

Holly Lane

Thank you

About the Author

“To love at all is to be vulnerable.”

C.S. Lewis

I
'M THE CONSUMMATE SHY FRIEND
of my group, always the one to hold back while the others have a great time. It’s not that I don’t know how to have fun, I'm afraid of completely letting go.

I know that part of me holds back because I’m afraid that others will judge me. I don’t dare put myself out there because I’m afraid of looking silly or messing up. I was always the girl who walked with her head down, even though my mother was constantly reminding me to walk with my head held high. In fact, my mother tells me that when I was younger, I constantly walked into walls because I focused on the ground so often. However, I did outgrow that phase in my life.
Mostly
.

This may contradict my shyness, but it’s the absolute truth. I’m a very social person. According to my parents, I'm what some may call a 'social butterfly'. However, I'm still the girl who thinks that the good-looking guys aren't checking her out. I’m the girl secretly wishing they would, yet knowing that it’s my friends who they really want. I’m not awkward or unattractive, in any obvious way. I just feel self-conscious, and I can’t even explain why I feel this way. So, I just go with the flow, and try to enjoy myself as I let my friends be in the forefront, while I’m content to stay in the background.

Now I’m wondering why I can’t just let go of my silly notions for once, and just join in, like everyone else around me.

I think it's about time I learned that it doesn't really matter what the world thinks of me.
I need to step outside of the box, let my hair down, and have a good time.
Okay, maybe not go too crazy, but it doesn’t hurt to flirt, right?

However, I do have a sneaking suspicion that tonight’s my night, and something great is bound to happen.
Or so I hope, at least
. You see, my two dear friends want to head out to our favorite stomping grounds for some country dancing, and to check out the local cowboys. And I have to admit, not even I feel like passing that up. I mean w
ould you? Who wouldn’t want to see cowboys in their tight jeans and Stetsons?

Well, here goes nothing.

Or maybe everything.

And this is how I came to be at
Texas Jacks
when Nathan walked into my life.

“C
HARLOTTE, IS THAT YOU?”
I hear my mom call out as I shut the front door.

“Yeah, Mom. It’s me!” I call back as I make my way into the kitchen, where I see her and Rachel, my brother’s fiancée, hard at work.

“Hey, Charlie,” Rachel says over her shoulder as she’s slicing Mom’s homemade bread.

“Hey, Rach,” I reply, as I walk over to my mom. Her back is facing me, so I wrap my arms around her middle, from behind, and breathe in a whiff of her favorite perfume as I give her a hug. I get my lack of height from my mom, though her parents weren’t that short. Her mousy brown hair is starting to gray, and it’s now styled to fall just above her shoulders. She’s a little softer around her curves now, after having five kids, but she’s still in good shape. Today she’s dressed in black slacks and a turquoise blouse, with an apron placed over her outfit to protect it. The color of her blouse brings out the blue in her eyes. Her makeup is flawless, as usual. She’s the most beautiful person I know, inside and out. I let go of her waist and head over to the side counter by the phone.

“Need help with anything, Mom?” I ask as I set my purse down on the counter and head to the sink to wash my hands so I can be ready to assist with whatever still needs to be done.

“Could you set the table? Dinner should be ready in about 20 minutes. Rachel and I have been busy with cooking, so we haven’t had a chance. And you know the boys,” she says with an eye roll as she goes back to chopping vegetables for the salad. “Your dad and Anson are out back, probably doing
manly
things, which makes them too busy to come inside to set the table. As for the girls, they aren’t here yet. Bethany sent me a text that they’re on their way, though.”

The ‘girls’ she’s referring to are my three older sisters who all live close to my parents—as does my brother. I’m the only one who moved away from my home town. I miss being close to everyone, and I hate the commute for family dinners twice a month. But, I do love having my own privacy.

“How many settings do we need tonight?” I ask her as Rachel moves over so we don’t bump into each other.

“How are you?” Rachel asks through a smile that shows off the cute little dimple in her left cheek. Her gorgeous, long-layered chocolate brown hair is down today, and her hazel eyes shine with contentment and happiness. She’s tall in stature, which fits Anson well as he’s a tall guy who takes after our father in looks. Rachel’s wearing a long, coral sundress that shows off her golden skin under the bright lights of the kitchen.