Princess and the cowboy, p.1
Princess and the Cowboy, page 1
PRINCESS AND THE COWBOY
ELLA GOODE
CONTENTS
Summary
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Also by Ella Goode
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Sterling Justice is happy being single. It’s not because he believes in the Justice Curse wherein his one true love will die before the age of 30 but rather because he’s got plans and none of them include a girl. He’s going to Texas A&M, learning how to prepare the ranch for future, and prove to his cousins that it wasn’t a mistake to take his poor ass into the fold all those years ago. Single hood is good…or so he thought.
Princess Maria came to the Justice ranch for a mental health break, not for a man. She’s had enough of men. Her brother-in-law keeps coming on to her. Her dad is making a list of all the eligible European aristocrats. Maria wants to escape and Edison Texas would be the perfect hideaway if it didn’t have the criminally attractive Sterling Justice walking around in his boots and Stetson looking like a six foot plus body of sin. What’s a princess going to do when faced with his honey eyes and sexy swagger? Not give in?
As for Sterling and his plans? Well, those change. Watch out, Princess, because what a Justice man wants, a Justice man gets.
CHAPTER 1
STERLING
“Hell, Heather, put some clothes on!” I cover my eyes and back out of the supply room. This is the third time this week that I’ve gone to get something from the school supply room only to find one of my classmates stripped down to her birthday suit and sprawled out like she’s posing for a shoot in a fashion magazine.
There’s a moment of silence followed by something crashing to the ground and then a muttered curse.
“Dammit, Sterling Justice, why are you such a prude? I swear to God, all your looks are wasted on you.”
“I know.”
“You should be honored I’m here, offering myself to you. Do you know how many guys in this school, how many men in this town, want to dip their finger in my honey pot?”
I cringe at the mental image of Heather being a community dish, but I know that’s not the answer she wants to hear. “A lot.”
“A lot. That’s right.” Crash. Another something falls down. “Every single man would be on their knees right now but not Sterling Justice. He’s too good for all us Edison High girls, aren’t you? We’re not pretty enough or rich enough for you, are we? I’ll have you know, my daddy’s dealerships are worth more than your entire dirty plot of land.”
Not really, but for her sake, I say, “I know.”
“God, what is it going to take, Sterling? You need fucking royalty? Good luck with that.”
Heather pushes past me and stomps down the hall, the heels of her glossy Mary Janes clicking angrily against the tile. The thing is that even if I was interested in Heather, which I’m not, I’d never make a move on her. She hates the ranch. Called it smelly and dirty once when she thought I wasn’t listening.
When only the echo of the sounds are left, I drop my hand and go inside the storeroom. A couple of boxes of file folders and some metal baskets are on the floor, but nothing looks damaged. I clean it up and grab the reams of paper Mrs. Apollo, the librarian, had asked for.
When I get to the library, Carrie Rodin is standing at the checkout desk. She turns bright red when she spots me and scurries away, leaving her books on the desk.
Mrs. Apollo frowns at me. “What’s that all about?”
“Nothing.” I nudge the swinging gate aside and set the box on the ground. I’m not about to tell Mrs. Apollo, the sweet old lady who gives me apple slices like I’m five, that Carrie is one of several girls who have convinced themselves that ridding me of my virginity is their life’s goal. “Anything else I can do for you?”
“No, you sweet boy. Here. Take these. I made extra for your cousins. Now that you’re all graduated, don’t be shy. You come by often and I’ll have more of these.”
I stare at the celery slices filled with peanut butter and raisins. “Sure, Mrs. Apollo. The cuzs will be happy to see these.”
She waves me off with a big smile. In the hall, I eat one because while I’m not in kindergarten anymore, I’m always hungry so what the hell. The first bite tastes off, but it’s food. I have half the plate gone by the time I reach my car. Sitting on the hood of my pickup watching some videos on his phone is Tyson Carter, former Edison High School all-star, letterer in four sports. Since graduation, he’s had zero ambition. He says he spent it all getting the championships for school and now he wants to be a YouTuber. Doing what, he isn’t sure, but he likes the idea of getting paid to watch videos and do over-the-top reactions. Sounds like a good gig to me.
“Oh, man, Mrs. Apollo?” He drops the phone on the hood and reaches for the plate. “I don’t even think she uses real peanut butter.”
“Is that why it tastes weird?” I thought it was just old.
“Yeah, no peanuts in the school, remember? I think this is almond butter or some shit.”
I climb up on the hood next to him. “Some shit is right.” But we end up demolishing the plate anyway.
“Heard you pissed off Heather Fleming.”
“Really? How’d you hear that?”
“I was standing down the hall when she came out. Watched the whole thing. You looked damn funny with your hand over your eyes. She gave me the finger when she walked by me.”
“Did you turn her down, too?”
“Nah. Never got an offer. Heather’s stingy as fuck. She wouldn’t give me the time of day because I’m just a dumb jock.”
“Isn’t Marie going to Dallas Tech because her GPA wasn’t high enough to get into A&M?”
“Yup. Anyway, what’s that? The third cheer girl to spread her legs for you this week?”
“I’m not counting.” I squint at the lowering sun and pull my Stetson lower. “What’s with all the girls, anyway? They weren’t like this during the school year.”
“It’s their last-ditch effort to land you before you go off to A&M.”
“You make me sound like a fish.”
“Aren’t you?”
“I prefer to think of myself as a mammal, thanks. But it doesn’t matter. I’m not planning to hook up with anyone here and it’s not because I think I’m too good for the Edison girls.“
“Is it the curse?”
“The one that if a Justice man falls for a woman, she’s dead before she’s thirty? No. I don’t believe in that.” Although my eldest cousins used to.
“Then what is it?”
I run a hand through my hair in frustration. I can’t really articulate it or maybe I don’t want to because it sounds dumb. Rather than give Tyson an answer, I opt to go on the offensive. “Why are you holding on to your virginity like it’s the last piece of gold in the world?”
He scowls. “You know why. I’m waiting for Rory.”
“And you plan on telling Rory when?”
Tyson’s frown deepens. “Fuck you, man. I’ll tell her when I’m ready.”
“And when Rory’s ready, I’ll take her. Until then, I’m keeping my pants zipped tight.”
Tyson compresses his lips, but he’s not going to argue. No one does with me anyway. I’m stubborn as a mule and can be just as ornery. It’s why even though half the girls are dropping their skirts in front of me, I’ve not taken one peek. I’m not interested, and I won’t be—for my own reasons that I don’t need to share with anyone.
CHAPTER 2
MARIA
“What do you think of this one?” I ask Glorianna when I come out of the dressing room.
I stand there waiting for her to finally lift her head from staring down at her phone in her hand. She is always glued to that thing. I keep a smile on my face to hide my irritation. I know she’s busy. Her acting career has taken off a bit these past few years. Papa never kept her on as tight a leash as he has me.
I think it’s because he feels bad for her or something. I don’t know why but I do know it’s unfair. But I don’t focus on it because I’m glad that at least one of us gets to be out experiencing the big world around us.
Glorianna came to be my older sister when my father married her mother a few years after my mama passed away. We’d both been heartbroken, but I think Papa thought I needed a mother figure in my life. I’m not sure why.
It wasn’t as if I was left alone to fend for myself. I still had Teresa. She wasn’t my mama, but she’d been my nanny for as long as I can remember. I also had Nonna Lucia. Still, my Papa is always trying to do what he thinks is best for me so he married again. I’m almost positive that he didn’t marry for love this time around, but I’d been excited to get a sister out of it.
I didn’t think having a sibling would ever be in the cards for me. I have to admit that I latched on to her a bit when she first arrived. She always seemed so beautiful and worldly. I recall hanging on to every word of her stories about her travels. I might have burst into tears the day Papa adopted her, giving us all th
It’s not often that Glorianna comes into town, and I want to spend some time together. Her husband Edgar doesn’t like it here and prefers to be back home in the States where they live now. She drags him back over every now and then. Usually for some sort of event that she’s been invited to.
This time I also have an invite to the wedding she’s here for. It was a nice excuse for Papa to let me out from the estate to go shopping. Most people would be upset that the wedding is so last minute, but I consider myself lucky.
Normally, Papa would call for the stylist to bring gowns out to me, but now there is no choice but for me to go into the city to find one. As soon as I found out, I immediately sent Glorianna an excited text asking her to go with me.
“Pink, Maria? Really?” She finally says when she lifts her head.
“You don’t like it?” I turn to face the mirror. I adore the color. My mama actually got married in a pink dress. Some tried to talk her out of it, but Papa told her she could wear whatever dress she wanted.
“Pink is for little girls. Don’t you want to be a sexy woman?”
“I love pink.” I run my fingers down the front of my breasts that are pushed up from the tight fit of the top of the dress. I hadn’t given much thought to wanting to be sexy. It’s a wedding. Why do I need to be sexy? I don’t think my body naturally screams sexy like Glorianna.
She might be an actress, but she could have been a model. She’s tall with long legs, matching long blond hair, and blue eyes that sparkle. She’s always been gorgeous. There’s no missing her when she enters a room.
Don’t even get me started about how much the girl can pack away. She can eat all the pasta and bread she wants and never gain any weight. Not that she does that anymore. She wouldn’t touch the sauce I’d spent all morning making for her arrival. I wish I could say the same for myself. I’m never one to turn down a home-cooked meal.
“Where is the red one I picked out?” Glorianna directs her question to Julie, the woman that has been helping us.
“We have it, but it might need a size adjustment in the breast area.” I’d tried it on first but wasn’t coming out of the dressing room with it on. I’d been spilling out of the top. My papa would lose his mind if I was seen wearing such a dress. There will be press at the wedding tomorrow. He’d never let me out of the house again if I were photographed in that dress.
“You know small boobs aren’t really in anymore,” Glorianna informs me.
“I came like this.” I laugh.
Glorianna has nice-sized breasts, but I know she bought them. Not that she would ever admit that to me or anyone else. There is no shame in it, but I can’t really control this. I’m not sure I want to. It might be weird, but when I catch glimpses of myself in the mirror I see my mama. I look so much like her.
“Fine, try something else on.” She waves her hand. “Can I get another glass?” She nods to her empty champagne glass before going back to her phone. I head back into the dressing room.
“Keep this one. I want to buy it either way.”
“Of course, Princess Costatelli.”
“Please, call me Maria,” I tell Julie for the third time.
My face rushes with heat. It always does. I don’t know why, but I feel awkward when people call me a princess. It’s only a title. Nothing more really. I don’t go around wearing a crown. Not that I don’t own a handful of them. After my mama passed, all her family jewels had been given to me. I haven’t found the will to ever wear any of them, for some reason. I think I’m waiting for the day I get married.
One day. Hopefully not to the man I’m promised to.
CHAPTER 3
STERLING
My sister flits about the wedding reception talking to everyone. I’m a mere afterthought at this point. She hasn’t even bothered to check on me or include me. Since she moved to the States, everything has changed.
I try not to let it bother me. I just miss her. Why is it that everyone else is moving on with life and I’m stuck in this limbo? If anything, I’m the one that is now eighteen and should be moving on to the next phase of my life, but I’m stuck in the same loop of nothingness.
I chug down the rest of my glass of champagne before I leave it on one of the tables, reminding myself I’m at a party and my papa is hovering near. The wedding was beautiful. I might have even shed a few tears. I can see why the wedding was so rushed. The bride and groom are madly in love.
“Princess Costatelli.” Henry catches me by the elbow.
“Henry, how are you?” He kisses my cheeks.
“Better now that I’ve found you.”
“Still a rake, I see,” I say with a laugh.
“Dance with me.”
“You know I can’t.” Though I want to. Henry is rather handsome, and it might be fun. There’s no spark between us, but it might be nice to have someone’s attention solely on me for once. Even if it’s only for a few fleeting moments. Wow. I sound rather pathetic, don’t I?
“So the rumors are true?”
“I don’t know about all that.” I dip my head, hiding my blush because I’m lying. I too am hoping the rumors aren’t true. At least not until I get my hands on my papa and shake some sense into the man. He’s gone too far this time. I know he’s trying to do what he thinks is best for me, but that doesn’t make it any better.
“There you are!” Glorianna is suddenly beside me. Her eyes bounce between Henry and me. I suddenly remember that I’d caught them fooling around once. It was a bit surprising since Henry is closer to my age than Glorianna’s, but that was before she was married or really made a name for herself.
“Don’t you have a husband to bother now?” Henry says dismissively to her.
“Of course you’re talking to him. I would be surprised but not after what I just heard.” Glorianna is fuming.
“What’s wrong?” I can feel people around us starting to stare.
Edgar, Glorianna’s husband, comes rushing up behind her, trying to pull her back. But no one tells Glorianna what to do. Ever. He must not have gotten the memo. Cameron Hyde-Franklin and the giant man she brought with her, Tucker Justice, rush over too. Everyone seems a bit worked up, and I’m so lost as to what is even going on.
“Glorianna, be reasonable here. We all know Maria would never betray you,” Cam cuts in coolly. She’s always had this cool gracefulness about her.
“Reasonable?” Glorianna screeches. “She was all over Edgar last night. You should have seen her.” Wait. Why is she pointing at me? I wasn’t all over her husband. I stare at my sister in shock as she starts to mimic me. “Edgar, can I get you something to drink? Edgar, would you like some sauce I made for you?” I can’t believe she would even think I would do that to her. She knows how important family is to me.
“I made that sauce for you, Glorianna.” Tears start to burn in my eyes.
“Then why is Edgar telling Cam and Tucker that you’ve been sleeping together?”
“He was going to try to sleep with her! Will you listen?”
“I was trying to help you. You went and told your woman.” Edgar speaks for the first time, his words directed at Tucker. He doesn’t even try to deny that he said those things. He’s more concerned that someone repeated them and not the fact that he lied.
“I don’t keep things from my woman,” Tucker responds, not looking sorry at all. I don’t blame him. I never cared for Edgar, but gross!
“She’s a cunt.” The word is barely out of Edgar’s mouth and Tucker is slamming his fist into his jaw. Edgar goes flying backwards. Well, if everyone wasn’t already staring, they are now.
