by: Kris Bock
Series: The Accidental Billionaire Cowboys
Genre: Contemporary Western Christmas Romance
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Publisher: Tule Publishing
He has everything this Christmas, but all he wants is the quiet ranch life he’s losing…
When Josh Tomlinson’s Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, the formerly tight-knit family is suddenly on edge. Seeking advice, Josh reluctantly contacts family friend and now attorney, Carly Garza. His business is serious, yet he can’t believe Carly’s morphed from a long-legged colt of a girl to a sophisticated woman. Besides, he knows the intelligent Carly has no interest in a quiet, rugged cowboy like him.
Carly’s crushed on Josh for years, and she plans to ask him out now that she’s back in Last Stand. She’s hoping he’ll finally see her as someone other than his younger brother’s middle school girlfriend. But when Josh needs advice on how to handle his family’s lottery win, his client and billionaire statuses put him firmly out of reach. If only her heart could ignore the sparks that flare between them.
They’re already keeping the family’s lottery win a secret from the town. Can they also hide their budding romance during the most magical time of year?
Age: 32
Date of birth: June 30
Physical Description: Tall, lean, bearded
Occupation: Rancher
3 likes in no particular order: Outdoor work, family, tradition
3 dislikes in no particular order: Change, his brother TC’s crazy schemes, fame
Drink of choice: Coffee
Favorite food: Mama’s cowboy casserole, a mixture of ground beef, beans, corn, cream of mushroom soup, and tater tots, with plenty of cheese. For dessert, Rocky Road Fudge Bars.
Favorite song: Music played with family—mama at the piano, Xander on the fiddle, Cody with the mandolin, TC on guitar or banjo, and Josh with his upright bass.
Choice of transportation: A reliable if ancient pickup truck.
Favorite way to spend an evening: Eating good food and playing music with his family, or getting together with neighbors for a big potluck with ax throwing and corn hole.
Favorite holiday tradition: Playing music around the Christmas tree, with a break for Christmas cookies and hot chocolate.
Best memory to date: The look in Carly’s eyes when she got back the horse her parents sold when she went to college.
If you could have a do-over, what would you do differently? Not be so hard on TC about his crazy schemes.
What’s something you’ve said you would never do, but in fact have done? Let other people make decisions about the ranch’s finances and future. It’s hard to let go of control when you’ve had to be responsible for everything for so long.
Most romantic gesture (done or received): Giving Carly back the horse her parents sold when she went to college.
Words to live by: Money can’t buy happiness. In fact, it might bring a lot of problems. But it has some advantages too.
Carly couldn’t explain why, of the four Tomlinson boys, Josh was the one who caught her eye and made her want to climb him like a tree. Cody was her best friend, but she didn’t want to get naked with him. TC and Xander were sweethearts, but they felt like brothers. Maybe it was because Josh was four years older that he never seemed quite like a brother to her. Maybe it was pheromones, or a quirky twist of fate, or her own foolishness that drew her to the one Tomlinson boy most out of reach.
But the fact was, she’d hardly seen Josh through her years of college and law school, but the second she laid eyes on him again, she wanted him. Maybe it was time to stop pretending she’d grow out of her teenage crush.
Carly fiddled with a pen on her desk. “Why don’t we deal with your problem first. Then, if you’re not in a hurry, we can catch up and reminisce about our various past misdeeds over a cup of coffee, or lunch, depending on how long this takes.”
“Um. Yeah, maybe. But, um, this might take a while.”
That sounded like a brushoff. She might be able to make Josh blush and stutter, but apparently that didn’t mean he wanted to spend time with her socially. Fine. Time to focus and be professional. She could do that.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“We need help. A lot of help. You heard about the lottery?”
She scrambled to follow the detour. “I haven’t paid much attention, but yeah, I heard the lottery got up to a billion dollars. But if you need financial help, I don’t think counting on the lottery is the way to go.”
“No, somebody already won. Did you hear that part?”
“Oh, right. There was some chatter in the café. The ticket was sold around here, wasn’t it? But they don’t know who yet . . .”
She studied Josh’s face. He looked . . . resigned? Embarrassed?
“What are you trying to say?” she asked.
“It was us. Mama bought the ticket and it won.”
They won the lottery. Nobody actually won the lottery, nobody real that you knew in person. But Josh wouldn’t come to her office and say that if it wasn’t true. So, they won. Won? A billion dollars? Wait, how much? A billion dollars!
“Josh! That’s amazing! Really? You’re not kidding me? That’s—you must be—” She slowed down and studied his face again. “Why aren’t you happier?”
“Because apparently it means we’re going to be buried under people wanting some of the money! We’re supposed to cancel our phone numbers and emails and, I don’t know, fly to a remote island or something where no one can find us. But we have to take care of the livestock, and I don’t want things to change. Not like that.” His breath heaved in and out.
“Wow. Okay. Yeah, that’s a lot.” Carly hesitated. Then she pushed back her chair, stood up, and came around the desk. She sat on the edge of the desk, her legs brushing the chair where Josh sat. His hands gripped the chair arms. She reached for his left hand and slid her fingers around it, gently tugging until he loosened his grip. She held his hand in both of hers.
“We’ll get through this, okay?” She squeezed his hand. “One step at a time. Maybe you can’t celebrate yet. I get that. Being a billionaire wasn’t your dream. But it’s not the worst thing in the world.”
He managed a weak laugh. “I guess not. Everyone else is pretty excited. We had to tell Mama she couldn’t come into town this week or talk to her friends. We don’t want anyone to know until we figure out some things.”
“Yeah, it must be hard for her not to tell anyone.” Carly’s mind raced. Now that she was past those first moments of disbelief and then excitement, she could see Josh’s point. Winning a million dollars—yeah, you’d get some people with their hands out, but only locally, and it wouldn’t be too hard to make excuses about investments in the ranch or retirement funds or whatever.
But winning a billion dollars? Practically the whole country would be knocking on their door. People would assume the money was endless, so they could toss it away like leaves blowing in autumn. But didn’t many lottery winners lose it all? They overspent or fell victim to scammers. Families got ripped apart by conflicting desires and demands.
Josh was staring at their hands. He glanced up at her face and then away.
Carly gave a last squeeze and let go. She circled back around the desk. He needed her help as a lawyer, and maybe as a friend. He did not need her lusting over him right now.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. In fact, she’d missed her opportunity. She couldn’t ask him out now. If she heard he was a billionaire and then asked him out, how could he think anything except that she wanted his money too? He’d have enough of that from everyone else on the planet.
But the fact was, she’d hardly seen Josh through her years of college and law school, but the second she laid eyes on him again, she wanted him. Maybe it was time to stop pretending she’d grow out of her teenage crush.
Carly fiddled with a pen on her desk. “Why don’t we deal with your problem first. Then, if you’re not in a hurry, we can catch up and reminisce about our various past misdeeds over a cup of coffee, or lunch, depending on how long this takes.”
“Um. Yeah, maybe. But, um, this might take a while.”
That sounded like a brushoff. She might be able to make Josh blush and stutter, but apparently that didn’t mean he wanted to spend time with her socially. Fine. Time to focus and be professional. She could do that.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“We need help. A lot of help. You heard about the lottery?”
She scrambled to follow the detour. “I haven’t paid much attention, but yeah, I heard the lottery got up to a billion dollars. But if you need financial help, I don’t think counting on the lottery is the way to go.”
“No, somebody already won. Did you hear that part?”
“Oh, right. There was some chatter in the café. The ticket was sold around here, wasn’t it? But they don’t know who yet . . .”
She studied Josh’s face. He looked . . . resigned? Embarrassed?
“What are you trying to say?” she asked.
“It was us. Mama bought the ticket and it won.”
They won the lottery. Nobody actually won the lottery, nobody real that you knew in person. But Josh wouldn’t come to her office and say that if it wasn’t true. So, they won. Won? A billion dollars? Wait, how much? A billion dollars!
“Josh! That’s amazing! Really? You’re not kidding me? That’s—you must be—” She slowed down and studied his face again. “Why aren’t you happier?”
“Because apparently it means we’re going to be buried under people wanting some of the money! We’re supposed to cancel our phone numbers and emails and, I don’t know, fly to a remote island or something where no one can find us. But we have to take care of the livestock, and I don’t want things to change. Not like that.” His breath heaved in and out.
“Wow. Okay. Yeah, that’s a lot.” Carly hesitated. Then she pushed back her chair, stood up, and came around the desk. She sat on the edge of the desk, her legs brushing the chair where Josh sat. His hands gripped the chair arms. She reached for his left hand and slid her fingers around it, gently tugging until he loosened his grip. She held his hand in both of hers.
“We’ll get through this, okay?” She squeezed his hand. “One step at a time. Maybe you can’t celebrate yet. I get that. Being a billionaire wasn’t your dream. But it’s not the worst thing in the world.”
He managed a weak laugh. “I guess not. Everyone else is pretty excited. We had to tell Mama she couldn’t come into town this week or talk to her friends. We don’t want anyone to know until we figure out some things.”
“Yeah, it must be hard for her not to tell anyone.” Carly’s mind raced. Now that she was past those first moments of disbelief and then excitement, she could see Josh’s point. Winning a million dollars—yeah, you’d get some people with their hands out, but only locally, and it wouldn’t be too hard to make excuses about investments in the ranch or retirement funds or whatever.
But winning a billion dollars? Practically the whole country would be knocking on their door. People would assume the money was endless, so they could toss it away like leaves blowing in autumn. But didn’t many lottery winners lose it all? They overspent or fell victim to scammers. Families got ripped apart by conflicting desires and demands.
Josh was staring at their hands. He glanced up at her face and then away.
Carly gave a last squeeze and let go. She circled back around the desk. He needed her help as a lawyer, and maybe as a friend. He did not need her lusting over him right now.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. In fact, she’d missed her opportunity. She couldn’t ask him out now. If she heard he was a billionaire and then asked him out, how could he think anything except that she wanted his money too? He’d have enough of that from everyone else on the planet.
Purchase The Billionaire Cowboy’s Christmas from:
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The Accidental Billionaire Cowboys Series:
Charming the Billionaire Cowboy releases January 23, 2023
Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats.
Kris writes for children under the names Chris Eboch and M. M. Eboch. She has published over 60 books for young people, including ghostwriting for some famous mystery series. Her novels for ages nine and up include Bandits Peak, a survival thriller; The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery that brings ancient Egypt to life; and The Well of Sacrifice, an action-packed drama set in ninth-century Mayan Guatemala, used in many schools.
Kris lives in New Mexico, where she enjoys hiking, watching the sunset from her patio, and hanging out with her husband and their ferrets.
Places to find Kris Bock:
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The first thing I would do, if I won the lottery, is get out of debt.
ReplyDeleteI would pay off all debt in the family, meaning ours and our immediate family. I would make trusts for my kids and one for our retirement. I would remodel our house and travel. I would give to many worthwhile charities.
ReplyDeleteGreat plans!
DeleteI have wanted to win the lottery for years. My first priority would be to sort out my health and buy my mom a new car. Giving back to people in a hidden Santa kind of way would be so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI wish we didn't have to win money to solve health problems, but I understand why that's first on your list. Hidden Santa giving sounds so satisfying too!
DeleteThe first thing I would do if I were to win a lottery, I would get my family situated (homes fixed up and vehicles running) and maybe if there is enough ensure that they each have a laptop!
ReplyDeleteThose are worthy goals. Hope you can manage them without the lottery--or you do win!
DeleteI would buy a cabin somewhere in Northern Idaho.
ReplyDeleteI would pay off all of my debts, share with my family, go on a vacation and save the rest.
ReplyDeletepay off the house
ReplyDeleteI would buy a new house, cars, books, stuff for my kids & immediate family and save the rest!
ReplyDeleteSo many of these lottery wishes are fairly basic: be debt free, enjoy some vacation time, pamper loved ones. I wish it were easier for all of us to get there! On the bright side, no one thinks they can't be happy without enormous mansions, fleets of cars, or expensive clothes and jewelry. 🤗
ReplyDeleteIf I were to win the lottery I would pay off any student loans I have. Then I would put half of the remaining into a savings account. Lastly take a vacation or two to visit my friends and explore portland,OR.
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy vacations with family an friends
ReplyDeleteI would pay off my bills and help my mom out.
ReplyDeletePay off debt and build us a house!
ReplyDeleteI would take care of my family and friends and buy a new house.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that I would do if I won the lottery is buy a house big enough for any of my children and grandchildren to move in with me if they wanted to, if not I would help them get there own house preferably somewhere close by
ReplyDeleteGet a houseboat. always been a dream of mine!
ReplyDeleteI would buy a house in the mountains of Vermont or Maine.
ReplyDeleteI would make sure all of my family had enough money to live without worrying about their finances. Then I would build new houses for everyone.
ReplyDelete