His Town Read online

  His Town

  A Country Billionaire Romance

  By

  Ellie Danes

  www.EllieDanes.com

  Copyright

  First Edition, February 2018

  Copyright © 2018 by Ellie Danes

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and situations are the product of the author's imagination.

  All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent from the author.

  License

  This book is available exclusively on Amazon.com. If you found this book for free or from a site other than an Amazon.com country specific website it means the author was not compensated for this book and you have likely obtained this book through an unapproved distribution channel.

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  Book Description

  Leaving town made me a celebrity.

  Coming back made me a local hero.

  I didn’t ask for it.

  It just happened.

  And now I’m protecting the town from the girl I’m falling for.

  She doesn’t belong here.

  Big city girl in a small country town.

  But she’s lost and needs a favor.

  Who am I to turn down such a request.

  After all, this is my town.

  Emily Lewis is everything that doesn’t fit here,

  including the secret she’s keeping.

  Her father, his past and the real reason she’s at my doorstep.

  Never mess with two things, my town and my family.

  And he’s about to do both, with Emily right in the middle.

  Table of Contents

  His Town

  Copyright

  Book Description

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It Takes Two

  Copyright

  Book Description

  Book One

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Book Two

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Book Three

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Book Four

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Book Five

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chatper Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Book Six

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chance Encounter, The Series

  Copyright

  Chance Encounter, Book 1

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chance Encounter, Book 2

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chance Encounter, Book 3

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chance Encounter, Book 4

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chance Encounter, Book 5

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chance Encounter, Book 6

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chance Encounter, Book 7

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chance Encounter, Book 8

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Crossed Hearts

  Copyright

  Volume One

  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

  Volume Two

  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

  Volume Three

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6r />
  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

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  More from Ellie Danes

  About Ellie Danes

  Chapter One

  Emily

  Houston traffic was like a moody lover. Sometimes accommodating. But most of the time, not so much. Today, on the day I needed it most, it wouldn’t give me a break.

  I pulled into my parking spot in the garage structure with just two minutes to spare. I hustled to the elevator and went up to my company’s office floor.

  “Faster,” I urged the elevator, patting my hair and hoping I’d done my make-up okay while in a rush at home. A big day like this meant I hadn’t been able to sleep a wink.

  The doors parted, revealing the receptionist’s desk. Penelope waved to me and muted the phone with her shoulder. “Hey, Em! The big guy’s looking for you.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure he is,” I said, taking a quick, deep breath. There were already a ton of people in the office. Some were heading to the break room and kitchen to get coffee or to heat up their breakfasts. Others were chatting, doing the normal morning things.

  I spotted the door to the CEO’s office, and to my relief it was closed. If I was lucky, I could scoot past it to my office, and no one important would know that I had technically come in late.

  I ducked my head, hoping that no one else would notice me and call out my name. I got halfway across the office, and had just walked past the closed door to my boss’s office, when I heard him say, “Emily,” in a deep, booming voice.

  A second later, the door opened. The man who stood before me was tall and imposing, with salt and pepper hair. I’d once overheard a couple of assistants describe him as a “silver fox,” but the thought had grossed me out. Not that I had anything against silver foxes, but I certainly wasn’t interested in this one.

  I tried to cover my shock and nervousness. “Morning, boss,” I said.

  “Come in, Em—need to talk to you for a minute,” he said.

  I nodded and followed him into the office, closing the door behind me.

  “I was just about to come and see you,” I said. “Sarah told me you were looking for me.”

  “We’re going to leave in about thirty minutes to head out to Mustang Ridge,” he said. “Have you got everything ready?”

  I nodded. “I’m ready to go, I just need to check my emails and make sure I’ve responded to the urgent ones,” I said.

  “I’m going to want you ready to take up a lead position on this, Em,” he said. “This is one of the biggest deals this company has had going for it in three years—it’s important.”

  “I know,” I said. “I was up half the night reviewing the proposal.”

  “As long as you managed to get enough sleep not to fall on your face later,” he said with a grin.

  “I’ve run on caffeine and nerves before, and I will do it again.” I answered his grin with a weak smile.

  “Let’s go over the details one more time before I let you go,” he said.

  I nodded and sat down. I’d had those same details running through my mind most of the night, so I could recite the facts and figures from memory, which made him happy.

  “Okay. We meet up with them today, and we should have an answer within a few weeks, right?”

  He nodded. “This is going to be the first time I let you take such a prominent role. I want to make sure you’re ready for it.”

  I felt a little lurch in my stomach. Most of the deals the company had made in the past year had kept me in the background, mostly doing research and getting things ready for the pitch. But I’d been waiting for a chance like this ever since I’d taken the job.

  You know what you’re doing. You’re not going to let him down, you’ve rehearsed all this mess a dozen times, I reminded myself as we went over everything one last time.

  “I’ll let you get to your office now, ,” he said, rising to his feet. “See you in a few minutes.”

  I stood up also, feeling the little wobble in my knees—a combination of nerves and lack of sleep—but I covered it up immediately, before he could even notice. “See you,” I said.

  “By the way, Em—try not to be late again.”

  “Sorry, Dad,” I said, giving him a wry smile. “I left early, but apparently not early enough.”

  “The one thing you can count on with Houston traffic is that it’s going to be worse than you think,” he said. “Just keep in mind that people are watching you, and what you could get away with if you weren’t my daughter, everyone’s going to try and call out. Nothing personal against you—but there are folks in any business who’d resent the daughter of the CEO being in a cushy job while they’re still climbing the ladder.”

  I nodded again. “I know,” I said. “It won’t be a problem.”

  I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before opening the door to his office and letting myself out. Some of the cheerful chaos in the main part of the office had started to calm down as people went to their desks, and I hurried to my office, intent on wrapping up any little chores before we left for Mustang Ridge.

  “Hey, slugger!”

  I looked up at the sound of Jacob’s voice and gave him a smile. He was on his way back to his own office, a giant mug of coffee in one hand. I slowed to a near-stop when it became clear to me that he wanted to chat. Hopefully he wouldn’t want to talk for too long—I only had twenty minutes before it was time to leave.

  Jacob had taken as much care with his looks as I had with mine, but that wasn’t anything unusual for him. His dark brown hair was slicked back, his face was so clean-shaven that I wasn’t even sure he really had to shave in the first place. He was in a tailored suit that looked like a slightly updated version of something from a 1920s gangster movie. I had long suspected that Jacob might spend even more time on his skincare routine than I did, but of course being a native Texan, he would never admit it.

  “I heard you’re coming with us to podunkville,” he said.

  I rolled my eyes, still smiling. “It’s Mustang Ridge. Really something you should know, since you’re going to be helping pitch them on the development there.”

  “Have you seen that place?” he asked. “It’s only maybe three thousand people living in the whole town—it is podunkville, whatever its proper name is. They might not even have electricity.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “They have electricity, and even the Internet.”

  “Will wonders never cease,” he said, shaking his head. “I was hoping maybe we could sneak off for lunch, after the big proposal and before the boring tour.”

  “It’ll depend on what the big guy wants,” I told him. “He might take a notion to have a big lunch with some of the town fathers, you know? Wouldn’t want to go missing from that.”

  “Well, if nothing else, promise me that I can sit next to you, huh?”

  “If you can get a spot next to me before someone else takes it, it’s yours,” I said. “I gotta get into my office, Jake—we’re heading out in less than twenty.”

  “Oh yeah, I know,” he said. “Maybe I’ll talk your dad into stopping at Shipley’s on the way out, if you promise to be sweet to me on that long ride out to nowhere.”

  “If you don’t talk him into it, I will,” I said. “Catch you in twenty!” I turned and hurried the rest of the way to my office before Jacob could waylay me any longer, unlocking my door and turning on the light inside all in one movement. I would have just enough time to get everything squared away before we left. I closed the door
behind me to signal to everyone else in the office that I wasn’t to be disturbed. Of course, knowing that I was going to be heading out on a proposal trip, no one was likely to try and talk to me, but it was always good to make sure.

  By the time we approached the town of Mustang Ridge, I had to admit that Jacob wasn’t far off in his skepticism—it was tiny. Looking out through the tinted window of my dad’s SUV, it was easy to see that we’d left behind any semblance of major towns a good hour before, and the turnoff from the highway was so unexceptional that I was pretty sure most of the people who were even looking for the town could miss it. Dad had taken the time to change out of his usual oxfords into a pair of good boots, ones he’d owned since I was a kid—worn, but well-maintained with lots of oil and curing. He’d told me more than once that they were the proper shoes for any native Texan man, to keep him in touch with the ground, and they were definitely more convenient for the tour we were supposed to be going on than his office shoes.

  “This place definitely needs building up,” Jacob said from behind me. He’d insisted that I take the shotgun seat, that he would be perfectly comfortable sitting in the back. I hadn’t argued that much—I tended to get motion sickness in the back, though not usually bad enough to actually throw up.

  I glanced over at my dad. If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was about fifty-five, since he still had most of his hair, and it was only starting to go gray. I knew that he dyed it at home, carefully—never wanting to make it look like he dyed it—but he mostly managed to look like a man’s man, in spite of the suits he wore. He didn’t get manicures, but he took care of his hands. He kept himself clean-shaved, and I knew one of his own personal luxuries was a twice-weekly trip to the barber shop for a professional shave, which came with a hot towel treatment and all that masculine luxury. He’d throw a fit if you suggested he’d ever even heard of moisturizer, but I’d seen the little tube of it—comfortably labeled “for men”—in his medicine cabinet at home. It was a big part of how he managed to look like he was in his fifties when he was actually about ten years older—that, and the fact that he’d hopped on board the sunblock bandwagon back when it had first started, and he’d gotten me in the habit, too.

  We finally arrived at the town of Mustang Ridge. It was actually pretty cute, maybe in part because it was so small. We went past cotton and wheat fields, all of them with a little farmhouse tucked away far from the road heading into the town proper. This was farming territory, not ranch land, and I had to agree with my dad—and ultimately with Jacob—that it was probably a blessing for them that we were coming in to develop some of the real estate, to bring some more business to the town.

  But as we got to the center of the town, there was another part of me that almost regretted it was bound to change, after we got done with it. The little town’s center, with the courthouse, town hall, and administrative offices, was surrounded by a little huddle of businesses that looked timeless. I could almost tell when each of the buildings had gone up, based on the architecture: a diner that looked like something out of the 50s, a repair shop that seemed like it had been around since the Great Depression—even if it had managed to keep up with the times with the signage—and a tiny grocery store that in Houston would be little more than a convenience store.