Page 1 of Parading the Cowboy Billionaire (Bluegrass Ranch 4)

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Cayden Chappell pulled up to the farmhouse where his brother lived now. The new sign had weathered its first rainstorm, and the whole state of Kentucky had come through the weekend’s downpour just fine.

Cayden felt like he’d had that storm cloud raining on him for almost three months now. The invisible weight he carried on his shoulders made him sigh as he got out of his truck. He knew where it came from, but he didn’t know how to shrug off Virginia Winters.

She’d captured him completely, and while their relationship hadn’t been traditional before, it was better than none at all.

He pushed her out of his mind, though he knew she’d just come back. She always did, and Cayden had lost way too much sleep to thoughts of the woman he’d only kissed once.

Once.

She shouldn’t have such sway over him, and yet, she did.

He obviously hadn’t made that big of an impression on her, because she’d never called him after she’d returned from her Caribbean vacation two months ago.

He went up the steps and rang the doorbell at the farmhouse, listening to it ring on the other side of the door. It sang through the country stillness too, and Cayden gazed out over the pasture that sat in the front left corner of the ranch. The grass was starting to green now that it was almost April, and Beth had two horses there, their heads down as they grazed.

There was something peaceful and serene about it that called to Cayden’s soul. As the public relations manager, he didn’t spend nearly enough time with the horses at Bluegrass Ranch. He could spend whole days in his office, in the administration building where few people normally came.

The only time the administration building was busy was during one of their events—the yearlings sale or their auctions. Then, the whole ranch bustled with activity, and Cayden was the one responsible for all of that.

He needed to get outside more, and he wandered away from the door and toward the railing on the far side of the porch. He’d just leaned against the railing when Beth said, “Cayden?”

“Mm.” He continued to gaze at the pasture for another moment before he turned to his sister-in-law. Beth wore a denim skirt that narrowed at her knees and a black blouse with brightly colored flowers on it. She was exactly the kind of woman Trey should be with, and Cayden smiled at her.

“Sorry. I got lost looking at your horses. I need to get outside more.” He’d finally finished wrapping up the horses-of-all-ages sale that had taken place at the ranch last month, and he was ready for a tropical vacation now too. It would be hot in Kentucky soon enough, and then he’d be wishing for cooler mornings like this one, with plenty of breezy afternoons.

“Those are actually Trey’s,” she said. “He brought them over last night.”

Cayden crossed the distance between them. “You told him I don’t want to go to this, right?”

“Repeatedly,” she murmured without looking at him. “He has it in his head that if you two will just get yourself into the same room together, you’ll remember why you liked each other so much.”

“I don’t need a reminder,” Cayden said darkly. He’d never thought of himself as a growling, moody man, but since Ginny’s disappearance from his life, he’d certainly become exactly that.

“Maybe she does,” Beth said. “There’s nothing wrong with reminding her of certain things.”

Cayden pressed his teeth together and kept the words he wanted to bark at her contained. He’d told two people what Wendy Winters had said to him. Exactly two—Lawrence and Trey. Neither had bothered him much about calling Ginny or trying to breathe new life into a relationship that had gone quiet.

Until now. Now, Trey seemed to think it was his job to make sure Cayden embarrassed himself at every turn.

“If I’m so forgettable,” Cayden said. “Will the reminder really matter?”

“You’re not forgettable,” Beth said. “Come on in now. TJ wants to ask you somethin’ before we go.” She turned and went into the house, and Cayden had no choice but to follow her. He wouldn’t disappoint TJ if he could avoid doing so. The child had some sort of magic about him that made everyone bend to his will.

“He’s here,” she called as she went past the comfortable couches in the living room. The farmhouse had huge windows flanking both sides of the front door, letting in plenty of light. Cayden had never given much thought to where he lived, but as he’d gotten to know Ginny and seen her house, he’d been stewing on it more and more.

He wasn’t even sure why.

She hadn’t called him. He’d been very busy with the horses-of-all-ages sale, sure. He hadn’t asked her to stay away, though. He hadn’t given her any indication that he didn’t have time for her.

Not only that, but another month had passed since that event, and she still hadn’t called. He hadn’t called her, because she’d been prepping for the Sweet Rose Gems & Gin event.

His mind seized on that thought, but he couldn’t examine it before TJ yelled, “Cayden!” from the kitchen.

The little boy came running through the doorway Beth had just gone through, and Cayden braced himself to receive the kid. He had a battery that never seemed to run out, and Cayden had seen him trailing behind Trey several times. He’d think TJ had gotten tired, but it was never true. He’d pick up the pace a moment later or see a dog and go chasing after it. Or Trey would say something to him, and he’d perk right up, running to catch Trey and get swung up onto a horse, where his face would glow like a lantern.

The little boy had a bright personality and a shock of dark hair that made him look like Trey’s son, even though he wasn’t.

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