Heartless (Chestnut Springs, #2)(102)

Everything about Cade Eaton has been a curve ball from day one. Nothing happened in the “right” order, but that has never been the case for him, or for me.

So maybe this order is just perfect for us.

I lose my consciousness in a sea of soft whispers, hard squeezes, and mind-bending pain. There are several moments where I seriously regret refusing an epidural.

But with Cade here, I’m focused. He grounds me. And when it’s time to push, he whispers in my ear about how much he loves me.

And I don’t just know it, I feel it.

Our little girl, Emma Eaton, comes into the world healthy. Kicking and screaming and surrounded by so much love that tears trail freely down our cheeks. She also comes into the world with a big softy of a dad wrapped around her tiny finger.

So many things I never knew I wanted are right here in this room. The nurses place her tiny body on my chest, and I stare down at her in wonder.

Light eyes. Dark hair. She’s us.

“She’s perfect,” I whisper.

“Both my girls are,” is what Cade says as he crawls onto the bed beside me and holds us both.

We stare at her for I don’t know how long. Entranced. Happy. And when Luke comes in to join us—complete.





Want to see the enigmatic NHL hockey player, Jasper Gervais, fall hard for the girl who’s loved him for years? Keep reading for a sneak peek!

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Have you read Rhett and Summer’s tension-filled romance? A bull rider and his agent’s daughter go on the road . . . and there’s only one bed.

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Powerless Sneak Peek





Prologue & Chapter One





Prologue - Sloane


My car door is open before my parents have even put the Bentley in park. My feet hit the gravel driveway before they’ve even gotten out of the car. My arms are wrapped around my cousin Violet before they’ve even had a chance to say hello to my uncle Harvey.

“I missed you!” I squeal as Violet pulls away and grins mischievously at me.

“I missed you too.”

I catch my mom looking at us, happy and sad all at once. I look like my mom, and Violet looks like hers. Except Violet’s mom died, and my mom lost her sister. I always think she likes bringing me out here because she feels close to her sister.

It also makes it more convenient for my parents to travel to their favorite spots in Europe. My dad said something about it being good for me to “see how the other half lives.” I’m not totally sure what that means, but I saw my mom’s lips clamp down on each other when he said it.

Either way, I never complain because a full month at Wishing Well Ranch with the Eaton family means I get to hang out and have fun with my cousins. The rules are lax. The curfews don’t exist. And I get to run wild for four full weeks every summer.

“Robert, Cordelia.” Uncle Harvey reaches forward to shake my dad’s hand before giving my mom a tight squeeze. One that leaves her blinking a little too quickly as she looks out over the flat farm fields and jagged mountains behind them. “Nice to see you both.”

They start talking about boring adult stuff, but I don’t hear them, because my other cousins walk out of the big ranch house. Cade, Beau, and Rhett jog down the front stairs, joking and shoving and roaming like a pack.

And then, they’re followed by one more boy. One I don’t recognize. One that immediately has my attention. One with long, lanky limbs, caramel-colored hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

The saddest eyes I’ve ever seen.

When that boy slides his gaze over to me, there’s nothing but curiosity on his face. I jerk my head away all the same, feeling hot splotches pop up on my cheeks.

My mom moves beside me, patting me on the head. “Sloane, you need to remember your sunscreen. You already look too hot, and you spend so much time in the dance studio, your skin isn’t used to this kind of exposure.”

Her fussing on me only makes me blush harder. I’m almost eleven and she’s making me feel like a little kid in front of everyone.

I give my eyes a petulant roll and mumble, “I know. I will,” before taking Violet’s hand and storming off.

We go inside and up to my guest room, looking for some privacy while everyone else stands around outside and makes small talk.

Violet flops on the mattress and announces, “Tell me everything.”

I giggle and push my hair behind my ears, drawn to the window that overlooks the driveway. “About what?”

“School? The city? What you wanna do this summer? Just . . . everything. I’m so happy there’s a girl here. This place stinks like boys all the time.”

Out the window, I see the mystery boy shaking hands with my parents. I note the distaste on my father’s face. The pity on my mother’s.

“Who’s the other guy?” I ask, unable to look away.

“Oh.” Violet’s voice gets a little quiet. “That’s Jasper. He’s one of us now.”