Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) (22 page)

Cassie fought back a shriek of delight. “Yes. That sounds nice.” A moment passed while she took in his handsome smile. “What should we do?”

“Whatever you’d like,” he returned. “But let’s start with a nice breakfast. And since you didn’t get to eat what I fixed you the other morning, I’d like to have another go at it.”

“Sounds good to me.” Cassie started closing the door, pausing as she saw the puzzled look on Shane’s face.

“What are you doin’?” he asked.

It would be uncomfortable for her to explain she was simply getting on a bra, so she averted his question instead. “I’ll be out in one sec.”

“Then I’ll get started on breakfast.”

With a few moments to herself, Cassie decided to keep on the sweats but change the tee shirt for a fresh one. At the sink, she brushed her teeth, pulled her hair back, and smothered her hands and arms in her favorite citrus lotion.

When she entered the kitchen, Cassie noticed Shane had put on a white tee shirt. Though he seemed to be fighting with the thing as he gave it a tug at the neck, yanking it as if he were choking. She’d seen him doing that before, and wondered if he didn’t like shirts much. Perhaps he wore them around the house for her sake – assuming it was more respectful. She was tempted to tell him that wasn’t necessary, but found herself blushing at the mere thought of it.

“Grab a barstool,” he urged. “Your turn to relax.”

An egg carton sat on the counter, along with a loaf of bread, some bacon, and a bottle of OJ. Shane slid a glass across the counter as she took a seat. “Juice?”

“Sure. Thanks,” Cassie said, grabbing the cup and pouring herself a drink. She planned to bring up some pleasant conversation but recalled something a little more pressing. “So uh, the ex girlfriend. Did that shock you yesterday?” The big Easter get-together at Betty and Grant’s had lasted well into the evening. And though Cassie had thoroughly enjoyed herself, she’d been dying to bring it up – see where Shane’s head was concerning the beautiful woman from his past.

Shane nodded. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t surprise me.”

A hot sting of jealousy jabbed at Cassie’s chest.  “You talked to her for a minute after the session,” she said. “What did she say? Is she staying for a while, or…”

The adamant shake of his head silenced her. “No. At least, I’d be surprised if she did.” He pulled a frying pan from the cupboard. “Although, with her you never know, I guess.”

The stinging pain sunk a bit deeper. “Did she say why she was here?”

“Not really. To see family over Easter break, I guess.”

That made sense. To normal people. Only Cassie didn’t feel very normal right then. All she could think was that Shane’s ex was there to take him back. And the thought made her want to fight and run all at once. “She sure is pretty,” Cassie said.

Shane had been whisking a bowl of eggs with a fork, but at her comment, he stopped. “She’s alright. A little over done for my taste.”

His taste – yeah right. He was the one who had chosen Natasha to begin with. But she wouldn’t dwell on it. He’d answered her question, so she found more pleasant things to talk about while he cooked. And throughout breakfast as well. Cassie had Shane all to herself today – a rare gift – and she wasn’t about to spoil it.

~+~

 “So, who uses that hot tub?” Cassie asked. “Is it just for the ranch hands?”

Shane scooted his chair away from the table to look out the sliding glass door behind him, predicting where the question was leading. He wondered, only briefly, if he could be in the hot tub with Cassie and remain a gentleman.

“The ranch hands use it a lot,” he said. “But I get in too, sometimes. Trey’s the one who takes care of it. Keeps the chemicals where they should be and all that.”

Cassie sighed. “Hmm.”

When he met her glance, she raised her brows and flashed that alluring smile. “Let’s get in,” she said.

It had taken all sorts of will power to be a gentleman earlier, to keep his eyes on her face when she’d walked in on him half dressed. Now he’d be sitting next to her while she wore a swimsuit? It sounded like the most tempting form of torture he could fathom. “Okay,” he blurted.

“Sweet,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at that hot tub, thinking of how wonderful it’d be to have one on a deck in Seattle. You know – the misty air, the falling rain. Sounds like heaven.” Cassie stacked Shane’s empty plate on top of hers and headed for the sink.

Shane worked to drag out their time doing the dishes, afraid of how weakened he felt in her presence, yet all too soon they were parting ways at their bedrooms to change into their swimsuits.

“I’ll be out there,” Shane hollered through her bedroom door once he was ready. He grabbed a couple of towels and headed down the hall, thoughts of Cassie running through his mind. He thought of the way she’d cracked up during church the day before. Her contagious laughter. He was impressed by her confidence where Natasha was concerned. A lesser woman would have crumpled at the witch’s feet, but not Cassie. And even when she’d questioned him that morning Cassie seemed unaffected for the most part. A little jealous maybe, but not too ruffled. Perhaps Cassie Lovell knew she had Shane wrapped around any one of those little fingers of hers.

Still, he’d been tempted to tell Cassie why he wouldn’t take back the days he’d spent with Natasha – as he’d revealed at the fire pit – but it would have come across as forward. In truth, being in a relationship with someone so selfish had helped him recognize what a gem Cassie really was; Shane wouldn’t take that back for anything.

He couldn’t help but smile as he recalled eating breakfast with her – the way Cassie had stuck her fork into Shane’s eggs in order to taste them with the Tabasco sauce. He liked it. The fact that she was so comfortable with him. At times it felt as if they were actually married.

Shane shook his head as he slid open the patio door, realizing he’d met her only a month ago. Yet the chemistry between them was like nothing he’d ever felt. Her eyes alone pulled him into places he yearned to get lost in. And those lips – Cassie’s mouth never failed to hypnotized him, from the words it framed to the way she kissed him.

The clean smell of chlorine wafted through the air as he lifted the cover off the hot tub. And while he climbed inside, the hot water caressing every inch of his skin, Shane prepared himself for what would come. Sure, seeing Cassie in a swimsuit would be nice – more than nice – but when it came to Cassie there was so much more. She’d apologized for not being some bitter hag after what she’d been through in life. Shane wished he could go back to that conversation, praise her for that very thing. She was a mystery to him. He’d never known a woman so open, trusting, and kind. And yet Cassie had no good reason to trust another soul as long as she lived. Not after the way she’d been hurt.

Shane saw her through the glass before she slid open the door. He was surprised to see she wore a one-piece suit. It was black. Simple. And added another notch into one of those mind-teases he was just thinking of.

She inhaled a mighty breath after stepping onto the patio. “That’s even better than I imagined it would be,” she said. “I love the way hot tubs smell. And almost nothing smells better than the rain…” She paused there, glancing at him. “But the two together – heaven.”

Shane pulled in a deep breath and nodded. He liked it too. But even more, he liked the way Cassie enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. He stood and held an arm out, offering her his hand as she stepped over the edge and climbed in. Once Cassie was settled, Shane slid a few spaces away from her and propped his arms along the edge, watching as she closed her eyes to take in the heat. Steam danced around her face, clung to her flawless skin. Already her cheeks flushed a warm shade of red, matching her tempting lips. Shane caught himself remembering what it felt like to kiss those lips and groaned inwardly.

“You mentioned that you did gymnastics when you were young,” he said, searching for a distraction. “Does that mean you did the beam and bars and all that? Like in the Olympics?”

Cassie glanced at him, a glint of excitement flashing in the blue depths of her eyes. “Yes. The bars were my favorite. I loved flinging from one bar up to the next. When I first started I just did floor tricks and the beam. I was terrified at the idea of even trying the bars. In fact, I begged my grandma to take me out when it was time to learn them.”

He chuckled. “So what changed your mind?”

A thoughtful look came over Cassie’s face as she gazed off toward the pasture. “My Grandma. She had this phrase she’d always say. ‘Inner peace is found in the delicate balance of holding on, and letting go.’ She’d had so many discussions with me about the importance of letting go of my parents – the hope they might one day return – I had that part mastered.” Cassie spun around to face him and shrugged. “So when I wanted to quit, my grandmother worried.  I’d made a lot of friends in gymnastics. The coach, my teammates. I think she feared I hadn’t learned enough about the holding on part. That I’d be willing to say goodbye to just about anyone.”

The phrase was sharp and dangerous, like barbs on a wire, and it flooded Shane with a sickening fear.
Had
Cassie learned to let go too easily? When things were safe back home, which option would she apply to Emerson Ranch? The holding on, or letting go? That fear struck against a rough surface in the corner of his mind, lighting the dark place like a match, revealing a hidden truth he hadn’t wanted to see: Shane had fallen in love with Cassie Lovell.

Cassie broke into the silence. “You know, my grandma wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, but she was a good woman. I’m fortunate to have gotten so close to her.”

Shane responded by asking more about the lady who’d raised her, and the conversation continued. Soon talk of Betty and Grant arose; Cassie said she adored the older couple. She raved about Reese and Jade as well, and added that she was impressed with Shane’s brothers too. And though Shane knew he shouldn’t need the affirmation, he couldn’t help but wonder if Cassie had become as fond of him. And what if she had those same doubts about his feelings for her?

An inner voice hissed horrible words in his head – warning him Cassie could be gone in the snap of a whip. A great yearning gripped hold of him, a need to vanquish any doubts she might have. He needed to make sure she knew which act to follow when it came time to choose. Cassie had to know Shane was worth holding on to.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“I’ve got an idea,” Cassie said, hoping to pull Shane from his musings. He’d assumed a sort of brooding temperament during their conversation, a tensed furrow pulling at his brow.

Cassie came to a stand and began climbing out of the hot tub.

Shane’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

“Cooling down.” She took the back porch steps slowly, welcoming the crisp air on her warm skin, and eyed the rain-dropping clouds above. Cassie squealed as she turned her face toward the sky, allowing the cool drops to splash and plink against her skin. Her palms turned upward as well, the rain bouncing off their flat surface.

The long grass matted beneath her feet as she spun in place, feeling more free and alive than she had in years. Laughter bubbled in her throat as she bolted toward the covered porch, taking the four steps in two long strides. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the stunned expression on Shane’s ruggedly handsome face. His eyes shifted from wide and surprised, to narrowed and thoughtful as he scrutinized her, a smile tugging at one corner of his lips.

“You’ve got to try that,” she said, invigorated. After tossing a towel to the slatted wood beneath her, Cassie wiped her feet and climbed into the hot tub, shivering and smiling all at once. “Your turn.”

His face went blank for a moment. “Okay,” he said. “If you do it with me.”

Cassie shook her head. “No way. Once was enough for me.” She proceeded to dare him with her playful gaze, enjoying the amused gleam that reappeared in his eyes.

“Alright,” he said, climbing out of the tub. But instead of heading toward the stairs, Shane walked around to where she sat. Cassie gasped as he approached, darting toward the center of the small pool. Shane reached into the water, securing one arm solidly beneath her knees, and the other behind her back.

“Think I was going to give up so soon?” he asked lifting her out of the water with ease. He held her higher while taking the stairs, her feet just missing the railing. Cassie relished the feel of his chest muscles rippling against her. And as the fluid drops splashed the length of her body, she ducked into him, burying her face into his chest. Hints of his masculine aftershave lingered on his skin.

“Oh, you’re right,” he said, lifting his head toward the sky. “This is wonderful. I think I’ll stay out here all day.”

Cassie kicked her legs as she giggled, her laughter muffled in the small space against him. The rain pelted her back, soaked into her hair, and trailed down and around her neck. “Let me go,” she hollered.

“Why? You want to get out of the rain?”

She pulled away from his chest, looked at him through the steady downpour as she laughed. “Yes, you psycho.”

“Psycho?” He hunched forward to set her lightly on her feet. Cassie bolted toward the porch, anxious to get beneath the awning, but Shane captured her by the wrist.

“You’re the crazy one,” he said, blinking as the rain caught onto his dark lashes. “This was your idea, remember?”

Cassie  relaxed her arm until his grasp loosened, then snatched her wrist away and made a run for it. She ran fast up the stairs, but Shane was faster. Just as she reached the top, Shane’s strong hands captured her waist, his fingers wrapping around her hips and seizing her in place. With what felt like little effort, Shane spun her around, causing her to meet his gaze.

His dark, wavy hair, heavy with moisture, now hung lower around his face. One thick strand covered the corner of his eye, adding to the severity behind his deep, smoldering gaze. The playfulness was gone from him. And what remained set Cassie’s mind scattering like dry grass in a wicked breeze.