Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) (8 page)

After working the entire palm, she flipped his hand over and pinched at the skin on the back, tugging it away from the knuckle while making her way up and down each finger. She skipped right over his supposed wedding ring as if it were some permanent part of him. Shane expected to feel more annoyed at the thought – him being trapped in the situation and all – but even when he tried he couldn’t muster the anger he’d felt before he’d met the woman. Already, she had him under her spell. He was in trouble for sure.

“Next hand,” she said.

Shane didn’t hesitate. Couldn’t believe how good the massage felt.

“I’ve never massaged anyone’s hands before,” she said. “But I still remember every little move Grandma made while she did mine. Something that’s just stuck with me.”

Shane was surprised. “So what made you think of doing this for me?”

He watched her pale lids as she blinked a few times, keeping her focus on his hand. She shrugged before glancing up at him. “I just really appreciate what you’re doing for me, and I wanted to thank you somehow. Pay you back in some small way.”

He felt like a big heap of manure for whining about the whole thing now. Here this woman had her entire life turned upside down and he’d been the one complaining.

“It’s hard for you to be away from the ranch, from what you said,” she continued, her voice small and warm as she sandwiched his large hand between hers. Her statement made him feel even worse. Reminded him of how she’d praised her parents for the way they valued their precious mission work over their own daughter. A big piece of the puzzle was snapping into place.

“Listen,” he said, “I’m happy to do it. I want you to know that.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s a sacrifice for you, to spend this time away. All to come get me, work out this whole marriage charade so it looks like we’re having a decent honeymoon, when in reality you haven’t even kissed the bride.” She glanced at him shyly at first, through her lashes, head still lowered over his hand. But as she slowly lifted her chin, Cassie’s eyes drifted to his mouth.

He gulped.

Her words dangled in the air like an invitation, warm and welcome. Something in the atmosphere had changed, a new energy pushing right through his skin where it pulsed in his blood, pounded restlessly in his heart as he eyed that pretty mouth of hers in return. He couldn’t likely bring her home without a simple kiss, now, could he?

The dim glow of the muted TV screen played across her face like a reflection of dancing flames from a bonfire. The imagined heat of it licked at his skin as he got to his knees. Cassie sat up on the couch as he did, resting her legs off the edge at either side of him.

Shane had been only half-certain he should make such a move, but as Cassie reached out, rested her arms gently around his neck, he realized she wanted it too.

His heart pounded faster, hotter.

Perhaps a lone hotel room wasn’t the smartest place for a first kiss, especially if he intended to have it end with that, but there was no stopping the inertia that drew his hands to the warm curve of her hips. He inhaled that scent of her and let out a raspy sigh.

Those sweet-looking lips were just a breath away, a breath he inhaled as he moved in. Before meeting her lips with his, Shane ran the length of his jaw along her smooth, warm cheek, melting as she sighed in response to the feel of it. He breathed her in again, placed a gentle kiss there beneath her earlobe, and grazed over her cheek once more with the stubble on his face. Gently, back and forth.

When their eyes met, he tilted his head, asking for permission with the lift of his brow.

She nodded slightly – a silent response – yet the best thing he’d heard in weeks
– Yes.

He pressed his mouth against hers, taunted by the silky warmth of her timid kiss. He kissed her again. And then again, encouraging her lips to part for him. He wanted more. Wanted to taste the sweet chocolate on her tongue, inhale the flavor on her breath. At last her lips parted, just slightly, as she released a soft noise of pleasure. And though he was certain her cup of cocoa had been as cool as his, all he could taste was the heat.

Shane tilted his head, deepening the kiss. Yet just as he did, Cassie seemed to tense in response. Her hands slid from his shoulders to his chest where she pressed herself away from him.

He’d gone too far. “Sorry,” Shane said, voice no more than a raspy whisper. He could barely open his eyes to see her, so hypnotized by the heat between them. “I didn’t mean to…”

Cassie’s eyes were wide, nearly terrified. “I have a boyfriend,” she blurted, climbing off the couch.

“You do?” It took him a moment to digest it. A boyfriend. She had to be kidding. “I didn’t know,” he assured her, coming to a stand.

She was pacing now, the pink draining from her cheeks. “I can’t believe I just did that – let you kiss me that way.”

Shane stepped around the coffee table, reached out and took hold of her wrist. He didn’t want her to think he was a predator. “Listen, I wouldn’t have done that had I known. I’m usually pretty good at reading people, not women, maybe, but still. I could’ve sworn you were…” He let the sentence die, knowing it would sound like he was blaming her for the whole thing. Though it
was
her fault, the way he saw it. Heck, she’d given him the okay. Was practically asking for it.

“You know what?” he said. “It’s late. We’re both half asleep and doing things we wouldn’t normally do. Let’s just go to bed and forget about what happened.”

Cassie stood staring at him. And though her blue eyes seemed to be pasted on his mouth, they were burdened with regret.

He strode past her, turning his face away, unwilling to utter another word. 

Shane closed Cassie’s side of the door before tearing off his tee shirt and flinging it across the darkened room. He stepped over to the only source of dim light gleaming beyond the large window and used the drapes to shut that out as well.

What the hell had he been thinking? And what had
she
been thinking? Cassie was the one in a relationship. Scooting all close. Looking at him that way. Heck, the woman had wrapped her arms around him. He hadn’t read her wrong, and he was half-tempted to march back in there and tell her so. But he thought better of it. Doing a thing like that wouldn’t make the situation any better. What he needed was a good night’s sleep.

His family’s silly scheme wasn’t going to work, just like he’d said. Cassie was a pretty little thing, he’d give them that, and she was more his type than he thought possible, considering where she was from. But she didn’t belong to him, and she never would. He’d just focus on keeping her safe until the danger passed. ‘Sides, she had a boyfriend waiting back home who’d be anxious to get his hands on her when it was all said and done. He might not know a thing about the man, but already Shane hated him.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Forget about what happened? Had he really said that? Cassie ran her trembling fingers over her still-moist lips, knowing she wouldn’t forget the feel of his mouth on hers as long as she lived. Mindlessly, she pulled a small trash bin to the table, tossing napkins and sacks into it.

Her heart pounded restlessly as she worked in the dimly-lit room. How could she have forgotten about Griffin so easily? It was like he’d disappeared from her memory completely. Until… she didn’t even want to think the words. She felt too guilty. But they played in her head all the same: She’d been lost in Shane’s kiss. The incredible sensation of his rough, stubbled jaw against her cheek. The feel of it around his lips as he kissed her. The pure masculinity in everything about this rugged, Montana cowboy had caused thoughts of contrast to sneak into her mind at the worst possible time. The contrast between Shane and Griffin – her
boyfriend
! Not ex-boyfriend, like some guy from her distant past – the current man in her life. Yet maybe Cassie had already detached from him more than she was willing to admit. Perhaps her mind had been made up weeks before she’d received his letter, and she feared the words might send her back into a relationship that was nothing but a dead end.

Still, she was a total jerk for enjoying Shane’s kiss. For encouraging it, even. How had she so easily lost her senses? Cassie dropped to her knees, glancing at the damp washcloth she held in her hand. She didn’t even remember going to the sink to get it, yet she’d already wiped the surface clean. Her ring glistened in the small hint of light, and Cassie couldn’t help but smile at it. She quickly replaced the expression with a reproving frown. It was lack of sleep, that was all. Like Shane had said. Beautiful, wonderful, bull-riding, cowboy-from-Emerson Ranch –  Shane.

In a slow daze, Cassie shuffled her way to the bed, not bothering to remove her sweats. She reached for the remote, shut off the TV, and sunk into the mattress. The last thing she remembered was a sick, strong feeling of regret, prodding at her thoughts. Not regret for kissing Shane, like any good and decent person would have. It was regret in a different way. Cassie was sure she’d burn in Hell for her thoughts, but she only wished she would’ve let it go on for longer. A kiss was a kiss, after all. If she was to endure a world of guilt over it for who knew how long, at least she could have kissed him back.

In her dreams, Cassie did just that. Over and over the event played blissfully in her mind. The scruff of his jaw against her cheek as goose bumps spread over her arms. The all-too-brief press of his lips to her neck. That ruggedly handsome smell of him teasing her senses. And that mouth. In her dreams she kissed him back, long and thorough, intoxicated by the man he was. She ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair and listened to him groan in response. His kiss was strong and certain, and she reveled in the feel of it. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a lucid thought told Cassie it was only a dream. Still, she relished the moment, knowing it may be the last taste of Shane Emerson she’d get.

~+~

The sound of a light tap woke Shane from his sleep, though it wasn’t enough to help him pry open his eyes. It felt like he’d been sleeping for days, weeks even, as hard as it was to gain a conscious thought. The tapping came again. And just before Shane found it in him to yell at whatever ranch hand was disturbing his sleep, an image of Cassie Lovell slipped into his mind, along with the sound of her name.

His eyes shot open. “Come in,” he said, voice hoarse from sleep. His eyes shut against his will as he waited.

The knob squeaked. The door creaked. Soft footsteps padded into his room. Hotel room, he reminded himself.

“If you want to sleep longer, I can wait.”

There was something about the sound of her voice that got Shane’s pulse to racing. “What time is it?” he asked, forcing his eyes open once more. He sat up and stretched, looking for a clock as she answered.

“It’s 11:30.” A small laugh coated the words. “Can’t believe we slept in that late. I don’t even do that on the weekends.”

Hearing the time should have sent him into full panic over missing more chores at the ranch. But it didn’t. His brothers had asked for it, and they were going to get it. Shane had other things to take care of right now; they’d have to pick up the slack. He only hoped they’d remembered to mend the fence before leading the cattle into the west pasture. Last thing he needed was to come home to a big mess.

His thoughts were interrupted when he glanced up at Cassie. Her sky-blue eyes were set on him like she was taking inventory. Her gaze moved from his bare chest to his face in a slow crawl, and when their eyes met, a rush of pink settled in her cheeks.

“If you’re ready to head out I’ll open your blinds and let the sun in for you.” She hurried over to the window, pausing as she grabbed the dowel to move the heavy drapes.

“Sure,” he said. “Go ahead and open them.”

The burst of light made him squint as he lay back onto the bed once more, too groggy to get up just yet.

“You slept in your Levis?” Cassie asked.

Shane propped himself on his elbows, glancing down at the sheet that covered his lower body. “You looked?” he accused.

She sneered. “It’s obvious.”

“Yeah. If you’re looking.” He flung the sheet off his body and rested back once more. “Here, look all you want. I won’t mind, but your boyfriend might.”

Cassie uttered some noise of disgust, stomping toward the door. “There’s a treadmill downstairs. I’m going to work out,” she said proudly.

“Thought you said you weren’t a die-hard over the gym.”

“I’m not. But when I’m stressed out I just … need it more.” Her voice had sounded defensive at first. But as she muttered those last few words, a hint of sadness came through. Shane groaned, wondering why he was such a sucker for the woman.

“I can’t let you go down there by yourself. Not if the other jurors are dropping off like flies.” He hadn’t meant to sound so crass about the whole thing, but it was the truth and he needed her to grasp it.

“What are you going to do – sit there and watch me?”

A smile spread over his face. “Is that an invitation?”

“You just got done saying I couldn’t go alone. I’m wondering what you plan on doing, because I’m going no matter what.” And with that, Cassie strode back into her room through the open doorway.

Shane sat up, amused by the exchange, and looked for his tee shirt. He guessed the trip home would have to wait.

Her remark about him watching her had no doubt been a joke. And Shane hadn’t intended to do that in the least. In fact, he’d noticed the hot tub on their way from the front desk to their room, and had sworn it was right across from the place filled with treadmills and things. The plan was to soak in the heat while Cassie worked up a sweat a safe distance away. He’d keep his eye on the door, make sure all was well.

Trouble was, the entire wall was made of glass panes. And all he could see was Cassie. Heaven help him, that woman was out to get him. She had to be. It wasn’t enough that she had on a pair of sweats. That should have been just fine to run on a dang treadmill. But no. Upon entering the room, she’d stripped down to some skimpy little under top thing and a pair of shorts.