Shane (Remington Ranch Book 2) (4 page)

Shane shook his head sadly. “It doesn’t matter. It’s much more important to Carter than it is to me.”

Mason gave him a stern look. “Is it really?”

“I don’t know, Mase. I don’t know what the hell that woman does to me, but it’s something no one else has ever done. At the same time, if Carter has a chance with her, then I am out of the picture. He’s the good guy. He’s the one who hasn’t even dated in years. He’s the one who deserves a good woman.” He shrugged.

“Well, I’ll tell you what. He’s coming out for dinner with me and Gina tomorrow night at the Mint. Why don’t you come as well? I’m pretty sure that over the course of dinner and a couple of games of pool, it’ll all come out—if there’s anything there.”

Shane nodded. “Yeah. It’d be good to all have dinner together anyway. Is Beau back yet?”

“No, not till next weekend. And hopefully Chance will be back by then, too. Gina was talking about having everyone out to the cottage one night.”

“That’d be great, but yeah. I’ll be there tomorrow. What time are you thinking?”

“We figured we’d just head up when everyone gets finished with work. Maybe six thirty or seven.”

“Great. I’ll be there. I think for now, I’m going to saddle this guy up and head out for a while. Do you want to come? Bring Storm?”

“I’d love to, but I’ve got too much to do around here.”

“Okay. I’ll catch you later then.”

Chapter Four

“Are you ready to go?” asked Gina.

Cassidy nodded. “Yeah, let’s wrap it up for the day. I’m about done.”

Gina collected her purse. “I’ll give Mason a quick call and see what time he can get up here. I told him about six thirty or seven, so it may take him a while.”

“No problem, we can have a drink while we wait. I may even tell you a thing or two about my man-messes before your sexy cowboy and his brother arrive.”

Gina shook her head. “You’re still rattled about Shane, aren’t you?”

Was she? She shook her head, denying it to herself as much as to Gina. “Not at all. His reaction surprised me, but…”

“But what?”

“But nothing.” She wasn’t going to admit how many times he’d popped into her head today. How many times she’d regretted letting him think she was interested in Carter. It was stupid. She wasn’t interested in Shane anyway. So why should the prospect of him no longer flirting with her bother her?

Gina gave her a knowing look. “You might be fooling yourself, but you’re not fooling me.”

The sound of her cell phone ringing gave Cassidy the excuse not to reply. She reached for it with a shrug. “I’ll take this; you call Mason.”

Gina fished her own phone out of her purse. “Okay. I’ll be outside when you’re done.”

Cassidy hit answer. “Cassidy Lane.”

“Hi, Cassidy. It’s Autumn. Long time no speak.”

“Oh my God! Autumn! How the hell are you?”

“I’m doing fine. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Summer.”

“Oh no, why? What’s wrong?”

“She has some health issues. I don’t want to get into it right now. I haven’t got time. But Alan and I were just trying to come up with somewhere she could go to hide out for a while. She needs to spend a couple of months, maybe more, somewhere quiet where she can recuperate out of the limelight.

“She can come stay with me. No problem.”

“You are the best. I knew you’d say that, but I think she needs her own place. Her own space. It’s not like she needs to be taken care of, she just needs peace and quiet.”

“Let me ask around then, find out if there is anywhere up for rent. Is she really okay? Can I give her a call?”

“Thanks, Cass. I wanted to ask if you knew any realtors or property managers you can put me in touch with. And as for calling her, you’d be better off emailing. Her voice is the problem. She’s not
sick
sick; she’s got problems with her vocal chords.”

“Oh no! Well, listen. I’ll get straight onto finding her a place to rent. I’ll call you as soon as I have anything. Give her a hug for me and tell her I can’t wait to see her.”

“Thanks. Will do. You rock, girl. Talk soon.”

Wow! Once she’d ended the call Cassidy opened her email. She hadn’t talked to Autumn, or Summer, for—what? Months? It didn’t matter though. Their friendship was like that. It could be years, but it made no difference to the bond they shared.

Summer!

I’ve missed you, chick! I’m on the case to find you a place. Lol, and apparently I’m a poet, too! We’ll get you up here ASAP. You’ll love it. Wish it were under different circumstances though. Can’t wait to see you.

Love n hugs

Cassidy

Oxoxoxo

Gina popped her head back around the front door.

“Sorry,” called Cassidy. “That was a bit of a surprise. I’m coming now.”

Once they were settled in a corner booth at the Mint and had ordered their drinks, Cassidy turned to Gina. “Does Beau handle rental properties?”

“Yeah, he does. Why?”

“That was a friend of mine on the phone. She needs a place to stay for a while, maybe a few months or more.”

“I’m sure Beau will be able to find her something, but it could get really expensive. Rent isn’t exactly cheap around here over the summer.”

“The cost won’t be a problem. Not for Summer.”

“That’s what everyone else thinks, too. They’ll pay through the nose to be here in the summer, but you can’t rent a house out for peanuts in the winter.”

Cassidy laughed. “I didn’t mean for
the
summer. My friend’s name is Summer, and she won’t mind however much she has to pay.”

“Lucky her! She can afford whatever she wants, huh?”

“You’ll be able to afford whatever you want soon as we start selling. Don’t you doubt it.”

Gina made a face. “I hope so. I still won’t be called Summer though. Isn’t that a lovely name?”

“It is, and she’s a lovely person, too. Just as sweet as she seems when you see her on TV. With some of those singers and movie stars, I wonder if it’s all a front and if they’re bitches in real life. With Summer, what you see is what you get.”

Gina raised an eyebrow. “Summer who? Why would I have seen her on TV?”

“Oh. Sorry. Summer Breese.”

“Really? The country singer?”

“Yep.”

“And that’s her real name? I always thought it must be made up!”

Cassidy laughed. “She always jokes that she’d never get away with making it up. It’s her real name. And her sister’s name is Autumn.”

“Oh, the poor things! That must have sucked when they were kids. I mean, they’re lovely names, but kids can be cruel.”

“We were at school together. There were kids with much stranger names, and much bigger problems to deal with.”

“Huh. Let me guess. Some fancy private school?”

Cassidy nodded. “Yes. And I’m not going to apologize for it.” She stuck her tongue out. “You were the poor little country girl; I was the poor little rich girl. It’s not where we come from, but what we make of ourselves that matters.”

“It is. So why is Summer coming here?”

“Apparently there’s something wrong with her vocal chords and she needs somewhere to hide and rest. That wasn’t her on the phone, it was Autumn. The two of them are close. Autumn is her business manager.”

“Well, let me give you Beau’s number. I’m sure he’ll be happy to find her something that will work. And don’t worry, he’s the soul of discretion.”

“Yeah, he seems to be quite the mystery himself.”

“He’s more private than the others. More, I don’t know what the word is, serious? Aloof? Not really either of those but he’s more that way than the other Remingtons are.”

“That’s the impression I got of him. He seemed like a nice guy though.”

“He is, and he’s damned good at what he does.”

“Well, that’s all I need to know. I’ll give him a call in the morning. Thanks.” She smiled when she saw Carter making his way through the bar. “He’s such a sweetheart, isn’t he?”

Gina laughed. “Yes, he is. But you are not interested in the slightest, are you?”

“No. I wish I was though. He’s going to be a great catch for some lucky lady.”

Gina sighed. “I hope so. He gave up on women years ago.”

Cassidy smiled. “We’ll have to see what we can do about that. Find someone who can rekindle his interest.”

“It’d take a very special lady.”

Carter smiled as he reached the booth. “Evening, ladies. Mason said we were meeting earlier than we thought. He told me to get my a…butt over here in a hurry. Looks like I beat him to it?”

“You did,” said Gina. “He was still at the barn when I called, so it’ll take him a while yet. Sit down and have a beer.”

~ ~ ~

Shane had to park a couple of blocks down from the Mint. He checked his watch; it was just after seven. He wasn’t exactly late, they hadn’t set a specific time. He was looking forward to this evening. It would be good to just relax with his brothers and Gina. Catch up, have some laughs, play some pool—and, hopefully, put Cassidy out of his head. He was expecting to hear something from Carter about what was going on between the two of them. Even if only because he knew Mason would bring it up to get it out in the open. Hopefully whatever Carter had to say would be enough to help Shane feel happy for his brother—and forget any intentions he might have had toward Cassidy himself. They were hardly going to be honorable intentions after all.

He pushed his way inside the bar and scanned the tables. He spotted Mason and Gina sitting in a booth in the corner. Carter mustn’t have arrived yet. Then he spotted him—standing at the bar with Cassidy! Well, fuck! He didn’t need his nose rubbing in it! Gina caught his eye as he started to turn away. He hadn’t come for this. Gina waved, but he pretended not to see her. He wasn’t going to be the fifth wheel. He almost made it back to the door before she caught up with him.

“Shane! Don’t go.”

He glared down at her. “Why not? Four’s company. I don’t feel like an evening of playing odd man out.”

“It’s not like that. There’s nothing going on between Carter and Cassidy. Nothing at all.”

Relief rushed through him. “There isn’t?”

She shook her head, a big grin on her face. “No, but I’m pretty sure there could be something   going on between
you
and Cassidy. If you’re prepared to work for it.”

Work for it? He’d never worked to get a woman in his life.

Gina laughed at the look on his face. “What’s up? You don’t like the sounds of that?”

He grinned. “It’s just a novel concept. Not one I’ve come across before.”

“Well, it’s one you’re going to have to try out if you want to stand a chance with her. You can bet your ass she’ll make you work for it. You just have to ask yourself if you think she’s worth it. If not, then don’t even bother.”

He looked over at the bar to where Cassidy was chatting with Carter. She pushed her long blonde hair back over her shoulders as she laughed. She waved her wineglass around as she spoke. She threw her head back when she laughed. She drove him crazy! He looked back at Gina. “I think I’m nuts, but I think she might be worth it.”

Gina grinned and took his arm. “I was hoping you’d say that. Come sit down.”

Shane followed her over to the booth and slid in opposite Mason who smiled at him.

“You could have told me Cassidy was going to be here.”

Mason shrugged. “I didn’t know she was when I asked you.”

“And you wouldn’t have come if you had known,” said Gina. “And that would have been pretty dumb, considering you had your wires crossed about her and Carter. So how about a thank you instead of whining?”

Shane grinned. “Yeah, you’ve got a point. Thank you.” He turned to look at Cassidy at the same moment she and Carter started back toward the booth. She didn’t look too pleased to see him. “I take it
she
didn’t know
I
was coming either?”

“Erm, I may have forgotten to mention it,” said Gina.

Shane shook his head. He knew Gina’s warning was true—he was going to have to work for this one. “Evening,” he said as they approached the table.

“Hey, Shane,” said Carter.

Cassidy held his gaze for a moment then nodded at him coolly, before shooting an evil look at Gina.

The server arrived with menus and Carter slid in next to Gina, leaving Cassidy with no option but to sit beside Shane. He grinned up at her and patted the bench beside him. “Come on, I don’t bite.”

She shook her head as she sat down. “I might though.”

He raised his eyebrows with a grin, but said nothing.

She tried to hide it, but he didn’t miss the smile lurking behind her scowl as she rolled her eyes at him.

Once they’d placed their orders, Mason looked around the table. “So what’s everyone been up to?” he asked.

Carter shrugged. “Business as usual for me. I’m going to be flat out for the next couple of months.” He smiled at Cassidy. “I have some great new clients and some projects I’m really excited about working on.”

Shane watched Cassidy smile back. Now that he knew it, he could see it—she wasn’t interested in him. Not in the least.

“I can’t wait for you to get started on my place,” she said. “I love the plans you’ve drawn up.”

“We can change whatever you like,” said Carter.

“I don’t think there’s much I even want to change. There are a couple of touches I’d like to add, but nothing major.”

“Well, I’ve got you on the schedule starting Monday. We can add in whatever you want.”

“Where are you working this week?” asked Gina.

“I’m squeezing in a couple of Beau’s rental properties, getting them spruced up before high season.”

“When’s he back again?” asked Cassidy. “I need to talk to him.”

Shane groaned inwardly. He didn’t want her showing interest in another of his brothers. “Next weekend, I think,” said Carter.

“What do you want to talk to Beau for?” asked Shane.

She turned a cool gaze on him. He knew, just knew, that she wanted to say
none of your business,
but she didn’t. “I want to ask him about a possible rental for a friend of mine.”

The server came back with their food before Shane could ask any more.

Once they were done eating, Mason looked at Shane. “What do you say, little bro. Do you want to get your ass handed to you at pool?”