Exiting the bathroom, he entered the bedroom, and after pulling on sweatpants and a T-shirt, he walked to the kitchen to get something to eat. Yanking open the fridge door, he gathered up meat, cheese, and bread to make a sandwich. Once he finished eating, he was off to bed since he had to be up early to cut the west pasture, and then work with Golden Boy.
“Damn stupid name,” he muttered with a grin.
****
Two weeks later, Cassie was in the barn when she saw Ash’s pickup pull up outside and butterflies filled her belly. She heard the truck door close then the sound of the trailer door swinging open. A few minutes later, he came striding down the aisle of the barn leading the palomino. Golden Boy pranced with pride as Ash led him down through the barn. Cassie groaned just looking at Ash walking toward her.
“Are you all right?” Everett asked from behind her, making her flinch.
“Yes, that horse is beautiful. Look how he holds his head,” she said as the heat poured into her cheeks realizing he’d caught her ogling Ash. Damn, Everett needed to quit sneaking up on people.
“Now let’s hope we don’t have to have his balls cut off just to make him docile.”
“Everett!” Cassie chastised him with a cluck of her tongue, making him grin.
“You grew up on a ranch, I’m sure you’ve heard worse.”
Everett walked to meet Ash. Cassie watched as Ash stopped the horse and waited for Everett to reach him. She couldn’t help but skim her eyes down his body. His black T-shirt hugged his pecs and flat stomach. His jeans left little to the imagination as they hugged his thick thighs and cupped his sex in a snug fashion. They were bunched up on the bottom around his boots. As she watched Everett and Ash talk, she looked at Golden Boy then laughed when he took Ash’s hat off his head and tossed it to the floor. She saw Ash shake his head, hand the reins to Everett then pick up his hat. He slapped it against his thigh then raked his fingers through his thick hair before replacing the hat on his head and tugging it low. When he saw her looking at him, he put his fingers to the brim and gave her a nod. Smiling, she then turned to enter a stall. Leaning against the wall, she took deep breaths. This was so wrong. Why was she feeling this way? She’d known Ash for only a short while and yet never wanted any man this badly or this quickly, and it terrified her.
“Cassidy?” he asked as he stuck his head in the stall. “Are you all right?”
Letting out a squeal of embarrassment, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Yes. I just need to get to work.”
His head tilted to the side. “So why are you leaning against the wall?”
“Mind your own business, Beckett,” she growled, knowing she hadn’t an excuse.
A grin split his handsome face and dimples peeked in his cheeks. “Okay. GB is in the corral with the other horses. He’s good to go, and he’ll make a good stud for you.”
“Would you?” she murmured.
His eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“Nothing. So GB, huh? I guess that’s a bit better than Golden Boy. Um, I need some coffee.”
“I could use a cup.”
Stopping in her tracks, she looked at him then nodded. “All right. I’ll write you a check while you’re here.”
Leaving the stall, she headed down the aisle, outside, and toward the house. She didn’t know if he had followed but hoped. She just needed to get inside before she made a complete fool of herself with the man by tossing him onto the hay and straddling him.
****
Ash followed her through the barn, out into the sunshine and up the steps to the back door. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her ass in those tight jeans. It was all he could do to keep from reaching out to touch it as it swayed back and forth.
After entering the kitchen, she walked to the counter and began preparing coffee but wouldn’t look at him. He hung his hat on a peg by the door and waited.
“Have a seat,” she said over her shoulder.
“Where are your parents?”
“They went into Butte for a few days.”
Ash pulled a chair out from the table and stood there waiting for her to sit but didn’t take his eyes off her. She seemed nervous.
“Do I make you nervous, Cassidy?”
“No.”
“Then why won’t you turn around and talk to me?”
“I’m making coffee.”
Ash grinned. “You don’t have to watch it brew, ya know.”
Cassidy spun around and glared at him. “Happy now?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I want to look at your beautiful face?”
When she snorted, he strode toward her. Reaching out a hand, he took her braid in his hand. It was as soft as he’d imagined. Then his eyes met hers.
“You don’t believe I think you’re beautiful?”
“I’m nothing like your girlfriend.”
“My girlfriend?” He frowned.
“Belinda Hasselbeck.” She shrugged.
“She is, in no way, my girlfriend.”
“No?”
“No.”
“But you were seeing her…” She trailed off, and Ash knew she’d figured out just why he’d been seeing Belinda.
“How do you even know about her? Been asking about me?” he asked with a smirk.
“No. Mom just happened to point her out to me one day in town.”
“I see.” Ash made a step toward her then thought better of it so he stopped and spun on his heel. “I need to go. Let me know if you have any problems with the horse.”
He walked toward the door, took his hat off the peg, and walked out. To hell with the coffee. If he didn’t get out of there fast, he’d do something he’d regret or get a slap across the face.
****
Cassie walked to the table, pulled out a chair and flopped down onto it. God! The man was so sexy. She’d only been with one man, and now she wished she would have been with more so that she knew what to do with someone like Ash. Ross sure didn’t seem to mind sleeping with other women.
Placing her hands over her face, she wished she could go back and do things differently. She knew she should have divorced him years ago but he’d talked her into working it out, more than once. It was bad enough that she forgave him twice for screwing around on her, but then he continued to do it. She refused to live through it again and this time, she filed for divorce. Of course, she knew he’d be coming after her to try to talk her into returning to him. She wouldn’t though, not this time. Never again.
Now, what to do about Ash? Nothing. There was nothing to do about Ash. The thoughts that ran through her head when he’d stared at her shouldn’t have happened. What were you thinking?
“Apparently, I wasn’t thinking,” she muttered.
It had been so long since she’d been touched or kissed. Really kissed—a deep, toe-curling kind of kiss, and she realized just how much she missed it. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss Ash. No. No. She had to stay away from Ash Beckett. The man was way too dangerous to her libido, and her heart. Why was life so complicated? If it were at all possible to go back and change things, how many people would? She knew she would. If she could change it all, she never would have married Ross. If only she knew then what she knew now.
Glancing around the kitchen, she realized Ash hadn’t even had his coffee, and he’d left without his check. Sighing, she slid the chair back and stood, deciding to head to the cabin and make something to eat then shower and relax for a while before bed. She was happy her parents had cleaned up the cabin for her. It gave her the privacy she needed.
Her father had built the cabin years ago as a place to stay when he hunted. It sat far from the main house but had two roads leading to it—one from the ranch and the other from the main road. It contained a bedroom, a bath with a large tub, a comfortable living room with a stone fireplace, and small kitchen. Her dad had even gone as far as installing central heat and air for her when he knew she was coming home and wanted to stay in the cabin. She could have he
r privacy and so could her parents. Being a writer, she needed to be alone at times and the cabin seemed perfect. After her bath, she’d work a little then go to bed. Life started early on a ranch, and she was anxious to see how Golden Boy was doing tomorrow. Smiling, she remembered Ash calling the horse GB. Apparently, he didn’t like Goldie either.
****
Ash drove home and wondered what had possessed him to tell her she was beautiful. He’d wanted to do so since setting eyes on her but it was wrong. So wrong.
Shit! Cassidy forgot to give him his check. Shaking his head, he knew he’d have to go back and get it—unless she mailed it to him. That would probably be best. The less he saw of her, the better.
Pulling up by the barn, he shut the engine off and stepped out then walked across the yard. The sun was beginning to set, but the temperatures were still hot. June in Montana could be sweltering.
“Hey boss,” Ernie called to him making him stop and turn around.
“Yeah?”
“Cassidy Porter called. She said she’d mail your check tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.” Ash turned and walked to the house then entered the kitchen. Taking his hat off, he hung it on the peg by the door then pulled his T-shirt off over his head. A sudden knock on his door made him spin around in surprise but then it opened, and Ernie stuck his head in.
“I need to make a trip to town tomorrow for some salt blocks, so I can stop by and pick up the check if you’d like.” He stepped into the kitchen when Bandit nudged him aside to enter the house.
“No, I’ll go since I was planning to go into town tomorrow anyway.” Ash mentally winced at the lie. He hated liars, and he was standing here lying to his ranch hand. Reaching for a glass, he filled it with water, refusing to look at Ernie.
“Sure. Okay, but give her a call then to let her know before she wastes a stamp. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m having Frankie ride the fence in the morning then he and Jacoby are cutting the east pasture.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” You just told yourself to stay away from her!
Ernie gave a salute and closed the door. Ash heard him walking down the steps of the porch as he pulled his cell phone out. He dialed Cassidy’s number.
“Hi, Cassidy, it’s Ash,” he said when she answered.
“Did you get my message?”
“Yes, ma’am. I wanted to tell you I can stop by and pick it up since I have to go to town tomorrow anyway…if that’s all right with you.”
“Uh, sure. I’ll have it ready for you whenever you get here. I’ll be at the main house in the morning, if that’s when you can come by.”
“I’ll be there around ten.”
“Great. Thanks for calling me about it, Ash.”
“You’re very welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said, wishing he could think of more of a reason to keep talking to her.
“Yes, goodbye.” The line went dead.
Ash hit the End button and placed the phone on the counter. She sure seemed in a hurry to hang up. Then again, she never seemed to want to have a conversation with him. Anytime he saw her, she was nice but didn’t go out of her way to be around him. She never mentioned her husband but then again, why would she? According to Brian, Ross had cheated on her and for the life of him, Ash couldn’t figure out why. Cassidy was a beautiful woman. Of course, that didn’t mean anything. Belinda was too. Ash shook his head. There was no way he could compare Cassidy to Belinda.
Pulling out a chair from the table, he sat down, tugged off his boots and socks then stood, and pushed his jeans off. After tossing them into the laundry room, he started to leave the kitchen to head to his bedroom but hesitated, turned around, walked to the back door, and locked it. He sure as hell didn’t want Belinda showing up again. The woman needed to get it out of her head that they could get back together. Ash had no desire for her whatsoever anymore. Being with her for three months had been three months too long.
An image of Cassidy popped into his head. Blowing out a frustrated breath, he pushed her from his mind as best he could then strode from the kitchen and headed for the shower. It had been a long day, starting with cutting hay, stacking bales, and then delivering the horse to Cassidy. Now all he wanted to do was shower and fall into bed then wake up and do it all over again. He knew his men would take care of cutting the fields for feed, but there were still other things that needed doing and he did his part. Hell, he didn’t get a break, even on the weekends. He only hoped Cassidy didn’t occupy his dreams. He just needed to sleep.
Chapter Three
Cassie sat on the sofa in the living room with her laptop trying to work on her book. Usually, she enjoyed this time of the day but all she could think of was Ash. He said he would be by tomorrow to pick up his payment. She probably should just give it to Everett to give it to him so she wouldn’t have to see him. With her parents out of town, she could write the check—no problem there. And if she let Everett handle it, she wouldn’t have to see Ash again. Only she wanted to see him again, she really did. But was it wise? After going through what she had with Ross, she was terrified of being hurt again. In her heart, she knew not all men were like Ross but how did a woman know who could be trusted, and who couldn’t? Why wasn’t Ash married?
When Ash had called her a while ago, the sound of his deep voice in her ear had made her shiver. She couldn’t stop wondering how it would sound to hear him whisper to her while making love with her. He had to be the sexiest man she’d ever known. She’d thought so the first time she met him. Those blue eyes of his were lady-killers for sure, and his body looked to be in great shape. Of course, he worked his ranch, and that was enough to keep anyone in shape. Everett had told her that Ash worked his land as hard as his ranch hands.
He was a busy man. Perhaps that was why he always seemed to be in a hurry to leave. Either that or he was uncomfortable talking to her. Was that it? Cassie was sure her parents had told Ash about her divorce. He’d probably just rather avoid any conversation that might lead to talking about it, like when she brought up Belinda. Why ever had she done that?
Closing the laptop, she set it on the coffee table, slid down, and pulled the afghan hanging on the back of the sofa down over her. What she really wanted to know was what it was like to have a man make her feel wanted. Cherished. Even more so, she wanted to know what it was like to have an orgasm with a man. She wrote about it enough but had never experienced it in real life. Could Ash do that for her? Groaning, she had a feeling he could. The man simply oozed sex.
Damn it! She punched the sofa then rolled to her side. A tear rolled down her cheek as she thought of never knowing what it was like to have sex that good. She was twenty-nine years old and had never been thrilled in bed. Didn’t every woman deserve to know what it was like to have a man really want and love her? Maybe that was why so many romance novels sold. Women loved the fantasy of having a man like that. Book Boyfriends.
Sighing, Cassie pushed herself up then reached over and turned off the light on the end table. She stood and headed for bed. Tomorrow would come soon enough and maybe if she didn’t see Ash Beckett, she’d forget about him. Yeah, right.
The next morning, Cassie sat at the kitchen table in the main house and when she heard a truck pull up, her heart gave a lurch. Scooting the chair back, she stood then walked to the door and peered out. Ash was climbing out of his truck. He glanced toward the barn and then to the house. Cassie opened the door and waved to him. Putting his fingers to the brim of his hat, he strode across the yard and up the steps and into the house when she stepped aside for him to enter.
“Good morning, Cassidy,” he said as he took his hat off and held it in front of him.
“Good morning, Ash. Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked then blushed when she remembered him telling her she was beautiful the last time he came in for a cup of coffee. Inhaling, she almost groaned at how good he smelled. She’d love to bury her face against his neck and inhale deeply.
“I
would, thanks.”
Cassie frowned. Would what? Then she remembered with a start, and bustled around making him a cup.
“Please have a seat, Ash.”
“I will after you do.”
So polite. That was a cowboy for you. Smiling, she set a steaming cup down on the table then took a seat. Ash sat down beside her and picked up his cup and took a sip.
“Do your parents live in Montana?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. In Hartland.”
“I missed mine after I moved from here.”
Ash grinned. “Your parents are great.”
“Yes, they are.” She stood up quickly, making the chair scrape on the linoleum floor. “I’ll get your check.”
Cassie scurried down the hallway to the office. Pulling out the checkbook, she wrote a check for Ash, then took a deep breath before walking back to the kitchen. Ash stood when she reentered the kitchen and handed him his check.
“Thank you.” He folded the check and put it in his wallet.
“You’re welcome. Um…I need to head back to the cabin.”
“Sure. Thanks for the coffee. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you later then. Call me if you need me.” Ash put his hat on and walked out.
Cassie collapsed onto the chair. No pushing him out the door, he nearly ran. Was it her? Was it that she was newly divorced? Was he thinking she was somehow damaged and so needed her space? Did she? Was it wrong for her to be so attracted to him so soon after divorcing her husband? Shaking her head, she owed the memory of her bad marriage nothing. If she wanted to date every cowboy in the county she could. She was a single woman now. So why am I feeling so guilty about it?
Just in case, she waited until his truck drove off before she left the house.
****
Pulling into the parking lot of the feed store, Ash found a spot, shut the engine off, and climbed out. When he entered the store, people inside called out to him or waved. Ash nodded and made his way to the counter to order a few salt blocks for his horses. It was a requirement for them, especially in the warmer months. After placing his order, he leaned against the counter to wait. The door opened, and he smiled when he saw his brother, Grayson enter.
Ash: A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 2 (The Beckett Brothers) Page 3
