Cassie looked at her and smiled. “Yes. If I ever find the right man.”
“Oh, honey. You’ve already found him. Now you’ve just got to let him know. I see my husband, and I want to get him on the dance floor.”
Cassie nodded as she watched Ariana walk across the grass toward her husband. Derek saw her heading for him and smiled then kissed her forehead when she reached him. They were very much in love with three children running around here somewhere. At least, I’m lucky enough to be an aunt.
“Will you dance with me?” Ash said close to her ear.
“Of course.” She smiled. “If you hold me tight.”
Ash groaned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Everyone will see how you make my dick hard.”
Cassie burst out laughing. “I’ll stay close, so they won’t know.”
Ash snorted. “Yeah, that’ll work real well.”
Cassie looked up at him. “We can dance between the sheets later.”
“Christ, you’re killing me, and you know it.”
She batted her eyelashes at him. “Little ole’ me?”
Ash groaned making her laugh again.
“You know, we still need to go to dinner one night in town. They have a great restaurant there.”
“I’d love to.”
“Would you wear a dress?”
“Yes.”
“Can we go now?”
“Next Saturday would be better. I mean, there’s plenty of food here.”
“Darlin’, I’m not interested in the food. I’m more interested in seeing those long legs in a dress and heels.”
Turning, she looked up at him. “I can arrange that, and I’ll even keep the heels on when we come home. I have a fabulous pair of red stilettos.”
“Son of a bitch. Saturday can’t get here soon enough.”
Cassie chuckled and moved away from him when she noticed her mom watching them. She glanced over her shoulder to see Ash take a seat at a table with Gray and some other people. She was definitely looking forward to Saturday too. It had been so long since she’d put a dress and heels on, she hoped she remembered how to walk in those shoes. She stood five seven in her bare feet, and those heels would put her at six foot. Ash would still have five inches on her. She loved a tall man. Ross stood five ten, so she couldn’t wear heels around him. Not that they ever went anywhere. He always had excuses not to take her out. Probably afraid they’d run into one of the women he’d screwed around with.
Mentally shaking her head, she took a seat beside Tess and talked with her well into the evening. When the band started playing I Don’t Dance, by Lee Brice, she looked over at Ash to see him heading her way. She stood and waited for him to get to her. He smiled at her and put his hand out to her. She placed her hand in his, and he led her to the dance floor.
“I love this song,” she whispered.
“It’s a good one.” He turned to take her in his arms. She placed her hands on his shoulders when what she really wanted was to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him closer. He smelled so good. “I’d really love to hold you close.”
“I wish you could too.”
“Cassidy—”
“Please, just a little longer, Ash. Be patient.”
Ash blew out a breath. “Sure. I just don’t get it though.”
“I just don’t want everyone speculating about us so soon after my divorce.”
“All right. But you’ve been divorced for months now.”
Cassie knew he wasn’t happy about it, but she couldn’t tell him it was actually her fear of losing him more than what people thought of her seeing him so soon after her divorce. Every night, she’d argue with herself over her insecurities and trust issues. Not once had Ash given her any reason not to trust him, but then neither had Ross—at first.
Stop it! Ash is not Ross!
The song ended, and Ash smiled at her then turned and led her off the floor. She stopped beside a table and watched as he picked up a soda then took a seat beside Gray at another table filled with couples. Sighing, she went in search of her sister but found her and Derek, sitting on the porch, kissing.
“Can’t you two wait until you get home to do that?” she asked as she took a seat on a chair.
“Now why would we want to do that, Cassie?” Derek asked her.
Cassie laughed. “I have no idea. You two act as if you’re still on your honeymoon, and you’ve been married over ten years now. I’m totally jealous.”
“You just didn’t marry the right man, or you’d still be on yours too. Other men still act the way Derek does, sis.”
“Yeah, shut up, Ariana,” Cassie muttered making Ariana and Derek laugh.
They all looked at the crowd when everyone started applauding. She saw Ash and Gray walking toward a couple who just arrived, hugging them, when they reached them.
“Who are they?” she asked.
“That’s Brayden Beckett. Ash and Gray’s brother,” Ariana told her.
“The one who was in prison,” Cassie murmured.
“Yes. For a crime, he didn’t commit. I need to go say hi,” Derek said and ran down the steps.
“Poor man. Do all the Beckett men look that good?”
Ariana laughed. “Yes. Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
Cassie smiled and followed her sister down the steps and walked toward the couple. Once she reached the couple, Ash took her hand and led her to Brayden, who had a crowd of people around him busy shaking his hand, and slapping him on the back.
“Brayden? This is Cassidy, Brian and Nora’s daughter. Cassidy…my brother, Brayden and his wife, Melissa.”
Brayden grinned at her and shook her hand, as did Melissa. She was a beautiful woman with coffee-colored hair and blue eyes. Brayden had the same eye color and dark hair as Ash and Gray. A lot of people surrounded them, and Cassie got tears in her eyes thinking what Brayden must have gone through.
Ash led her to an older couple and introduced them as his parents, Chester and Lori. She shook their hands, smiling at them. She could see where the brothers got their good looks. Chester and Lori were both tall and lovely people. Ash also introduced her to his other brothers, Gage and Jesse as well as his sister, Danielle and her husband, Brandon, who definitely resembled Robert Redford in the movie, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Then Ash introduced her to his friends, Wyatt and Olivia Stone, who had been at the sale in Butte and Wyatt’s brothers and their wives—Jake and Becca Stone, and Gabe and Emma Stone. She met Ash’s other friends, Brody and Madilyn Morgan, Kelsey and Ryder Wolfe, Riley and Kaitlyn Madison, Preston Mitchell, Reece and Cord Maddox, Bonner Gentry and his fiancée, Stephanie Taylor, along with Reid and Lucy Callahan, and Devin and Jaxon Callahan. The Callahan men were cousins, except Devin and Jaxon, who were brothers, and all were gorgeous too. She was familiar with some of them since she grew up in Hartland and her parents had spoken of them but she never really knew any of them, and that made her sad. She was sure she could become great friends with the women. Ross had deprived her of so much by taking her away from this wonderful area.
Ash tugged on her hand, bringing her thoughts back to now. He introduced her to Sam Garrett, Tess’s husband. As Cassie looked around, she realized she’d never seen so many sexy, good-looking men in one place. Apparently, Montana was the place to be. She looked at Ash to see him staring at her. When he grinned, she could feel the heat in her cheeks, but she smiled back and couldn’t wait to get him alone again.
****
Saturday night finally arrived, and Ash was anxious to see her. He drove onto the road leading to her cabin. Stopping the truck by the porch, he stepped out and walked up the steps to the door. It was still hot even though the sun was starting to dip below the mountains. Ash took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He heard her call out for him to enter. Opening the door, he stepped inside and came to an immediate halt when he saw her standing in the center of the room. Looking at her, he couldn’t seem to catch his breath.
“You’
re beautiful,” he said as he walked to her with one hand behind his back, hiding the single rose he’d brought for her.
Cassidy smiled at him. She wore a tight red dress that ended well above her knees and on her feet were the red stilettos she’d told him about, and had promised she’d wear. Damn, she looked fantastic.
“Thank you. You look very handsome.”
Ash smirked. He wore new jeans and a blue dress shirt. Fancy, he wasn’t…on his feet were his black cowboy boots. He stopped in front of her and held the rose up to her. She gasped.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” she said as she took it, held it to her nose and inhaled. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I’ve never been given flowers.”
“If I’d known that I would have given you a lot more.”
“One is amazing.” She leaned forward and kissed his lips.
Ash slipped his arms around her waist, pulled her closer, and deepened the kiss. Her tongue touched his, and he groaned. She pulled back slowly and looked up into his eyes.
“Now you have lipstick on. Do you know how rare it is that I even wear makeup, and then you kiss it off?”
“I’ll kiss all of it off later because you don’t need makeup. You’re a natural beauty.”
“You always seem to say just the right things, Ash.” She picked up her purse lying on the table, pulled a tissue from it, and wiped his lips then placed the rose in a glass of water and set it on a small end table.
“Gone?” he asked still wiping at his mouth with his fingers.
“Yep. Let’s go, cowboy. The sooner we go, the sooner we return, and hit the sheets.”
Ash laughed. “Hit the sheets?”
Cassidy shrugged. “How would you say it?”
“Make love? Fuck?”
“Ash!”
“What? It’s one or the other, sweetheart.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Making love is slow and easy. A fuck is fast and hard, but both are very satisfying.”
“Damn you, Ashford Beckett. Let’s go.”
She grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door. Ash laughed as he followed her to the truck. He opened the door for her and helped her in then he strode around the front and climbed in. He glanced over at her and smiled then drove them to dinner.
As they sat in the restaurant, Ash couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He grinned when a blush stole across her cheeks.
“Stop staring at me,” she told him.
“I can’t help it. You look gorgeous.” He picked his drink up and raised it to his lips.
Cassidy smiled at him.
“Thank you.” She leaned forward and whispered. “I’m going to wear the stilettos while we…fuck.”
Ash inhaled and choked on his drink. “Damn it, that’s twice.”
Cassidy sat back in her chair and laughed. “Sorry. Just thought I’d throw that out there.”
“Yeah well, if I weren’t so hungry, I’d say the hell with dinner and drag you out of here.”
“We could do it in the truck.”
“Stop,” he groaned making her laugh harder.
After dinner, they walked out hand in hand to the truck. Ash held the door for her and helped her in. He leaned forward and kissed her. She placed her hand on his cheek. Taking her hand in his, he kissed her palm then closed the door and strolled around the truck.
****
Cassie was nervous, and she had no idea why. It wasn’t like this was the first time she was going to have sex with Ash. Maybe she wasn’t so much nervous as excited about it. She watched him climb into the truck and look at her.
“Stop looking at me like that, darlin’ or we will not make it out of this parking lot.”
Cassie laughed low in her throat. “I’m game if you are, cowboy.”
Ash turned to the front and muttered under his breath. “You just sit there and stay quiet while I drive us home.”
Crossing her legs, she nodded. “Yes, sir.” She laughed when he muttered under his breath again.
The drive home ended quickly, and she opened her door but didn’t move since Ash put his hand on her arm and she turned to look at him.
“Stay there,” he told her then exited the truck and strode around to her side. He grabbed her legs and swung them over the seat facing him. He reached under her dress and pulled at her panties. Cassie moaned but raised her hips for him. She watched as he stuffed them into his pocket and then reached for his wallet, and took out a condom. After unzipping his jeans, he rolled the condom on, looked into her eyes, and lowered his head. His finger moved along her wet slit, making her groan.
“Remember what I said about a fuck?” he asked as his lips hovered above hers.
“Yes,” she moaned.
“Well, this is what it’s all about, sweetheart.” He pulled her toward him and thrust into her hard making her gasp.
Cassie wrapped her legs and arms around him, hooked her ankles, and pulled him tighter to her. God, this man was going to be the death of her…but what a way to go. He wrapped one hand around her back and moved the other under her dress. His thumb pushed against her clitoris and just like that, she tumbled over. She buried her face into his neck as she screamed his name when she came. Ash pumped harder and deeper into her then he groaned, and throbbed inside her when his orgasm hit him. After a few more pumps, he leaned his forehead against hers and took deep breaths. She knew how he felt since she was having trouble catching her breath too.
Opening her eyes, she stared into his. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow. I hope I can walk into the house.”
“You’d better because you’re going to have to carry me because I’ll never make it on these heels.”
Ash laughed. “All right.”
He pulled back from her and zipped his jeans then picked her up and carried her inside.
Chapter Twelve
Cassie stood at the stall rubbing Patches’ velvety nose when she heard her father shouting. The man never raised his voice. She turned to head in his direction and she saw Ross barreling down on her.
Damn it! She knew he’d show up eventually but had hoped he never would.
Taking a deep breath, she walked toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Trespassing is what he’s doing,” her father said in an angry tone as he followed Ross.
“I have a right to talk to my wife,” Ross shouted.
“I am not your wife, and you need to leave.” She looked at her now red-faced father. “I’ve got this, Dad.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Ross will be leaving as soon as possible—either on his own or in handcuffs.”
Brian Marlowe stared at his daughter then spun on his heel and walked out of the barn. She saw him put his cell phone to his ear and she had a feeling he was calling the sheriff. She hoped.
“Cass, we need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Ross. We’re divorced, and you need to find some other woman to fuck around on.”
His mouth dropped open at her choice of words she was sure. “I promise you, they meant nothing to me.”
“Apparently, I didn’t either. A real man doesn’t screw around on his wife. Those vows should mean something to him.”
“I’ll get counseling. Anything you want.”
“Anything?” she asked.
“Yes, just name it.”
“Fine. What I want is for you to leave and never come back.”
“Cass…” Ross stepped forward and took her arm in his hand.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Ash shouted as he entered the barn.
Cassie watched as Ash practically marched down the aisle of the barn and stopped beside her and Ross. She watched as his eyes narrowed as he stared at Ross.
“Who the hell are you?” Ross asked him.
“Ash is a…friend,” she said then blushed when Ash turned those ice blue eyes on her.
“A friend? Well, listen, friend, Cass and I are
talking about getting back together. We don’t need your input.”
Cassie gasped. “That’s a lie. We will never get back together. You can’t keep it in your pants. I’m so glad we didn’t have children.” She tightened her hands into fists to keep from hitting him when he laughed.
“We didn’t have kids because I had a vasectomy before we got married.”
“What?” Cassie asked.
“Yep. I never wanted––” He never finished his statement because Cassie drew her fist back and punched him in his nose. He hit the floor hard.
“Get out of here and never come back or I will let Dad have you arrested for trespassing,” she said through clenched teeth and watched as blood poured from his nose.
“Cassie? What’s going on?” She looked up to see Gray striding toward her with his badge shining on his khaki shirt.
“I want him out of here, Gray,” she said, pointing to her ex lying in the dirt.
“He’s trespassing, Grayson. I want him off my land,” Brian said from behind Gray.
Gray leaned down and pulled Ross to his feet. “Do you want to press charges?”
“I do. She hit––”
“Not you,” Gray said and turned to Brian. “Brian?”
“Not this time but if he steps foot on my land again, I will.”
Gray nodded and led Ross from the barn. The tears she’d been trying to hold back spilled down over her cheeks. Ash stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. She put her arms around his waist and sobbed.
“It’ll be all right, darlin’,” Ash murmured to her.
“He lied to me. All those years, he lied about wanting kids.”
“I’m so sorry, baby.” He kissed the top of her head then chuckled. Cassie leaned back and looked up at him. He shrugged. “Sorry, but when you slugged him…it was great. He hit the floor like a hole opened under him.”
Cassie smiled and a laugh bubbled up, but then she sobered thinking how Ross had lied all along about wanting children. All those years, he’d lied. The laughter quickly morphed into sobs when she placed her head against Ash’s chest and cried. Neither she nor Ash noticed her father leaving the barn.
****
Damn Ross Porter. Ash would love to kick his ass. He gritted his teeth when he thought of Ross lying to Cassidy the entire time they’d been married. Of course, the man had screwed around on her so nothing should surprise Ash about him. She hiccupped and raised her head to look up at him. Tears spiked her lashes, and it tore him apart. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss.
Ash: A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 2 (The Beckett Brothers) Page 14
