by SJ McCoy
Gina looked at Mason. “You tell them.”
“We’ve decided to get married at the end of August.” He looked at Shane. “Given that Mom and Dad want to leave in September, we figured we can time it so that we move into the big house after the wedding.”
Shane slapped his back. “Congratulations—and about time, too!”
Cassidy leaned over to hug Gina. “I love it!”
“Well I hope the timing works for you, because I want you to be my bridesmaid.”
“You do?”
“Of course I do. If you will?”
“I’d love to. I’d be honored to.”
“And it’ll make life a lot easier that I won’t have to worry about my Best Man getting in trouble with the bridesmaid.” He looked at Shane. “Since he’s already with the bridesmaid.”
Cassidy loved seeing how thrilled Shane was. “Me?” he asked, his eyes shining happily.
Mason nodded. “Yes you.”
“I mean I know I’m the obvious choice and everything. You want the best looking brother in your wedding photos,” he said with a grin.
Cassidy slapped his arm.
He sobered slightly, giving Mason a serious look. “What about the others?”
Mason looked serious too for a moment. “You’re right, you are the obvious choice. To me at least. If it weren’t for you, there would be no me and Gina…first time around or second. Carter would hate to be asked, because he wouldn’t want to upset anyone, plus he’d hate to do it. I can’t ask Chance because I wouldn’t want to piss Beau off, and to be honest, Beau and I just aren’t that close.” He grinned. “So I’m stuck with you.”
Cassidy loved how close the two of them were as she watched them punch each other’s arms. She turned to Gina who rolled her eyes. “What are we getting ourselves into?” she asked.
Shane grinned. “You’re getting yourselves into the Remington clan, is what you’re getting into.” He held Cassidy’s gaze for a moment. “Marrying into this family is going to be one hell of a ride. But I’m pretty sure you can handle it.”
Oh, no! He wasn’t going to ask her, was he? She’d already decided she was going to ask him. She smiled at him. “I can handle anything you throw at me. You already know this.”
She was aware that Gina and Mason were watching them, no doubt wondering the same as she was—was Shane going to ask her?
“Oh shit!” The laughter faded from his face as he looked toward the door.
She followed his gaze and saw Katie Bell standing there. Ugh. Why did she have to keep turning up and trying to ruin things? She was surprised to see a guy come in through the door to join her. Good. Hopefully she’d moved on to him and would forget about Shane and leave them in peace.
After Katie arrived, Shane seemed edgy. He was quieter than usual and kept shooting a glance toward the table where Katie and her date were sitting. It bothered Cassidy. She didn’t want that little cow to put a damper on their evening just by being there. The others noticed it, too, and once their plates were cleared, Mason called for the check.
He waved Shane off when he tried to take it. “This one’s on me, for my Best Man and his girl.” He grinned and added. “It’ll be your turn soon enough.”
Shane nodded, but he didn’t look very happy about it. Cassidy had to wonder if she was wrong about him wanting to marry her. Surely if he did he’d be excited to think that he’d be buying dinner for his own Best Man soon?
She took hold of his hand on the way back to the truck. “Are you okay?”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. She loved it when he did that! “I’m fine, Princess.”
“You don’t seem it. You haven’t since Katie came in.”
He nodded. “Sorry. There’s something I need to tell you. Come on, let’s get home.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Shane was quiet on the drive back. He was mad at himself and mad at Katie. He’d gotten caught up in the moment at dinner and had been on the verge of asking Cassidy to marry him right there. It would have been special. But Katie had to walk in. He didn’t want her of all people to witness his proposal—to know about him and Cassidy getting engaged before even his parents or his other brothers. It just wouldn’t have been right. So he hadn’t done it. But it had spoiled the rest of the evening for him.
Now as they drove home, he realized that Cassidy might be thinking something else entirely. He looked across at her. “It’s not what you think.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know what to think. All I know is that Katie still has enough power over you to spoil our evening.”
“No! It’s not like that!” He reached for her hand. “I need to explain.”
“Yes, you do. But it can wait until we get home. You need to focus on the road for now.” She gave him his hand back. She was right of course. You had to keep a sharp eye out for deer on the road at night. They drove on in silence.
Once they got home he poured them each a glass of wine and took them outside onto the deck over the river.
Cassidy took hers and went to lean on the railing. “So, tell me what the problem was?”
How could he tell her? That would mean telling her that he was about to ask her to marry him. He still wanted to ask her, but he didn’t want to be forced into it by Katie Bell! He could tell her half the story at least though. “She came out to see me at the barn this afternoon. I was going to tell you as soon as I got home, but we were running late, and then we were at dinner, and I just didn’t get a chance. When she showed up in there, part of me was afraid that she was going to come over and mention that she’d seen me today. I thought she was going to try to cause trouble, and I felt bad that I hadn’t told you about her little visit.”
Cassidy stared at him for a long moment, her expression inscrutable. He waited. He’d understand if she were pissed at him. He’d been pissed that she hadn’t told him about that Justin guy. As the silence lengthened he could tell she was chewing the inside of her lip. What was she battling with herself about? Whatever it was she reached her conclusion and smiled at him. “I’ll be glad when we’re past the stage where other people can cause problems between us.”
He grinned and went to lean against the rail beside her. “I think we already are, aren’t we? We might both get wound up initially, but every time something like this comes up we manage to talk it through without it becoming a major issue.” He turned and kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m proud of us. Some couples take years to get to where we are.”
She smiled. “Yeah, I guess they do, but we seem to be on the fast track with everything we do.”
“We do, don’t we.” Maybe it was time to ask her. “There’s something else I’ve been thinking we might want to fast track.”
She cocked her head to one side. Her smile was almost that scary one again. She had something up her sleeve. “Before you tell me what it is, do you mind if I ask you one more thing?”
He nodded. It was better that she get everything off her chest before he went for it. “Ask away.”
He couldn’t quite believe it when she dropped down on one knee in front of him and took hold of his hand. She’d never looked more beautiful than she did in that moment. Her honey colored hair shone in the moonlight; her honey colored eyes gleamed as she smiled up at him.
“Shane Remington, you cocky, arrogant, adorable man. I love you. Will you marry me?”
Damn! As his eyes filled with tears he understood how women must feel. He stared back down at her, momentarily stuck for words, but he knew the idiotic grin on his face was making his answer clear. He dropped to his own knees and took her face between his hands.
“Yes! Yes, I will marry you. And yes, I’m happy to give you the win on this one. I love you, Cassidy Lane, with all my heart and soul.”
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her as they both knelt there on the deck out under the big starry sky.
When they finally came up for air she grinned at him. “I beat yo
u to it.”
He had to laugh. “You did, and I love that you did, but don’t get too carried away by your victory. It was a closer run thing than you think.”
She laughed. “I thought you were supposed to be working on accepting defeat gracefully?”
“I am! And I don’t consider this a defeat! But just so you know.” He dug around in his jeans pocket and pulled out the little box he’d been keeping with him at all times for the last few days.
Her eyes widened as she watched him open it. “See?” He winked at her.
She nodded. “I’m happy to share this victory with you. But don’t get used to it. This is a special exception.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t expect otherwise. Now…” He took the ring out of the box and took hold of her hand. “Before you shut me down, this is what I wanted us to fast track. Cassidy Lane, beautiful, talented, challenging lady that you are, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “It’ll be my honor, Shane.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and wrapped her in his arms.
As they lay in bed later that night, Shane hugged her close as he spooned her. “Can you think of anything else we can fast track?” he asked.
“Umm, I think we just covered the biggie,” she replied.
“What about babies?”
She rolled over to look into his eyes. “What about babies?”
He couldn’t read her expression. “Do you want a family?”
She nodded. “But I’m not sure it’s something I want to fast track.” She laughed. “Unless you’re going to stay home to take care of them?”
He grinned. “I was thinking that I could provide them with their good looks and you could provide them with the nurturing?”
She laughed and slapped his arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. They’ll get their good looks from their momma.”
“Yeah, I can’t argue with that one. Sure seems like you’re winning them all tonight.”
“Ha! You’re the one winning, you got me. What more could you ask for?”
“Nothing, nothing at all. I hope we will have kids someday, but even if we never do, it doesn’t matter as long as I have you.”
She snuggled into his chest. “You’ll always have me, and I’ll always have you. I love you, Shane. And besides, no one else could handle you.”
He laughed and kissed her neck. “No one else could handle you!”
She chuckled. “Very true. Now do you think we can stop arguing long enough to practice our baby making skills?”
He rolled her onto her back and pinned her wrists to the bed above her head. “I thought you’d never ask!”
~ ~ ~
Cassidy laughed at Shane as he tried to get comfortable in the passenger seat of her Beetle as they headed up to town. It wasn’t made for someone his size.
“Remind me again why we couldn’t bring my truck?” he asked.
“Because, much as you like to call me Princess, I have no desire to be chauffeured around everywhere the whole time. Whenever we go anywhere you always drive. Today is a big day, and I want to drive.”
He closed his hand around the back of her neck. “It’s a big day for me, too. Don’t you think a guy would like to arrive in his own truck?”
She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t take her eyes off the road. “Is that your ego talking, by any chance? Mr. Big Man doesn’t want everyone to see him arrive in my girly little Beetle?”
He laughed. “No. More like Mr. Big Man, doesn’t want to have to walk around crunched over all afternoon after being cramped into a vehicle that’s way too small for him to fit in.”
“Ah, sorry. Point taken”
“Thank you. Would you mind if, as a wedding gift, I buy you an SUV?”
She glanced over at him. “Mind? I’d love it. I’ve been thinking about needing one. Something with four-wheel drive?”
He shook his head at her. “Err, yeah! I can’t believe you survived a winter here without it.”
She huffed. “Well, I didn’t know, did I?”
“Well now you do. But don’t worry, you’ve got your big strong hubby to take care of you and all the practical details now.”
She reached over and squeezed his hand. “If that was an attempt to wind me up, you failed.”
“I did?”
“Yep.” She grinned. “When it’s you, I love the idea.”
He squeezed her hand back. “You have no idea how happy that makes me. I don’t want to smother you, and I do respect how strong you are, but I still want to be your man, you know?”
She nodded. She did know, and she loved it—loved him for it.
She found a parking spot close to the gallery and pulled over. “Well, are you ready to go do this?”
“I will be, just as soon as I can prize myself out of this tin can!”
She laughed. “Quit whining and get moving.”
She did feel a bit bad as he got out and stretched his legs and rubbed his neck. Then he took her hand and they started walking toward the Railroad Café. Shane had called around the family this morning and asked them all to meet him there for lunch. He said his parents often had lunch there on a Saturday so it made sense to get everyone together while they were up there.
Cassidy had to wonder if they had any clue about the news they were about to hear. Once they entered and the hostess led them toward a long table, she got the idea that at least some of them did. Shane’s parents were already there. She liked them. They greeted her warmly with hugs and what she had to think were expectant smiles. She’d been a little concerned that they might think she and Shane were moving too fast, but he had assured her that was far from the case. Mason and Gina were there, too. From the way Gina was grinning at her, Cassidy would bet that she’d guessed.
As they took their seats, Beau arrived. It was a nice change to see him all smiles. He even came and gave her a hug, though he seemed clueless as to why everyone had been summoned together again. Carter was the next to arrive. He was subdued and took a seat next to his mom. Chance came hurrying in a few moments later, apologizing for being late.
He grasped Shane’s shoulder. “I hope this isn’t going to take too long? I need to get back to it.”
Shane grinned. “It won’t take long, but I think you’ll be glad you came.”
“Do we want to order first?” asked his mom as the waitress hovered by the table.
“No,” said Shane, holding up a hand to the girl to let her know to give them a few minutes. “Cassidy and I have something to tell you and we don’t want to wait.”
“We know that much,” said Beau with a laugh. “So get on and tell us what it is!”
Cassidy loved Shane all the more as he looked at her, asking with his eyes whether she wanted to be the one to tell them. She gave him the slightest shake of her head and smiled encouragingly. She may love to take the lead, but this was for him to do. This was his family, and he was the man. The grateful smile he gave her confirmed once again just how right he was for her. If he’d wanted to, he could have just gone ahead and told them, but they were a team. He understood her and wanted to work with her.
He beamed around the table at his family and without preamble he simply stated. “We’re getting married!”
Their reactions were everything she might have hoped for and more. There was much back slapping and hugging. Each and every one of them was genuinely pleased and happy to tell them both so. Even Beau came to give her a hug.
“I never thought he’d find the woman who could handle him, let alone tame him.”
She laughed. “It’s not that I’ve tamed him Beau, it’s just that we’re the same kind of wild.”
“Well whatever it is, it works for you. I couldn’t be happier for you both.”
She was pleased to watch him and Shane hug; it was the most genuine affection she’d seen between the two of them.
His mom, Monique, came and wrapped her in a hug. “I knew it the night you made h
im model for us.”
Cassidy laughed. “You don’t think it’s too fast?” She’d hate to think that his parents had any reservations about this. Monique laughed. “Honestly, we’ve been wondering what was taking you so long!” She turned to her husband who was smiling at her side. “Isn’t that right, Dave?”
He nodded. “Someday we’ll tell you about how we got together.” He put an arm around his wife, and Cassidy loved the smile that passed between them, hoping that someday wouldn’t be too far away. She’d love to know their story.”
Monique frowned as she looked toward the door. Cassidy blew out an exasperated sigh as she saw Katie standing there. Did she have a damned tracking device on them or something?
Shane had spotted her, too, and came to stand by Cassidy’s side as she approached. Cassidy smiled up at him. “We are past the stage where other people can cause trouble for us, right?”
“Too damned right,” he replied through gritted teeth. “But I’m getting pretty sick of her trying.”
Cassidy took hold of his hand. “This’ll be the last time she does.”
Shane raised an eyebrow at her and chuckled. “Damn, that sounds scary. Remind me never to mess with you.”
She had to laugh with him. “I don’t need to. You know better. Now I just have to teach her the same thing.” She turned to Katie who had just reached the table. “Katie, what can I do for you?”
“Actually, it’s what I can do for you.”
“Oh, and what’s that then?”
“I can save you from making a fool of yourself.”
Cassidy deliberately brought her left hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Katie’s eyes widened when she noticed the ring. Her eyes flashed with anger.
“You really don’t want to marry him.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. I do want to marry him. I am going to marry him. You’d better get used to the idea.”
“So you’re happy to marry a man who is still…” she shot a look at Dave and Monique and chose her words carefully. “Seeing another woman?”
