DumbAtHeart.epub

by Amarinda Jones

  “There is no word in any language that would make that happen.” While she

  liked confidence in men, this man was slimy with it.

  “You’re feisty. I like that.” He nodded in approval. “But seriously, Evan’s a great

  bloke, but he’s not the ride I am.”

  Ride? Not for all the money on earth. “But seriously, I have work to do.”

  He sighed. “As do I. A man spends a couple of days away prospecting and the

  kitchen goes to hell.”

  Cass doubted that as Flo and Jo were very capable people who could do just

  about anything. “Prospecting?”

  “There’s gold out in them there hills.” He winked at her.

  “Ah, yes, the fabled Throcker gold.” Cass considered it more fable than fact and

  more than likely an enjoyable event that brought people together. “Don’t you have to

  wait for the annual Throcker Thrash to start?”

  “Rules are for people with no imagination. The gold is out there and I mean to

  take it. I’ve been searching for two years for it. That alone makes it mine.” He sounded certain of that fact.

  Cass could see how Adele and he were a couple. There was a selfish, hard edge

  to them that wasn’t the slightest bit appealing. “Well, good luck with that.”

  Murdo leaned back against the wall and assessed her. “Evan has no ambition, you

  know. He wants a simple life. There’s no fun in that. A woman with spirit like you

  would get bored.”

  A woman like me? Pretentious sod. “You don’t know me or my spirit let alone

  how I feel about your cousin. Besides you have a girlfriend.” And Adele could have

  him. There would be no contest on that.

  “Adele is an easy lay, that’s all.”

  She rolled her eyes at his words. “No really, the more you speak the more I want

  you—not.”

  “You’ll change your mind when I strike gold.”

  “I can’t be bought.” While Cass liked money because it enabled her to live her

  life, she didn’t need millions of dollars to make her happy.

  “Everyone can be. Besides, what have you got but for two chooks that would be

  good fricasseed or maybe sauté in a nice rich curry.”

  “Touch my chickens and you will die.” There was not much Cass held sacred in

  life, but those she loved, feathers and all, were sacred to her.

  He whistled low. “Yep, you’re feisty. Picture you and me all hot and sweaty. You

  know it would be good.”

  Leering, to Cass’s mind, would never be an attractive look. “I prefer Evan.” One

  hundred million times over.

  “You love him?”

  Er, no. Well, maybe. Possibly. Jeez. Perhaps. “Yes.” If that’s what it took to get

  him off her back.

  Murdo tilted his head and considered her. “Wow, you really mean it.”

  It was at the moment Evan appeared. He looked from Cass to his cousin and back

  again.

  “She loves you,” Murdo told him.

  “I know that. And I love her, so back the hell off, cousin of mine.”

  Cass was surprised at his words. Really? Or is he just playing along to get rid of

  his Neanderthal cousin?

  Murdo held his hands up in surrender. “You can’t blame a man for trying to get

  some action.”

  “You’re very trying.” Cass responded over sweetly.

  Murdo laughed. “Yep. Feisty. Shame.” He pushed off from the wall. “The

  kitchen awaits.” He strolled off in that direction.

  “Well, he’s a pig.” There was no point pretending otherwise.

  “Oh, yeah.” Evan’s gaze was soft on hers.

  “You know I just said what I did to get him to back off.”

  Evan contemplated her for a long moment before speaking. “There’s no time

  limit on falling in love, Cassie.”

  The way he said her name was like a caress. She shivered. “No, but we’re not are

  we?”

  “Aren’t we?”

  She jumped slightly. “What are you saying?’ Did Evan love her? How do I feel

  about that?

  “What do you think I’m saying?”

  Once, she thought she had been in love with the lying, cheating ratfink Wade.

  She was no expert on the emotion. While it was true Evan was not Wade, in any way,

  shape or form, she wasn’t about to stumble and fall flat on her face again over love.

  “I, er—I’ve got work to do.” Work was safe. No one ever fell in love with a job.

  “Come Throcker thrashing with me tomorrow, Cassie.”

  The way he said it was soft and low and like he was promising her the moon and

  the stars. “Maybe.” I’m not adverse to star light.

  “Cassie?”

  “Okay, I’ll be there.” By your side, trying not to do anything dumb like fall in

  love with you.

  * * * * *

  Later that night, her sleep was disturbed as a large, male body, crawled into her

  bed beside her. Cass woke with a shock and started to yell. A hand clapped over

  mouth. A leg pinned her thighs.

  “Don’t move,” he ordered.

  Cass started to tremble. “But—”she mumbled underneath the fleshy barrier

  against her lips. A broad, naked male torso rolled on top of her, pinning her to the

  bed. She could feel every muscle, every breath the man took.

  “Lie still and no one gets hurt.”

  And then his hand lifted and his lips were on hers. They were firm and demanding. Evan. Cass reached for his shoulders, gripping them hard. Her body writhed under him as his hands started pulling at her night dress. It was thin and

  flimsy and it tore easily. She gasped against his lips. Her body was bared for his

  taking. Oh, god, I want that so bad.

  He lifted his mouth from hers, his fingers dropping down to her pussy, stroking

  her clit. “No panties. Were you waiting for me? ”

  Cass pushed at his bare shoulders. She was pinned. It was dark. She had lost all

  control. “Please—” She gasped as one long finger slid inside her vagina.

  “Please, what?” He growled, his finger started to move slowly in and out of her

  body.

  Instinct made her push down to meet each thrust. “Please stop—”

  “Do you really want that? I can feel how wet and needy you are for me.”

  She was. Desperately so. “Yes. Stop. Now.” She needed to catch her breath. “It

  was all so fast. She’s had no time to think. But that’s maybe what he wanted. “Please

  —”

  “Really?” He nipped at her ear lobe.

  She was writhing under him like a slut in heat. What is wrong with me? I’m never

  like this. “Yes. Stop.” Her hands left his shoulders and dropped back over her head.

  Cass knew she would submit to anything he wanted. They both knew it.

  “Cassie?’ Evan sounded confused.

  She giggled. “Take your jeans off. They’re scratchy.”

  He blew out a breath. “For a moment I thought you were going to tell me to

  leave.”

  “Would you?” She watched, in the half light, as he got up from the bed and

  started to undo his jeans.

  “Yeah, but I wouldn’t have been happy.”

  That was nice. He wanted her. It was a powerful feeling to know she turned this

  man on. “Well, get naked and get happy with me.” She licked her lips as his dick

  came into view. “Yeah, let’s get really, really happy.”

  Evan laughed. His jeans hit the ground. He reached over to snap on th
e bedside

  light. “Anything my lady wants.”

  Cass lay back and enjoyed the sight before her. Evan was a beautiful, real man

  with hair roughened muscles and the loveliest, erect dick she knew she would have

  the pleasure of again.

  “Better?” He arched one brow in amusement.

  I love it. I love you. She stiffened at the thought. Love? Where did that come

  from? This is sex, girl. Remember that. You thought you were in love before, dummy.

  “Are you okay?” He sat down on the bed beside her.

  “Yes.” I think I may love you. How do you feel about that? Bizarro world. “Get

  into bed.” She scooted over slightly to accommodate his body.

  “Hi,” he mounted her body. His hands cupped her breasts

  Perfec t. “Hi, yourself.” She loved the weight of him pressing down on her.

  “What’s your plan here, fella?”

  “I plan to fuck you. Are you on board with that?”

  “You’re on board me now, so yeah.” She spread her legs, letting his body sink

  down between them.

  “Just like that?”

  “We’re naked. We’re in bed. You’re loaded.” His dick felt full and hard against

  her inner thigh. “And I’m wet…so very wet for you.” Never would she have spoken

  to Wade like this but then Wade was and never could be Evan.

  “You say the best things, Cassie.”

  “You do the best things, Evan.”

  He chuckled and lifted up so his dick teased the entrance of her cunt. “Want it

  slow?”

  “Yes.” Push it in.

  “Fast?” He answered her unspoken words and slid the head of his dick inside her

  wet core.

  Oh yeah, baby. Keep going. She wanted to feel him in her stomach. “Yes-s-s-.”

  “Hot?” He shoved inside her hard, the shaft driving up fast and high. He stopped.

  She moaned and clutched at his ass. “Oh, yes, please.”

  “Sticky?” Evan kissed her bottom lip.

  “Yes.” There was no other answer that made sense to Cass. It would always be

  yes when it came to Evan.

  “You want me bad.”

  “I want you good.” Her legs lifted and wrapped around his waist.

  “I’m always good, Cassie.”

  I know. Lordy, how I know. “Fuck me. Fill me.”

  Evan groaned at her words as he started to move inside her. “You drive me

  crazy.” He pulled out of her body. “Ready?”

  Cass cried out as his dick slammed back inside hard. He did that several times.

  All the way out before slamming back in, making her breathless as she held on for the

  ride. It was rough and hard but she liked it. “Don’t stop.”

  “As you desire, my lady.” His lips met hers in a hungry kiss.

  Maybe other women may not have enjoyed the deep, body shaking thrusts but

  Cass loved the way they made her feel full and alive. It was like she was made for

  hard loving and Evan was the man to do it. Each plunging motion had his pelvic bone

  connect with her clit. The sensation had her pushing her hips up against him wanting

  more. And then he became faster as the need between them escalated. Cassie held on,

  kissing the man and enjoying every moment. This is what she wanted. This is what

  she would miss when she left Mundabucka. Leave Mundabucka? Leave Evan? The

  thought made her whimper. I don’t think I can leave now. How did he get into my

  heart so fast?

  Evan stopped, his lips left hers. “Are you okay?”

  “Don’t stop ever.” Her mouth suctioned on to his.

  When he came inside her she sighed and held on for each undulating moment as

  her body was filled with his cum.

  “Cassie?” He breathed against her neck as their bodies slowed down.

  “Yeah?” She cuddled against him, loving the feel of his skin and the stickiness of

  their entwined thighs.

  “Don’t leave town without me.”

  She leaned in and kissed his nose. That was becoming more and more the plan.

  Chapter Eight

  It was hot and dusty out at the Throcker property. Most of Mundabucka was

  there. Stalls were set up and everything from the Country Women’s Association selling lamingtons and cakes to the Boy Scouts with their win a ham raffle tickets to a

  large inflated jumping castle set up for the kids as their fathers watched on from the

  metal cook plate of the sausage sizzle.

  “Big day out,” Cass observed, glad she had worn a hat as the sun was blisteringly

  hot. It felt like her thongs were sticking to the red dirt. She brushed the flies from her

  legs. What her shorts didn’t cover, sunscreen did and it seemed to be attracting the

  flies. But it was better than getting burnt or a skin cancer.

  “Yeah, it’s always fun,” Evan agreed as he walked beside her.

  “The local hardware store must do well on the sales of shovels and picks. Cass

  noticed that everyone seemed to have some digging implement in hand. But, despite

  that, it seemed more a carnival and a town get-together than a serious search for gold.

  “Anyone ever found any gold out here?”

  “Only a gold tooth that dropped out of Phil’s mouth,” Evan replied, brushing a

  fly from his face

  “A whole gold tooth?” That seemed weird to Cass considering Phil’s two front

  teeth were missing. “Why didn’t he get his front teeth replaced also?”

  Evan grinned. “I’m not sure. Phil’s a law unto himself. He never had the gold

  tooth that was found put back in his mouth. Instead he had it made into a pendant. He

  often wears it on a chain around his neck.”

  “Seriously?” The outback had characters you never found in the big cities.

  “Yeah, I’ll get him to show you.”

  Cass held her hand up. “No, I’m good with the legend of it.” She looked at the

  old homestead. It had attracted her attention from the first moment they arrived at the

  Throcker property. It was mostly wood with a large, wide verandah that encircled it

  three quarters of the way around. The rusted, corrugated iron roof was pitched high

  up, giving it an imposing look. Cass suspected it was done that way to allow for better

  climate control in a world where air conditioners had not been invented. Stone steps

  led up to the front door that was framed by old, cracked leadlight glass.

  “They should be preserving this. It’s history and it’s falling apart.” Cass could see

  most of the glass in the windows was gone or broken and if there had been guttering it

  had long since disintegrated. A lopsided water tank swayed away from the house on a

  rickety wooden stand that had seen better days.

  Evan nodded and looked at the house. “They’ve talked about it.”

  “Talk doesn’t get it done. History is lost due to non-action.” She never realized,

  until now, how passionate she could be about an inanimate object.

  He turned from the house to look at her. “Put your hand up for the job.”

  “Yeah, I could, but I’m not staying in Mundabucka.” Even as she said the words,

  Cass realized that her initial plan to escape reality for a while had changed to another

  reality and he was standing right beside her.

  “Aren’t you?”

  “No.” She thought for a moment. A flat out ‘no’ seemed wrong to her. “I don’t

  know.” That at least was honest.

  “Where do you think you belong?”

  ‘With you�
�� was the answer but that was crazy and too soon and fueled by sex to

  be rational. “I don’t know.”

  Evan placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his side. “Yeah,

  you do,” he said whispering in her ear.

  “Sex does not make a home.” She glanced sideways at him. What does he feel?

  Need? Is it me or am I just getting caught up in the moment?

  “Did I say it did?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want a home?”

  “Everyone does.” She was thirty-two. It wasn’t until she launched herself off on

  her Mundabucka adventure that she realized that.

  “Tired of wandering aimlessly, Cassie?” He hugged her closer to him.

  “I’m—” A gun went off with a loud bag. Cass jumped and looked in the direction

  of the shot. “What the hell was that?” She could see the finger deficit Phil with a shot

  gun in his hand and people scrambling around him.

  “That, my dear, is the start of the Throcker Thrash.”

  “Should he be firing a gun?”

  “Phil’s the best shot in the district.”

  “Right.” Scary. Cass watched as people abandoned stalls and started to head off

  in all directions with picks, shovels and buckets in hand. She pushed slightly away

  from Evan. “Where do you look for the gold? Is there an established protocol for

  thrashing?”

  “Maybe I’ve already found my fortune.” Evan pulled her back against him and

  kissed her cheek.

  That was nice but she was starting to get a little overwhelmed. Cass could have

  blamed the heat or the dust or the flies. But it was more than that. Her plan had been

  to come to Mundabucka and just work and not think about anything in particular.

  Evan had changed that. Sex had changed that. He was beautiful and sweet and

  everything any woman would want in a man. She questioned whether he was an easy

  solution to her problems. One man had hurt her, another was healing her. Was there

  more to what they had than that? Did she want to need a man in her life again? She

  didn’t believe Evan would let her down but she was wary of the cocktail of emotions

  being stirred up inside her. “Evan?”

  “I can see the wheels spinning in your head, Cassie.”

  “It’s just that—” Just what? Just that I think I may be in love with you? That I’m

  scared of loving you, knowing that this may only just be sex?