by Vivian Arend
Wanted to belong, for Travis’s and Cassidy’s sakes, if not her own.
Jaxi passed a bowl. “Cassidy got on at the garage. Are you looking for work in town, Ashley?”
She shook her head and explained about the art show.
“Plus she did the brochures for Karen,” Mike Coleman reminded Jaxi. He turned to Ashley. “I saw a copy. Fine work on them.”
“Thanks.” She ducked her head to glance down the long body-filled table until she found her target. “I was looking at the website you have for your woodworking shop, Daniel. If you’d like me to make a new header, that’s not a problem. Or a brochure, or whatever.”
Damn, she sounded far too eager.
But Daniel smiled. “That could work. We’ll talk more on Sunday.”
Ashley turned to pass the bowl to Marion on her right and caught Travis’s mom frowning, her gaze stuck off in the distance. Ashley lowered the bowl without saying anything, focusing back on the conversation between two of the boys in the opposite direction.
Uncomfortable, yes. But nothing that wasn’t livable with. Under the table, she caught Cassidy’s fingers and held on tight. She could accept uncomfortable for now, and give them all time to find their way.
By Friday she was more than ready to get the rest of it over, though. At least this time she could have a few drinks or drag one of her guys onto the dance floor when she needed a break from all the family togetherness.
She’d wanted roots, only she hadn’t realized grafting into an established family meant so damn many branches were already in place. It was crowded at times for someone who’d had no one to consider but herself for years.
But tonight would be different. She attempted to distract herself by checking out everything passing them by. She leaned over Cassidy to peer out the window. “Oh, I like that truck. The red one, with the lift kit.” She twisted back to grin at Travis. “Can we do that to yours?”
“Do it to your own vehicle,” Travis said, turning into the parking lot at Traders and heading for an open space.
“Sure. My van would look so right with that. Not.” She followed him out the driver’s door, accepting his hand as Cassidy joined them. Butterflies danced in her belly. Stupid, really. These were people she’d met before. Some wouldn’t care what they were up to, some wouldn’t notice.
Vicki snagged her by the hand and dragged her away from Travis and Cassidy in the first ten seconds of their arrival. “I’ve been waiting for you. Come on.”
Ashley glanced over her shoulder at the guys. “Have fun. I’ll see you at closing.”
Cassidy laughed. “Bullshit. Dance floor. One hour.”
She winked and gave in to Vicki, following her to the area by the pool tables where the Coleman clan was already gathered. They’d pulled tables together and laughter rose from the group of women, loud and slightly dirty as they eyed the guys shooting pool.
Vicki banged on the table briefly. “Everyone, Ashley. Ashley—meet everyone. If you don’t know their name, throw something at them to get their attention.”
Hope patted the chair next to her. “But first, come sit by me. I want you to tell me about your art.”
Ashley sat, but she looked around instead. “Let me count bodies, to see who I know.”
Vicki held up a glass. “Beer? Pop?”
Oh hell, yes. “Alcohol of any form, please and thank you. If you’ve got pitchers going, I’m good.”
Hope leaned in close. “You want to watch something entertaining, check out Karen Coleman. She’s being stalked, and it’s hilarious.”
“What?” Ashley followed Hope’s pointing finger to identify Karen, who she’d not yet met in person. “Who’s stalking her?”
“Finn, one of the Marlette men who came out to help at the ranch over the summer.” Hope chuckled, her laugh low and twisted. “It’s funny when they’re in denial.”
Ashley watched over the edge of her glass as Karen leaned on a pillar nearby the table. She was chatting with Jaxi and the friendly, door-knocking cop, Anna. On the opposite side of the thick wooden post, a solidly built man had paused, his thick upper arms fighting with the sleeves of his T-shirt. He folded his arms and rested within easy listening range, but out of sight.
“I hope they’re talking about him,” Ashley said.
Hope sputtered into her drink. “God, you’re eviler than me.”
Vicki beamed. “Told you she’d fit in well.”
“You did, now shut up and tell me about your classes.” Hope rested her arm along the back of Ashley’s chair, comfortably close and accepting. “Do you need a guinea pig for Baking 101 or bacon-wrapped anything days?”
Over the next hour, Ashley learned that Vicki was attending a few cooking classes and that Hope’s quilt shop was doing well enough she’d hired a couple part-time staff to help her. Beth had left the local high school and was now teaching distance-learning math classes for homeschoolers using the computer.
Add in the cousins and the girlfriends and…Ashley’s head was spinning. She loved people, but this? Was a little much.
Needing a break, Ashley slipped away from the table and headed toward where the guys were still playing. Travis was eyeing the arrangement and deciding his best shot. Cassidy stood behind him with his beer lifted to his lips. When Travis stepped forward and leaned over, reaching his pool cue forward, Cassidy’s gaze instinctively dropped to Travis’s ass.
Ashley grinned.
Grinned even harder when Cassidy realized where he was looking and snapped himself to vertical, turning away slightly.
She snuck to his side and tugged his mug from his fingers. “You have good taste in ass.”
Cassidy’s cheeks flushed. “Not so loud.”
“Well, you do.” She smirked before stealing a few sips of beer.
“Yeah, but I shouldn’t broadcast it.” Cassidy took back his mug before she could chug down the second half. “I know we said we wouldn’t hide, but there’s no need to shove it in everyone’s face.”
Oh, the images that leapt to mind at his comment. “You’d better finish playing pool soon so I can dirty dance with you. Give me a way to deal with all the naughty things drifting through my brain.”
“Hey,” Joel called. “You’re up, Cassidy. Stop fooling around.”
“He’s not,” Ashley said, swinging herself up on one of the tall stools beside their table. “He’s practicing the fine art of public foreplay. All talk, no touch, but highly effective.”
Matt laughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before grinning. “Dirty talk does it for you?”
“Does for most women.” She let the devil on her shoulder have free rein, leaning back to see the table where she’d left the ladies. “Hey, Hope?” she called loud enough to be heard over the music and voices.
Hope twisted toward her, most of the rest of the table following suit. “Yeah?”
“You get off on dirty talk? Matt wants to know.”
A series of snorts and chuckles burst out around her, getting louder when Hope shifted upward in her chair and leaned in Matt’s direction. Her long hair fell around her shoulders, and she lowered her chin to stare at him with half-lidded eyes. “Oh, he knows exactly what words get me hot, don’t you, love?”
“Fucking right.” Matt shook his finger at Ashley as the ladies rose from the table and headed toward their guys or the dance floor. “You busted up our game.”
“Tell me you’re pissed that you get to hang on to Hope and rub on her in public,” Travis drawled as he stepped in behind Ashley. “Go on, try.”
“Well, hell, no. Not a hardship at all.”
“Lots of hard where I’m looking from,” Hope muttered, slipping into Matt’s arms and taking away his pool cue. “Dance floor, now, big guy.”
Matt curled his arm around her and grinned at Cassidy and Travis. “Flip a coin, boys. We’ll see you on the other side.”
Travis brushed his cheek against Ashley’s and breathed in deep. “You are trouble, ain’t
cha?”
She happily squirmed around to slip her arms around his neck. “Just like you. That’s why we fit so well.” She glanced at Cassidy. “Poor Cassidy is the sweet innocent one. We’ll have to work harder on corrupting him.”
Cassidy smiled, stepping to put away his cue on the rack. “I’m nicely corrupted already, thanks. So, we gonna dance?”
Travis helped Ashley off the stool and tilted his head toward the door between the bar side and the dance side of Traders. “After you.”
“Hey, Cassidy, you want to do someone a favour?” Ashley asked.
The volume increased significantly as they passed the barrier and the live band grew louder. Cassidy moved in closer, right against her back as Travis pulled her through the crowd toward an opening on the floor. “Does it involve taking my clothes off?”
“Well, that too in about three hours, but right now? Find Karen Coleman and ask her to dance.”
What the fuck? Cassidy stared after Ashley as Travis pulled her close and started swaying to the music. He draped her arms around his neck then smirked at Cassidy, basically gloating that he’d nabbed her first.
Bastard. Cassidy laughed, though. This was pretty much fine for now. Work people into the idea that this was about three of them slowly—he could handle that. Besides, he wasn’t driving, and if things worked as planned, he’d have Ashley riding his cock before they were out of the parking lot.
He turned to figure out what mischief Ashley had triggered with her request.
The dance floor was full of faces that were slowly becoming more familiar. The Thompson boys from the garage, as well as all of Travis’s relatives.
Katy Thompson was dancing with a man who glared daggers at Cassidy for glancing their way. Cassidy made a note of the face. The guy had balls if he was dating the lone female in the Thompson clan.
Karen stood in the corner with the tall dark-haired man who’d refused a game of pool to hang out with the ladies. Which might have made Finn the smartest man in the building. Only now Karen was fidgeting as he leaned in close and spoke, the red flushing her cheeks visible even in the dim dance-floor lighting.
Cassidy gave a mental shrug. Wouldn’t hurt anything—he supposed Ashley had her reasons. Not like Travis could dance with his cousin, and there was no reason he couldn’t use this as an excuse to touch base.
He ducked his chin slightly to get her attention before speaking. “Hey, would you like to dance?”
Her eyes widened, and she shot from the corner as if jet propelled. “Yes, love to.”
If looks could cut, the man left behind would have sliced a piece off him. Cassidy led her onto the floor as close to Ashley and Travis as he could. “You need some fresh air?” he asked.
Karen settled a nice un-intimate distance away—well, as far as she could get on the crowded floor. “Just needed some Finn-less time, that’s all.”
He nodded, glancing back at the man who had locked on them like he had radar. “Ashley told me to give you a breather. I wasn’t sure if it was to make someone jealous or to save you. I thought Finn and his brothers came to help while you were laid up. Why are they still around?”
“Change of plans. I swear I’m being tormented for some evil in a past life.” She grimaced then shrugged. “Anyway, good to hear you’ve decided to settle in Rocky. I take it the time at camp was more interesting than your end-of-summer report to me implied.”
Cassidy wasn’t sure how much she knew. “I had a good summer.”
They both grinned but said no more.
“You need a ride home?” he asked her. “I mean, let me know if Finn is more than simply an annoyance.”
She patted his shoulder. “Well, isn’t that considerate? No…I can manage him. But thanks.”
Ashley slipped between them, easing her arm around Karen as she settled tight against Cassidy’s body. “Hi. Having a good evening?”
Karen laughed. “You sent Cassidy to rescue me. Thanks.”
“I enjoy jerking people’s chains. Finn looks like the type who’s fun to tease.”
“He’s…different, that’s for sure.” Karen winked at Cassidy. “I’ll let you two alone. Welcome to the clan.”
Another heartfelt welcome. Cassidy settled Ashley tight against him and considered all the positive twists over the past days. He couldn’t complain. Not so far.
Up on the stage, the band’s lead guitarist had a familiar cast to his features, and Cassidy searched his memory for the name of Travis’s cousin. Stan? Steve, that was it. “You know exactly how many Colemans are in the area?” Cassidy asked Ashley.
“A shit-ton.” She smiled up at him. “But we only need the one.”
He laughed and kept dancing. The floor was crowded, which made the rapid movement by a curvy blonde more outstanding as she forced her way to the front of the stage. Steve smiled down at her for all of three seconds before the woman lifted a full pitcher of beer and threw it in his face.
The music barely faltered as she whirled away. The guitar-playing Coleman, now dripping wet, abandoned his instrument and headed after her, a second band member stepping forward to the microphone to take up singing.
Cassidy and Ashley exchanged amused glances. “You have any idea what that was about?”
“He’s a Coleman. Obviously did something to piss her off.” Ashley curled up as intimately against him as she’d been a couple minutes ago with Travis.
As the momentary discussion regarding whatever had taken place with the band faded, there were more glances cast their way. One group of guys was doing a lot of talking and looking, obviously sharing a few opinions that might not be complimentary toward Ashley, or him and Ashley.
At that moment, Cassidy discovered his give a fuck was broken. “I wonder what they’d do if I went and grabbed Travis for the next song. Something slow and good to grind to.”
Ashley lifted her head off his chest, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Oh man, I would give a ton to see that…”
“Probably blow a few blood vessels.” Cassidy glanced to the side again. “Not worth it, but damn if I can’t say I’m tempted.”
“Yeah, I hear you.” Ashley stroked her fingers over his ribs, easing around his back and all but riding his thigh as she positioned a leg on either side of his. “Tell you what, we’ll do it when we get home. First song with clothes on pretending we’re back here in public.”
“The next with clothes off? Deal.” Cassidy leaned down and kissed her, loving how eagerly she responded.
The rude looks and dirty comments were there, but as an undertone he could ignore. He turned off everything but staring into Ashley’s tempting eyes, and relished holding her close as they swayed on the dance floor.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ashley pushed the cart between the vegetables and fruits and considered how exactly she was going to convince her carnivores to join her in eating better.
Or at least add in a few things that were green and not deep-fried or slathered in calories. She picked up a head of purple cabbage and eyed it warily, wondering if the colour would disguise its true nature.
“If you want to sneak more vegetables in, I have some recipes for you.”
She turned to discover Jaxi Coleman behind her, grocery cart filled with more children than food. “How did you know—?”
Jaxi laughed. “I recognized your expression. I’ve worn it myself many times. Blake usually eats anything that doesn’t move, but when faced with a few too many ‘rabbit meals’, even he revolts. I can’t imagine what having two of them to argue menu plans with would be like.”
“It’s more since we take turns cooking that I need some prepared food in the fridge in self-defense. Travis isn’t too bad,” Ashley conceded reluctantly.
“But Cassidy would pile three burger patties on a bun and call it a balanced meal? I hear you.” Jaxi pulled a can from one of the twins’ hands and put it back on the shelf, absently adjusting her cart to be farther from the shelves and out of reach of little finge
rs. “Rae, leave that alone. You get to pick out the juice, but for now, sit.”
The little blonde sat, pigtails bouncing. Then two identical faces twisted to stare at Ashley. She smiled and felt warmth bounce back in the form of giggles and gap-toothed toddler grins.
“I’ll email you the recipes. Spaghetti sauces with extra veggies, meatloaf with carrots grated in, stuff like that.”
Ashley nodded. “I’d appreciate it.”
Another shopper wandered past, eyeing Ashley for a moment before going wide-eyed and scurrying toward the next aisle. Ashley wasn’t sure if she should laugh or sigh.
Word was getting around, that much was clear.
“Hey, ignore it.”
Ashley glanced over at Jaxi.
The other woman shrugged. “Ignorant, stupid people are only satisfied when they’re being ignorant and stupid. You make Travis happy, and that’s what counts.”
The truth in Jaxi’s statement couldn’t be denied, but it was the affirmation that warmed Ashley more than the children’s acceptance. “Thanks, Jaxi. I can handle some dirty looks as long as the guys are content.”
Jaxi adjusted the backpack she wore that held little girl number three. “I haven’t seen Travis this relaxed in years. You and Cassidy are good for him, and anyone who thinks otherwise can take a hike.”
Ashley motioned at Jaxi’s more-than-full cartload of children. “You need a hand shopping? I don’t mind helping,” she offered.
Jaxi waved off her offer. “Thanks, but I’m used to this, plus Marion is somewhere in the store doing the bulk of the list.” She rolled her cart forward and added a few items before offering an invitation. “We’re making cabbage rolls later this week. If you’d like, we can buy extra ingredients and you can come over to help. You’ll end up with a bunch for the freezer. If you have time—I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now.”
“If you don’t mind teaching a beginner.” Ashley paused. It wasn’t her lack of domestic skills that might be a problem. “You want to check with Marion first?”
Jaxi tilted her head. “Why would I need to do that?”
