A few of the ranch hands chuckled. Cassie felt her face flush with heat.
“Why, hello there, doll. I’m Grant.”
With all eyes pasted on her, Cassie had a hard time acting the part. The circumstances were ridiculous. This was not how people met their fathers-in-law for the first time. She forced herself to speak. “I’m so glad to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Grant said, shaking her hand before pulling her in for a hug. “I can see why Shane wasted no time in marrying. A beauty like you could slip away real fast if you don’t play your cards right, I imagine.” The men rumbled a few words of appreciation, causing Cassie to blush.
She chuckled. “Well, thanks.” In some small way, Grant’s comment, along with his hearty embrace, had helped her feel at ease. He’d managed to bring normalcy to a situation that was anything but.
“I hear you’re an editor,” Grant said, lowering his voice.
Cassie nodded. “Yes.”
“Was wondering if you wouldn’t mind proof-reading the letter I’m fixin’ to send the editor of the newspaper here. Got a problem with our ditches and the city wants to ignore the whole thing. Figure if I can sound a whole lot smarter than I am, somebody oughta listen.” He patted her back. “That’s where you come in.”
Cassie was flattered. “I’d be happy to read over it.”
“And fix the parts that have me sounding like a dummy?” he added.
“I’ll fix whatever’s needed,” she said with a laugh.
“That-a-girl. Glad to have you in the family, doll.”
A loud clanking caused the chatter to cease impossibly fast. Betty stood next to an iron pot holder, gripping a wooden spoon. “Let’s have our little guest of honor and her new husband come this way,” she said proudly, scanning over the room.
Grant spoke up before Cassie had the chance. “Your son’s not back yet, Betty. But we’ve got his better half here and that’s all that matters.”
“Nobody wants to look at Shane’s ugly mug anyway,” another voice spoke.
Cassie glanced around the corner to see a man who resembled Shane. By the way he was pulling Kate from the baby carrier, Cassie placed him as Jade’s husband, Gavin. His dark blond hair was spiked the way Luke’s was, and a sleeve of tattoos covered one, toned arm. “Hi,” he said to Cassie, lifting a brow. “Guess the honeymoon’s over?”
No sooner had the words left Gavin’s mouth than a roll smacked him upside the head. The oldest brother, Cassie assumed, stood beside a large bowl, one hand around Reese’s back. He held a fixed glare at his younger brother.
Cassie shouldn’t have been surprised by the handsome appearance of the two brothers, but she couldn’t help but stare in appreciation. It was no wonder Jade and Reese found themselves drawn to the men; they were almost as handsome as Shane.
Betty wrung her hands while she eyed the boys. “Let’s say grace, and then we’ll track down Shane.”
“I’ll say it! I’ll say it!” Jonah stormed up the stairs, huffing as he reached the top.
“Well go on, then,” Grant said.
Blake removed his hat, along with the few other men who wore them.
“Dear, gracious Lord,” the little guy started, his voice surprisingly strong and certain. “This food smells so delicious, and we hope you’ll bless Grandma’s hands since they fixed it. And bless Grandpa, and the dads and uncles, and the ranch hands, that they can take good care of the cattle since they’re going to have their babies soon.” He paused there to clear his throat. “And thank you for sending Shane a wife. She looks nice and pretty, and help her to like us so she likes it here. And bless her cats too. Amen.”
The mumbled amens followed, Cassie’s among them, as she fought back the tearing in her eyes. What sweet words had been spoken by that little boy all on his own. He met her gaze for a moment, and she flashed him a smile. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
With one proud motion, Jonah gave her a thumbs-up, before speeding to the line forming at the counter. “Cassie,” Betty said, looking over the spread once more, “you come dish up first. Blake and Gavin will see if they can’t track down your man. ‘Tween the cell phones, pagers, and radios, I’m sure they’ll get hold of him soon enough.” The look in his mother’s eyes told Cassie there was nothing to worry about.
“Thanks,” she said. And though it sounded as if Cassie was thanking the kind woman for the meal, she was really thanking her for something much more precious – a sense of belonging at her new place of refuge. She only hoped Shane would return soon.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A massive beam of light flashed over Shane’s back as he loaded up the truck. It’d been a messier job than he’d thought, but he’d finally gotten the dang thing fixed. At least in one spot. Tomorrow he’d check for more weak areas.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” It was Blake.
Shane spun around, wondering why his brother’s voice carried the anger he felt? “Fixing the damn fence like you were supposed to do. How hard is it to mend the thing before you herd the entire lot out here?”
“We haven’t brought the cattle out yet, Shane. There were posts down along the entire south side, and then on the northern side too. We’ve been working on them all day.”
Shane slammed the truck bed closed. “So what’d you do yesterday?”
“Same thing. Plus we’re still training the new guys.” Blake tucked his hands in his pockets, puffing out his chest. “You’ve kept your woman worrying back home. Never do that.”
An image of Cassie jumped to the forefront of his mind. He shook it off and glared at his older brother. “She’s not my woman. And mind your own damn business.” He strode past, bumping him in the shoulder.
“She’s your woman as long as she’s here. And leaving her to worry about you is no way to treat the poor thing.”
Shane stopped in his tracks, slowly spinning around. “Worry?”
“Hell yes, she’s been worried. It’s nearly midnight, Shane. We’ve been calling your phone for hours. Driving around looking for any sign of you for another hour. Thought you’d be out in the far field checking on the cattle or helping birth an early calf at the east barn. We had no clue you’d be clear out here.”
Shane cranked open the truck door and climbed in. “Well let’s stop talking about it and get back then.” He slammed the door shut, hoping to cut him off. It didn’t work.
“Watch it, or you’ll make that woman think she’s nothing but a thorn in your side.”
With the annoyed shake of his head, Shane waved him to get back into the Durango and get out of his way. He was only slowing him down. Shane wanted to ignore Blake’s comment, but inwardly he knew it was true, and it made him feel like dirt.
The night appeared darker than ever as he sped back toward the house. Shane could hardly believe he’d left Cassie all alone on her first night there, meeting everybody and all. What a jerk he’d been. Why hadn’t he just grabbed one of the walkie-talkies and asked the crew how far they’d gotten. Find out if the cattle had been moved yet or not.
The lights were on in the house. Shane clenched the cool leather of the steering wheel, dreading what lay ahead of him. “Time to face what you’ve done,” he muttered to himself and shut off the truck.
~+~
Cassie sighed as she hung up the phone. Shane’s brother, Blake, had called the second he’d spotted Shane, and it was a good thing he had. She’d been ill with worry over where he could have gone. What he could have been doing out there in the dark. There’d been another fear flittering tirelessly beneath those as well – what if he’d left for good? Decided he wanted nothing to do with playing her husband and the demands that came along with it. Like she could chase the rancher right out of him with her presence alone.
She scrubbed at the tin loaf pan, washing invisible crumbs as she waited for Shane to enter the house. How humiliating it was to play the newlywed whose husband was already bored of her. It was a good thing the people on the ranch were so
kind. In honesty, it may have been a decent night had she not been sick with worry over Shane. And even still, Trey and Randy, along with Jade and Reese, had managed to ease her discomfort, make her forget even for a while that Shane wasn’t answering his phone, returning their calls, or showing up for dinner. Or dessert.
Her shoulders stiffened as the front door creaked open. She eyed the plate she and Reese had put together for him, piled high with the delicious food from the night’s meal. “There’s your dinner,” she snapped, as she heard his boots scuffle across the floor. She rinsed the dish before adding more soap to it, hoping to calm the sudden quiver of her lower lip.
The slow and steady steps came up close behind her. Through the corner of her eye, Cassie watched Shane’s hat plunk onto the counter top and skid to a stop. The muted sounds of snaps unfastening had her picturing the slow removal of his shirt. After a quiet rustle, it landed on the counter next to his hat.
He stepped closer, and she felt the heat of him through her thin night shirt, a warmth that had her eyes closing against the intoxicating feel of it. Of him and his presence.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into her hair.
Cassie reached for the water, shut it off. “What?” She wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.
The slightly calloused tips of his fingers caressed her elbow, sliding gently down toward her wrist. “I said, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone tonight.”
She’d had all sorts of speeches prepared for the man. Perfect words and thought-out phrases, but every one of them took flight as her breath escaped. A wave of goose bumps rose on her skin as his hand slipped back up and down her arm where he circled the inner part of her wrist with his thumb.
The involuntary reaction made her feel weak. She no longer had the will to confront him. Couldn’t bring herself to do it. To chew him out over not being the perfect husband. He wasn’t hers at all. He didn’t want to be. It was enough that he had to act like he’d shoved away from his family all to marry some girl off the internet who nobody knew. Now she expected him to treat her the way Blake and Gavin treated their wives? They were married. Really married.
“It’s fine,” Cassie said. She stepped to the side, slipping between the sink in front and the temptation behind. She didn’t stop to look at him, only strode out of the kitchen toward the hall. “I’m going to bed.”
“I don’t want you to rush off just yet.” His voice was low and even.
Cassie spun around, unnerved by the sight of him. Shane’s well-defined muscles bulged through the thin tee shirt hugging his broad chest. Streaks of dry dirt marked parts of his arms and neck. The dark waves of his hair, boyishly mussed, tasseled freely beneath his fingers as he ran a hand through it. And those eyes – loaded with a smoldering combination of frustration and heat.
“Well, I didn’t want you to be gone all night and you were anyway. I sat there looking like some … some idiot who just married a guy who wants nothing to do with her.” The words nearly got stuck in her throat, but she forced them out. “Your family is kind and gracious. The ranch hands welcoming and friendly. But even still, I was humiliated – tormented with ideas of what they must have in their heads.” She coughed to make her voice go low, “Oh, uh, geez. Looks like the honeymoon didn’t last long.” She sneered and rolled her eyes.
Shane’s jaw tightened. “Who said that?”
“Gavin,” she said. “And one of the ranch hands too.”
He shook his head in disgust, exhaling a loud breath. “I was stupid to be gone that long.” His eyes held hers, pleading and pained. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Cassie crossed her arms over her chest and favored one hip. “I was foolish to think you owed me anything. You don’t. I’m already in your way as it is. I’m practically ruining your life by causing you to act out this charade-”
In an instant Shane’s hand covered her mouth, his body just inches from hers. “We’re going to have to be careful with what we say,” he whispered. “The floors have ears. Fourteen to be exact, and you don’t want to go causing any suspicion.”
She backed away, annoyed at being hushed by him. Yet somewhere inside, Cassie thrilled at his closeness. His touch.
Shane held her gaze as she glared at him.
Cassie took a step back, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I don’t like being your problem, Shane. I’m not going to make demands. And I’m not going to worry about what you do. There are enough miserable marriages out there. I’m sure ours will look all the more real if we just continue the way we are.”
Shane didn’t say another word, simply let her stride down the hall and disappear into his room. Cassie fought back the tears as she brushed her teeth and got ready for bed, but the moment she hit the sheets a flood was unleashed. Upon coming to his home, the perfect setting with its wonderful family, she’d almost begun to imagine herself belonging in a place like this. And why not? It’d happened for Reese. Even Jade with all her sarcasm seemed to fit in just fine.
Perhaps Cassie only longed for solid ground – something constant. Due to her ties with Griffin, she’d been in limbo for the last three years, and it was time to do something about it.
As she tried restlessly to get some sleep, a resounding thought came to mind – determination, was more like it. Before the week was through, she’d make a decision where Griffin was concerned: either hold on to the relationship or let it go. Once she had her mind made up, Cassie would open Griffin’s letter and see where he stood.
Her developing feelings for Shane were a good indication she’d already let go in some way. But she vowed to make it final, one way or another. With her mind made up, Cassie finally felt at peace.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Shane twisted the doorknob to exit his room, wondering if Cassie had woken up yet. Since he’d brought her home one week ago, the sweet thing had gone out of her way to get up when he did, all to make him some sort of breakfast. Cassie had warned him she couldn’t cook worth a darn. Sadly, she’d been telling the truth. On day one she’d served up eggs over easy. And though she’d given him a fork to eat them with, Shane could’ve used a spoon instead. The things were runnier than hot syrup – whites and all. The rest of the week consisted of burnt toast, paper-thin pancakes, and dry sandwiches for lunch. But Cassie seemed anxious to please, so Shane had done his best to bite down the food – and his comments about it as well.
Cassie appeared to be biting back comments of her own where his grammar was concerned. On one occasion she’d disguised her correction with a cough. He’d heard it alright, but let it pass. He did, however, repeat the offending word several times throughout the conversation; no need to encourage her.
He only hoped the ranch hands would keep their comments to themselves where her cooking was concerned. Tonight, she was set to cook for the whole group. ‘Course, if he knew his mother, she’d be there with a second spoon in the saucepan. Thank heavens for that.
A few steps down the hall and Shane heard the bathroom door creak open. Day seven and they already had a routine. He continued into the kitchen, wondering what she’d be wearing this morning. He’d seen her in a pink, thin-looking gown on the night he’d stayed out too late, but she’d changed out of it by morning. On Sunday Cassie had stumbled sleepily out of the room, wearing a silver little number that made those deep blue eyes shimmer in the low morning light. So far nothing she’d worn had been low-cut or revealing, but he’d be damned if she didn’t make them sexy all the same.
The stool creaked as Shane sunk onto it, casually eyeing the kitchen entry as she strode in. His eyes followed the slim lines of her curvy legs, pleased to see her in silky shorts and a button-up top. The pajamas, a deep red, made her skin nearly glow. He shifted in his seat. “Morning.”
The two cats, purring like pick-up engines, wove around her ankles until they reached their food dishes along the wall. “Good morning,” she said. “Did you sleep well?”
The question was common enough, but when Cassie
asked it, she did so with such interest it seemed she really wanted to know.
“Yep. You?”
She pulled open the fridge. “Yeah. I think I was out before I even hit the sheets.”
“You know,” Shane said, working to keep his gaze off her backside. “You don’t have to get up with me this early. I can fix myself a bowl of oatmeal easily enough.” He’d said as much the first few mornings, but wanted her to know good and well that he’d meant it.
“I know,” she said. “Is that what you’d like? Oatmeal?”
He nodded. “That’d be great. It’s in the cupboard there. Can you reach it?”
After closing the fridge door, Cassie stretched for the small knob.
“I got it,” Shane offered, coming up from behind. He was quick to move, and none too subtle as he nudged up against her, reaching high overhead to open the cupboard.
How a woman could smell so tempting at this time of day was beyond him. She’d barely stepped out of bed and already the allure oozed off her body from head to heel.
She spun in place, meeting his gaze. “What do you like in it?”
His eyes drifted to her lips. “Sugar.”
This was becoming routine too. The flirtation between them. Soft touches. Long glances. Playful conversation. Which pleased and frustrated him all at once.
“What’s your boyfriend like?” he blurted.
“Griffin?” She straightened awkwardly before heading over to the sink.
Shane sauntered back to his stool. “What did you say?”
“My boyfriend. That’s his name – Griffin.”
“Oooo-kay.” So what if he had to bite his tongue to stay quiet. The pain would go away soon enough. No need to go making fun of the guy for his wussy name.
Cassie read the label on the oats before measuring out a perfect scoop. She measured the water next. Shane smiled. He’d never measured the stuff before and it seemed to turn out just fine. If Cassie managed to mess this one up, he’d know she was a lost cause.
Once she stuck the glass bowl in the microwave, Cassie opened a different cupboard and pulled out the sugar. “He’s tall. Thin. Black hair.” She tilted her head, thoughtful for a moment. “He’s kind to animals. Doesn’t really like sports. Recently became a vegan.”
Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) Page 9
