by Lita Lawson
Austin glanced up and his smile faded when he saw her. It was replaced with a slight scowl. His tone was dismissive as he reminded her, “I thought I told you to stop by tonight.”
“And I told you I had things to do.” Cassi wasn’t going to let his blustery ways stop her from returning his horse.
The elderly woman at his side spoke up. “Austin, dear, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“Grandma, this is Cassi Whitaker. Cassi, this is my grandmother, Eleanor Keller.”
Again, amazement overcame Cassi as she watched the man’s hardened features soften when he spoke to the woman. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Keller. I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation, but I need to speak to your grandson.”
“That’s quite all right, dear.” The Keller matriarch looked inquisitively at Cassi. “Are you any relation to Red Whitaker?”
Cassi could feel a flush slowly infuse her face. “Yes, Ma’am. He was…is my father.” She hoped none of the society types around had overheard. Her father’s name held much notoriety in the town, none of it good.
“That means that Violet Whitaker was your grandmother?”
“Yes, she was,” Cassi replied softly.
“Why, I went to school with her! I was so sorry to hear about her passing.”
Cassi merely nodded in response.
“I’ll let the two of you talk. I look forward to chatting more with you at the party tonight.”
Before Cassi could respond, Austin glared at her, answering for her.
“She’ll be there tonight with bells on, won’t you, Cassi?”
Hearing no room for compromise in his tone, she simply glared right back at him. She didn’t want to discuss this in front of Mrs. Keller.
Austin grabbed Cassi’s elbow, steering her into an empty stall away from the crowd. “Now, before you tell me about Annie Mae’s tantrum, you will be coming to our party tonight. My grandmother gets whatever she wants.”
Cassi noticed his glittering eyes seemed to soften. Thinking he was concerned she wouldn’t go caught her off guard. Apparently it was important to him that his grandmother not be disappointed.
He was standing too close to Cassi and his presence was unnerving. The smell of hay, horses, and this man’s own musky scent filled her senses. “I’m sure once I tell you what I need to, you’ll withdraw the offer.”
Austin loosened his grip on her elbow. “Now tell me what happened with Annie Mae.” His gaze was focused on her.
Austin hadn’t stepped back from her, so she did and the boards of the stall stopped her retreat. Looking into his eyes, she could almost feel a magical pull, a raw magnetism. His dark hair was tousled and he’d loosened his tie. Her gaze lingered at his broad lips and she momentarily fantasized what they would feel like pressed against hers. Cassi caught herself becoming hypnotized in his presence. She redirected her thoughts to the horse she came to return.
“Like I told you earlier, Annie Mae was quite upset you didn’t give her a diamond ring.”
“Like she needs another ring,” Austin retorted.
“She said the same thing about horses. She didn’t need another one, yours included.” Cassi unfolded the slip of paper from her clenched fist. “She signed your horse over to me.” Showing the paper to him, she braced for his reaction.
Instead of the swearing or yelling she expected, he became deathly still. His eyes narrowed, glittering like granite rocks. She could feel his anger in the charged silence surrounding them. He moved a step closer to her, and his nearness caused her composure to desert her. Uncertainly, she pressed her back into the wall, trying to be as far away from him as possible.
“She did what?” Austin barely whispered.
Cassi saw a muscle flinch in his cheek. She flattened out the paper and put it between them for him to read. “She signed your horse over to me to get back at you for not asking her to marry you.” Her heart pounded as he looked down at the deed in her hands.
Austin tried to get his mind to comprehend what she was telling him. He couldn’t believe it was true. For several months, he had been seeing Annie Mae and they were progressing in their relationship. But marriage? That was a possibility, but not this soon. His gift of Bella Donna to Annie Mae was to show her their relationship was getting serious. Apparently, she didn’t share his thoughts or his love for horses. He couldn’t believe she could betray him in such a manner.
He stared blankly at the woman in front of him. Her big green eyes looked up at him warily. A ponytail held her long auburn hair in place except for a few wisps around her face. Her nose and cheeks had a smattering of freckles. The knees of her jeans had dirt on them and a piece of straw stuck out of her hair.
Why would Annie Mae give his horse to her? Austin stretched out his hand and pulled the straw from her hair.
“Why?” he asked.
“Why what?” Cassi replied, confusion evident on her face.
“Why would Annie Mae give my horse to you? Who are you to her? How do you even know her?”
“I already told you. I was in the restroom when she was crying. She was so mad at you she signed the horse over to me. I didn’t ask her to, and I had no idea what she was doing. I’d never do such a thing.”
Austin couldn’t believe Annie Mae would give away his horse. Cassi had to be lying, had to have encouraged Annie Mae to do it. “What did you say to her?” Austin stared into her green eyes, trying to tell if she was lying. He believed the eyes were the windows to a person’s soul and he’d find the true answer there.
“I didn’t say anything to her. Is that so hard to believe? I tried to defend your gift to her.”
Austin threw his head back and laughed out loud. “Why in the world would you defend me?”
“I’m asking myself the same thing right now,” Cassi retorted.
Anger pulsed through Austin. This slip of a woman was mocking him. And she had possession of his horse, whether he liked it or not.
“You must have said something to encourage her to do such a thing.” As he continued grilling Cassi, he saw fury boiling in her eyes.
“I know the meaning and value of a horse. I tried to explain that to her…a man wouldn’t give his prized racehorse to just anyone. But that didn’t seem to matter to her.”
From the look in her eyes, he could tell she wasn’t lying. But he still couldn’t believe the bizarre turn of events. He knew Cassi was poor. People in that position might do anything to keep their heads above water, himself included. Austin wouldn’t be taken in by a pretty piece with an honest act. His mind reeled as his temples throbbed. To get the real story out of her, he’d have to try a different tactic.
Placing both his hands on the boards on either side of Cassi’s face, he shifted his body weight and leaned into the wood, moving closer to her until mere inches separated them. He sensed her reaction to him. They always reacted. It was so easy. He never did anything in his life to have this effect on women. Sometimes it was a curse. But in cases like this, the curse could be used to his advantage.
Cassi inhaled sharply as Austin leaned down, pressing his face next to hers. The early afternoon stubble of his beard scratched against her cheek. His body heat seemed to seep into her skin. She could feel goose bumps forming as a shiver traveled along her body. As his chest pressed against hers, she had to resist letting a small gasp out. Cassi cursed herself inwardly as her body reacted to the contact.
Austin whispered softly, his breath tickling her ear, “Come on, Cassi. Tell me why she really gave the horse to you.”
His voice was like honey, smooth and warm. Cassi shut her eyes. She hated the fact that all this man had to do was lean against her and she became weak-kneed and star struck. He was pressing all the right buttons, but she was determined not to let him get to her. Cassi shoved him in the chest…hard. He must not have expected it because he fell backward into a bale of hay.
“I’m not the bad guy here. Your girlfriend is. I came here prepared to sign this h
orse right back over to you.” Cassi struggled with the rush of sensations she was feeling. Anger was an emotion she was able to control. But anger combined with underlying arousal was a new combination. This man had brought both out of her in a matter of a few minutes. That bothered her. A lot.
“You don’t deserve to own horses.” The thought of giving away any horse disgusted her. Cassi ran from the stall.
Stunned, Austin momentarily remained sprawled against the bale of hay. He had never gotten that reaction before. Maybe the girl was telling the truth. The only way he’d be able to find out for sure was to find Annie Mae and get a straight answer from her. After that, he would concentrate on getting Bella Donna back from Cassi.
He heard his grandmother call, “Austin, where did your friend go in such a hurry?”
Standing up, he brushed at his clothes. Austin realized Cassi still had ownership of his horse and all he had was a bruised ego.
CHAPTER TWO
Nothing. She had a closet full of nothing. Pushing one hanger of clothing after another aside, each piece that clung to it rejected, she tried to ignore her building frustration. There was no way she would go to the fancy Keller ball dressed in rags, and that’s all she possessed.
How did she get into such a mess?
Thinking over the day’s events, Cassi cursed her luck. Why did she have to be the one standing there in the bathroom when Annie Mae threw her fit? And why did she let Austin get under her skin? Without giving his papers back to him, now she had to go to his house. The last thing she wanted to do was attend a highbrow affair where the women would be perfectly dressed in designer clothes and the food would consist of delicacies she couldn’t pronounce, let alone recognize. But she had to return Austin’s horse.
Oh, if only she could keep it! But she couldn’t, wouldn’t. It was wrong. A horse meant too much to its owners, especially one who had brought in more prize money in the last year than her whole farm was worth. She’d be no better than a thief to keep it.
Her conscience kept her rooting through her closet for a suitable outfit. There was an old dress she had worn to the only high school dance she’d gone to. Standing in front of the mirror, she placed the dress in front of her. It was apparent the peach chiffon would no longer hold her body. Several years and a less girlish figure made it futile to even attempt trying it on. In frustration, she flung the dress onto her bed and collapsed on top of it.
Staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifted from dresses to Austin Keller of the topaz eyes and deep, hypnotic voice. He could say a few words and any woman would swoon, herself included. She hated the fact he could affect her that way. At least she had resisted him earlier and not made a fool of herself.
Recalling his touch on her arm, the closeness of his body, and how his charms could so easily overtake her. She remembered the scent of stables, hay, and his musky cologne. Spending all her time working the farm, she’d had no time for dates, let alone relationships. Austin was no prom date—he was a rich playboy used to getting his way, constantly on the hunt for his next conquest. And she was afraid to be hunted, but so very curious at the same time.
“Arggh,” she growled her frustration out loud. She got up off her bed and looked once more at her hopeless choice of clothing. Nothing at all would do. She could run to a consignment shop, but dismissed spending much needed money on an outfit she’d only wear once.
A flash of inspiration overcame her and she went into her brother’s bedroom. Mikey still had a used tuxedo he had worn to his high school prom. He had been smaller then and maybe, just maybe, she could fit into that.
Slipping into the pants and jacket, she found the legs dragged on the floor and the waist gaped around her midsection. The jacket fit snugly, especially around her chest. Quickly she walked down the hallway, the pant legs flapping around her feet, and got her sewing kit. If she hurried, she’d be able to wear this to the party. She could try to slip in the back door without being noticed. Then she would find Austin, give him the horse title, and be out of there in no time. Cassi pulled a white satin blouse from her closet to complete the makeshift outfit.
She flung the jacket off, pulled on the blouse, and found it fit even snugger than the jacket. If she left the top two buttons undone, the tight fit wasn’t as apparent. Unfortunately, her bra peeked through. She could either go braless, which would make her feel more uncomfortable, or let the lacy white bra show underneath the blouse. She figured that if TV stars, models and singers could dress that way, so could she, just this once. By slipping on a pair of black high heels, the added height meant she wouldn’t have to cut off so much of the pant legs.
After making the alterations, Cassi put the outfit back on and looked at her reflection in the mirror. It wasn’t a designer gown, but it would do. She would have to do something with her hair. Toying with it, she pulled the ponytail out and let the tresses hang free. The dark red waves seemed to overwhelm the outfit, and make her appear womanlier than she wanted. Twisting her hair into a knot on top of her head, she secured it with a few pins and decided it would do.
Dressed in this outfit, if she was lucky, Austin wouldn’t think of her as a woman and keep his charms to himself.
While Austin sat behind his desk in his den, he could hear the laughter of his guests in the adjacent entryway. He wasn’t ready to greet them and make inane small talk. The fact that he was unable to reach Annie Mae to get a straight answer from her left him with the inevitable conclusion. She would show up at the gala and he would be forced to confront her in public. Normally he’d be the life of the party, charming everyone with his jokes and flirting with all the ladies. Tonight, everything was different. And he feared Cassi Whitaker had something to do with that.
Loosening the strangling bow tie that went with his tuxedo, he sauntered over to the credenza that held several liquor decanters. The heavy lead crystal clinked as he set it down after pouring a bourbon. A droplet of the amber liquid fell onto the fine wood. He wasn’t a drinking man, but he needed something for his nerves, and his courage. All his plans rode on getting Annie Mae to come to her senses and get his horse back from Cassi. If things didn’t work out as he’d planned, Austin didn’t know what he would do. Tonight would determine his future.
Austin belted back the shot, welcoming the trail of warmth as it slid down his throat. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to block out all the things threatening to ruin his plans. Annie Mae. Bella Donna. Cassi. Which of the three caused him the most worry? He wasn’t sure. But Cassi was the one that kept appearing in his thoughts.
He hadn’t been able to get her off his mind the entire day. Even with Skeeter’s big win, her face kept drifting forward from his subconscious.
All afternoon he had wondered if she would come to the party. What would she look like? At first glance, she looked like a hundred other stable hands, but at the same time appeared unique. That in itself intrigued him. What he had wanted to do when they talked earlier in the stable was untie her hair and watch it flow freely around her shoulders. Quite simply, he’d had an irresistible urge to gather her in his arms. He’d wanted to feel the touch of her skin against his hands. Hell, truth be known, he would’ve loved to have laid her down in the hay and not given a damn about how much straw stuck to both of them.
Cassi Whitaker didn’t seem like any of the women he dated. They always came from the best families, had the best schooling, and had loads of money. And they all wanted one thing from him—marriage. He didn’t believe they loved him. They loved his social status and wanted to secure their pampered lifestyle. Austin resisted the temptation of a smile. Somehow he didn’t think Cassi had any such notions about him.
There was a knock at the door. His best friend from college and Annie Mae’s brother, Don Ashworth, stepped into the den.
“Hey, why are you holed up in here? All the action’s outside.”
Austin took another drink of bourbon. “I know that,” he snapped at his friend. “And you’re well aware of my predicament.
Did you find your sister?”
Don slouched against the paneled wall. “I’m sure Annie Mae will be making her entrance soon. You know how she likes to be dramatic.”
“Damn it, Don. What is wrong with her? I gave her a very expensive horse. My horse. Is it really possible she’d simply give it away to a stranger?” He raked his fingers through his hair, thoroughly frustrated.
“Hey, calm down. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it. Perhaps it’s her way of trying to get you to marry her.” Then Don added, his tone serious, “You know, would it be so bad being married to her? Then your best buddy would be your brother-in-law.”
Austin turned and grinned at his friend. “No, that part wouldn’t be. But if this is the kind of behavior I can expect from her for the rest of my life, well, I don’t want that kind of relationship.”
He wondered how it would be to live with one woman for the rest of his life. It was unimaginable. Annie Mae had been the first woman to hold his interest for longer than a few months, his first ‘relationship’. Her political connections would be valuable to him, but if she did things like give his horse away to strangers, he’d drop her in a quick quarter mile.
The noise from the partygoers outside increased in intensity.
“Aha,” Don said, “My guess is Annie Mae’s arrived.” He turned to look out the doorway. “I imagine all your questions will be answered shortly.”
Don walked over to the credenza and poured himself a bourbon. He settled into one of the massive leather chairs. He pulled a cigar out of his white dinner jacket and lit it. “Let the games begin.”
