Never Say Match (No Match for Love Book 9)

by Lindzee Armstrong

  “But you seem so comfortable around Cupcake.”

  He smirked, giving the horse another pat. “It’s called acting. Besides, I can tell she’s a good animal. Nice and calm.”

  “Didn’t you ever ride a pony at a fair or something?”

  Jase shook his head. “Nope. Not even once.”

  “Unbelievable,” Cassidy muttered. He’d never ridden, and tomorrow he’d spend a full day on the range. She headed toward the barn. “C’mon. I can’t believe Mason is going to let you go out on the range without at least the basics. I’ll teach you.”

  Jase jogged to catch up to her, his longer legs quickly closing the distance. “Really?”

  She heard the eagerness in his voice as he followed her inside the barn. The sweet scent of hay combined with the subtle odor of horseflesh instantly swirled around Cassidy. Two of the stalls already held horses, their eyes closed as they slept. She whistled for Cupcake and unlocked the gate, pushing it open. “I don’t want you embarrassing cowboys everywhere in that movie of yours, so you’ll have to learn how to saddle a horse.”

  Jase rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Excellent. I mean, I’m sure Mason would’ve taught me a thing or two tomorrow, but he isn’t nearly as pretty as you are.”

  Cassidy rolled her eyes and grabbed a brush from the tack room. The gentle clomp of hooves neared as Cupcake entered the barn, coming to a halt beside Cassidy.

  She handed Jase the brush. “Step one is brushing her down to make sure there’s nothing on her back that’ll be irritated by the saddle. Long, even strokes. No, not like that.” She placed her hand on top of his and heat shot through her.

  “What am I doing wrong?” Jase asked quietly.

  She felt his gaze on her as her heart pounded in her chest. She took a steadying breath and focused on their hands. “You’re going too fast and need to be gentler. Like this.” She guided his brush along the horse while Cupcake stood obediently still. Jase soon took control, his hands in charge as he pulled the brush along Cupcake’s coat.

  Cassidy gulped, pulling her hand away. “I think that’s good.”

  Jase nodded and set the brush on a nearby table. Cupcake continued to stand there, her mouth trailing along the ground as she searched for grass to nibble. “Cupcake seems like a calm horse.”

  Cassidy smiled, giving the horse an affectionate pat. “I’ve had her since she was a filly. She was calm, even then. One of the easiest horses we’ve ever broke.” She grabbed the saddle pad from the tack wall and handed it to Jase. “Put the pad on at her shoulder, then slide it backward into place. We don’t want Cupcake’s hairs to get pinched. Next put on the saddle. Make sure you hook the stirrups onto the horn so they don’t hit her.”

  Jase nodded, doing as she directed. The pad was a little askew, and Cassidy straightened it.

  “Good,” she said, nodding in approval.

  “What now?”

  “The saddle.” Cassidy turned to the wall, picking a basic black riding saddle with no frills. She reached up, intending to lift it off the wall, but Jase’s hands covered hers.

  “Let me,” he said quietly.

  Cassidy yanked her hands away and nodded. Jase lifted the saddle off the wall like it weighed nothing, his muscles bunching with the movement.

  “Don’t forget the stirrups,” Cassidy said, barely able to get the words out through her suddenly dry lips.

  Jase nodded, easily shifting the saddle into one hand, making the fabric of his T-shirt strain with the movement. He hooked the stirrups onto the horn, then slid it into place on Cupcake’s back. The horse continued to much on grass, not shying away.

  Cassidy swallowed as her mind replayed all of the movie trailers she’d watched of Jase, shirtless. She’d assumed those muscles were perhaps the result of a little movie magic, but clearly he came by the look honestly. Her cheeks burned with heat and she looked away.

  “Like this?” Jase asked.

  “Yes. You’re a natural.” Cassidy bent down, hiding her blush under the guise of showing him how to tighten the cinch. “Once she’s let out her breath, you want to make sure to tighten it again or the saddle will turn and dump you on the ground.”

  She turned around, her hands bumping into Jase’s chest. He stood close enough to kiss. Cassidy let out a gasp, backing up until Cupcake’s warm body pressed against Cassidy’s own back. Jase’s warm eyes stared down into hers.

  She closed her eyes, repeating over and over in her head, It’s not real, it’s not real, it’s not real. He was just an actor trying to get into character. She wouldn’t let another man manipulate her emotions and distract her from her dreams, even a handsome and helpful one.

  “Sorry,” she breathed. “I didn’t realize you were so close.

  His own voice was low and husky when he spoke. “Saddling a horse is a lot easier than I thought it would be.”

  “There’s not much to it.”

  He took a step back, and her pulse slowed. What was wrong with her? This man was an actor—a nice one, sure, but still an actor that would be gone in barely more than three weeks.

  She showed him how to connect the breast collar, then Cupcake obediently took the bit and let Cassidy finish bridling her.

  “I already feel like a real cowboy.” Jase grinned, his cowboy hat tipped back on his forehead. He shifted from foot to foot like an eager child. “Can I ride her?”

  Cassidy ran a hand over her face, hiding a grin. She loved watching someone fall in love with horses for the first time. “Sure. Just place your foot in the stirrup and—”

  Jase didn’t wait for her to finish. He swung onto Cupcake’s back like he’d been born to ride. His back straightened and he loosely held the reins. Shadows from the barn’s overhead lights dance across his face, taking her breath away. He cocked his head to the side, adjusting his cowboy hat. “Did I do it right?”

  Oh, he looked better than right. The director would cry tears of joy when he saw Jase’s striking silhouette against the darkening night sky. Cassidy could take a picture with her phone right now and it’d make the perfect movie poster. She cleared her throat, struggling to sound professional. “Yeah, that’s great. You even mounted on the correct side. Always do it from the left.”

  “Mount from the left. Got it.”

  Cassidy perched on the fence and watched as Jase rode Cupcake around the corral, giving instructions as needed. Jase worked his way from a walk to a trot to a lope, his smile growing wider and commands to Cupcake more sure with each passing minute.

  “This is fantastic.” He brought the horse to a halt and dismounted like he’d been doing it since he was six years old. Jase led Cupcake by the reins to where Cassidy sat on the fence railing.

  Cupcake nudged Cassidy’s side, and she laughed and withdrew another sugar cube from her pocket. “She’s a calm horse. The ones they use on the range are more headstrong.”

  Jase leaned against the fence gave her a lazy smile. “I’m not worried. But it’s late and we should probably get inside. We’ve both got an early morning tomorrow.”

  Cassidy reluctantly nodded and followed Jase back into the barn, letting him lead Cupcake. She showed him how to remove the saddle and rub her down, then gave Cupcake a bucket of oats and left her in the stall for the night.

  “How have I gone my whole life without riding a horse?” Jase asked.

  Cassidy laughed. “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? Cupcake’s my best friend.”

  “I can see why. She’s a special animal.”

  Cassidy knew she should leave it at that and go inside. The part of her that had been hurt by Seth begged her to not get sucked in. It wasn’t like this—whatever this was—could go anywhere. But she craved Jase’s presence, like a caffeine addict desperate for their morning coffee.

  Cassidy took a deep breath, gazed up into Jase’s eyes, and plunged. “We could go riding sometime. There’s a nice spot I visit on Sundays to relax.”

  Jase’s steps faltered.

  “Obviously if yo
u’re too busy, that’s fine.” Cassidy quickened her pace, feeling like a total idiot.

  “No.” His hand flew out and rested on her arm, stopping her. She slowly turned around, almost scared to meet his gaze. “A ride sounds great. I’d love to go with you.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She played with her braid, curling the end around her finger. “How about this Sunday?”

  “That sounds perfect. Thanks for inviting me.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  They paused at the invisible intersection between the barn and their separate homes, lingering. Cassidy pushed a toe of her boot into the soft dirt peeking through the crab grass and Jase inhaled deeply. Darkness had fallen completely now, and she could no longer make out his features.

  “I love it here,” Jase said. “I never expected Oklahoma to be so peaceful and calm.”

  “Don’t you miss California?” Cassidy asked. “It’s like the modern-day embodiment of the American Dream. Big houses. Fancy parties. Beautiful beaches.”

  “Maybe it’s some people’s dream, but not mine. I like the slower pace of life in Sunset Plains.”

  Cassidy laughed. “You’ve only been here a week.”

  “Maybe, but I’ve never felt so connected to a place before. I don’t know how to describe it.”

  Cassidy took a cautious step closer. “I know what you mean. I’ve always felt that way about here, too.”

  Jase’s phone rang, breaking the spell between them. He pulled it from his pocket, giving her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’d better get this.”

  She quickly took a step back, smoothing her braid over one shoulder. “Of course.”

  Jase swiped a finger over the screen. “Hello?” His face darkened and for the next minute, he didn’t say anything. Cassidy looked away, not wanting to intrude on a private moment but not sure how to break away. The kitchen lights glowed in the farmhouse’s window, beckoning her home, while the porch light of the bunkhouse pulled Jase another way.

  Why had she invited him to go riding with her on Sunday? She’d never taken anyone to her special hideaway. It wasn’t much, just a secluded tree near the edge of the property that perfectly shaded a picnic blanket. She’d spent countless hours underneath it, reading a book or sleeping or just thinking about life. There was no reason for her to share that with someone who was barely more than a stranger—especially someone who would soon be leaving. Someone who might be less than genuine.

  “I can’t talk right now. Can I call you in a few minutes? Okay. Yeah. Goodbye, Mother.” Jase flicked off the phone, his agitation evident in the abrupt movement. “Sorry about that. I’ll see you Sunday, then?”

  “Sure. Is two o’clock okay?” That would give her enough time to get home from church and change.

  “It’s perfect.” He tipped his hat and smiled, but the way he gazed right through her said his thoughts were elsewhere. “I’ll be there.”

  Cassidy watched him stride toward the bunkhouse, his silhouette fading into the night, and put her hands to her flushed cheeks.

  What was wrong with her? She absolutely, positively could not fall for Jase Larson.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jase let out a silent curse as he left Cassidy and strode toward the bunkhouse. A phone call from his mother was never a good thing. He waited until he was nearly to the bunkhouse, then pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

  “It’s about time you called me back,” his mother snapped.

  “It’s been five minutes, tops,” Jase ground out. Maintaining his cool around his mother always took a concerted effort, and he was finding it more trying than usual today. “Sorry, I was talking to someone about ranch business.” Which was mostly true.

  “Well, I hope you’ve gotten all the information you need for the movie, because I need you to come back a week before production starts.”

  Jase leaned against the outside wall of the bunkhouse, the dim lights from the front porch illuminating where he stood. Gnats buzzed lazily near the lights, and he could see the flash of lightning bugs in the pasture. “Why?”

  “The costume department needs to take some measurements. I want to do some table readings with the cast.”

  “That’s not a week before production starts, that’s moving production up a week,” Jase cut in. He adjusted the brim of his cowboy hat, agitation making it hard to hold still.

  “Call it whatever you want,” his mother said, her tone haughty. “But I need you here in two weeks.”

  “No,” Jase hadn’t planned on saying the word, but now it hung between them like a grenade with the pin pulled.

  “Excuse me?”

  Jase pushed himself off the wall and started pacing. “I said no, Mother. I’ve already agreed to cut my trip short by three months, and I’m not willing to give up another week. Three weeks isn’t enough time to learn everything I need to know to convincingly play my role for this film. I’m staying the full four weeks. Production can wait for it’s original start date.”

  Silence echoed over the line like a scream, and Jase’s heart hammered in his chest. He kept pacing, watching as the pointed toes of his cowboy boots pressed into the soft crabgrass with each step. He’d never stood up to his mother before. She wasn’t going to like it.

  “I have taught you better than this,” Mother finally said, her voice seething. “A professional actor does not delay production like this for some ridiculous stay at a ranch.”

  “I’m not delaying production,” Jase cut in. “You are moving it up, and I have prior engagements that cannot be rearranged to accommodate your change in schedule with such short notice.”

  He could hear her heavy breathing over the line. Could imagine her clenching her fists and fighting back a scream. “Fine,” she said. “But you’re on thin ice, Jase. Don’t think I won’t recast you just because I’m your mother.”

  The phone clicked and the line went dead. Jase slowly put it back in his pocket, his own breaths a little uneven. He’d just antagonized his mother—his boss—and for what?

  Returning to California and beginning production on the western was the last thing Jase wanted to do at the moment. Oklahoma called to him, as did the woman who’d just walked away. He wasn’t ready to leave either behind.

  Jase slipped into the quiet bunkhouse. As he got ready for bed, his mind kept returning to Cassidy. The sashay of her hips and swish of her braid. The way her features softened when she rubbed down Cupcake. How she could make him laugh.

  As he climbed into bed, he resolved to not worry about production until he had to. For now, he’d work on immersing himself into the role, just like he’d planned when asking Shawn if he could visit. And if that meant spending more time with Cassidy, well, that was fine with Jase.

  He couldn’t wait to go riding with her on Sunday.

  * * *

  The next few days were filled with hard work and learning the ins and outs of ranching. Jase had always considered himself physically fit, but ranch life worked muscles he hadn’t realized he possessed. Each night he fell into bed feeling satisfied with a job well done. It filled him in a way acting never had, and that terrified him.

  Jase spent Sunday morning helping Mason with the animals. His teacher was a man of few words, leaving Jase ample time to anticipate his coming riding date with Cassidy. Could he call it a date?

  “Good work,” Mason said gruffly, hanging up the last of the brushes they’d used on the horses. “That’s it for today.” He’d explained earlier that on Sundays, everyone did the minimum necessary to keep things running and the animals healthy, then had the rest of the day off.

  “Okay. See you tomorrow.” Jase turned, eager to get ready for his Undefined Social Activity.

  “You got plans?” Mason called out, stopping Jase in his tracks.

  He slowly turned, backtracking to his mentor. “Yeah, actually.”

  “You’re going out with Cassidy.” It wasn’t a question. Mason tugged at the brim of his cowboy hat and folded his arms.

&nb
sp; Jase folded his own arms, mimicking Mason’s stance. “That’s right.”

  Mason grunted.

  Jase thought he already knew the answer to this question, but he decided to ask it anyway. Best to clear the air between them. Hopefully they could avoid any awkwardness for the rest of the time Jase was at the ranch. “Are you and she…?” Jase trailed off, leaving the question open-ended.

  Another grunt. “Cassidy ain’t never thought of me like that.”

  “But you want her to.”

  Mason’s face flushed red, and he pointed a threatening finger in Jase’s direction. “You best be careful with her, you hear? She’s been through enough and doesn’t need any more pain.”

  “I have no intention of hurting her, Mason.” Jase held up his hands, as though to prove his innocence.

  “But you do like her, romantic like.”

  Jase nodded.

  Another grunt from Mason. “I’ve got my eye on you, Jase Larson. Don’t you dare go and break her heart.”

  Mason’s threat loomed over Jase’s head as he took a quick shower and dressed for his date with Cassidy. He didn’t intend to hurt Cassidy, but at the same time, he was leaving in three weeks. What would happen when he returned to California?

  But he was jumping the gun, as a cowboy would say. Cassidy’s hatred had turned to a grudging like, perhaps. She had asked him to go riding with her today, after all. But that might very well mean nothing. He’d play things by ear today and see where they went.

  He arrived in the barn first and took it upon himself to saddle the two horses. Cupcake stood perfectly still while Jase saddled her, but Brownie—the horse he’d been riding on the range—grunted and sidestepped every chance she got. Clearly Cassidy had named both horses. Jase spoke to Brownie in a soothing voice, patting his neck and giving the horse the time he needed to put on the saddle. He was just tightening the cinch one last time when soft footfalls entered the barn. The hairs on the back of his neck rose, instantly on alert at her presence.