EPILOGUE
Two Months Later
“Good.” Cassidy smiled at Anabeth Collins and pointed to the bubblegum pink fondant she was using to cover an eight-inch round cake. “Run your smoother around the sides another few times. Make sure to get all those wrinkles out of the fondant. They’ll only get more noticeable after you airbrush on some detail and then steam the whole thing.”
“Got it.” Anabeth picked up the smoother and dutifully began running it across the cake again.
Cassidy looked around the front room of her cupcake shop, satisfaction rolling through her. Twelve women had signed up for her first cake decorating class, and she could already tell it was a hit. She’d pushed the small round tables up against the wall and set up long folding tables instead. They were covered with plastic tablecloths. Various fondant tools were scattered across the top as the women concentrated on their small cakes. Across the street, Cassidy could just make out the sun dipping below the buildings. Cars lined the curb, and even more were parked around back in the small gravel parking lot. The only thing missing from today was Jase.
It had been his idea to offer classes in the evenings, after the bakery was closed for the day. During his last visit to Sunset Plains, Cassidy had gotten a rush order for a specialty cake and they’d spent another long evening together at the bakery, decorating. Jase had been more interested in flirting than in helping, and Cassidy had laughingly told him that if he was going to spend so much time in her kitchen, he needed to at least help out. The next day, he’d asked her to teach him how to roll fondant and cover a cake. As they’d cleaned up the kitchen after a fun and messy few hours, he’d suggested doing classes for the town. Cassidy had been apprehensive at first, but with his encouragement had gone ahead with the idea.
Jase always encouraged her to stretch outside her comfort zone, and then he supported her every step of the way. She missed him so much. Just a few more days until filming would wrap, and he’d be back in Sunset Plains for good.
“My fondant keeps cracking,” a middle-aged woman with an ample bosom said. “What am I doing wrong, Cassidy?”
Cassidy wandered over to the woman and bent down, examining her fondant. “It’s drying out. That can happen when you work it too much. Let’s peel it off, add a little shortening, and try again.”
As Cassidy helped repair the fondant, her thoughts drifted again to Jase. She wondered if he was back in his trailer for the night, or if he’d had another long day of shooting. He was in a pretty remote location in Texas, about an hour from the nearest hotel or store. The crew and cast all tended to push for longer days in an attempt to finish shooting sooner, so they could get back to civilization.
The last eight weeks had been long and hard. Seth had indeed been fired from the movie and replaced with someone else. Last Cassidy had heard, Seth’s reputation for showing up late for call times and lazy acting was making the rounds, and he hadn’t been cast in anything else yet. Jase said he’d gotten what he deserved, and part of Cassidy couldn’t help but agree. But a much bigger part of her honestly didn’t care. Seth was her past. He didn’t matter anymore.
Cassidy had flown out to Texas twice for a long weekend, and loved Jase’s enthusiasm as he showed her around the set. This film had seemed to help him recapture the love of acting he’d worried he’d lost forever. The only uncomfortable parts of those weekends had been the brief interactions she’d had with his mother. The woman was as prickly as a cactus, but Jase assured Cassidy it wasn’t her—that was just how his mother was.
Jase had come to Sunset Plains twice as well over the past two months. He’d closed on his ranch last month, and Cassidy had taken to driving by it each night on her way home so she could update Jase on the progress of his new house. Sometimes on Sundays, she’d ride out on Cupcake to their special meadow and talk to Jase on the phone for hours.
Long distance wasn’t ideal, but Cassidy found it wasn’t as challenging as she’d feared, either. A relationship was so much easier to manage with a committed partner who cared about her needs.
“Great job tonight, ladies,” Cassidy said. “Next week, we’ll work on our piping skills. See you then.”
The woman thanked her and left with their covered cakes, giggling and talking loudly about the class. Cassidy waved as they drove away, then she locked the door. Jase’s idea had been a good one. She was already looking forward to the next class.
Cassidy pulled her phone out of her apron pocket and texted Jase. You still working?
Almost done for the night, came his quick response. How did the class go?
Really good I think!
I knew it would. I’m so proud of you.
Cassidy’s heart swelled in her chest as she gathered up the cheap plastic tablecloths and dumped them in the trashcan. I’ll call you when I’m home, if you’re up for a chat.
Wouldn’t miss it. Hey, can you drive by my ranch on the way home? I want to make sure the builders started framing today.
Sure, Cassidy said. I’ll head that way in about twenty minutes.
She quickly cleaned up the front room and moved the tables back into place, then grabbed her keys and locked up the shop. The warm late-August breeze whipped tendrils from her braid as she drove toward Reel Ranch. She’d teased Jase about the name, but he’d pulled her into his arms and said he never wanted to forget that while acting was great, Sunset Plains was genuine.
It was nearly nine o’clock when Cassidy turned onto the freshly resurfaced drive leading to Reel Ranch. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the remaining pink light of a sunset was rapidly fading to black. But the walls of Jase’s home had indeed been erected today. Their dark silhouettes reached strong and tall toward the sky.
Cassidy cut the engine and got out of the truck. Lightning bugs flashed in the distance as she walked toward the house. She squinted. What were those flickering lights near the middle of the home? A shadow moved near the lights, making Cassidy’s heart pound.
“Hello?” she called.
“It’s just me,” came a familiar, deep voice.
“Jase.” Cassidy hopped up onto the foundation and flew into his arms, laughing. “What are you doing back already?”
He didn’t answer, but instead lowered his head toward hers. She tipped his cowboy hat back on his forehead and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, relishing the feel of his lips against hers.
“I wasn’t expecting you back for another few days,” Cassidy said, her tone a little breathless.
Jase’s hands were warm and steady at her waist. “Filming wrapped a little early. I booked it to the airport and grabbed the first flight out of there.”
She rose on her tiptoes and kissed him again. “You won’t hear any complaints from me.”
Jase chuckled and pulled her hands toward the flickering lights. She could see now that they were candles, set around a picnic blanket.
“It was too late to grab Gertie’s, so your mama let me make some sandwiches,” Jase said.
Cassidy stared up at him, loving the way he looked in that cream-colored cowboy hat. “Just how long have you been home, Jase Larson?”
“Only about an hour, but I wanted to make sure I had everything ready. There’s something big I want to talk to you about.”
He’d been offered another part in a movie. Cassidy let him lead her to the blanket and sat down, not feeling the tension and stress she’d expected to come with such an announcement. “Where are you going this time?”
Jase sat down beside her, one eyebrow cocked as the candlelight danced across the planes of his face. “Huh?”
“The role you’ve been offered.” Cassidy gave him a smile. “I knew you couldn’t stay away from acting for good. It’s in your blood, Jase. You’re good at it. I want you to win that Oscar almost as much as your mother does, I think.”
Jase laughed. “I doubt that.”
“Jase, I’m serious.” She rose on her knees and took his face between her hands. “You can’t give up acting permanentl
y. Only take the roles you feel passionate about, but you have to keep taking the roles.”
His hand rested against hers, and he leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. “I love you so much, Cassidy.”
“I love you, too.”
He took her hand gently in his. “It actually is a new role I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Okay. What kind of movie is this? I know you’re great in romantic comedies, but I’ve got to be honest—I hate seeing you kiss other women on screen.”
Jase inclined his head to the side. “I certainly hope there will be lots of romance, and at least some comedy. But this is a role I can’t take on without your help.”
Cassidy stilled. She put a hand to her chest, where her heart suddenly was pounding. When she spoke, her voice was a squeak. “Oh?”
“Oh,” Jase agreed. Slowly, he rose up on one knee and withdrew something from his pocket.
Cassidy rose to her knees as well. “Oh my gosh.”
Jase smiled and flipped open the box. The candlelight danced across a glittering ring, with the biggest diamond Cassidy had ever seen.
“Jase,” Cassidy breathed, her eyes flying up to meet his.
“Cassidy Erickson,” Jase said. “I am so in love with you. I think I’ve loved you since our very first date to the meadow. Of all the roles I’ve auditioned for, and all the roles I’ve been offered, I’ve never wanted a role more than I want that of your husband. Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”
Cassidy laughed and threw her arms around his neck, heart soaring. She pressed her lips against his and felt the pounding of his heart against her palm. “I love you so much.”
“Is that a yes?” Jase asked.
“Yes!” Cassidy laughed and held out a shaking hand as he slipped the ring onto her finger. A perfect fit.
“I can’t wait to take on this role,” Jase whispered, kissing her temple. “Let’s not make it a long engagement. I just want to start our lives together.”
“Agreed,” Cassidy said. And then she showed him just how much she meant it.
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Want to find out what happens to Cassidy’s brother, Tanner? Read Match Me Again, the exciting second-chance romance set against a background of tornadoes.
Read all the books in the No Match for Love series.
Love your romance with a dash of suspense and mystery? Read Kiss Me in the Moonlight, book 1 in the Kiss Me series.
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Want a romance that gives you all the feels? Read Tomorrow’s Lullaby, Lindzee’s inspirational romance novel.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindzee Armstrong is the USA Today bestselling author of the No Match for Love series, Kiss Me series, and Chasing Tomorrow series. In case it wasn’t obvious, she’s always had a soft spot for love stories. In third grade, she started secretly reading romance novels, hiding the covers so no one would know (because hello, embarrassing!), and dreaming of her own Prince Charming.
Lindzee met her true love while at college, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in history education. They are now happily married and raising twin boys in the Rocky Mountains.
Like any true romantic, Lindzee loves chick flicks, ice cream, and chocolate. She believes in sigh-worthy kisses and happily ever afters, and loves expressing that through her writing.
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Copyright © 2018 by Lindzee Armstrong
Published by Snowflake Press
All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the author.
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Never Say Match (No Match for Love Book 9) Page 13
