CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Haden
“So, you over your little alpha cowboy stint?” Cole asks as we dry the whiskey glasses.
At the big house, it’s expected that the men clear up after dinner.
Nash said it’s a ripoff tonight since no one cooked.
But here we are, tidying anyway, while the girls play Twister in the living room with Mabel.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I answer as I dry a platter that held Jo’s delicious sour cream cake.
“You mean to tell me you threw snow in Dirk’s face this afternoon because you thought he looked thirsty?”
“He did look fucking thirsty,” I retort. Cole laughs.
“What am I missing here?” Wade asks.
I look over at him—he has Billi strapped to his chest as he wipes down the kitchen counters and makes funny faces at her—and grin. “I’m still not used to seeing this guy wearing a baby and smiling all the time.”
“Nah, you’re not changing the subject that quickly,” Nash says. “We’re all a bunch of old married men now. Give us the drama.”
I turn and watch the girls in the other room as they play.
Cassie is tangled in a big heap of limbs.
And, of course, the only ass bent over right in front of me is hers.
She’s laughing now and is a lot calmer than when she was at the table.
I could feel the nerves radiating off her when CeCe asked her for help.
But I’m proud of the way she handled it.
And even though it probably brought back unsavory memories to speak to Evan’s manager, the second she was done with dinner, she made the call.
I watch her laugh now as Ginger falls into a heap and Mabel laughs hysterically that she and Cassie are the last ones standing.
“No drama. Cassie’s a nice girl is all, and she doesn’t need a manwhore hitting on her,” I tell them.
Wade chuckles. “Defending her honor? That’s mighty nice of you.”
I sip my bourbon. “Someone needs to. Have you seen the way Dirk goes through the local single women?”
“Have you seen how you used to go through them?” Wade asks. “Kinda like throwing stones in a glass house, ain’t it?”
“No, he’s reformed. I haven’t seen him with a woman in months,” Nash interjects. “At least, not at the Horse and Barrel.”
“You got someone we don’t know about?” Wade asks.
“It’s not that deep. Jesus. People grow up, you know,” I tell them.
They all laugh, but I’m off the hook as the conversation swerves to how we plan on bringing Penny’s horses over to Silver Pines. Midway through the conversation, my phone buzzes on the table. It’s my dad.
DAD
I know you’ve got the ranch but I threw my back out shoveling. I could’ve used you checking in with me.
I couldn’t finish it. Do you think you can pop by tomorrow and give me a hand?
Busy day. Penny’s barn caved in…
DAD
That’s a shame. Is she alright?
Yep she’s fine, just shaken up.
DAD
Good to hear. She’s a nice lady. It must be hard there on her own. It’s nice of you to help her.
I blow out a breath and knock the rest of my bourbon back. Just when he pisses me off, he becomes almost human for a minute and I remember he’s on his own and he’s the only parent I have left.
I’ll stop by around lunch tomorrow and make sure you’re cleared out.
DAD
Thanks kid.
I watch as Cassie does her best to tip her head down to yellow and Mabel holds her position strong.
Just before she makes her move, her eyes meet mine and she smiles.
I smile back and, at that precise moment, she loses her balance and goes down in a pile of blonde curls.
Mabel stands and starts star-jumping. She and Ginger move through some kind of choreographed handshake and Cassie sits up, high-fiving Mabel from the ground.
I chuckle as I listen to her tell Mabel she was a tough competitor and I eye the way her pink off-the-shoulder sweater clings to all the right places.
It’s loose and billowy, giving me the illusion that I could just slide my hands right under and feel all that soft—
“Careful,” Nash says seemingly out of nowhere. I didn’t even realize he’d moved to my side of the kitchen island and sat down beside me.
“What do you mean?” I ask, clearing my throat.
“Keep looking at Cassie like that and you’ll end up an old man like us.”
“Come on,” Cole adds from behind me, “give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s only looking at her because she’s a nice girl.”
“Fuck off,” I growl.
“Christ,” Wade mutters. “I get it now. You just couldn’t do it.”
I turn to face him. “What?” I ask defensively.
“I told you she was off-limits. She’s here to heal, to rest. She’s not here to hop into your bed.”
“What are we talking about, boys?” Papa Dean comes into the kitchen from the dining room. He’s just finished sweeping around the table. He sits down on the other side of me.
“Just talking about Haden making googly eyes at Ivy’s little sister,” Nash offers.
“It’s not like that!” I say.
Dean chuckles and pours himself a drink.
“Hell, boy. Those horse stalls out there in that barn.” He points in their direction and leans in toward me. “They ain’t got nothing on you. Cause you, son, are full of shit.”
Cole and Nash laugh, and I can’t help but join in.
Fucking hell, I am full of shit. I look back at Cassie holding her hair up off her back after their intense game of Twister.
It’s all I can do to will my hard-on to stand down, right here at the table.
I should be trying to get past Cassie. I know I can’t really ever have her.
Yet, every time I’m with her, it gets harder and harder to imagine my world without her.
Even now, when I shouldn’t be, I can’t stop thinking of all the ways I want to make that little princess over there scream my name.
Less than two hours later, I’m pacing around my house.
I’ve gone through a full weight training session, showered and tried to watch TV.
Glenda is at Cassie’s and I know I’ve really gone and done it.
Because now that I’ve had Cassie Spencer, I can’t stop thinking about having her.
I wipe down my counters as I talk to myself.
If I could just have her one more time, I can have closure on whatever this is.
One more time to savor the way she tastes, the little sounds she makes …
After an entire day and night working for everyone else, I’m spent, wrung out and desperate to find my way to her lips. And then bury my face between her thighs.
I realize with that thought I’m really starting to make this woman my solace, which isn’t good for anyone. Mainly me, when she up and leaves here in two weeks’ time. I’ve never had to get over someone and I sure as shit don’t want to start with her.
I’ve just reconciled myself to staying in my own cabin for the night when I catch a glimpse of Glenda leaving and trudging down Cassie’s steps to head back to her own cabin.
PRINCESS
You can stop pacing in front of your window like a neanderthal. She’s gone.
I’m not pacing.
PRINCESS
My mistake. And here I was thinking you might like to join me.
I’m just about to type “Join you where?” when a photo comes through of her naked thighs and every shred of clothing she was wearing tonight at her feet. Ah, fuck.
PRINCESS
Too bad. It gets lonely in this big shower all alone.
I scrub a hand down my face and give my head a shake.
Fuck me. So much for staying in my own cabin.