Chapter 2 #3
“Oh, well, nothing is confirmed, because I was going to talk to you,” Jessie Jane said, looking up at her older brother with a smile. “It’s only that … Well, you know how Danielle is.”
West snorted. “Unfortunately.”
“Well, I’m feeling overwhelmed.”
“I don’t want you to be overwhelmed,” he said, softening slightly.
He looked uncomfortable to be having the conversation in the presence of people he didn’t know all that well.
Cassidy couldn’t recall having seen West Hancock look uncomfortable before.
Generally speaking, he exuded confidence.
In fact, if asked, she would say that social anxiety was afraid of West.
“I know you don’t. But I also don’t want to tank all your plans. And I know how much the show depends on the Christmas revenue. There are other things I can cut …”
“Wait, I can do it,” Cassidy said, standing up and turning so that she was square with West. “I’m a great rider.”
He looked her up and down, and that cold, blue gaze burned like frostbite. “I’m sure you are, sweetheart, but that doesn’t make you a trick rider. And it sure as hell doesn’t make you a showman.”
“Maybe not. But I am one. And I’m happy to audition.
” The feeling he elicited in the center of her chest was foreign.
But that was silly. She took a moment to take stock of him.
Tall, all muscle, so masculine it was almost a hindrance.
Because he would have trouble bending in most circumstances, even when it would make sense to do so.
He was possibly the only man with a worse reputation in town than her brothers,’ but the truth was, he was like her brothers. A cowboy with a chip on his shoulder.
It was like being introduced to a new horse, really.
Because she knew horses, but each one was a little bit different and required a little bit of work.
West was just another cowboy. She knew cowboys.
She could figure out how to manage him, just like she could figure out how to manage a new horse.
All she needed was a little patience, and maybe some sugar cubes, and he would come around.
“Audition?” The word was scathing.
“If you don’t want to do this …”
He lifted his hand and silenced Jessie Jane before she could finish her sentence. “I don’t want you to be stressed. Of course, Cassidy can try, if she really wants to. But I don’t like the idea of swapping in somebody new and giving them tricks they can’t handle.”
“Neither do I,” Flynn said, coming up on the other side of West. “I’m going to need you to be really confident that my sister can handle this before you let her take part in the show.”
“I didn’t ask to have her in the show,” West returned. “But you can sure as hell bet she’s not going to break her neck on my watch. I don’t need the lawsuit.”
“It wouldn’t be a lawsuit,” Flynn said. “I’d shoot you in the street.”
“Would you? Because shoot-outs don’t generally go your family’s way.”
Cassidy could only be grateful that Austin wasn’t here, because bringing up their families’ shared history was sure to send him directly over the edge. He liked Jessie Jane, but Cassidy had a feeling that the rest of the Hancock family was still a challenge for him.
Flynn looked at Jessie Jane, and Carson was halfway out of his seat, stopped only by Perry’s warning glare and quick touch to his forearm.
“Oh, come on,” Cassidy said. “I’m also capable of making decisions for myself.
” Until the words came out of her mouth, she didn’t realize how frustrated she was.
They really did still see her as a kid. Flynn was being overprotective to a degree that just felt insulting.
“I can decide whether or not I feel safe. West can decide if I’m good enough.
Those are two different things. But none of you are responsible for me. ”
Flynn looked at Dalton. “Can you please talk some sense into her?”
Dalton lifted an eyebrow at Flynn and then turned to Cassidy. “You can make your own decisions,” he said. “It’s sure as hell isn’t my job to talk sense into you.”
His confidence and Flynn’s thunderous glare back made her stomach lurch. Dalton did see that she was a woman. That she wasn’t just a kid. That she didn’t need to be protected. Thank God. She was halfway there.
“Okay. Now that everyone has weighed in on a decision that should just be between you and me,” she said, looking back at West, “all we need to do is come up with a time for my audition.”
“Tomorrow,” West said, his expression remaining as implacable as a rockface. “Ten o’clock. Be there with spurs on.”
“I will,” she said. And then she stuck her hand out.
But he didn’t take it. Instead, he looked down at her hand, and up at her face. “We’ll see if you earn that.”
And then, he turned and walked out of the bar. It was as if he took the shadow along with him.
Jessie let out a long breath. “Okay. Now that my brother is done with his theatrics, let’s drink.”
But Cassidy couldn’t get West out of her head quite as easily.
Because tomorrow at 10:00 AM, Cassidy Wilder had a date with the devil.