Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) (7 page)

Shane hadn’t replied. Only nodded as he stared at the road ahead. A strip of fast-food joints stood clustered beyond the next traffic light. He slowed as the light changed from yellow to red, turning to her once they were stopped. “Well, sugar, where to?”

~+~

The girl knew what she wanted, he’d give her that. And boy did she insist on paying for things herself. City girls didn’t know how to let a man take care of them. Another reason he was meant for a different type of gal. Shane Emerson would take care of his girl so long as the Lord was willing and the creek didn’t rise.

At least she’d let him pay for the food. Not that he’d given her much choice. He glanced over at her, arms folded proudly across her chest, a pretty pout playing on those lips of hers.

“I’m buying the dessert,” she announced, turning her head away from him. Shane bit back the comment that leapt to the tip of his tongue – something about her being the dessert. He’d been around the wrong company for too long, was afraid of what type of things might come from his mouth if he didn’t stay on guard.

As it was, they had more food than the two of them could consume in one night. What sort of dessert could she possibly have in mind? To him, desserts were things that were pulled hot from the oven and topped with glaze, whipped cream, or icing.

“The gas station,” she whooped. “Perfect.”

He glanced at the wide smile on her face. “It is?”

An anxious nod caused her ponytail to bounce at the back of her head. “Yep.”

“Okay,” he said, pulling into the nearby station.

Cassie was out the door before he could get to her side of the truck, so he met her at the front, resting his hand at the small of her back. “May as well start looking the part, right?” Having her so close sent that lovely smell of her to toying with his senses again. Dang, she smelled good.

Cassie’s eyes were soft and guarded as she glanced up at him. Shane gulped as she looked over his face before meeting his gaze. “You’re right,” she said softly.

He opened the entrance for her, and there she went, racing ahead of him and into the store. Dessert from the gas station. This should be good.

She stopped at a glass box, eyeing what lay inside. “Doughnuts,” she said.

Shane tipped his head back. “Ah – doughnuts.”

“And hot chocolate.” Cassie spun around and darted to the coffee counter, picking up a container resting there. “With marshmallows.” She was showing off that perfect smile again.

The small lumps in the jar she held didn’t look a thing like marshmallows, but he nodded his head just the same. “Looks… tasty.”

She giggled as she set to work, mixing the hot drinks. She threw in a few small cups of cream he was sure were meant for coffee, but kept quiet, only watched the girl in what seemed to be her element. A home away from home.

“You are going to love this,” she assured, sipping at one of the drinks. “I have to check yours too, but I’ll use a spoon so I don’t gross you out.” She grabbed a plastic spoon before he could tell her not to bother. He imagined placing his lips against the spot where hers had rested – had she drank right from his cup – and scolded himself for being so desperate. What had this woman done to him?

Shane carried the hot cups as Cassie filled a flimsy box with doughnuts. There was no denying they smelled delicious. He eyed her figure once more, wondering how she managed to stay so thin on a diet such as this.

“You exercise a lot?” He hadn’t exactly meant to say it aloud; it was more of an inward thought that somehow slipped through his lips.

Cassie shrugged indifferently. “When I feel like it. Usually I run on the weekends. Hit the gym every once in a while. I’m not a die hard.”

He blew out a relieved breath, glad she hadn’t taken offence to the off-handed question. While she paid for dessert – as she’d called it – Shane gritted his teeth, hating to see a lady pull out her wallet while a man was present. In his family, it just wasn’t done. ‘Course Cassie wasn’t his wife, and probably never would be. Fact, she was nearly a stranger to him. Still, she was a woman in need. One who’d been ripped away from her home and placed in his protection. He’d be the one to see her needs were met whether she liked it or not.

“Ready?” Her smile was wide as she spun around, carting the box of fresh goods. He was amazed by her high spirits. And warmed by them too. Shane had planned to stay angry for the duration of her stay, but Cassie had already made that impossible.

Being away from the ranch always had him chomping at the bit, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t enjoying himself at the moment. Let the men rope in the restless cattle, mend the broken stretch of fence at the west pasture. For now, he’d enjoy his evening with his new little ranch bride, and wonder what it’d be like if it was more than just an act.

CHAPTER TEN

Cassie covered a yawn as she stretched, surprised to see it was nearly ten o’clock. “We are going to be hating it tomorrow.” She watched as Shane sunk back into the couch, eyeing the array of take-out boxes and bags sprawled over the coffee table.

“From all this food?” he asked.

“No, from lack of sleep.” She laughed. “We didn’t eat too much.”

He gave her a sideways glance before leaning on one elbow to face her. “Well, I did.”

“But you still have this.” She reached for his cup, frowning when there was no hint of warmth beneath her palm, and handed it to him. “Your cold chocolate.”

“It’s cold now?” His dark brows raised.

“Yep,” she said, grabbing her own cup and lifting it to his. “Cheers.”

He nudged the foam cup against hers and brought it to his lips. After a few gulps he nodded. “Still good.”

“Mmm. You’re right.” The room had slowly slipped into darkness as they’d watched their movie, and now, only the muted TV screen lit the space between them. Though the two were sharing the same couch, Cassie sat nestled snuggly on her side, legs tucked beneath her, while Shane had settled into his corner, a couch cushion away. The box of doughnuts rested between them. “So what is it like, back at the ranch?”

Shane had already tossed his button-up shirt, and was now tugging at the neck of his undershirt as if it were choking him. “Well, uh… loud when everybody’s there. Plenty of chatter and games. Lots of food. The family has a good time together.”

“You liked growing up there?” she asked, and for a moment she could see a child-like sparkle in his eye at the question.

“Oh, it’s the perfect place to raise a family. None better. Something about the lay of the open land against the blue sky. The hay field when it’s tall and green before reaping. I learned how to work hard from a young age. Rode my first bull when I was seven years old.”

She gasped. “You’re kidding. Seven? A bull, like in a rodeo?”

The smile that owned him then caused a rush of adrenaline to surge through her body. “Yeah. My older brothers were already competing. They’ve got a youth division and all. But it was more than that.” He picked up the box between them, set it on the coffee table before leaning his elbows onto his knees. “There’s not a whole lot of calm moments around there, yet there’s always this … sense of peace.” The warm look in those hazel eyes repeated every word he’d said; this cowboy loved life on the ranch.

Cassie considered that as she scooted closer to him still, working to casually close the gap between them. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or perhaps the trauma she’d endured over the last twenty-four hours, but suddenly she craved being close to him and was in no mood to silence the voice that urged her on. She inhaled his masculine scent as she neared him, musing the pine and wood smell had placed her under some sort of spell.

“What about the girls?” she asked. “Do they help with the cattle?”

“I never did have a sister, but my mom, grandma, and aunts have all helped out in different ways. Most enjoy riding, just not to round up the cattle. I have an aunt who’s real involved during calving season.” He eyed her. “Not at our place. They have their own ranch miles from ours. Sometimes Reese and Jade help out with that too, plus they both like caring for flowers, planting gardens, that type of thing.”

Cassie took another sip of her chocolate drink before setting the cup on the side table. “Lucky. I suck at keeping plants alive.”

He smiled. “Maybe you were just putting your roots down in the wrong place.” He held her gaze while his sentence stretched into lonely, aching places in her heart.

She gulped. “Maybe.”

Shane straightened up. “So how was it growing up in Seattle?”

“Different.” She chuckled. “You can hardly walk with your head up with as wet as it is outside. But I love the rich, green life everywhere you turn. And the fresh seafood restaurants, like I mentioned. I like the city too. All the hustle and bustle of everyone around. Keeps me from feeling lonely, I guess.”

He looked at her questioningly. 

“Oh,” Cassie said, “I don’t have much of a family. Never had any brothers or sisters, and I was raised mostly by my grandmother, so it was kind of quiet.” She sighed. “My grandma passed a few years ago, but she taught me to work hard, too. Just mostly with schoolwork and my job. I’ve been working since I was fifteen.”

Shane frowned. “What happened to your parents?”

“Nothing. They’re good – healthy and everything – just didn’t want to stop their mission work to raise a child.”

“What do you mean by mission work?” he asked, grimacing.

Her defenses kicked into gear. “My parents have donated nearly their entire lives to helping third-world countries grow and develop. They’re actually called developing countries now, but no one seems to recognize that term.” She mumbled the last few words, distracted by the thoughtful look on Shane’s handsome face.

“They left their only child – you – behind to go do stuff like that?”

She nodded. “I know. It was a big sacrifice.”

A mass of unspoken words warred in those eyes of his, so loaded was the tension behind them and the tight set of his finely chiseled jaw. “Hmm,” he murmured. “Was your grandmother kind – the one who raised you?”

“Yes. I mean, she was strict, had one of those no-nonsense personalities, but she always made me feel loved.” Cassie eyed Shane as he maneuvered from the couch to the floor, pushing the coffee table away in the process. She bit at her bottom lip as he got situated to where he faced her. She knew she should hit the sheets, but for some reason the night still felt young. Call it the fresh spark of possibility in the air, or the energy that blazed between them each time their eyes met, but she wasn’t ready to say goodnight yet.

~+~

Shane positioned his back against the coffee table, grateful to have a little space to clear his head. He’d moved the box of doughnuts because, as much as he didn’t need another, having them so close made him want more. Who knew an even tastier-looking treat would scoot right into its place? That woman was a temptation if he ever saw one. And was it just him, or was Cassie looking at him in that I-want-to-get-closer way?

She stretched those slender arms high overhead before slipping onto her side, taking up the length of the couch. He watched as she propped herself up on one elbow, tucking the small pillow beneath her arm. The act had closed the gap between them again, put her face a meager arm’s length from his.

Shane let out a slow breath, inching the table a bit more with his back. He wanted to ask something to keep the conversation going between them, but was drawing a blank. She’d already told him about her apartment – one bedroom with a balcony and a view, and her job back home –an editor for a magazine. If the conversation drifted back to her selfish, indulgent parents, he may not be able to hold back his opinion next time around.

“Let me see your hand,” Cassie said, reaching hers out.

With his elbow propped on his knee, Shane straightened his arm. Cassie hunkered over his palm, attempting to rest it on the couch.

He chuckled. “My elbow doesn’t bend that way.”

“Then put your knees down and move closer. Come on, I won’t bite.” Had he not seen her make the hot chocolate with his own eyes, Shane would’ve sworn Cassie’s held a shot of liquor. Of course he hadn’t known her long, but it seemed her inhibitions were lost somewhere on the Montana breeze blowing just outside.

Shane cleared his throat, attempting to sit Indian style the way they taught him in grade school. He wasn’t nearly as flexible as he was back then, but he made it work.

Cassie looked pleased as she forced his hand flat on the couch next to her. She rubbed her thumb gently over his palm in a circular motion, and he was surprised by the sensation it gave. The soft tips of her fingers flittered over it next, light and feathery, causing a warm dose of heat to gather in his belly. His skin must feel rough against hers. Calloused and dry. His hand looked huge beside her dainty little fingers.

“My grandmother used to massage my hands after gymnastics,” she said. “I never realized how sore they were until she’d start rubbing, and then it would sort of hurt, but in the best way, you know?”

He knew alright. “You were a gymnast?” he asked.

Cassie’s eyes grew wistful. “Yeah. I competed for ten years. But my grandma wasn’t in the best health so it was hard for her to keep up with the busy schedule. I didn’t mind giving it up if it meant life would be easier for her.”

The statement was just another tidbit Shane logged into his assessment of her. The woman before him was a mystery – a puzzle of sorts – and he was left to gather the pieces. He still had a long way to go, yet something was clicking into place. He just didn’t have the time to ponder exactly what it was about Cassie Lovell that set her apart from most women he’d met.

His thoughts were all but lost as her thumbs began pressing at the muscle along the outer edge of his hand. His eyes drifted closed at the feel of it. She moved slowly, thoroughly, rubbing small circles along the edges of his palm, paying extra attention to the spots just beneath each finger. A slight moan sounded from his throat, and Cassie giggled in response – a cute, quiet little sound.