Cupcakes and Cowboys (Sunset Plains Romance Book 1) (9 page)

Cassidy started her evening closing ritual at 5:45, since no one was in the store. She wiped down all the tables and straightened the chairs underneath them, then flipped off the small television playing the evening news. She wiped the chalkboard menu clean and updated it with tomorrow’s cupcake of the day.

The bell jingled. Cassidy’s heart dropped, and she capped the liquid chalk marker. Normally, she didn’t mind last-minute customers who lingered, especially if they emptied out her display cases. But tonight, she really didn’t have the time.

She slowly turned around. Her mouth fell open in shock. Jase stood in the doorway, that pristinely white cowboy hat on his head and a smile on his full lips.

“What are you doing here?” Cassidy asked.

“I thought I could help.”

“Help?”

“With the order.”

A snort escaped, and Cassidy quickly covered her mouth, giggling. “You want to help me decorate a cake?”

“Hey, I helped you sell them, didn’t I? You sounded pretty stressed on the phone, and I missed you. So what do you say? Can I help?”

He wasn’t upset. Relief flowed through her. She considered him, then nodded. “That would be great, actually. Thanks.”

The clock hit six, and Cassidy locked the door and flipped off the lights.

Jase followed her to the kitchen. “So what are we making?”

“We’re decorating a cake for a faculty training event at the college. I baked the cakes when it was slow and they’re in the freezer so we can frost them easily. I thought something with bright primary colors that keeps with a back-to-school theme.”

“Sounds delicious and fun. Where do we start?”

Cassidy motioned to the sink. “Wash your hands and find an apron.”

Jase nodded. Cassidy grabbed a sixteen-inch round cardboard base and set it on her cake stand. After washing her hands, she mixed the butter cream to dirty ice the cakes.

“How was work today?” Cassidy asked as she mixed.

“Great. Mason showed me how to change the timing belt on a truck. I didn’t expect to do stuff like that as a rancher. It’s method acting at its finest.”

She imagined Jase hunched over the hood of a truck, hands black with grease. It made her smile. “What made you decide to adopt method acting? I’ve never really asked.”

Cassidy expected an answer about how dedicated he was to his craft, or how it made his performances better. What she hadn’t expected was for him to look away, rubbing his thumb along the edge of the countertop. “It lets me be someone else for a while.”

Cassidy’s brows knit together. He’d never said anything like this to her before. “You’re Jase Larson. Men want to be you, and women want to be with you. Why would you want to be anyone else?”

He took her hand gently in his. “I’ve always been in Hollywood. I’ve grown up with the glitz and glamor. Sometimes, I’m not sure if that’s the life I want, or the only life I’ve known.” He motioned to the bakery. “This—Oklahoma—is the most I’ve ever connected with a role. It feels like what I’ve always wanted to do and who I want to be.
You’ve
shown me that, Cassidy.”

She swallowed, looking away. He was so different from Drew, in every possible way. “It’s a good life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

His eyes locked with hers. “What if things had turned out differently between you and Drew?” She heard the unspoken question in his words—
what happens with us after I leave?

I want to be with you,
she thought, her heart hammering in her chest.
I need you. I don’t want to lose you.
But she couldn’t lose herself in a relationship again. She wouldn’t give up the bakery. When she spoke, her words were slow, but deliberate. “I would’ve followed him to Los Angeles. But I’m not willing to sacrifice my dreams for someone else’s anymore.”

She expected Jase’s eyes to flash with anger, or maybe hurt. But he just nodded. “You shouldn’t have to. He didn’t deserve you, Cassidy. I’m sure it didn’t feel like it at the time, but you’re lucky to have escaped.”

“I know that now. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

What happens after next week?
She was desperate to ask the question, but terrified of the answer.

Jase took a slow step forward. Cassidy held her breath, his body heat filtering through the inches between them and warming her skin. Slowly, his head lowered toward hers.

His phone rang, breaking the silence. Cassidy cleared her throat and took a step back. What was she doing? After next week, he’d go back to his life, and she’d go back to hers.

“Hello?” Jase was silent as he listened to the other side of the call. His brow furrowed into a line. “That wasn’t our original agreement . . . You’re sure nothing can be done? Yeah, I understand. Yes. I said I’ll be there.” He flipped the phone closed, his chest heaving.

“Is everything okay?” Cassidy asked.

“That was my mother. She’s scheduled my flight home.”

“Oh.” Cassidy blinked, hoping he wouldn’t see the tears that were forming.

“It’s not that strange. The studio often makes travel arrangements for the cast members. But we’re usually in on the plans.”

“When do you leave?”

“Three days.”

Three days. Her heart ached. This really was ending.

He kissed her softly on the forehead and wrapped her in his embrace. She felt his unspoken pain, and knew he didn’t want to leave any more than she wanted him to.

Ask him to stay!
But no. They lived completely different—and incompatible—lifestyles. She wouldn’t put her career aside in favor of an actor’s. Again.

“So, how do we decorate this cake?” Jase asked.

Cassidy shook her head, struggling to clear it. She would enjoy these last three days, and then kiss him goodbye and not look back. Her heart couldn’t handle another actor.

Jase had thoroughly enjoyed his time with Cassidy, right up until the phone call.

Three days. Three days, and he’d go back to California and his life there, then on to Texas for filming. He knew Cassidy wouldn’t come with him, and he’d never ask her to. She belonged here, in Oklahoma, with her bakery and her family and the ranch. She could never be happy in California, and besides, their relationship was still so new.

He tossed in his bunk, throwing the covers off him as the muggy air turned stifling. How could he leave Oklahoma when for the first time in his life, he was the person he wanted to be?

But could he be that person while still being an actor, too? Was it acting he hated, or the Hollywood lifestyle? Did he have to give up one to have the other? And was he allowing his feelings for Cassidy to blind him to the choice he should make?

Jase went through his morning chores with bleary eyes and slow motions. Jase took extra care with Cupcake, wishing he had three more months with Cassidy, like he’d originally planned, instead of three days. He’d only scratched the surface of ranch life, and he wanted to keep digging—spend his days riding the range and his evenings kissing Cassidy.

Maybe he could have both and live in Oklahoma in between roles.

He spent every free moment with Cassidy over the next three days. On his last day at the ranch, he and Mason ended the day in the barn. As Jase brushed the horses, he thought of not riding Brownie tomorrow and felt a physical pang.

“I think we’re done here,” Mason said.

Jase pulled out his phone and glanced at the time. “Already? It’s only four o’clock.” In the four weeks he’d been there, they’d never stopped working before five.

“It’s a slow day, and I’m sure you’ve got packing to finish up.” Mason held out his hand. “It was a pleasure working with you, Jase. I hope the movie goes well.”

Jase gave him a firm handshake. “Thanks for everything, Mason.”

Jase left the barn, eager to take a shower and spend the rest of the evening with Cassidy. The emptiness he felt when they were apart gnawed at his chest like a hole that only she could patch. After a quick shower, he headed back outside. He froze when he saw a tall man leaning against his car in expensive jeans and a v-neck shirt.

Drew.

Jase stared, trying to figure out why Drew was there.

Drew looked up and smiled at Jase. “Hey, man.” He held out a hand and brought Jase in, clapping him on the back.

Jase pulled away, shoving his hands in his pockets. He’d never liked Drew, but he’d never been outright hostile toward him either.
You won’t latch onto me again, you filthy parasite.
Jase dreaded working with him again. He wouldn’t be so civil this time around.

Falling for Cassidy had solidified his opinion of Drew. Anyone who could treat her so cruelly had to be an awful human being.

“What are you doing here?” Jase asked.

“I was in Tulsa visiting family when I heard you were at my old stomping grounds. Thought I’d drop by, for old time’s sake. Your mother booked us on the same flight. I offered to make sure you were on it.”

“My mother should mind her own business. I’ve already finished packing.” Jase folded his arms, fury burning hot within him. “Does Cassidy know you’re here?”

Drew raised an eyebrow. “She told you?”

“Cassidy and I have grown close over the last few weeks.”

A cruel grin pulled at the corners of Drew’s mouth. “Be careful with that one—she’ll do anything to keep you in a relationship once it starts.”

Jase curled his hands into fists. “That’s not how I hear it.”

“Well, women always do try and spin things in their favor.”

“You didn’t answer my question—does she know you’re here?”

“Of course not. I haven’t talked to her in a year—this week, in fact.” He smirked. “Wow, I’d forgotten.”

Jase grabbed Drew by his shirt and dragged him toward the bunkhouse.

Drew swore, yanking himself free. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you inside, where Cassidy won’t see you.” He knew she could handle herself, but he didn’t want to subject her to the pain of seeing Drew. Not until he could explain. She should still be at the bakery, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He opened the bunkhouse door and threw Drew inside. Luckily, the room was empty. Jase glanced at the clock on the wall. He had about twenty minutes to make Drew disappear before cowboys started trickling in. Then he would finally do what he should’ve done to begin with, and tell Cassidy he’d be working with Drew one last time.

“She’s still that hung up on me, huh? I guess I’m not surprised. I bet she’d love to get her hands on my money. No doubt she’d be supportive, now that I’ve made it. But back when I was still trying, all she could do was nag.”

Jase pointed an angry finger in Drew’s face. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

“Get away, while you still can. She’ll try and ruin your career, just like she tried to stop mine before it even began.”

“You’re leaving. Now.”

“And you’re coming with me. The studio booked us hotel rooms in Tulsa—our flight leaves early.”

Jase chewed on his lip, hating that he let his mother treat him like a child. She didn’t control his career, even if she believed otherwise. But if he didn’t go, he’d get fired for being difficult—not a reputation he wanted—or she’d show up here herself. He wasn’t sure which would be worse. But he hadn’t made his final decision yet about acting, so he needed to keep his options open.

“Okay. Give me a minute to grab my things, and then we can leave.” He’d make sure Drew stayed in the car while he said goodbye to Cassidy. He’d tell her about Drew after they were both safely back in California, so their last moments together wouldn’t be ruined by
him.

Five minutes later, Jase headed toward the door, Drew on his heels. He opened it to Cassidy standing on the step, hand reaching for the knob. He blinked, then quickly moved, trying to hide Drew from her view. “What are you doing home?”

“Kari told me she could close up. I wanted to see you.” She peered around his shoulder. “Can I come in?”

Drew’s hand rested on the door, forcing it open. His eyes slowly roved Cassidy’s body. “Didn’t expect to see you while I was here. You’re looking a lot better than the last time I saw you. Haven’t thrown up lately, huh?”