Page 31 of The Other Half

Get over it. Time to get back in the saddle. You’ll thank me later.

What the hell was everyone’s obsession with getting me “back in the saddle?” My horse had bucked me off. Hard. Sometimes people got bucked off horses, realized it was stupid to do something that could get them killed, and never got back on again. Maybe I wanted to be one of those people. Those smart people. But when I looked back up into the window, I saw Cassie walk past in that dress and my stomach dropped to my feet again, just like it had when I saw her.

Sure, she looked out of place at the Ox in that slinky red getup, but I was certain my heart wasn’t going to restart when I’d clapped eyes on her. Every incredible curve of her body was on full display and all I could think about was what she would look like without it. Even though I’d tried with every damn fiber of my being to ignore those feelings brewing inside me, her persistence and the way those eyes looked straight through me were like an icepick tapping away at my hardened heart. As quickly as I could patch an exposed hole, she made another.

Pick.

Pick.

Pick.

I still hate you. I typed back to Jo then started my car.

The kissy-face emoticon popped up just before I pulled out. Tomorrow I was taking Cassie fishing, and I already regretted my decision. Sitting across from her in a car or at the bar was hard enough. Spending an evening with her alone? Even my solemn vow to avoid women at all costs risked faltering under those emerald eyes.

The next night I tossed my extra rods in the car and whistled for Hank. He galloped up to the truck and launched himself inside when I opened the door.

“This is such a bad idea,” I said to him while I closed him inside. “Can you believe I let a woman talk me into a date with a... woman?”

Hank gave me a slobber of solidarity. After climbing into the driver seat, I looked at the glowing clock on the dash. Five fifty-five. I was less than one minute down the road from her, but I didn’t want to be late. But just before I tossed my truck in drive I paused. Being early wasn’t a good idea either. Not only did I not want her to think I was eager, but Nikki always bitched me out when I was early. She always needed more time to get ready.

Nikki. Just having a flash of her face invade my mind had me ready to storm back in the house and forget this whole damn thing. It wasn’t even that I was still in love with her. Hell, I didn’t know if I’d ever really been in love with her. We’d just been together so long. Pretty much my whole adult life was spent in a relationship with Nikki, except for the half a dozen women I’d dated between Nikki’s disappearances and abrupt returns to my life. I knew I was her fallback, the security blanket that covered her up anytime things went bad. When she’d flunked out of college, when her boyfriend had cheated on her, that time she’d gotten fired from her first job. Each failure sent her flying back into my arms.

And I’d been too stupid to keep them closed.

Each time she came back crying, my resolve to avoid her for eternity would weaken and I’d forgive her, unable to be the cause of her tears. And this last time, I thought maybe, just maybe, if I married her, we could stop the Ferris wheel of hell that had been our relationship. Up, down, on, off. I’d hoped that diamond ring would strap her in, and we could settle down and start the family I’d always wanted.

I knew better. I did. But when I got the call she’d been spotted going home with Matt my entire world shattered. It wasn’t just the cheating from Nikki, again. This time she’d stolen something irreplaceable from me. My best friend. My brother. But knowing what she’d done to me... how she’d humiliated me, there was no way I could go through that again. Yet here I was about to take Cassie fishing and unintentionally throwing myself back out there again.

Putting my heart on the line right along with my bait on the hook.

The clock struck five fifty-eight, and I knew it was now or never. Even though she looked good... damn good... I hoped maybe we could be just friends. Jo was an attractive woman, and I’d never had feelings for her, so maybe, just maybe, I could think of Cassie like I did Jo.

“This is it, Hank. If I start looking interested in her, bite me. In the balls.”

Hank clamped his mouth shut and tipped his head, his big ears lifting while he tried to interpret my words.

Tossing the truck in gear, I pulled down my winding driveway, turned left, then drove the twenty seconds to her gravel drive. When I made it to the end, I saw her big beast of a car parked in front of the house. It still made me chuckle every time I thought of her driving around in it. She must have been quite a sight last night in her fancy dress rumbling through Baileys Harbor in that car.

The front door popped open while I put it in park and Cassie stepped out. A relieved sigh slipped past my lips she wasn’t wearing that dress that could unravel every strand of my resistance. But those tight jeans and t-shirt still had her looking so good I almost backed straight down the drive.

Go to the door and get her. I heard my father’s voice scolding me and even though this wasn’t a date, manners dictated I go up to the door.

A little wave greeted me while I climbed out of my truck. Hank hopped out behind me and his big, awkward strides sent him galumphing toward her.

“Oh my! He’s huge! Is this your dog?” Cassie said while he bounced circles around her.

“Yeah, that’s Hank.” I stepped onto the porch.

The little creature she called a dog raced out of the house between her legs and yapped at Hank.

“Poppy! Oh, my God! Poppy!” Her panic was palpable as she tried to snatch her up. “Don’t hurt her, Hank! Poppy!”

“He won’t hurt her,” I calmly stated, furrowing my brow at the panic sending her in circles after the little dog.

“She’s not on a leash! And she’s never even been to a dog park! Don’t eat her, Hank! Poppy!”

“He’s fine, Cassie. Just let them meet. Hank. Sit.” Hank sat down and cocked his head while Poppy pounced around him. Mimicking his calm demeanor, I stood at his side while her dog settled down. The only one still frantic was Cassie.