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“What do you mean by mostly?”
He grunts. “I like what I do. I like working with my brothers. Lots of fresh air. Hard work, but it feels rewarding. But let’s just say I need someone to come home to when all the work is done. I don’t mind watching TV, but that isn’t enough to motivate me to get me through the day, if you know what I mean.”
“Someone to come home to sounds nice. Or someone to make a home with.”
He rubs my shoulder. “Maybe we can work something out to deal with both our problems.”
The rest of the day is a great one for the kids. Cash and I chase them around, let them tour the ranch, and their excitement is more than enough to burn off all that excess energy.
When we’re all done, Cash gives the kids apples to offer to their ponies. They laugh and giggle as the ponies nibble on them and lick their hands and whinny happily.
It’s not long before the kids are all tuckered out and pass out on a picnic blanket. I’m in no rush to interrupt nap time, and help Cash lead the horses back to their stables.
Help, in this case, meaning I mostly follow him around and offer moral support. I’m not much more skilled than the kids when it comes to dealing with horses.
We lean on the barn as the sun sets, and take in the sight. The rolling hills of Burly offer quite the view, something that’d I’d never get back in Tacoma.
His hand over my shoulder, Cash can’t help himself. And I can’t help myself either, letting him guide me into a hug, looking into each other’s eyes, our faces close.
Cash puts his lips on mine again, and the adrenaline pumps through me once more. I savor his lips on mine, his tongue twisting with my own, and the sheer excitement of the moment. I want more of this. I want more of him. I’ve never felt so strongly about a man before, nothing even close in intensity or the speed with which we’re moving.
When the kiss ends, he still holds me close. “When’s the next time I can see you? And just you?”
“In a few days their parents should be back from their trip. After that I’ll be available any day after six, which is when their father gets back from work.”
“The very first night I can take you out, you’re coming with me. I think it’s time we go out on a proper date, Cassie.”
I nod along. “Sounds good to me. Better than good.”
More time alone with Cash makes the word ‘good’ seem, well, not good enough. There’s nothing I want more at this moment. Looking over at the stirring twins though, I realize that I’m just going to have to wait, no matter how horny I’m growing over a man I’ve only just met.
Just a few days, I tell myself. I’ve already waited decades to meet a man like him.
What’s a few more days on top of that?
5
CASH
“Cash Rowdy, you never seemed like the flower buying type,” Rita declares as I enter her shop for the first time.
And despite this being the first time, she knows who I am already. Burly is weird like that.
“Maybe I like something dainty once in a while. You got a problem with that?”
The old woman laughs. She’s an old friend of my mother’s, and I see her whenever someone throws a barbecue big enough for the whole town, which is usually once or twice a year. “There’s nothing wrong with a grown man liking flowers. But I’m guessing that you’re here for some other reason.”
“And you’d be right. I’ve always wanted to say this, Rita, give me the biggest bouquet of roses that you have ready in the shop.”
“I’ll get right on that, handsome.” She goes into the back of her shop, and I wait, pacing and rubbing my chin.
Damn, my face feels naked. I shaved nice and close, making my face silky smooth for tonight. Usually I only bother with a cheapo electric razor, which leaves me slightly scruffy. ‘Slightly scruffy’ is my default, never needed to be anything else. But for Cassie? Yeah, I want to be better than that. I want to be the absolute best I can for her.
I’m still a Rowdy and a legitimate cowboy though. And I’d feel like a poser if I showed up in a tuxedo. Clean jeans and boots combined with a button-down shirt are all I need in a town like Burly to look like I give a shit and dressed properly.
Rita returns with a fresh bouquet. Even for someone who doesn’t know flowers, I gotta admit they look pretty and smell wonderful. “I’m sure your lucky lady will be absolutely smitten with these.”
“I’ll take ‘em.”
