by S. J. McCoy
This time Cassidy laughed and held out her hand. “As you already know, I'm Cassidy Lane. What might your name be, my new friend?”
“Gina Delaney, nice to meet you, friend.” She grinned as they shook hands, feeling like something in her life had just turned a corner.
“Gina Delaney? Oh my God! I absolutely love your work. The way you use contrast, in light, in composition, in content. You tell stories, ask questions, and make statements, all through the use of contrast. I love it! What are you doing here? What are you working on? How can I be involved? We have to work together! You know this, right?”
Gina beamed. It still surprised her when someone recognized her name. She was thrilled that Cassidy knew—and liked, her work. “Thank you! I'd love to work with you. That's a lot of questions that will take me a while to answer.”
Cassidy grinned and checked her watch. “Then let's close up shop and go get a glass of wine. You can tell me all about it, and we can begin concocting our plan to take the Mountain West by storm. What do you say?”
“I say let's go!” Gina loved the idea. She checked her watch. It was only four, Mason wasn't picking her up until six, and if she needed longer with Cassidy, she'd call and ask him to come up to town to meet her. This was important.
Chapter Fourteen
Mason crammed his hat on his head and grabbed his keys from the counter. He opened the front door to find Shane outside, keys in hand, about to unlock it.
“Hey, honey. I'm home,” said Shane with a grin.
Mason laughed. “I hope you had a nice day at the office, dear, but I'm afraid there's no dinner on the table. I'm headed out.”
“Are you seeing Gina?”
“Yep. I was supposed to pick her up at her place, but she just texted to say she's still with Cassidy up in town. So I'm going to meet her up there.” He was hoping that wouldn't mean they’d be driving home separately later.
“She's with Cassidy?” Shane's eyes lit up. “Can I come?”
“Huh? You want to come on my date with Gina?”
“No, dumbass. I want to come with you and see if I can get my own date, with Cassidy. That is one hot little gallery owner.”
Mason considered it. If Shane came, they could go in his truck and Gina would have to bring Mason back down the valley later. On the other hand, he wasn't sure he wanted Shane harassing the woman Gina was hoping to do business with.
Shane batted his eyelashes. “I'll be good, big brother. I promise.”
Mason laughed. “I don't believe that for a minute. It'd help me out if we could go in your truck, but I don't want you screwing things up for Gina.”
“I'd never do that! G's my best friend. I just want a chance to spend some time with the lovely Cassidy.”
Mason pursed his lips. “As long as you wait until she and Gina are through talking business, okay?”
“Sure thing. Give me two minutes to make myself beautiful?”
“Nope. Gotta go. You're always beautiful anyway.”
Shane ran a hand through his hair. “That's true.” He turned around and headed back to his truck.
They rode in silence, each brother lost in his own thoughts. Once he pulled out onto the highway, Shane shot a quick glance at Mason. “I know why I'm quiet. I'm busy dreaming up fun ways to charm the lovely Cassidy into bed. What's eating you?”
“Guy Preston came out to the barn today.”
Shane scowled. “What does that fucker want now?”
Shane hated Guy almost as much as Mason did. What had started as a falling-out between little kids in grade school had followed them over a lifetime. It had all started when Guy, who was Mason's age, had been bullying some of Shane's friends who were four years younger. Shane had always been big for his age and strong and mouthy. He'd stood up for his friends and Guy had flushed his head down the toilet for it. When Mason had heard about it, he'd waited for Guy to start picking on the little kids again and had called him out in front of them all. A few weeks later, Guy's girlfriend—hell they were eleven at the time! How serious could it have been? She had broken up with Guy and told him it was because she liked Mason. It didn't matter that Mason wasn't interested in her, it was enough to solidify Guy's hatred for him—and to set him on a path to destroy or take away anything Mason cared about.
“He said he's going to buy Gina's dad's place.”
“What? They're not going to sell it now, are they? I mean why would they? Gina's staying, isn't she? Oh crap, can she afford to keep the place going?”
Mason shook his head. “I hope so, but I don't know so. I feel like an asshole. I hadn't thought about her really needing to make her dad sell up. I guess I was too tied up in being angry at her.”
They drove on in silence for a while.
“Could you buy it?” Shane asked.
Wow! Mason hadn't even considered that as an option. He mulled it over for a while. “I could,” he mused. “But how the hell would that work? What are you thinking? That I'd just buy it for them or move the stud operation out there or what?”
Shane shrugged. “I wasn't thinking anything, just throwing it out there. I mean if the two of you are back together then you could move out there,” he laughed. “But then I can hardly see you and Al sharing a house—or Gina playing housewife to the pair of you. I don't know, Mase.”
“Neither do I. I guess I need to talk to her, find out what her situation is. Find out what she wants.”
“Yeah. I don't see Al selling to Guy Preston no matter what happens, do you?”
Mason couldn't believe Al would, but he couldn't rule it out either. “I hope not.”
It was busy in town and Shane had to park a couple of blocks down from The Mint, where Gina was having a drink with Cassidy. As they walked back down Fifth Street Shane grinned at Mason. “Do you plan on taking Gina straight off to dinner?”
“Why, what are you planning?”
“To get Cassidy to myself for the evening.”
Mason laughed. “She must be quite something to have held your interest for this long. I mean, it's been days! Your attention span with women is usually measured in minutes. What's she like?”
“You'll see for yourself when we get in there, she's hot. I don't know, there's something about her. She's smart.” He gave Mason a rueful grin. “And she wasn't taking any of my shit or falling for my moves either.”
“And you're not used to that, right? So you're intrigued. And you need to prove to yourself that you're not losing your touch? Just do me a favor, and remember that Gina is hoping to build some kind of relationship with her? She and her gallery may be key in whether Gina can stay, and I don't want you messing things up.”
Shane sighed. “You're probably right. Or at least I hope you are. I'm only intrigued by her because she poses a challenge to my ego. There couldn't be any other reason why I can't stop thinking about her, right? And I'd never do anything to mess things up for Gina, any more than you would. So don't give me that shit.”
Mason gave his brother a puzzled look. “Did you just admit that you can't stop thinking about her?”
Shane stopped outside The Mint and nodded sheepishly. “I think I did. This is weird, Mase, but I've got butterflies about going in here.”
Mason pushed the door open with a grin. “Maybe Gina and I will hang for a while. I have to see you around a woman who can give you butterflies.”
Shane rolled his eyes and stepped inside. “Thanks, big brother. I wish you meant you wanted to stay to give me some moral support. Unfortunately, I think you just want to watch me make a fool of myself, right?”
Mason shrugged. “Either way. I just want to see.”
He spotted Gina sitting at a table in the back. He immediately understood Shane's attraction to Cassidy. At least he assumed the pretty woman with long blonde hair that Gina was talking to was Cassidy.
Shane glanced back over his shoulder and waggled his eyebrows. “See what I mean?” he asked.
Mason only had eyes for Gina, but he nodded.
“Wish me luck,” said Shane in a low voice as they approached the table.
Mason slapped his shoulder. “Since when have you needed luck?”
Gina turned and saw them. Her smile lit up her face as she waved. “Hey! I didn't know you were coming, Shane.” Her smiled faded a little as she gave Cassidy a questioning look. “I believe you two have already met?”
Cassidy nodded grudgingly. Mason chuckled to himself at the look of exasperated amusement on her face when Shane caught her hand and brought it to his lips.
“I had the honor of meeting the beautiful Cassidy the other day,” he said.
Cassidy looked at Gina. “Thank goodness, Ian put you in touch with me, too. It's down to him that we're going to be working together, you know. When I thought you were associated with this guy...” she jerked her chin toward Shane as she withdrew her hand from his grip. “...I wasn't sure I even wanted to give you the time of day.”
Mason bit back at laugh at the crestfallen look on Shane's face.
It seemed Gina was as loyal as ever to her childhood best friend. “I told you, he's a sweetheart. He's just a bit full of himself.” She looked past Shane to Mason. “And this, is his big brother Mason Remington. Mason I'd like you to meet my new friend and soon to be partner, Cassidy Lane.”
Cassidy smiled and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mason.”
Mason tipped his hat and shook her hand. “You too. I'm happy to hear that you and Gina are going to partner up.”
“Not as happy as I am,” she replied. “We're going to make a great team.”
Gina nodded happily. “We're making all kinds of plans, I'm so excited to get started.”
“Me too,” said Shane. “How can I help?”
Mason laughed as the girls exchanged a smile. “How would you like to help?” asked Cassidy. “Do you paint? Are you a photographer? Have any connections in the art world?”
Shane shook his head with a grin. “No, but there are a few things I'd love to do with you.”
Mason groaned inwardly as Cassidy gave Shane a disgusted look. If he liked her, why was he being such an ass?
“No! Not like that,” said Shane. “There you go again thinking dirty thoughts and blaming me for them! I meant I'd like to put you in touch with some of the guests at the dude ranch. We're getting a lot of repeat visitors. I'm guessing they'd be your ideal clients. Montana lovers with money to burn?”
Cassidy frowned at him, even as she nodded. “That does sound interesting. I didn't know you ran a dude ranch.”
“I don't just run it, I own it. And you didn't know because you wouldn't give me a chance to get to know you when I came into the gallery. How about we change that tonight? We should probably let these two get on with their date, so why don't you have dinner with me and we can discuss all the ways we can help each other out.”
Mason shook his head at the blatant innuendo. Jesus, Shane! Cassidy must have his head completely turned around. He was making a real mess of this, yet normally he couldn't miss with the ladies.
Cassidy didn't look impressed or interested in the least. “No thanks. I have to be going.”
“But you have to have dinner, right? Why not have it with me?”
Gina gave Mason a puzzled look. It seemed she, too, was surprised at the way Shane was mishandling this one.
“Because I don't want to.” With that, Cassidy stood and smiled at Gina. “This has been great. I can't wait to get started. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?” She turned to Mason. “Very nice to meet you. I hope you two have a great evening.” She stepped past Shane with merely a “Goodbye.”
When she'd gone, Shane sagged into the seat opposite Gina, and Mason sat down beside her.
“What the fuck?” asked Shane. “I don't get it. The woman turns me into a babbling idiot!”
Mason laughed. “You got that right. That was painful to watch.”
Gina put a hand on Shane's arm and gave him a sympathetic look. “Sorry, but it was sort of cringe worthy, Shane. I remember you being a real charmer. Are you losing your touch?”
Shane shook his head ruefully. “It looks like I might be. I don't know. There's just something about her. She gets to me.” He looked around and his gaze landed on a group of girls sitting at the bar. He grinned. “I think I'd better go put it to the test. See if I really am losing my touch.”
Mason had to laugh. Apparently, Shane wasn't too devastated by Cassidy's rejection. “Good luck.”
Shane scowled at him. “Don't say that. I asked you to wish me luck with Cassidy. That didn't pan out too well, did it? I don't need luck. I just need to be my charming self.” He stood up and pushed his chair back. “I hope the two of you have a wonderful night.” He grinned, his usual swagger returning. “I intend to.”
Mason and Gina watched him make his way over to the girls at the bar. In just a few minutes he was sitting with them. They were laughing at his jokes and two of the four of them looked as though they would be more than happy to ensure that he did indeed have a wonderful night.”
Mason grinned at Gina. “Doesn't look like he's losing his touch, huh?”
“Not at all.” She pursed her lips. “And I don't think he should give up on Cassidy either.”
“Seriously? What makes you say that? He was making a real pig's ear of it with her. She didn't seem interested in the least.”
“Call it women's intuition, but I don't think Cassidy is as horrified by Shane as she makes out. I could be wrong, but I don't think he should give up hope.”
Mason shrugged. He couldn't see it at all, but what did he know about how women felt? Hell, he'd thought Gina was in love with him. He'd been totally blindsided when she told him it was over and she wasn't coming back.
She was staring at him. “What is it? What's the matter?”
He pulled himself together. He didn't need to be dwelling on that. They had the evening ahead of them and he wanted to enjoy it, not waste it fretting over the past. “Nothing, just realizing yet again how little I understand about women and the way you think.”
The look on her face told him she knew he was talking about her more than he was Cassidy. It seemed she didn't want to go there either. “We must seem strange creatures to you men, I'm sure.”
He reached for her hand. “Strange yes, but beautiful, magical creatures that we just can't get enough of.”
She smiled. “That's sweet.”
“Not sweet, just true. So, my beautiful, magical creature, where would you like me to take you for dinner?”
She gave him a saucy grin and rested her hand on his thigh. “I thought you said we were going riding?”
He smiled down at her. “You want to?”
“I'd love to.”
“Who do you want to ride?”
She laughed. “How about Annie first, then you?”
He grinned at that. It sounded perfect to him, but it would be dark by the time they ate and drove back down the valley. “How about me tonight and Annie tomorrow. We can take her and Storm out in the afternoon if you have time?”
She nodded. “I guess it is a little late now, isn't it? Sorry I made you come up here. The time just flew when Cassidy and I got talking.”
“It's not a problem, babe. I'm glad the two of you got together. It seems like you really hit it off.”
She grinned. “Totally! We have so much in common, both personally and professionally. I can't wait to get started.”
“Do you think you'll be able to make enough to survive on?” He didn't want to pry into her situation, but he did want to know whether there was anything to be concerned about. The thought of her and her dad needing to sell up bothered him. The thought that Guy Preston might buy their place bothered him, too. He'd find a way to buy it himself if they needed him to, but he wanted to figure out where she stood first.
She shrugged and looked away. “I never wanted to make Dad leave here, you know. I wasn't being insensitive, I was trying to be practical.” She looked back at him.
“It was a struggle to keep the place going, even when I was working with Liam and Ian. I don't know what kind of income I'll be able to generate. It scares me, Mase. I've been thinking that if we get an offer on the ranch maybe we should take it and find a little place up in town. It would be a compromise, he'd hate to lose the ranch—and so would I, but at least we wouldn't have to leave the valley.”
Mason shook his head. They weren't going to lose the ranch. He wouldn't let it happen.
“What are you thinking?” she asked. “I know that look on your face.”
He met her gaze. “I'm thinking I don't want you to leave. I don't want you to have to sell up either. There's something I need to talk to you about, but let's head back down to Pine Creek, shall we? We can talk about it over dinner.”
“Okay. I haven't eaten there in years. But before we go, at least give me a clue what you want to talk about.”
Maybe it was better to give her time to mull it over on the drive back down the valley. “Guy Preston came out to the barn today...”
The color drained from her face.
“What is it, G?”
She shook her head rapidly. “Nothing. Nothing at all. What's he got to do with anything?”
Mason was puzzled. Her whole demeanor had changed at the mention of Guy's name. She seemed hurt, angry maybe? Definitely shaken. What was that about? He didn't know, but it seemed even more important to tell her about Guy's intention to make an offer on the ranch—and about his own intention to buy it himself if necessary. “He said he wants to buy your dad's place.”
Gina sputtered. “Not over my dead body! No way in hell do I want to sell to that man!”
Mason hadn't expected her to like the idea, but he'd had no clue that she would be so angry. No one liked Guy. Gina had known of the troubles Mason had with him, but her reaction seemed over the top. “What's your problem with him, G?”
The look she gave him stunned him. She was as hurt and angry as he'd ever seen her. She took a deep breath before she spoke. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Can we go now?” She stood up and grabbed her purse.
Mason hurried to catch up with her as she stalked out of the bar. Shane looked up from his flirting and gave Mason a puzzled look as he watched Gina exit. Mason shrugged. He had no idea what the problem was—but he intended to find out.