by Dahlia West
Even Mr. Archer gave Sofia a chastising look. “I believe I’ve been hornswoggled in this deal,” he declared. “Had me on my hands and knees looking for a bull snake.”
Sofia looked up at him sheepishly. “They go too far,” she said. “These pranks. It’s necessary to rein them in, to keep them in line. Boys.” She shook her head and glared at all of them.
Mr. Archer considered this. “Hmm. I only raised girls.”
“It’s not the same,” she insisted. “Especially not with these boys.”
Mr. Archer glanced at all of them and nodded. “Guess I can see that.”
Sofia patted Mac’s forearm. “You stay for dinner. I’ll feed you.”
Mac looked dubious but stayed anyway.
Sawyer sat next to Cassidy and slid his hand up her thigh underneath the table.
She smacked it away repeatedly.
“Finish up,” he whispered to her, undeterred by her efforts to keep him at bay. “The doctor is in.”
“Forget it!” she hissed.
“You know you want to,” he countered.
She pressed her lips together and looked away. He obviously had her there.
After dinner he left the dishes for Sofia and Dakota, which seemed fitting considering what they’d put him through. He couldn’t punish them, but he could have his way with Cassidy, which he intended to do as he ushered her toward the bunkhouse.
Gabe was following, looking amused at Cassidy’s reluctance to be herded.
“Why don’t you come to bed and I can apologize to you. Over and over and over,” said Sawyer with a grin.
Cassidy simply glared at him. “I’m not sleeping in there. Not ever. Not one single time, Sawyer Barlow. You just lost your chance with me. Forever.”
“You know,” said Gabe, flashing her a toothy smile, “you could dump this culero. You and I, we could go to The Spur, have a few beers. I’m a really good dancer.”
“You know what?” Cassidy declared loudly. “I’ll go.”
“Wait, what?!” Sawyer cried.
Cassidy turned and walked out the door.
Gabe gave him a wink and followed her out.
“Hey, wait a minute!” he shouted after them both.
When they didn’t come back, he snatched at his boots and pulled them back on then scrambled out the door after them. Cassidy was already in Gabe’s truck, and so he grabbed the door as she was trying to close it and climbed in after her.
“Damn it!” Gabe cried, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
Sawyer pulled himself into the cab and glared at the two of them.
Cassidy gave him a shrug and turned away. “I’m not dancing with you.”
“The hell you’re not. And you’re not sitting that close to him, either,” Sawyer growled. He wrapped his arms around Cassidy and pulled her into his lap.
“Oh!” she gasped and made a little feminine noise that alerted his cock.
She wiggled a tiny bit on top of him, like she could feel it.
Sawyer leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Stop that. Or I’ll pull you into the backseat and he can listen.”
He heard her suck in a sharp breath, but she obeyed, stilling in his lap and behaving herself.
It didn’t make much difference, unfortunately.
Chapter Sixteen
‡
CASSIDY LET SAWYER lead her into The Spur and accepted the drink Charlie put on the bar in front of her.
Sawyer peered at her as she took a sip. “Damn, Princess. I have to order my drinks. Every time. Right, Charlie?”
Charlie smiled and shrugged. “The woman knows what she wants.”
Sawyer grinned and kept his eyes on her. “That’s fine by me, as long as I’m what she wants.”
He said it loudly enough that a few people turned.
Cassidy took another long sip, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach.
Sawyer ordered a bourbon and a beer, finished one, and left half the other on the counter before pulling her away.
It was hard not to grin, even harder not to practically giggle with excitement as he took her to the dance floor. She got the feeling that all of Star Valley was watching as he placed his hands on her hips.
Cassidy, for her part, put her hands on his shoulders. He winced though, sexy grin faltering just a bit.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Sawyer replied.
Cassidy touched his shoulder again, and he made the same face. Carefully, she peeled back the collar of his button down shirt.
“Oh, don’t do that, Princess,” he said quietly. “That’s nothing.”
“Oh my God!” Cassidy breathed as she revealed several squares of gauze taped to his skin.
Sawyer quickly tugged the shirt back into place and glanced around to make sure no one noticed. “It’s fine, Princess,” he assured her. “Everything’s fine.”
“You’re hurt! What happened? This was on the trail? While you were away?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he told her.
“Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?”
“’Cause I’m not,” he said, moving in time with the music.
“Sawyer, you are.”
He shook his head. “It’s nothing. We’re here now. That’s all I’m thinking about.” He tried to pull her closer.
For the first time Cassidy became keenly aware of his conservative movements. “You can barely lift your arm.”
That earned her a heated look. Sawyer, as if to prove his point, wrapped one large arm around her waist and dragged her against him. She was so close that she could feel his growing erection pressing at her lower belly.
“I can lift you,” he warned quietly. “Right up over my shoulder and out into the parking lot if you don’t stop worrying about things that don’t matter and start dancing with me. I waited three whole days to have you with me again, and it’s only because I’m trying so hard to be a gentleman that I haven’t just torn your clothes off and had my way with you.” He grinned down at her. “That and I found you hungover this morning.”
Cassidy groaned. “Ugh. Don’t bring it up. I still taste Fireball whiskey.”
Sawyer’s expression grew serious. “Then maybe you should stick to water for the rest of the night.”
She smiled. “Oh, it’s fine. I’m nowhere near drunk.”
“You better not be, because you’re not holding out on me when we get back home.”
Cassidy blinked up at him. “Back home?”
He smirked at her. “Well, we could go out to Gabe’s truck, but I have a feeling he’d be irritated at having to clean his backseat.”
She wrinkled her nose at him.
“Yeah,” he said. “I feel the same way. I’ve had you in my bed now and that’s where I want you from now on.”
She laid her head on his undamaged shoulder and let him guide her around the dance floor, neither of them having to work very hard at being perfectly in sync. Her feet seemed to follow wherever his led, and if he was in pain while he was holding her, she certainly couldn’t tell.
When the song ended, she reluctantly pulled away. “I have to go to the bathroom. Be right back.”
Gabe looked like he was having a good time, dancing with a brunette on his arm and a beer in his hand. He didn’t look ready to leave anytime soon. As much as Cassidy was enjoying their night out, especially after Sawyer had been away for so long, she’d much rather be back at Snake River.
On her way back to the dance floor, though, a large figure turned into the tiny hallway that led to the bathrooms. Instead of seeing Sawyer, she looked up into all-too-familiar eyes. She instinctively took a step back, but there was nowhere to go, unless she wanted to lock herself in the Ladies’ Room.
“Cozying up to Sawyer Barlow?” Palmer hissed. “Jesus, can’t you do anything right?” His hand shot out, and Cassidy ducked, expecting a blow. Instead he went for her wrist, and she realized it too late to maneuve
r out of his reach.
“I thought Dad and I made ourselves clear!” said Palmer.
“I don’t care what you or Dad have to say about anything!” she shot back. “Not anymore.”
Palmer glared at her. “You think we gave you everything you have just so you could walk out on us whenever you feel like it? You need to call Dad and figure out what your next move is. I don’t like it, but at least you’re there, at Snake River, and we need to take advantage of it.”
“Forget it! I am done helping you!”
Palmer yanked her so hard she nearly lost her balance. “You don’t get to be done, Cassidy! You don’t get to leave!”
She tried to pull out of his grip but knew before she even tried that it was hopeless. “You better get the hell out of here!” she snapped when he wouldn’t let go. She nodded her head at the back exit just a few feet away. “Sawyer’s going to come looking for me, if he isn’t on his way already. And if he finds you here, well, the beating he’ll give you will be far worse than the one you gave me!”
She wasn’t at all convinced that this was true. Sawyer might not actually care enough to act as a bodyguard, but she said it with conviction and hoped that the thought of Sawyer’s hard-muscled frame put the fear of God into her sniveling, slimy older brother.
Cassidy narrowed her eyes and him. “Let go,” she snarled. “Or you’ll wish you had.”
Palmer’s grip tightened, instead, and his lips curled into a sneer.
Chapter Seventeen
‡
SAWYER WAITED PATIENTLY for Charlie to pour someone a beer and caught the man’s attention when he was finished.
“A shot?” Charlie asked, glancing at Sawyer’s half full draft.
Sawyer shook his head. “You remember the last time Cassidy was in here?” he asked instead, trying to keep his voice casual.
Charlie frowned for a split-second then his face lit up. “Oh, yeah. I remember the two of you at the pool table.” He winked at Sawyer. “Thought I’d have to turn the fire extinguisher on you both!”
Sawyer nodded. “Did she come back? After I left with her? Did she come back inside?”
Charlie thought for a moment as he wiped down the bar with a cloth. “Not that I recall. No.”
“She come in a lot?” Sawyer pressed. “When I’m not around? Maybe with someone?”
“With Horvath for a while. But they seem to have fizzled out,” Charlie mused. “No one lately. Not that I’ve seen.”
“When I was gone?” Sawyer replied. “While I was on the road?”
Charlie shrugged. “Mostly Horvath. But he doesn’t come around as much now that he’s with Jill Sykes.” He chuckled as he leaned forward. “She keeps him on a short leash lately.”
Sawyer nodded and turned away from the bartender to scan the crowd gathered at The Spur tonight. Horvath wasn’t here. Nor anyone that caught his eye. He checked his watch as he drained his glass. Cassidy had been gone a long time.
He passed the empty vessel to Charlie, left a tip, and walked to the back where the restrooms were located. He rounded the corner into the small hallway where he spied Cassidy, standing alone, though she glanced quickly away from him, over her shoulder. He dragged his gaze from her to the darkened, empty hallway and frowned.
“Hey!” she said brightly, turning back around. “I was just coming out. I didn’t fall in!”
Sawyer’s brows knitted together as glanced at the rear exit door. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, keeping her smile firmly in place. “Yep.”
He frowned, not certain he believed her, but what could he say? He’d happened upon her, alone, in an otherwise empty hallway. There was nothing to say. He scanned her up and down finding not one hair out of place.
“Come on,” she told him, taking his large hand in hers. Not wanting to start an argument here in public, at The Spur, Sawyer allowed himself to be led away and the conversation to die. For now. He’d assumed they’d end up back on the dance floor, since she was in the lead, but Cassidy passed it up and headed toward the bar on the other side of the room. Before he could stop her, she raised her hand to Charlie, holding up a finger.
“Princess,” he said. “I told you, no more.”
“It’s fine. It’s—”
“Club soda, Mike! And don’t forget the lime wedge.” Charlie called over his shoulder because he had both hands full pouring tequila shots.
Sawyer watched, curiously, as she took the offered glass from Mike. “Club soda?”
She nodded. “That’s my drink.”
“Club soda,” he repeated.
Cassidy shrugged and took a sip.
As he watched her, a large grin spread over his face. “So I guess you’ve got no excuse for coming at me like a wildcat that night.”
Cassidy grinned back. “Nope. None at all.”
He grinned at her. “I seem to have that effect.”
She rolled her eyes. “God, you’re arrogant.”
“Hang on,” he replied, reaching into his pocket. “Let me check my phone.”
Her eyebrows practically shot to the ceiling. “Seriously?!” she cried. “You’re checking your phone while you’re out with me?”
“Yeah. I’ve got to. ’Cause I’m pretty sure the pot’s calling.” He glanced down at his screen. “Oh. See. Yep. Sure enough.”
“I’m not arrogant!”
Sawyer gazed at her.
“I’m not!”
He didn’t reply.
“I…I’m…confident.”
He shrugged. “I’m confident, too, then.”
“No, I swear to God, Sawyer Barlow, you’re just irritating.”
Rather than be offended, he leaned in and brushed his lips over her ear while his fingertips tickled her exposed neck. She shivered at his touch. “Trust me, Princess,” he murmured. “You get my blood boiling, too.” When he pulled away he took her by the hand but realized he didn’t want to take her back to the dance floor. He scanned the bar instead and found Gabe chatting with a leggy blonde. He strode in their direction, Cassidy in tow.
“Gabe. You ready to go?”
The suave vaquero only half-turned away from the woman batting her eyelashes at him. He shot Sawyer a sour look.
Sawyer looked at the woman again. She was blond, nice rack, big blue eyes. Nowhere near as beautiful as Cassidy, though, and Sawyer was eager to get his woman alone. “Can I get your keys?” he suggested. “Surely she won’t mind dropping you off when she’s done with you.”
The blonde gasped then giggled furiously.
Gabe gave her a million-dollar smile. “What do you say, querida? Give a cowboy a ride?”
The blonde giggled again, and Sawyer figured the answer was a resounding yes. Without looking back, Gabe reached into his pocket and fished out his keys. Sawyer snatched them up and herded Cassidy out the front door of The Spur. She laughed as he practically raced with her to the truck. “Are we in a hurry, Sawyer?”
He gripped her by the hips, spun her around, and pressed her back up against the unforgiving steel door. His lips, he hoped, were considerably softer as he sealed his mouth over hers. She was breathless, sweet tasting, and if he wasn’t careful, they weren’t going to make it back to Snake River. “Yes and no,” he growled.
Cassidy’s eyelids fluttered, and he gave her a minute to collect herself. “Wh-What?” she whispered.
“Yes, I’m in a hurry to get you back home. But once we’re there, Princess, I’m going to take my time with you. Lots and lots of time. All night, maybe. You ready for me, Cassidy?”
He hoped like hell she was. He hoped she hadn’t been hurt, or abused, before coming to him for shelter. Not just because he wanted to fuck her, though God knew he did, but because no one should ever hurt a woman, especially not his woman, not his princess.
They could do other things, if she wasn’t ready. And looking at her now, Sawyer had a whole list of things in his head he could do to Cassidy Conroy, things that would make her squeal, mak
e her scream, make her call out his name until her throat was raw. He could just hold her, too, all night long, keep her safe until the sun came up. The choice was really all hers.
“Take me home, Sawyer,” she whispered.
He reached up and traced the line of her ruby-red lips with his thumb. He couldn’t bring himself to touch the bruise on her face that was hidden well with makeup, but now that he knew it was there he could make out the faint line across her cheek. It burned him up to see it there. Questions swirled in his mind, danced on the tip of his tongue, but he’d gone three long days without her, and he didn’t want to ruin it right now.
“I’m ready,” she said.
Sawyer opened the passenger door with a quick flick of his wrist and helped her climb into the cab. The drive was short, and he kept his eyes on the road even though she was tempting to look at, all the damn time. But it would do no good to swerve off the road, hit a rock, and maybe flatten a tire all in the pursuit of getting her in bed faster. They pulled up in front of the bunkhouse soon enough, and Sawyer hustled around the back of the truck to open the door for her once they’d parked.
She smiled at him as he lowered her to the gravel driveway. “No one gets the door for me.”
He smirked at her. “Princess, that’s because you’ve been dating all the wrong men.”
For a moment her step faltered. “Wh-What does that mean?”
“It means you haven’t been dating me.”
He held the bunkhouse door open for her, too, and followed her inside. It was dark. Court might’ve been asleep in his own room. Or he may have been back out on the trail altogether. He’d been spending too much time there these days.
“Is that what we’re doing?” she asked. “Dating?”
“No,” he said immediately as he shut the door behind them. When he turned he saw a crestfallen look cross her face. He strode to her, cupped her face in his hands, and tilted her gaze toward his. “I don’t know what this is, Cassidy. But it’s not dating.”
He kissed her again, because he knew that whatever it was he felt when their lips touched like this, she felt it, too. And he was right. He was sure of it.
They were definitely not just dating.