Single Man Meets Single Mom

by Jules Bennett

  He was learning. Finally.

  “I’m always amazed at how broken they seem to be,” Tessa said softly. “You have this patience and gentleness. It’s almost as if they know you’re determined to help them.”

  “That’s because I am.” Cassie reached up to MacDuff’s neck, offering him praise. “He’s just misunderstood and nobody wanted to work properly with him.”

  “He was abused.”

  Cassie swallowed as she led MacDuff back to the stables. The thought of someone beating him because he hadn’t had the right training sickened her. She’d known he’d been abused on some level, simply because of how he’d arrived all wide-eyed and nervous and then threw Tessa the first time she’d mounted him. But the second any horse, rescued or not, stepped onto Stony Ridge Acres, they were treated like royalty. No matter their heritage. Yes, they bred prizewinning horses and bought from a long lineage of winners, but it wasn’t always about the win.... It was about the love and care of the animal. And since Stony Ridge was a massive farm, they could take in those strays Cassie had a soft spot for.

  She’d always loved watching the trainers her father had for his horses. Years ago, female trainers had been frowned upon, but her father had insisted women were more gentle and less competitive by nature than men, thus producing better-tempered horses—and winners.

  “You didn’t happen to see a certain new hunk on the set this morning, did you?” Tessa asked as she pulled out the tack box and helped to brush MacDuff.

  Cassie eyed her sister over the horse’s back. “Aren’t you engaged?”

  “I’m not dead, Cass.” Tessa brushed in large circular strokes. “I’ll take your lack of answering to mean you did see him.”

  Saw him, fell into his arms, got lost in those sexy eyes that could make a woman forget she’d been burned...and maybe reveled in that powerful hold a tad too long.

  “Even you have to admit he’s one attractive man,” Tessa went on.

  “I can admit that, yes.” Cassie switched from the currycomb to the dandy brush. “I may have had an incident this morning involving that loose rung on the ladder to the loft and Mr. Shaffer.”

  Tessa stepped around MacDuff’s head, dropped the brush into the tack box and crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay, spill it. You know his name and you said ‘incident.’ I want all the details.”

  Cassie laughed. “It’s no big deal, Tess. I fell off the ladder. Ian happened to be there, and he caught me.”

  “Oh, so we’ve gone from Mr. Shaffer to Ian.”

  “He’s Max’s agent and apparently visits his clients’ film sets. We exchanged names,” Cassie defended herself. “Seemed like the thing to do since he was holding me.”

  “I love where this story is going.” Tessa all but beamed as she clasped her hands together.

  Laughing, Cassie tossed her brush aside, as well. “No story. That was pretty much it.”

  “Honey, you haven’t even mentioned a man’s name since you know who left and—” Tessa held up a hand when Cassie tried to intervene “—your face seemed to brighten up a bit when you said his name.”

  “It did not,” Cassie protested.

  Tessa’s smile softened. “If you want to argue, that’s fine. But he’s hot, you finally showed a spark of life about a man and I’m clinging to hope that you haven’t given up on finding love. Or, for heaven’s sake, at least allowing yourself a fling.”

  Cassie rolled her eyes and patted MacDuff’s side. “Just because this romance business is working for you doesn’t mean it will for me. I tried that once—it didn’t last. Besides, I have no time for love or even a date between training with you and Emily.”

  “There’s always time. And, romance aside, have a good time. A little romp with a sexy stranger might be just what you need,” Tessa said with a naughty smile. “Aren’t you the one who forced me to take a few days off last month? You have to make time for yourself.”

  Cassie had conspired with Tessa’s now fiancé, producer Grant Carter, to whisk Tessa away during her training and the filming of the movie. Grant had wanted to get Tessa far from the limelight, the stress and the demands of their busy schedules, and Cassie had been all too happy to help because her sister needed a break.

  Tess had found the right man, but Cassie seriously doubted there was a “right man” for her. All she required was someone who loved her and didn’t mind her smelling like horses more often than not, someone who would offer stability in her life, make her feel desirable and love her daughter. Was that too tall of an order?

  “I’m not looking for a fling,” Cassie insisted, even though she’d pretty much already envisioned a steamy affair with Ian.

  Tessa raised a brow. “Maybe a fling is looking for you.”

  “I just met the man. I’m sure he’s not going to be around me that much anyway, so there’s very little chance of seduction. Sorry to burst your bubble.”

  “Maybe you should show Ian around the estate,” Tessa suggested as she went to grab a blanket and saddle for her racing horse, Don Pedro.

  Cassie sighed, closing the gate to MacDuff’s stall. “I don’t want to show him around. Max is his client—he can do it.”

  “Max is going to be busy filming the scene with Lily down by the pond. I want to make sure we’re there to see that taping.”

  Cassie smiled and nodded in agreement. She loved watching the two actors get into character, loved watching her father’s reaction to reliving his life through the eyes of a director, and there was no way she’d miss such a monumental scene. This was the scene where Max would propose to Lily. The replay of such a special moment in her parents’ lives was something she had to witness.

  “I’ll make sure we’re done here about the time shooting starts,” Cassie assured her sister. “All the more reason I don’t have time to show Ian around.”

  “Now, that’s a shame.”

  Cassie and Tessa both turned to see the man in question. And just like with their earlier encounter, the mere sight of him caused a flutter to fill her belly. Of course, now she couldn’t blame the sensation on the scare from the fall...only the scare from the enticing man.

  “I’d like to have a look around the grounds if you have time,” he said, looking directly into her eyes, seeming to not even notice Tessa.

  Cassie settled her hands on her hips, cursing herself when his gaze followed her movements. Great, now she’d drawn his attention to her hips...not an area a woman wanted a man looking.

  “I thought you went to see Max,” Cassie said, refusing to acknowledge his request.

  “I saw him for a brief moment to let him know I was here. He actually was talking with Grant and Lily.”

  Cassie cast a glance at her sister, whose face had split into a very wide grin. Darn her.

  With a gracefulness that would’ve pleased their late mother, Tessa turned, extended her hand and smiled. “I’m Tessa Barrington, Cassie’s sister. We’re so glad to have you here at the farm.”

  Ian shook Tessa’s hand as the two exchanged pleasantries. He finally settled his gaze back on Cassie. Did those eyes have some magical power? Seriously, why did she have to feel a jolt every single time he looked at her?

  “Go ahead and show Ian around, Cassie. I’m fine here.”

  If Cassie could’ve reached out and strangled her sister with the lead line she so would have, but then Ian would be a witness.

  “It will have to be tomorrow or later this evening.” No, she wasn’t too busy right now, but she wouldn’t allow Mr. Hollywood Hotshot to hold any control over her. “I’ll come find you when I’m ready.”

  “Well, I’m going to walk Don Pedro out,” Tessa said. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Ian. Cass, I’ll see you later.”

  Great, now they were alone. Cassie would definitely kill her sister for that little stunt.

  Ian stepped closer, and Cassie held her ground. This was her property and no matter how charming, how sexy and how...

  Damn, he smelled good. She lost all
train of thought; Ian’s masculine scent was enough to render her mind blank. How long had it been since she’d been with a man, felt his touch?

  Too long. So why did this man with an inflated ego turn her on? Could she not attract the right kind of guy just once?

  “I can wait till tomorrow,” he told her. His eyes searched her face as a hint of a smile played around his lips. “I’m a pretty patient man.”

  Placing a hand on his chest to stop him may have been a mistake. A jolt of awareness tingled up her arm. The strength, the chiseled pecs beneath her palm... Yeah, she was very aware of the sexiness that encompassed Ian Shaffer.

  “I appreciate the fact you’re taking the time to use your charm on me, but I’m too busy for games. Besides, I’m pretty sure I’m a lot older than you.”

  Ian shrugged. “Age hadn’t entered my mind.”

  Cassie laughed. “I’m pretty sure I know what entered your mind.”

  He stepped forward again, giving her no choice but to back up until the gate to a stall stopped her. Ian put one hand on either side of her head, blocking her.

  “Then I’m sure you’re aware I find you attractive.” His eyes dropped to her mouth, then traveled back up. “I can’t wait for that tour, Cassie.”

  He pushed off the stall and walked out of the stable. When was the last time a man had caught her attention, inspired her sexual desire so fast? The danger of falling into lust scared her to death.

  But she had to be realistic. There was nothing special about her. And if she did allow herself to act on these very new, very powerful emotions, she highly doubted he’d remember her name in a few months.

  No way could she succumb to his charms.

  Two

  Cassie’s parents had been married nearly twenty years when her mother was killed suddenly in a car accident. She’d always admired the love her parents had for each other, always wanted a marriage like that for herself.

  Unfortunately, a happy, loving marriage wasn’t in the cards for her. And hindsight was a harsh slap in the face because Cassie realized she’d probably married Derek too quickly.

  She’d craved the love her parents had had and thought for sure Derek—the Barringtons’ onetime groom—had the same outlook on marriage.... As in, it was long-term and between only two people.

  How could she trust her feelings for a man again? Cassie swiped the tear from her cheek as she headed back toward the stable. The sun was slowly sinking behind the hills surrounding the estate. Spring was gradually turning into summer, giving the evenings just a bit more light.

  The day’s filming was complete and the scene she’d just witnessed had left her raw and hopeful all at the same time.

  Max Ford and Lily Beaumont had beautifully reenacted Cassie’s parents’ proposal. Cassie had heard stories, had seen pictures of her parents’ early love. But to witness that moment in person... Cassie had no words for how precious the experience had been.

  She’d stood with Tessa off to the side, and even with the directors and producers stopping and starting and rearranging in the middle of the scene, the moment had captured her heart.

  Added to that, each time she’d glanced at Ian, his gaze had been on hers. He hadn’t even bothered trying to hide the heat that lurked in those dark, heavy-lidded eyes. Thankfully, at one point he’d slid on his aviator shades, but his dominating presence still captured her attention...and her hormones.

  There went those lustful emotions again. She couldn’t afford to get swept away by a sexy body and killer smile. Lust was the evil that had overtaken her once before and look where that had gotten her. Oh, she didn’t regret her marriage because she had Emily, but the pain from the rejection and having her love blatantly thrown back in her face was humiliating. Who wanted to be rejected?

  Cassie reached the stable, intending to work with MacDuff again, but her eyes moved up to the rung of the ladder that still hung vertically.

  She’d meant to mention the problem to Nash, the new groom, but between the emotional shoot and a certain hot agent plaguing her mind, she’d simply forgotten. Besides, he’d been so busy today cleaning out all the stalls, she really hated to add to his list.

  Her father took pride in his stables, always making sure everything looked pristine and perfect. Cassie would bite the bullet and fix the ladder herself. At least working on something would keep her mind off Ian...hopefully. Her tendency to fix things and have everything in her life make sense would have to be satisfied with just this piece of wood for now. The Ian issue—and she feared he was fast becoming an issue—would have to wait.

  She grabbed the hammer and several long nails from the toolbox in the equipment room. She shoved the nails in her back pocket and held on to the hammer as she climbed the ladder that stretched to the loft of the stable.

  The setting sun cast a soft glow into the structure. Horses neighed, stomped hooves and rustled in their stalls. The sounds, the smells—none of it ever got old. Cassie loved her life here and she looked forward to bringing her daughter up in such a beautiful, serene environment.

  During her four years of marriage, she’d been away from the estate. Even though she and Derek had lived only ten minutes away, it just wasn’t the same as being on the grounds. Cassie loved living in the cottage, being with the horses and knowing her family was all right here helping with her emotional recovery.

  With her tears mostly dry, Cassie sniffed. Crying had never been her thing. Anger fit more into her life, especially since she’d been abandoned only two months after giving birth. Tears hadn’t brought her cheating husband back, not that she’d wanted him after the fact, and tears certainly weren’t helping her raise her daughter or move on like the strong mother she needed to be.

  Halfway up the ladder, she eyed the broken rung, then carefully slid it back into place. Widening her stance as far as she could to balance her body while holding the hammer, she reached around into her back pocket for a nail.

  “I can help you with that.”

  Cassie glanced over her shoulder to see Ian at the base of the ladder, his watchful gaze raking over her body. Great. She had red-rimmed eyes and a red-tipped nose, she was sure. She was not a pretty crier. She always got the snot-running, red-splotchy-face and puffy-eyes look.

  Cassie slid a nail out and turned back around to place it against the wood. “I’ve got it, but thanks.”

  She knew he hadn’t left, but Cassie didn’t say anything else as she worked quickly and repaired the rung. With a hefty tug on the wood, she made sure it was securely in place before she started her descent. Just as she’d gotten to the last rung, Ian moved his hard body against hers, trapping her between the ladder and a most impressive chest. Her body was perfectly aligned with his, causing ripples of heat to slide through her. They were both fully dressed, but the sensations spiraling through her had never occurred before, even when she’d been completely naked with her ex.

  Yeah, she was doomed where this sexy stranger was concerned.

  Cassie swallowed, closed her eyes. Ian made her aware of just how feminine she was. When was the last time she’d felt desirable? Was it so wrong to want a man to find her attractive? After being married to someone who kept looking elsewhere for his desires to be fulfilled, Cassie knew she was probably grasping at any attention at this point.

  She also knew she didn’t care—not when his body was so hard, so perfectly perfect against hers. Not when his soft, warm breath tickled the side of her neck, and not when his masculine aroma enveloped her.

  “What are you doing here?” she whispered.

  Ian slid his arms up to align with hers, his hands covering hers on the wood. “I saw you walking this way. You looked upset.”

  No. He didn’t care. He couldn’t. Not this soon and not about her. Sexual desires were clouding his mind...and hers, too, apparently, because she was enjoying the heat of his body a little too much.

  What man would follow a woman into a stable just because she looked upset? No. He’d followed her for one re
ason and one reason only. A reason she certainly didn’t think she was ready for.

  “I’m fine,” she lied.

  Ian nuzzled her hair. Oh...when he did that she forgot all arguments about why being attracted to someone so full of himself was wrong. Her mind completely voided out any pep talks she’d given in regard to steering clear of lustful feelings and attractive charmers.

  “You’re a very beautiful woman, Cassie.” His soft voice slid over her body, reinforcing those tremors that were becoming the norm where he was concerned. “I tried to ignore this pull I have toward you, but it was damn hard when I saw you during the shoot. How do you do that to a guy?”

  Um...she had no clue. Power over men had certainly never been something she’d mastered. If it had, she’d still be married.

  “Ian, we just met and...”

  He used one hand and slid the hammer from her grasp, letting it fall to the concrete floor with a loud thud.

  “And I’m older than you,” she continued. “I’m thirty-four. You can’t even be thirty.”

  With an arm around her waist, he hauled her off the ladder and spun her around until she faced him—their mouths inches apart.

  “I’m twenty-nine, and I assure you I’m old enough to not only know what I want, but to act on it.”

  His mouth came down on hers, hard, fast, hungry. Cassie didn’t have time to think or refuse because her body was already melting into his.

  The passion pouring from him stirred her desire even more as she gripped his thick biceps. Giving in to just a few seconds of bliss wouldn’t hurt.

  And when Ian’s mouth traveled from her mouth down the column of her throat, Cassie tipped her head back as her breath caught. What was he doing to her? A full-on body attack. His mouth may be in one spot, but Cassie could feel every inch of her body tingling and wanting more.

  Wait...this wasn’t right. She couldn’t do this.

  Pushing him away, Cassie slid her hand up over the exposed skin peeking out of her shirt...the skin his mouth had just explored.