That left Rhett alone, which would make it easier to strategize. How had he picked up women before his fame did all the heavy lifting for him? Actually, now that he thought about it, he’d always had fame in some form or another: as the high school all-star, the college legend, the hot new recruit. Did he even know how to pick up a woman with nothing but his words and his earnest intentions?
The karaoke machine switched over to Angel in Blue Jeans by Train, another sign from heaven. Now Rhett knew exactly what he needed to do to get that beautiful stranger to notice him.
The molasses-like malt tasted sweet upon Cassie’s tongue. Nothing like a cold beer to wash away the heat from that day and the drama from that evening. What was Jenny thinking? Selling the ranch? Never. Cassie refused to let that happen, just so long as she had two sturdy legs, a strong back, and a voice to go with it. Besides, she couldn’t fail at the one thing that mattered to her. Wouldn't fail. She just had to think of a way to restore the ranch to what it had once been in its glory days, and how hard could that be? She’d seen enough Disney movies to know that when someone really wanted something and her heart was pure, it was just a matter of time before the fairytale ending came about. And who said that real life couldn't be like the movies?
She sighed and grabbed up a handful of peanuts, enjoying the way the salt mixed with with the bitter sweetness of the beer. The song on the karaoke machine switched over to something positively ancient, and Cassie craned her neck to try to see what midlife crisis exec had come out to try to impress his much younger sidepiece. But she didn’t see a bald man with a doughy midsection forced into too-tight jeans—or worse, squeaky leather pants. Instead she saw the same twenty-something jock type who had sent her a drink earlier that evening.
He took the stage to a wave of hoots and hollers much larger than any that had come before. She rolled her eyes and ordered another drink. Usually she’d stop at one or two, but she wasn’t coming up with any great ranch-saving ideas sober, and Lord knew she needed the relief from the total anguish of it all. Because lately her life was far more horror movie than Disney.
“I want you to want me!” the jock boy on stage called out, pointing to somewhere just left of Cassie’s shoulder. As he sang the old song by Cheap Trick, he all but made love to the mic stand with a rhythmic series of thrusts, shakes, and shimmies. It was pretty funny actually, and she couldn’t help but watch as he made a fool of himself for all of the Alamo to see.
Something told her, though, that he didn’t mind one bit. What would it be like to have no worries, to just let loose and enjoy whatever the moment brought? Cassie wasn’t sure she’d ever had a carefree day in her entire life—at least not since her parents had both died far too young at the hands of a drunk driver. It had been almost seven years since then.
The bartender set two more beers on the counter in front of Cassie, then rushed away to tend to a large group that had just come through the doors.
“I really only just need the one!” she called, to no avail. Oh, she would have a wicked hangover the next morning for sure.
She sighed and found her gaze drifting back toward the stage where Mr. Buff Guy continued to give the performance of a lifetime. The song ended, and he took a shaky bow before jogging off the makeshift stage…and straight toward Cassie.
“Hey, thanks for holding my drink for me.” He smiled, then gripped one of the beers in his hand and took a long, self-satisfied swig.
Ugh, what was he doing? It had been so much easier to ignore him from a distance, but now that he was standing right in front of her, she found herself regrettably charmed. His eyes, she noticed, twinkled as if they held some special secret that only he could divulge. His arms were strong and sinewy and for a moment she let herself imagine what it would feel like to have him wrap them around her from behind, and…
Oh, no. She refused to go there. The last thing she needed was a fling, especially with such a brazen man as this one. He probably wasn’t even from these parts, come to think of it. Not with the way he gelled his hair into some manufactured style that looked like it took more work than Cassie had ever been willing to put into her own long, wavy hair.
“Did you enjoy my performance?” he asked, taking a seat beside her. “I would have dedicated it to you, only you haven’t told me your name. I’m Rhett, by the way.”
“Oh, please don’t tell me that was supposed to be for my benefit.” She laughed—a bit bitchily, but she couldn’t help it. Besides, she had already told him to get lost once. It wasn’t her fault he hadn’t listened.
Instead of pouting, the smile on his face grew wide. “Oh, c’mon. You didn’t like it? Not even a little bit?”
She shrugged, hoping the gesture would hide the desire that clung to her like a thick perfume. “It was all right, I guess. But that song… Let’s just say it’s not how you win over a country girl.” She smiled into her beer, enjoying the way his eyes settled on her throat as she took a deep gulp.
“Oh?” He inched closer, and she could feel his body warm up the space between them. She had to stop herself from drawing closer herself. She did not need this, and even if she did, he was probably the last person she needed it from. These cocky city types pissed her off to no end.
“Then, tell me, how do I impress a country girl? And, more importantly, how can I impress you?” He set his beer back on the counter and leaned close to her, as if inviting her to whisper sweet nothings into his ear. The gesture was far too intimate for some random guy she’d just met. She needed to put an end to this before he got the wrong idea about what kind of woman she was.
“Not by embarrassing yourself in front of the entire bar, that’s for sure.” She grabbed her keys from her pocket and began to jangle them in her hands, the universal signal for get me the hell out of here.
But he kept his eyes fixed on her face, so intent on her that it made her shiver. “Sweetheart, I’d embarrass myself in front of the whole world if it got you to tell me your name.”
“Cassie,” she mumbled.
“Hi, Cassie. I’m Rhett.” He reached out his hand to shake, and she took it reluctantly.
“You told me that already.” She tried not to think about how well their hands fit together, tried to ignore the fact that they were still holding hands even though the normal amount of time for a handshake had already lapsed.
“Yeah, but it gave me an excuse to touch you.” He began to trace circles on her hand with his thumb, and the tickle sent a thrill up her arm and down into her…
She yanked away, unsure of what to do next. She liked him—or at least her body did—but that gave her all the more reason to run full and fast in the opposite direction. She had too much work to do. She didn’t need some guy flitting into her life to distract her from the things that really mattered.
He smiled, slow and sweet, hinting that he knew exactly what naughty thoughts were running through her mind. “So, you, uhh, want to get out of here?”
“Nice try. But unlike your song, I’m not some cheap trick. Good night, Rhett.”
She had planned to storm off in a huff, but almost four beers in, she was just too far gone. She hopped to her feet but quickly lost her balance and fell straight into Rhett’s strong arms.
“Honey,” he said with a dangerous smile. “One night with you would never be enough.”
Chapter 3
Rhett could feel the exact moment he lost her. See it too. She stood suddenly; her spine stiffened into an overly straight line, bringing her luscious breasts up close enough so he could flick them with his tongue had he wanted to—and, oh, did he want to. Noticing her mistake, she spun hard on her heel, but if she was coordinated under normal circumstances, she certainly wasn’t now that she had a few drinks in her.
Down she came, straight into his lap. She even allowed herself to smile at him for a moment before realizing what had just happened. How he wanted to kiss her then, but, no, he needed to prove that he was a good guy. She made him work for it, and he liked that—
loved it even.
The more time he spent in her company, the more he wanted to run straight into her arms and never look back. What made him feel this way about a woman he’d just met? A woman who clearly did not share his interest? And why did that smudge of dirt on her cheek make her look prettier than if she’d had a full face of makeup carefully applied?
She scrambled out of his lap, and he helped her back to her feet. This was his last chance. She’d walk out that door and out of his life for good if he didn't stop her. “I’ll worry about you all night if you leave on your own,” he said. “Give me another chance to prove I’m a good guy? C’mon, don’t make me beg.”
Her nose twitched as if she were trying to hold back a sneeze, then she burst out laughing—a soft, tittering sound that sounded like a little bell. Cute, cute, cute. Everything about Cassie was freaking adorable.
“I wouldn’t mind if you begged just a little,” she said, then, in a sudden bold move, grabbed his hand. “You’re right, I’m safer with you than without. C’mon, I could use some fresh air.”
He let her pull him across the parking lot to the bed of a rusty old truck—the kind that was a dime a dozen around these parts. She hopped up and motioned for him to join her.
They paused for a moment to look up at the bright constellations that peppered the night sky. That was one thing he didn’t miss in California, all the light pollution. He’d never have been able to enjoy such a beautiful, peaceful moment with Cassie back there.
“The stars at night…” she whispered.
And he didn’t miss a beat. “Are beautiful, just like you.”
She giggled again and jabbed at him playfully. “You’re not supposed to say that. You’re supposed to finish the song. It was a test, and you failed. You’re obviously not from here, so where are you from?”
He shrugged and watched as a broad smile formed on her face. “You got me. I grew up in small-town Idaho, but I’ve been in California since college.”
“And what brings you to Texas?” He had her full attention now, and he liked that. He needed to keep her talking, keep her interested.
He shrugged again. “Work.”
“What kind of work is that?”
Of course, Rhett didn’t like skirting the issue, but at the same time if he revealed his status as a professional athlete, the night would surely become all about him. That is, if it didn’t send her running as fast as she could go in the opposite direction. There were girls like Tricia who loved dating a status symbol, but girls like Cassie? Definitely not. All that fame would be a burden to her, and he only wanted to make her happy, only wanted her to know the real him. Whoever that might be. Rhett wasn’t so sure he even knew himself.
He placed a hand on her knee and felt a little spark jolt between them. What he said next was, in fact, true. “I don't want to talk about me. I want to know more about you.”
She took a deep breath as if to dive into a long and practiced explanation. “Well, I own and operate the Saddleback Ranch. We have twenty cattle, and two horses, and about sixty-three acres.”
“Not about your ranch, though I’m sure it’s awesome. I want to know about you, Cassie.” He slid closer to her in the bed of the truck and slung an arm over her shoulder.
She shivered, but didn’t brush him off. A frown pinched at the corners of her pretty mouth. “My ranch is me.”
“But it can’t be all of you. What makes you happy? What makes you feel good?” He feathered his fingertips against her cheek, hoping that this was something that made her feel good.
“Nights like this, I guess.” She smiled again, and it was brighter than any of the stars in that San Antonio sky.
“You guess? I think it’s time you knew for certain.” He waited for her to turn to look at him, and as soon as she did, he closed the short distance between them and claimed her mouth with a firm, searching kiss.
He half expected her to pull away, but instead she melted into him, playing with the small hairs at the nape of his neck as their tongues danced together. God, she was hot. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt a kiss this deep in his belly as if it were fueling some kind of magic that grew bigger and bigger the more they connected. He tested her by pulling away, but she immediately nipped at his lower lip and dragged him back to her.
And even though it was the best first kiss of his life, it didn’t feel like a first. It felt as if he could kiss Cassie forever—had been kissing her forever. So sweet, so right.
She placed a hand on each of his shoulders and pushed him away. He enjoyed seeing the splotchiness of her flesh where he had claimed her mouth, her cheeks, her neck. And now he couldn’t wait to claim the rest of her.
But Cassie, it seemed, had different ideas. “It’s late and I need to be up with the sun tomorrow. I really should be getting back.”
Even though he had a feeling she would have stayed if he’d asked, he also knew how important her work was to her. He didn’t want to force her. He needed her to come willingly. “When can I see you again?”
“Rhett…” She started. “I’m not so sure that’s a good—”
“Not if. When. I told you one night wouldn’t be enough. Whatever this is…” He stroked her cheek. “It’s far too special to let get away. Let me see you again. Let me woo you the way you deserve to be wooed.”
She rested her head on his chest and studied the stars in silence for a moment. “Well, I guess a girl’s gotta eat,” she said at last.
“So dinner on the Riverwalk? I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“No, I’ll meet you there.” She kissed him again, as if to close the matter for discussion, but he had other concerns on his mind.
“Don’t want me to know where you live, huh? C’mon, let me drive you home. You’re still too tipsy to drive yourself.”
Another kiss. “If I’m too drunk, then you’re too drunk too.” She giggled and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek. “I’ll get a cab or call my sister.”
Hmm, if he kept arguing like this, maybe they could stay here and kiss the entire night away. Come to think of it, that sounded like the perfect way to spend an evening here in big ol’ beautiful Texas.
More time passed—a minute, an hour, who could say? The only thing Rhett knew for sure was that each moment spent with Cassie was perfection.
Before too long, however, the crunch of gravel beneath oversized tires startled them out of their cocoon. A moment later a blonde woman who looked an awful lot like Cassie had hopped up into the back of the truck with them, and she did not look happy.
Cassie pulled away from Rhett’s luscious lips. The sweet taste of whisky lingered and she licked at her own lips hungrily. She wasn’t usually a one-night stand kind of girl, but with Rhett? She didn’t even care that they were practically in public. He was that hot, and she wanted him that bad. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to share a cab home with him. Jenny had probably already driven her caravan of children home, taking Cassie’s three summer workers with her.
But that was tomorrow’s problem. Shouldn’t she allow herself to fully enjoy tonight? After all, she’d be working every second of the night, noon, and day in the coming weeks to save Saddleback. It wouldn’t be so bad to have one last hurrah before she said goodbye to play entirely for God knew how long.
Rhett smiled at her, and she felt her insides turn to fire—a hot, dripping fire that felt so damn good pooling between her legs. But pleasure gave way to pain so fast, Cassie practically caught a case of whiplash trying to figure out what had happened.
She was on her feet, the back of her head burning from where Jenny held tight to her ponytail, even after having yanked Cassie to her feet.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing? And who the hell is this?”
Rhett stumbled up to a standing position and extended a hand. “I’m Rh—”
“I don’t actually care who you are,” Jenny spat.
Oh, if looks could kill.
“C’mon, Cass. I’m taking you
home. God, you reek of booze. Get in the van.”
As Jenny pushed her toward the passenger side of her giant utility van, Cassie ventured a glance back toward Rhett who stood with a bemused smile playing at his lips, the same delicious lips she’d been devouring just seconds earlier.
Jenny got in the driver’s seat and slammed the door, interrupting the naughty interlude playing in Cassie’s head. “Is this how you expect to save the ranch? Really? By getting drunk and publicly making out with random guys?”
Cass knew her sister well enough not to answer. Besides, she didn’t owe anyone an explanation, least of all the person who was doing everything she could to steal Cassie’s livelihood right out from under her.
But Jenny wouldn’t leave well enough alone. “I was worried about you, sis. Thank God I found you… But here? At a bar? I thought you didn’t drink, since…” She heaved an enormous sigh, bringing a bit of fragility back into her demeanor.
A drunk driver had killed their parents, and both she and Jenny had sworn off alcohol for years. But over time Cass had come to appreciate a cold beer after a hard day, and she definitely knew better than to ever drive drunk herself. Still, she could see why her sister was worried.
“Jenny, I’m sorry. I was going to call you to come get me, honestly I was. It’s just, try to see if from my perspective, would ya? You have Jeff and the kids and your place in the city, but all I have is the ranch. If we lose it, I won’t even know who I am anymore. Does that make sense?”
Jenny sniffed and wiped a hand across her face. It almost seemed as if she wasn’t going to speak at all, until she said, “It’s just land and some cows, Cass. It isn’t a life.”
If Cassie had any doubts left as to whether or not marriage had changed her sister, they all vanished in that moment. The old Jenny would have never said something so hurtful. Not in a million years. A small part of her wondered if maybe it was pregnancy hormones or if something was wrong with the baby or perhaps with her sister’s marriage, but a much bigger part couldn’t fathom a way to forgive her sister for belittling her when she was already at at all-time low.
A Cowboy Kind of Love Page 2