Luke laughed and reached out to stroke one of the stallions.
“Carl and Stan were two of my regular customers when I first opened The Cheshire. They were best friends who’d been widowed. They came to drink every Thursday night and stayed until I closed. We ended up getting close, as one does with regular customers. They both passed within six months of each other.”
“They clearly left an impact on you.” Cassandra reached up and slid her hand along Carl’s nose. “You’re more sentimental than I remember.”
Only because he’d become that way after she’d gone. He’d realized what was important in life. When he was left with only his businesses and his dreams, he’d thrown himself into every bit of them to make everything a success. He’d been so close to commitment when he’d lost her—he’d vowed never to lose anything or anyone else again.
“Which one am I riding?” she asked, turning to face him.
“Either one. They’re both gentle giants and love to be ridden.”
Cassandra unhooked one of the reins and easily slid up into the saddle. “I’ll take this guy. I can’t wait to see the land. It’s so gorgeous from out here. Does it go back far?”
Luke took his own horse and mounted him before easing the reins to turn the stallion. “I own about five hundred acres.”
“Five hundred?” she exclaimed. “What are you going to do with all of that property?”
“One day I’ll build a house, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. I built the stable about five years ago, but I’ve been too busy to design the house.”
Not to mention he couldn’t bring himself to zero in on the plans he wanted. It seemed rather silly to build a large house for a party of one. His place now was too big for him. He wasn’t looking to marry or start a family, but maybe it would happen for him one day. Hell, he had no idea what his future would look like. He was living in the now and enjoying every minute of the life he’d created.
His mother would love nothing more than for him to catch that marriage bug like Will and Cash, but that just wasn’t happening.
When Luke had told his parents about the fake engagement, his mother had scolded him for multiple reasons, but mainly for not bringing Cassandra around so they could see her.
“Show me around,” she told him with a smile.
Luke followed her out into the pasture, wondering if this day would bring more for both of them than just a time to relax.
Hell, what was he thinking?
This day and this fake engagement weren’t going to end in some damn fairy tale. Clearly, his brothers’ engagements were messing with his head. Luke would do good to remember that Cassandra had walked away once and there wasn’t a doubt in his mind she would do it again.
* * *
The diamonds on her engagement ring glinted in the sunlight and the pearl seemed to glisten even whiter than before. Cassandra tried to ignore the shimmer and shine as she took in the beauty of Luke’s property. All of this seemed so surreal. There were too many elements that were thrusting her back into the past.
At one time this property, and this engagement, would have been real, would have been hers. It would have been her actual life and she would have been living her dream with the perfect man. Would they have children by now? That was one area she hadn’t allowed her mind to wander to before, but now that she was seeing all that she had lost, she couldn’t help but let her imagination go into that hidden corner she’d kept locked.
But none of that mattered.
No matter how wayward her thoughts were, she couldn’t go back in time. And now she was only pretending to have that life she’d once dreamed about. The ring would go back, the fairy-tale romance of riding in open fields would be gone, Luke would go back to his bars and she would go back to her life in Lexington. She’d come to Beaumont Bay only to get the wedding of her career and boost Be My Guest into high-society territory. She’d done that. So why was she wanting more?
“Back here is where I plan on building.”
Luke’s statement cut into her thoughts and she focused on where he was pointing. There was a slight knoll and just in the distance was a large pond. She could practically picture a stone-and-log home standing tall. Wraparound porches were a must and maybe a second-story balcony off the master. Something masculine and demanding of attention with thick wood beams and dark stone chimneys.
“So you’re going to give up living in the Bay?” she asked.
“Eventually. There’s a little too much drama in town and I like the peace and quiet this place has to offer.”
“Drama? You mean that’s still a problem?”
When she’d lived here years ago, there was always something major going on. The place was almost like living in a soap opera. Typically, the emotional chaos revolved around Mags Dumond—self-dubbed First Lady of Beaumont Bay. Even though her husband, the mayor, had passed away long ago, the woman still believed she ran the town. Maybe it was the outlandish parties she threw or maybe it was the money she flaunted in excessive ways, but Mags had always made it a point to be in everybody’s business.
“Cash was arrested for a DUI a few months ago,” Luke revealed then shook his head. “All bogus charges that were ultimately dropped.”
“DUI,” Cassandra gasped. “That doesn’t seem like Cash at all, not the way I remember him. I mean, he might be country music’s bad boy—”
“Reformed bad boy,” Luke amended. “Presley changed him.”
“Yes, well. Drunk driving isn’t something he would do, is it? How in the hell did he get arrested?”
“Because he was set up by Mags.”
Yep. There it was. The woman who stirred up trouble. Some things never changed in this town. Surprisingly, Cassandra hadn’t had a run-in with the eccentric woman since she’d been back.
“Why would she do that?” Cassandra asked.
“I’m sure she had her reasons. She’s jealous of the success of Elite Records—she wants to always come out on top no matter the cost.” Luke shrugged. “Hell, who knows what she’ll come up with next, but we’re always on our guard with her.”
Cassandra knew Mags was powerful, but for the woman to take on all of the Sutherland brothers...well, that was ridiculous. That would be a battle Mags would definitely lose.
“None of that is important now,” Luke added. “I really don’t want to ruin the day with talk of Mags.”
“Fine by me,” Cassandra agreed. “So how long are we riding?”
Luke glanced her way and winked. “We’re almost there.”
Confused, Cassandra glanced around and saw nothing other than the pond. She turned her attention back to Luke.
“Where?”
He gestured up ahead. “Right over there.”
He took the lead with his stallion and circled the pond. That’s when she saw a display that made her gasp.
“Lunch is served.”
Luke dismounted his horse and looped the reins to the post next to the pond. When he came over to her, he reached up and gripped her waist to assist her down. Cassandra was so stunned by the blanket, the basket and the wine chilling in a pewter bucket, she didn’t notice the way her body slid right against his until she found herself gripping his shoulders.
Luke’s eyes met hers and he smiled. “I figured that even though you’re a big city wedding planner now, that country girl is still inside and you’d find a picnic by the pond romantic.”
Cassandra’s breath caught in her throat. “Is that why we’re here? Romance?”
His dark eyes locked with hers and that bond they’d formed long ago was still there. It couldn’t be denied. Whatever was happening had started the second she’d stepped into his office a few weeks ago. As much as Cassandra thought she’d been in control of this entire situation, she realized right then that she hadn’t grasped an ounce of control.
“I know you don’t
want a fling,” he told her. “I didn’t bring you here to seduce you or anything else, but I do know you’re a romantic at heart and I thought since you were wrapped up in the wedding and—”
Cassandra kissed him.
She’d cut off whatever he was saying with her lips because she couldn’t stand another second of not touching him. Luke churned something deep inside her that had been dormant for eight years. Only this man could convince her to ignore the alarm bells going off in her head and finally take what she’d been craving.
Cassandra intended to do just that.
Ten
The last thing Luke expected was for Cassandra to suddenly kiss him like she’d been just as achy as he had been. Had he known a horse ride and a picnic would have her practically climbing up his body, he would have done this weeks ago.
Luke wrapped his arms around her and splayed his hands over her back, pulling her flush against him.
Finally.
This wasn’t a quick kiss or something for a social-media post. This was Cassandra taking charge, taking what they both wanted.
And if nothing else came from this kiss, then Luke would still be okay. All he’d wanted to know was if they still had those embers between them... he hadn’t expected the flames.
Cassandra framed his face and shifted, taking the kiss deeper as she sighed. Arousal and anticipation slammed into him and Luke gripped her backside and positioned their hips just right.
She pulled away from the kiss, panting and looking at him as if waiting for him to do something. But this was the one time he had to relinquish control. She’d made it apparent that a fling or anything else was off the table. He respected her enough to let her take the lead...though he would be more than willing to follow anywhere she wanted to take him.
“Are you sure you didn’t bring me here to seduce me?” she asked.
“That wasn’t my intention, and if we’re making accusations, you’ve been seducing me since you came back into town.”
Cassandra’s eyes widened as her tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip. “I didn’t come back for that...or any of this.”
He waited because those murmured words that had fallen from her damp, swollen lips led him to believe she wasn’t done with her thoughts.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “But I want you. It’s a ridiculous fight that I’ve been losing for weeks.”
Some sense of calm eased into his chest. He hadn’t realized he’d been waiting on her to admit that, but he had. While he’d wanted Cassandra since she’d come back, he also still cared about her. He would never push her out of her comfort zone or make her feel like she wasn’t fully respected.
At the same time, he also had to be true to himself and honest with her about how he was feeling. Not that he was one to dig deep and get in touch with his emotions, but damn it, she pulled out things he thought he’d buried long ago.
“You do something to me, Luke.” Cassandra opened her eyes and refocused on him. “No matter what has happened in the time I was gone, that doesn’t change what we shared and what I want now.”
She’d summed up his thoughts exactly. Luke reached up and slid his fingertip along her forehead, smoothing her hair back behind her ears. She shivered beneath his touch as he trailed along her jawline and down the column of her neck.
Cassandra kept her eyes locked on his and his heart pounded even faster. Was she ready to cross that line? Because he’d mentally crossed it every single day since her return. He’d give anything to know the thoughts running through her head.
“There’s nothing wrong with taking what we want and there’s no reason to feel guilt or worry.”
Luke listened as she seemed to be talking to herself. She reached up and traced the V of his T-shirt and he instantly held his breath.
Then he got a smile that he’d only seen back when they used to be together. It was a sexy grin that held a hint of naughtiness and a whole hell of a lot of promise.
“Tie up my horse,” she commanded as her eyes remained on his. “And take a seat on the blanket.”
Hell yes. She didn’t have to ask him twice. Luke secured the stallion with the other horse before sinking down onto the large, soft quilt that had been left out here with their picnic.
Cassandra came to stand above him and kicked off her boots, then she went for the waist of her riding pants and slowly, so agonizingly slowly, eased them down her thighs and ultimately kicked them aside. She stood there in a plaid button-up shirt that hit just below her panties and he’d never seen a sexier sight than this woman with her hair disheveled from the ride and those long, dark legs that were just begging for his touch.
“Are you sure?”
He couldn’t believe he was pausing to ask, considering she was half-naked, but he wanted zero regrets after this.
Cassandra quirked an eyebrow and started at the top button, easing each button through its hole as she continued to stare at him in silence. Of all the scenarios he’d envisioned since Cassandra had returned, this was definitely not one of them.
As if he hadn’t found her sexy enough before, now she was taking charge, taking what she wanted on her terms. Looks only went so far and confidence was absolutely everything. Cassandra had never faltered in that category.
She eased off the shirt and let it fall to the blanket. Wearing only her white lacy bra and panties, she dropped to her knees and started tugging off his boots. He jerked his shirt up and over his head and they both reached for the button on his jeans at the same time.
Their eyes met and she gave him that saucy smile once again and it had him laughing. Damn, she was something and he was not about to waste this moment.
In a flurry of hands and a few chuckles, they had his jeans and boxer briefs stripped off and tossed aside without a care. Now she remained on her knees staring down at him and Luke wanted nothing more than to reach for her and pull her on top of him. Instead, he used every ounce of willpower to keep his hands to himself.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t get his point across.
Luke leaned back and laced his hands behind his head as he kept his attention on her. He smiled, waiting on her to make her next move.
Without moving her gaze, she reached around and unfastened her bra, then eased it down her arms and off to the side. Then she wiggled out of those flimsy excuse for panties.
Luke didn’t even try to hide the fact he was raking his gaze over her bare body. It had been too damn long since he’d seen her like this. She was still breathtaking, still stunning, still the sexiest woman he’d ever seen.
Her curves had filled out more than he recalled. The flare of her hips and the dip in her waist were more accentuated than before, and that young woman he’d fallen in love with had turned into a strong, confident, damn fine woman. And for now, for right now, she was his.
Cassandra rested her knees on either side of his hips and straddled his lap, flattening her hands against his chest. The wind kicked up and sent her hair dancing around her shoulders. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight. His heart tightened and he refused to dwell on the feeling. His heart was just getting confused with the past, but his mind knew full well what this was...and what this wasn’t.
“Tell me you don’t have workers who are going to come out here anytime soon,” she laughed.
“They’re paid well to set up and then leave.”
He couldn’t wait another moment to touch her. Luke gripped her hips and eased her right where he wanted her.
“I don’t have protection with me,” he told her. “I honestly wasn’t planning on this.”
She slowly rocked against him, very nearly sinking into him, but was clearly relying on her willpower, as well.
“I don’t have anything, either, but you are the only person I’ve ever not had it with.”
He shouldn’t have let his ego swell at that s
tatement, but he did. She trusted him, in the past and now.
“I’ve always been careful, too,” he told her.
He said nothing else as she joined their bodies, then immediately closed her eyes and tossed back her head. The way she remained still and tightened her entire body around him had Luke groaning and unable to restrain himself anymore.
Jerking his hips, he set the pace and continued to hold on to her. Cassandra shifted and leaned forward, placing her hands on either side of his head. Luke tipped up his head just enough, silently seeking her mouth. She didn’t hesitate to cover his lips with hers as she started moving even faster.
This was the passionate Cassandra he’d missed. No matter the distance between them over time, this was so familiar...almost like coming home.
But that couldn’t be, and it sure as hell wasn’t something he wanted to be thinking about while entering this moment. He didn’t want to think of the future or wish for more from Cassandra. All he wanted was this, right now. He couldn’t mentally or emotionally afford anything else.
Luke flattened his hand on the small of her back and fisted her hair with the other hand. He nipped at her lips as her body jerked even harder. She released his mouth and cried out, then bit down on her bottom lip as if she’d just realized she was losing control.
“Let go,” he demanded.
Her back arched and she came undone. Strands of wayward hair clung to her neck, her bottom lip, and she cried out as her knees squeezed against his sides.
Luke couldn’t take his eyes off her. Damn, he’d missed her. How the hell could this be happening? He only wanted a temporary fling, one last bit of time with her before she vanished again for good.
Before he let his mind travel too far down a dangerous path, Luke’s body climbed and he pumped his hips faster, harder, until he followed Cassandra over the edge.
Eleven
“No regrets?”
Cassandra reached for a piece of cheese and met Luke’s gaze over the picnic lunch he’d set up while she’d gotten dressed.
Fake Engagement, Nashville Style Page 9