His relief didn’t last long.
“I don’t regret kissing you,” she said. “That doesn’t mean I think it should happen again.”
“I disagree.”
“Shane, getting involved isn’t a good idea. Not now. Not until this situation with Benjie and your brother is resolved.”
“I don’t see what difference it makes.”
She shook her head. “Things are complicated enough.”
He inhaled and took an emotional step back. “I agree. They are. But we’re entitled to be happy.”
“Hoyt may not like me getting involved with you. I can’t have him adding challenges to our custody negotiations because he resents my relationship with his brother.”
“He isn’t a shallow person.”
“This is brand-new territory. None of us knows how the others will react. I can’t take the chance.”
She had a point. “Okay.”
“Really?” She studied him skeptically.
Shane was smart enough to realize if he pushed Cassidy she’d dig in her heels and he’d lose all the ground he’d gained. Best to agree with her for the moment then, when the dust settled with Hoyt, make his next move. He could wait. She was worth it.
Reaching behind her for the knob, he opened the door. “Really. Now let’s both get back to work before the boss catches us goofing off.”
She laughed and exited the trailer, Shane right behind her. Once outside, she paused. He did, too, and she placed a hand on the center of his chest.
“For the record, I enjoyed the kiss.”
Did she feel his thundering heart? “Me, too.”
“It was never like that before.”
“Not even close.”
Lifting her hand to his face, she cupped his cheek, her fingers lingering before she turned and left.
Shane stood, watching, until Kenny emerged from the outdoor stalls, leading a pair of arena horses used for steer wrestling. He nodded at Shane, a silly grin on his face.
Had he seen Shane and Cassidy together? Shane wasn’t sure—the teenager often wore a silly grin for no reason. He promptly put Kenny from his mind. What had there been to see, other than her cupping his cheek? Nothing inappropriate there.
At the arena, he got straight to work, though his and Cassidy’s recent kiss wreaked havoc with his concentration. Bull riding was traditionally the last event of the day, being one of the most exciting and crowd pleasing. That didn’t give Shane leeway to sit around, doing nothing. The care and condition of the bulls was his main concern. Especially Wasabi, who had been cleared to compete. However, this decision made no difference to Shane. He intended to check over every inch of the bull before letting him in the arena.
In addition to the eighteen bucking bulls the Becketts owned, they’d leased an additional twenty for the weekend from their competitor, the Lost Dutchman Rodeo Company. Shane had spent the entire day yesterday involved in transporting the bulls from nearby Apache Junction.
It was Mercer Beckett’s ambition to purchase more bulls over the next several years. A high-earning bull could bring in tens of thousands of dollars a year, if not into the hundreds of thousands. There were several potential contenders in the Becketts’ current stock.
The future also looked bright for another reason. Just prior to hiring Shane, Mercer had purchased a number of champion-producing cows. Breeding would begin shortly and become the next phase of Shane’s new job.
“Is Wasabi ready?”
Shane glanced over his shoulder at the sound of Mercer’s voice and stepped away from the larger of the two bull pens. “In my opinion, yes.”
“We’re counting on him.”
Something in his boss’s tone gave Shane pause. Was this a simple question or his make-it-or-break-it moment? Did his future at the Easy Money depend on Wasabi’s performance? If so, he was ready for it.
He squared his shoulders. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“I hope so.” Mercer took a place at the fence alongside Shane, resting his forearms on the top railing. Inside the pen, the bulls milled restlessly, lowing and swinging their large heads from side to side. They instinctively sensed this was no normal day. In every direction, people bustled about. Cowboys readying to compete. Fans eager for a close-up of the rodeo stock and exhibitors. The Verde Vaqueros equestrian drill team practicing for the opening ceremony.
“Kenny noticed Cassidy coming out of your trailer earlier,” Mercer said, his tone flat. “He said the two of you were pretty cozy.”
Not what Shane had been expecting, and he steadied himself before answering.
“We’re old friends.”
“Not just friends. She dated your brother. My grandson is your nephew.”
Startled, Shane turned his head. Had Cassidy kept her secret only from Hoyt and the Westcotts? “How long have you known?”
“Always. Leastwise, I suspected. Most people did, I reckon.”
Not Shane and Hoyt. Were they idiots? Maybe not. If one wasn’t looking, he supposed, then one didn’t see.
“I don’t want Cassidy hurt. Or Benjie,” Mercer said.
“I care about both of them. And Benjie’s family.”
“Take it from me, family can hurt a person worse than any stranger.”
“I won’t lie. I did ask her on a date.”
Mercer muttered a response under his breath. “What about your brother?”
“Doesn’t matter. She declined. For the time being,” Shane clarified. “She wants to speak to Hoyt first.”
“And after that?”
“We’ll see what happens.”
“Look, son. I’m not judging.” Mercer adjusted his hat, shielding his eyes from the bright midday sun. “Lord knows, I have my own complicated family situation. But you need to tread carefully. My grandson has taken quite a shine to you. Cassidy, too. I can see it. If not, she wouldn’t be hesitating, waiting to talk to Hoyt first. She’s cautious when it comes to men. I reckon I’m the one to blame.”
Shane didn’t like to think of Cassidy struggling. He did like to think her fondness for him was strong enough to be evident to others.
“I won’t hurt her.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I assure you, my intentions are honorable.”
“What about your daughter?”
“What about her?”
“You haven’t had custody long. She might resent you dating Cassidy.”
“She adores Benjie. I think she’d be thrilled to learn she has a cousin.”
“You could be right.” Mercer pushed off from the fence. Clapping a hand to Shane’s shoulder, he squeezed. “I’m glad our family is increasing in size. And that your daughter’s a part of it. You, too, as long as Cassidy’s happy.” The pressure of his grip increased, almost to the point of painful. He stopped just short. “If for any reason things change, you’ll have me to deal with. And there’ll be a lot more at stake than your job.”
Shane didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink an eye. “Understood, sir.”
“Do you mind telling me what’s going on here?” Cassidy stood facing them, her laser stare taking aim at Mercer.
Shane gave the older man credit, who reacted by letting his hand drop and shrugging unconcernedly. “Just having a talk. Man to man.”
“You’re butting into a matter that doesn’t concern you.”
Shane had been prepared to stay out of the argument. Cassidy wasn’t one to trifle with when riled. Neither was Mercer. They were more alike than they probably realized. He changed his mind when he noticed the attention the three of them were garnering.
“The opening ceremony starts in an hour,” he said. “Maybe we should move along.”
“Good idea.” Mercer approached
Cassidy. Rather than walk past her, he stopped and bent his head, kissing her on the cheek. She stiffened but, otherwise, didn’t move. “We’ll talk later, sweetheart.”
“Count on it.”
Shane thought it best he, too, leave. He’d have liked to kiss Cassidy, as well. Common sense prevailed.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said, catching up with him.
Well, this was a day full of surprises. “Your dad loves you.”
“It’s too little, too late.”
“Only if you let it be.”
“There’s still a lot you don’t know.”
Shane stopped abruptly. “This is a conversation you need to have with him. Not me.”
She stiffened. A moment later, she was gone, disappearing into the crowd.
Mercer didn’t have any reason to worry about Cassidy getting hurt, Shane thought with disappointment. Judging by her brusque departure he doubted they were going on a date, now or in the foreseeable future.
Chapter Eight
“Thanks for everything. I’ll be in touch.” Cassidy tucked the representation agreement she’d signed into her purse and shook the woman lawyer’s hand.
“I can’t recommend contacting the father strongly enough. If he finds out about Benjie before you’ve told him, he could, and likely will, use that against you. He already has a lot of ammunition, what with you holding out this long.”
“I’ll call. This week.”
“Today, if possible,” the attorney insisted. “His brother may have promised to remain silent, but there’s no guarantee he will.”
“I trust him.”
“Don’t. In my experience, there are two times when loyalties are tested and family members choose sides. When someone dies and when there’s a custody battle over the children.”
Cassidy could think of another time. When one member was an alcoholic.
“That’s rather dismal.”
“But unfortunately true.” The attorney offered a warm and supportive smile. Her first one of their entire meeting.
Cassidy braced a hand on the corner of the desk to steady herself. Was she ready to talk to Hoyt? No, but then, would she ever be? Getting it over with quickly might be the best approach. Then, hopefully, she could go back to sleeping soundly at night.
On the drive home from Globe, she mentally reviewed her meeting with the attorney. She’d liked the middle-aged woman’s assertive manner and had hired her on the spot. The advice she’d offered, and her no-punches-pulled honesty, hard as it had been to hear, resonated with Cassidy. She’d be a strong advocate for Cassidy and Benjie when it came to dealing with Hoyt’s attorney, as he was sure to hire one.
Shane had offered to be with her when she called Hoyt. The attorney had visibly recoiled when Cassidy had told her and insisted he be excluded. At first, Cassidy had agreed. Now she was having second thoughts. Shane was fiercely loyal to his brother, but he also cared for her, of that she was certain, and wanted what was best for her.
She recalled their steamy kiss from last Friday—something she’d done often during the past five days. It was one of those mistakes a person would make all over again given the opportunity. If she concentrated, she could feel the tingles cascading up and down her spine. The warmth pooling in her middle. The desire weakening her limbs.
Tingles and warmth aside, she wasn’t planning on any more kissing. Not before she and Hoyt reached an agreement. Possibly not after that. The situation was too tricky, and she had her son to think of.
Shane also cared a great deal about Benjie. If he wasn’t present when she spoke to Hoyt, she’d for sure have him there when she told Benjie. Her son already felt a strong bond with Shane. If Benjie wound up reacting negatively, Shane would be a good person to calm him and ease his fears.
Unless Hoyt objected. What if he didn’t like his brother interfering with his nephew? She hadn’t considered that before.
Because her mind was spinning a hundred miles an hour, she opted to delay deciding until later. Upon entering Reckless, she spontaneously turned into the Dawn to Dusk Coffee Shop for a caramel latte. Her favorite. After a day like this one, she deserved to indulge herself in some comfort food. Or a comfort beverage, as it happened to be.
She was next in line to be served when someone came up behind her and cut in.
“Excuse me,” said an irritated customer. “I was here first.”
Cassidy whirled to find Shane standing there, cheeks ruddy from the wind and smelling of the outdoors.
He moved closer and tipped his hat to the woman customer. “Sorry, she was saving me a place.”
Caught off guard, Cassidy had no choice but to allow him in line with her. She gave the woman customer her nicest smile and was rewarded with an agitated huff.
They reached the counter and placed their orders. “I’ll buy,” Shane said and removed his wallet from his jeans. “Hers, too.” He indicated the woman behind him.
“Oh, thank you!” she said.
Cassidy wasn’t so easily mollified. She still hadn’t forgiven him for cutting in line. “Fine,” she told the cashier, “I’ll have a tall.”
“Where were you today?” Shane asked as they waited for their coffees. “You left and didn’t tell anyone.”
“I wasn’t aware I had to report in with you.”
Not the first time she’d been short with him this week, and it was wrong of her. Truthfully, she was mad at herself and taking it out on him. Hardly Shane’s fault that she’d practically ravished him in the trailer, then argued with her father in front of him.
“You don’t, but we were worried.”
“I told Deacon.”
“He wasn’t anyone we thought of asking.”
Shane’s repeated use of the word “we” puzzled her. Was he including himself with her family?
“I went to see an attorney in Globe. I didn’t want to tell anyone until I saw how it went.”
“And?”
Shane didn’t have a right to ask her. This was none of his business. And the attorney had soundly advised her against including him. On the other hand, she’d included him earlier by discussing Benjie and her plans for telling Hoyt. She supposed he felt he had the right.
“It went okay.”
The barista called their names. Shane retrieved the steaming cups.
“Let’s sit outside.” He all but hustled her to the shop’s exterior seating area.
She went along. She didn’t want to talk in the noisy and crowded shop. It seemed more people than usual were free for coffee at one o’clock on a Thursday afternoon. Shane being one of them.
“Wait,” she said. “You didn’t tell me what you’re doing here.”
“I was headed to the feed store for some supplements. I saw your SUV parked out front.”
Just her luck, or bad luck depending on one’s point of view.
They found an empty table for two under the awning. It wasn’t warm. In fact, the temperature had dropped this week to the upper fifties. But it was bright out, and Cassidy’s tired eyes were grateful for the awning’s shade.
“So, what did the attorney say?”
She chose her words carefully, not intending to reveal everything to Shane in case the attorney was right about choosing sides.
“She told me what I can realistically expect to happen. What I can reasonably ask for from Hoyt. And what the worst case scenarios are. We also discussed strategies and options.”
“I think you just said a lot of nothing.”
Cassidy sipped her coffee, relishing the taste and warmth. “I’m not going to discuss details with you. Not until I speak to Hoyt.”
“Is that what the attorney suggested?”
“It’s what I want. What I’m comfortable with.”
�
��How much of you shutting me out has to do with our kiss the other day?”
She tightened her grip on her cup. “We agreed not getting personally involved was for the best.”
“We did. But when did not getting personally involved include stop being friends?”
“Hoyt’s your brother. Your loyalties are understandably with him.”
“Believe it or not, the person I’m most loyal to is Benjie.”
Damn. He would have to say the right thing.
“For various reasons, the attorney recommended that I call Hoyt as soon as possible. Today, specifically.”
Shane rubbed his chin, considering her remark. After a moment, he said, “There’s no time like the present.”
“I’m not calling him now.” Cassidy glanced around nervously, which was silly. None of the nearby patrons were the least bit interested in them.
“It’s as good a time as any. I’m here. You’re here. I know for a fact Hoyt’s off this week.”
She shook her head vehemently. “The attorney was clear. She said I shouldn’t call Hoyt with you present.”
“I won’t sabotage you.”
She believed him, mostly because of the remark he’d made about Benjie. She didn’t want to call Hoyt alone. With an audience, she’d be more inclined to keep a level head. Not lose her temper or her courage.
“I need some paper,” she blurted. “For notes.” And for something to do with her hands that didn’t involve biting her nails to the quick.
Shane pulled a small notepad from the pocket of his jacket. On the top sheet was a list for the feed store in small, blocky printing. Why she would notice now, she had no idea.
“Here.” He set the pad in front of her, then reached inside his jacket. The next instant a ballpoint pen lay atop the notepad.
He had everything at the tips of his fingers. How convenient, she silently groused.
Pulling her phone from her purse, she stared at it, her nerves deserting her at an astounding rate. Eyes closed, she willed them back.
“I’ll dial for you.”
“What?” Her eyes snapped open.
“Hoyt’s number. I’ll dial it for you.”
She passed him the phone, grateful he wouldn’t see the tremors in her fingers making dialing impossible.
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