Cupcakes and Cowboys (Sunset Plains Romance Book 1) by Lindzee Armstrong

front room to find him smiling. But she didn’t see or hear from Jase all day.
    It was better that way, though. She didn’t need to lose her heart to another actor.
    When she arrived home, it was after eight o’clock, the sky brilliant with the oranges and pinks of a sunset. Cassidy got out of the car and headed toward the pasture, longing for the quiet and calm only Cupcake could provide. The horse heard her coming and lumbered over to the fence, nickering when Cassidy patted her nose.
    Cassidy reached into her pocket and pulled out a few sugar cubes, smiling at the tickle of lips against her palm. Cupcake kept her going in the months after Drew left. She’d been the one being in Cassidy’s life who gave her unconditional love and didn’t ask questions. “Hey, girl. I’ve missed you.”
    Cupcake whinnied, nudging Cassidy’s shoulder with her nose in a friendly hello.
    “How did the baking go today?”
    Cassidy jumped, whirling toward the voice, a hand to her chest. Cupcake let out a snort of concern. “You scared me.”
    “Sorry.” Jase emerged from the shadows of the barn. “I saw you come home and wanted to see how today went.”
    Cassidy patted Cupcake’s nose, calming the horse. “It went well, thank you. What did you do today?”
    “More fence repairs. Mason said tomorrow we’ll be riding the range.”
    “That’s always fun. There’s nothing like it.”
    Jase adjusted his hat, tipping it back on his forehead. “I’m a little nervous. I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
    “Never?”
    He shoved his hands in his pockets, and though the increasing darkness shadowed his face, she saw a hint of a blush creep up it. “I never had a reason to ride. I haven’t needed to for a role until now, and it’s not like there are a lot of horses in L.A.”
    Cassidy shook her head. He’d never ridden, and tomorrow he’d spend a full day on the range. She headed toward the barn. “C’mon. I can’t believe Mason’s going to let you go out on the range without at least the basics. I’ll teach you.”
    “Really?”
    She heard the eagerness in his voice as he followed her inside. Cassidy whistled for Cupcake, then grabbed a brush. “I don’t want you embarrassing cowboys everywhere in that movie. So you’ll have to learn how to saddle a horse.”
    “I’m sure Mason would’ve taught me a thing or two tomorrow.”
    Cupcake entered the barn and came to a halt beside Cassidy. She handed Jase the brush. “Step one is brushing her down to make sure there’s nothing on her back that’ll be irritated by the saddle. Long, even strokes. No, not like that.” She placed her hand on top of his, and heat shot through her. She felt his gaze on her, but steadfastly avoided it and focused on their hands. “Like this.” She guided his brush along the horse, but soon he took control. She gulped, pulling her hand away. “I think that’s good.”
    “Cupcake seems like a calm horse.”
    Cassidy smiled, giving the horse an affectionate pat. “I’ve had her since she was a filly. She was calm, even then. One of the easiest horses we’ve ever broke.” She grabbed the saddle pad and handed it to Jase. “Put the pad on at her shoulder, then slide it backward into place. We don’t want Cupcake’s hairs to get pinched. Then put on the saddle. Make sure you hook the stirrups onto the horn so they don’t hit her.”
    Jase nodded. Cassidy adjusted the pad, then Jase easily slid the saddle into place. She swallowed as his muscles flexed, bulging the arms of his shirt. Her mind replayed the movie trailers she’d seen of him without his shirt on and she looked away, blushing.
    “Like this?” Jase asked.
    “Yes. You’re a natural.” Cassidy bent down, showing him how to tighten the cinch. When she turned around, he stood startlingly close. She let out a shaky breath. Cupcake’s warm body pressed against her back, and Jase’s warm eyes stared down into hers.
    It’s not real, she told herself. He’s an actor,