Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) by Kimberly Krey Page B
Authors: Kimberly Krey
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Cassie’s eyes were soft and guarded as she glanced up at him. Shane gulped as she looked over his face before meeting his gaze. “You’re right,” she said softly.
He opened the entrance for her, and there she went, racing ahead of him and into the store. Dessert from the gas station. This should be good.
She stopped at a glass box, eyeing what lay inside. “Doughnuts,” she said.
Shane tipped his head back. “Ah – doughnuts.”
“And hot chocolate.” Cassie spun around and darted to the coffee counter, picking up a container resting there. “With marshmallows.” She was showing off that perfect smile again.
The small lumps in the jar she held didn’t look a thing like marshmallows, but he nodded his head just the same. “Looks… tasty.”
She giggled as she set to work, mixing the hot drinks. She threw in a few small cups of cream he was sure were meant for coffee, but kept quiet, only watched the girl in what seemed to be her element. A home away from home.
“You are going to love this,” she assured, sipping at one of the drinks. “I have to check yours too, but I’ll use a spoon so I don’t gross you out.” She grabbed a plastic spoon before he could tell her not to bother. He imagined placing his lips against the spot where hers had rested – had she drank right from his cup – and scolded himself for being so desperate. What had this woman done to him?
Shane carried the hot cups as Cassie filled a flimsy box with doughnuts. There was no denying they smelled delicious. He eyed her figure once more, wondering how she managed to stay so thin on a diet such as this.
“You exercise a lot?” He hadn’t exactly meant to say it aloud; it was more of an inward thought that somehow slipped through his lips.
Cassie shrugged indifferently. “When I feel like it. Usually I run on the weekends. Hit the gym every once in a while. I’m not a die hard.”
He blew out a relieved breath, glad she hadn’t taken offence to the off-handed question. While she paid for dessert – as she’d called it – Shane gritted his teeth, hating to see a lady pull out her wallet while a man was present. In his family, it just wasn’t done. ‘Course Cassie wasn’t his wife, and probably never would be. Fact, she was nearly a stranger to him. Still, she was a woman in need. One who’d been ripped away from her home and placed in his protection. He’d be the one to see her needs were met whether she liked it or not.
“Ready?” Her smile was wide as she spun around, carting the box of fresh goods. He was amazed by her high spirits. And warmed by them too. Shane had planned to stay angry for the duration of her stay, but Cassie had already made that impossible.
Being away from the ranch always had him chomping at the bit, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t enjoying himself at the moment. Let the men rope in the restless cattle, mend the broken stretch of fence at the west pasture. For now, he’d enjoy his evening with his new little ranch bride, and wonder what it’d be like if it was more than just an act.
CHAPTER TEN
Cassie covered a yawn as she stretched, surprised to see it was nearly ten o’clock. “We are going to be hating it tomorrow.” She watched as Shane sunk back into the couch, eyeing the array of take-out boxes and bags sprawled over the coffee table.
“From all this food?” he asked.
“No, from lack of sleep.” She laughed. “We didn’t eat too much.”
He gave her a sideways glance before leaning on one elbow to face her. “Well, I did.”
“But you still have this.” She reached for his cup, frowning when there was no hint of warmth beneath her palm, and handed it to him. “Your cold chocolate.”
“It’s cold now?” His dark brows raised.
“Yep,” she said, grabbing her own cup and lifting it to his. “Cheers.”
He nudged the foam cup against hers and brought it to his lips. After a few gulps he nodded. “Still good.”
“Mmm. You’re right.” The
Cassie’s eyes were soft and guarded as she glanced up at him. Shane gulped as she looked over his face before meeting his gaze. “You’re right,” she said softly.
He opened the entrance for her, and there she went, racing ahead of him and into the store. Dessert from the gas station. This should be good.
She stopped at a glass box, eyeing what lay inside. “Doughnuts,” she said.
Shane tipped his head back. “Ah – doughnuts.”
“And hot chocolate.” Cassie spun around and darted to the coffee counter, picking up a container resting there. “With marshmallows.” She was showing off that perfect smile again.
The small lumps in the jar she held didn’t look a thing like marshmallows, but he nodded his head just the same. “Looks… tasty.”
She giggled as she set to work, mixing the hot drinks. She threw in a few small cups of cream he was sure were meant for coffee, but kept quiet, only watched the girl in what seemed to be her element. A home away from home.
“You are going to love this,” she assured, sipping at one of the drinks. “I have to check yours too, but I’ll use a spoon so I don’t gross you out.” She grabbed a plastic spoon before he could tell her not to bother. He imagined placing his lips against the spot where hers had rested – had she drank right from his cup – and scolded himself for being so desperate. What had this woman done to him?
Shane carried the hot cups as Cassie filled a flimsy box with doughnuts. There was no denying they smelled delicious. He eyed her figure once more, wondering how she managed to stay so thin on a diet such as this.
“You exercise a lot?” He hadn’t exactly meant to say it aloud; it was more of an inward thought that somehow slipped through his lips.
Cassie shrugged indifferently. “When I feel like it. Usually I run on the weekends. Hit the gym every once in a while. I’m not a die hard.”
He blew out a relieved breath, glad she hadn’t taken offence to the off-handed question. While she paid for dessert – as she’d called it – Shane gritted his teeth, hating to see a lady pull out her wallet while a man was present. In his family, it just wasn’t done. ‘Course Cassie wasn’t his wife, and probably never would be. Fact, she was nearly a stranger to him. Still, she was a woman in need. One who’d been ripped away from her home and placed in his protection. He’d be the one to see her needs were met whether she liked it or not.
“Ready?” Her smile was wide as she spun around, carting the box of fresh goods. He was amazed by her high spirits. And warmed by them too. Shane had planned to stay angry for the duration of her stay, but Cassie had already made that impossible.
Being away from the ranch always had him chomping at the bit, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t enjoying himself at the moment. Let the men rope in the restless cattle, mend the broken stretch of fence at the west pasture. For now, he’d enjoy his evening with his new little ranch bride, and wonder what it’d be like if it was more than just an act.
CHAPTER TEN
Cassie covered a yawn as she stretched, surprised to see it was nearly ten o’clock. “We are going to be hating it tomorrow.” She watched as Shane sunk back into the couch, eyeing the array of take-out boxes and bags sprawled over the coffee table.
“From all this food?” he asked.
“No, from lack of sleep.” She laughed. “We didn’t eat too much.”
He gave her a sideways glance before leaning on one elbow to face her. “Well, I did.”
“But you still have this.” She reached for his cup, frowning when there was no hint of warmth beneath her palm, and handed it to him. “Your cold chocolate.”
“It’s cold now?” His dark brows raised.
“Yep,” she said, grabbing her own cup and lifting it to his. “Cheers.”
He nudged the foam cup against hers and brought it to his lips. After a few gulps he nodded. “Still good.”
“Mmm. You’re right.” The
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