Shane (Remington Ranch Book 2) (15 page)

Ouch! “That’s not fair. You haven’t even tried.” She was mad. He knew he shouldn’t, but it made him smile.

“So what are you saying, that you couldn’t resist and fell prey while I wasn’t around to protect you?”

There was an edge to her voice that said she really didn’t like that idea. “Hell no! I’m saying I had to fend ’em off all by myself.” He slid his arm around her shoulders again. “And I like it much better when you do it for me.”

She relaxed as she smiled up at him, and this time didn’t shrug him off. “Okay then. If you really managed not to succumb, then I suppose I can keep my word and protect you for a couple of weeks.”

“Only a couple of weeks?” he raised an eyebrow.

“That was the deal, don’t push it.”

He grinned. “Okay, but I’m going to ask for an extension when the time’s up.”

She smiled and shook her head. “You’re exhausting, do you know this?”

He pulled her to him and dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’d like to think I will be—tomorrow night.”

She pressed herself to him as he closed his arms around her. It seemed as though she really had missed him too as she rubbed her hips against his, making him hard. “We’ll have to see about that, won’t we?” She gave him an evil grin as she pulled away from him and headed for the door. “For now, I think we’d better go join those two.”

He groaned. “You’re going to drag me out there before I’ve had chance to calm down?” He looked down at the bulge in his pants. He got no sympathy from Cassidy though.

“You started it; you’ll have to deal with the consequences.” She picked up the tray and pushed through the door to the deck. “Lemonade’s ready guys,” she called.

Shane shoved his hands in his pockets as he followed her out. He needed to remember that she was as good at this as he was—if not better!

Chapter Fifteen

Cassidy looked around. The others should be arriving soon. She was looking forward to this evening. This would be the first time that she’d entertained in this house, and it was perfect for it. She’d thought about cooking. She used to have a lot of dinner parties when she lived in San Francisco, and she loved to cook, but it hadn’t felt right tonight. Instead she’d had the little catering company up in town prepare everything, and all she had to do was warm it. She knew that with everyone’s unpredictable work schedules she’d do much better to wait until they all arrived before she threw it all in the oven.

She went back up to the bedroom and smiled. She was looking forward to bringing Shane back here later. If she was honest, that was what she was most excited about. If he hadn’t come over with Carter yesterday, she would have called him to invite him this evening. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her head, and Summer’s assessment that maybe she was holding back—because she was scared he might be someone important—had rung true. If there was even a possibility it was true, she needed to find out either way. And the only way to do that was to jump in with both feet. She couldn’t help thinking that maybe she was just in lust with him and she was twisting things around so she could sleep with him again. She shook her head as she straightened the pillows. Who was she kidding? She liked him too much; that was the problem. If it was just lust she wouldn’t have a problem at all!

The sound of the buzzer had her scurrying back to the hallway to check the monitor. She was hoping that he’d be the first to arrive. She was a little disappointed to see Mason’s truck making its way up the drive. She needed to get a grip. She shouldn’t be disappointed to see them! She really liked Gina and Mason. She went out onto the front porch to greet them.

“Are we early?” asked Mason looking around.

“Not at all, but you are the first, come on in.”

Gina grinned and held out two bottles of wine.

Cassidy took them with a grin as they took their coats off. “Are we planning on drinking a lot?”

Gina laughed. “No, this is that Malbec I was telling you about. One bottle is for tonight, the other is for your cellar so that you’ve got it on hand for our girls’ night. I’m still waiting, you know, and getting less patient all the time.

“Ah. Yeah. We need to make that happen.”

Mason nodded. “You do. Only can you include me in the scheduling?” He put an arm around Gina. “I don’t want this one driving home after a night of wine and girl talk. I’ll be chauffeur.”

Gina huffed. “I can easily stay here if I have too many.”

“And I can come get you. Just as easy.”

Cassidy laughed. Those two were still trying to figure out the balance of being a couple. Mason was definitely a Montana man in the way he wanted to look after his woman, and Gina was a little on the stubborn side to say the least. Cassidy looked at Mason. “Maybe you should organize a guys’ night out, then everyone can fend for themselves.”

He grinned. “Now that’s a good idea. How soon are we talking? I need to catch up with Chance and my brothers.”

Gina huffed. “See, he’s all over-protective toward me, until he’s got something better to do.”

He shrugged. “I have to respect your independence, right?”

She laughed. “You do, but I’d rather it wasn’t only when it suits you.”

Cassidy listened to them as she hung their coats. They were finding their way. They were both strong, smart, and stubborn. Mason wasn’t exactly a pushover, yet they were happy together. His ego wasn’t threatened by Gina’s stubborn independence. Maybe it was a Remington thing? Maybe Shane
was
just as comfortable in his own skin as he seemed to be? She closed the closet and smiled at them. And maybe she was just getting carried away, wondering if she and Shane could be like Gina and Mason—that was just plain ridiculous!

“Looks like they’re all arriving at once.” Mason jerked his head toward the driveway where three sets of headlights were approaching. He caught Cassidy’s eye. “Do you have any idea what Carter was like about picking Summer up?”

“Do you have any idea what
she
was like about it?”

Gina laughed. “They are just so cute together. It’s obvious they really like each other, but they’re both doing this ‘we’re just friends’ thing.”

Cassidy nodded. “They are cute, but I’m starting to get a bit worried. Summer is totally smitten, but she doesn’t think they should do anything about it.” She looked at Mason. “I told her about Carter’s ex-wife. I thought she should know how badly he’s been hurt.” She didn’t add that Summer was such a sweetie that she’d cried for Carter, she was so sad for him. “She says he’s just such a nice guy that she wants to spend time with him as a friend. I’m guessing she’d like a lot more than that, but she doesn’t want to risk him getting hurt when she has to leave.”

Mason nodded. “I went up to see him this morning. He’s like a dog with two…”

“Tails!” Gina finished for him.

Mason grinned, “Yeah. Two
tails
. Right. Let’s just say he’s got his head in the clouds. But he says he’s just going to make the most of her friendship for the short time she’s here.”

Cassidy hoped that neither of them would end up getting hurt. But at the end of the day, they were both their own people and would handle it however they saw fit. She wasn’t one to say what anyone should do. And certainly not in this situation. Especially not when she herself had been swinging like a crazy pendulum over what she should do about Shane. As she watched him climb out of his truck she was very glad that she’d finally decided to go for it. He was gorgeous, and he was giving her that cocky smile of his that infuriated her, and at the same time made her want to send the others home and drag him into her bedroom. She was surprised to see Chance get out the passenger side of Shane’s truck. She had invited him, but hadn’t thought he would show. She was so bad—her mind immediately went to how he would get home! She hadn’t thought Shane would be driving back.

The next truck pulled up and Beau got out. He’d asked if he could bring a date. Cassidy had been uncomfortable with it. She’d checked with Summer before she’d said yes, and of course Summer had said it would be fine. She wouldn’t put anyone else out for her own sake—no matter what. She watched as Beau walked around to open the passenger door and a pretty girl with short dark hair got out.

Mason groaned. “What the hell did he bring
her
for?”

Cassidy shot him an inquiring look. He shook his head.

“Mase thinks Angie is trouble,” said Gina. “I think she’s okay.”

Mason shook his head. “That’s because you like to see the best in people. She’s trouble I tell you.” He looked at Cassidy. “You might want to warn your friend to watch what she says around that one. I don’t trust her.”

“Oh, Mase,” said Gina. “Don’t be mean.”

“Just trying to be practical.”

Cassidy nodded. “Thank you.” She trusted his judgment.

Soon they were all inside and had a drink in their hand. Cassidy noticed that Angie kept trying to corner Summer. She had to smile at the way Carter never left her side. He was like a bodyguard. He could be one, too, with his build and protective instincts.

She spun around at the feel of Shane’s hand on her shoulder. “Can we send them all home now and get the party started?”

She laughed. “No. We have to wait. Enjoy the anticipation.”

His eyes shone as he smiled back. “I like anticipation when you’re the reward for waiting.” There went those goose bumps again as he placed a hand in the small of her back and pulled her a little closer. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I like fucking you better though!”

Damn him! She tried to move away, but he slid his hand down over her ass. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to.”

She met his gaze. “I told you, I’m not a liar. I’m not moving away from you because I don’t want to. You’ve got me all hot and wet and needy. I’m moving away because what I really want to do right now is unbuckle you, close my fingers around you, and then bend my naked ass over this counter in front of you.” She loved the way his eyes glazed over at her words. She looked around to check no one was watching, then covered the hand that he still had on her ass with her own. She moved it around. “See, I took a leaf out of your book. I’m commando under here. Figured it would help with ease of access. And if you keep talking about fucking me, we may have to make our excuses for a minute and go upstairs so you can.”

His hand grasped her ass hard. “You think you can call my bluff? Let’s go.”

She
had
been hoping to call his bluff, but now she was tempted to go. “And leave my guests and your family standing around here waiting for dinner?”

He grinned. “They know what I’m like.”

Hmm. Cassidy didn’t want them to think that was what she was like. And she certainly didn’t want them thinking she was just another of Shane’s conquests. “I think I’ll stick with anticipation.”

He nodded. “We can make up for it later.”

She smiled. “We can. Now, do you want to make yourself useful in the meantime?”

He grinned and pressed her against the island, grinding his hips against hers. “Sure. Is this useful enough?” She couldn’t help it. Her eyelids drooped and she let out a low, deep breath as her hands came up to his shoulders. He grasped her waist and pressed into her.

Her eyes flew open and she pushed him off. “Okay, you can take the win on that one. I want you. I can’t wait for them all to leave, so you can make good on what you just promised, but for now, that wasn’t the kind of useful I had in mind.”

He smiled. “Okay. I’ll behave. What do you want me to do?”

She showed him around the kitchen. “I’m going to pull everything out soon. Can you help me serve?”

He nodded. “I’d be glad to.”

~ ~ ~

When he finally took his seat, it took a moment for Shane to realize that she’d sat him at the head of the table. He smiled to himself and looked up in time to catch Mason watching him. His brother gave him the slightest of nods. It seemed that he’d noticed, too. He’d watched as Shane had helped Cassidy get everyone served. It was weird. He’d felt as though they were a real couple and they were hosting their friends and family—and he’d loved it! Him! Shane! The guy who ran a mile if a chick suggested so much as a night out with a group of friends. Yet here he was, playing the man of the house and loving the idea of it. What the hell was she doing to him? And why didn’t he mind?

Beau looked down the table at him. “Have you decided what you’re doing about the cabins yet?”

Why did he want to talk about that right now? He shrugged. “Yeah. I talked to Dad last week. I’m going to build.”

Beau nodded and looked from him to Chance. “And whose land will that be on?”

Oh shit. Why was he going there? That was family business, something to be talked about at home, not aired in front of other people like this. He smiled. Hoping to change the subject. “On Dad’s land, of course.” He knew damn well what Beau meant, but he didn’t want to get into it tonight.

Beau scowled.

Shane was surprised that it was Summer who stepped in to avert the awkward moment. She was sitting between Beau and Carter. She turned to touch Beau’s sleeve. “Speaking of what land belongs to whom, I’ve been wanting to ask you. Do you own the place I’m renting, or do you manage it for someone?”

Shane did his best not to chuckle. Beau was evidently spoiling for a fight, but he was too polite to ignore Summer. He shot Shane another scowl and then turned to her. “I own it. Most of the properties I rent are managed, but I own several and that’s one of them.”

Summer had such a sweet smile. Shane wanted to ask Cassidy where she was from. She had a southern twang, but not a very pronounced one. He had a feeling she was one of those southern belles though. Softness and sweetness on the outside with a will of steel underneath. He was taking a liking to her, and it surprised him to realize that he liked her as person, not as a female to pursue, but just as a fellow human being.

“Why, are you interested in buying it?” asked Angie.

Shane did not like that girl. She was one of Katie’s cronies. He’d hung out with them often enough to know the way they gossiped, how bitchy they were. He didn’t want her getting her claws into Summer.

He had to laugh at the reactions around the table.

In the same moment,  he looked at Angie and said, “Don’t be so nosey.”

Cassidy stood and asked, “So who wants dessert?”

Mason looked at Angie and asked. “How about you, do you want to tell us what you’re planning to buy?”

And Carter glared at her and said. “That’s none of your business.”

After a few moments of stunned silence, Summer started to laugh. Everyone joined her and the tension was gone.

Angie looked around the table. “Sorry. That was really rude of me, wasn’t it?”

Cassidy nodded. “I’m afraid so. But you didn’t deserve that response. I’m just on edge trying to take care of my friend here.” She smiled around at the brothers. “And it seems I have quite a lot of backup in protecting her.”

Mason and Carter grinned at her. Then she met Shane’s eye. He tried to convey to her without words that it was
her
he was most concerned with. She gave him a grateful smile. He hoped she understood.