Shane (Remington Ranch Book 2) (18 page)

“Oh, don’t worry. They love you. They think we’re great together. They were disappointed that…” He hesitated. He’d been all gung ho to tease her and tell her about it a minute ago. Now he wasn’t so sure he wanted to. What if she dismissed it as completely ridiculous?

“That what?”

He had to tell her; she looked so concerned. “They’re disappointed that we’re moving in together before we get married.”

He’d never seen her speechless before. It made him smile. She sputtered for a moment before she could find any words.
“Married?”
was the only word she could muster. She was stunned, but she wasn’t shooting the idea down as total lunacy.

He nodded. “So what to do you say? Do you think we should up the stakes even more and just go ahead and tie the knot?”

She searched his face, trying to figure out if he was serious.

He wanted to think that she might be giving it some consideration, but as the silence lengthened his confidence wavered. It really was ridiculous. He winked to let her off the hook. “I had you going for a minute there, huh?”

She blew out a big sigh. “You certainly did.”

He brushed her hair away from her cheek and looked into her eyes. “It’d be way too soon right?”

She met his gaze, her honey-colored eyes soft and searching. “Yeah. Too soon.”

Wow! There was hope then?

“Come on. I cleared out a closet for you. You can unpack your things while I fix dinner.”

Up in the huge master bedroom, Shane looked around. For the first time he realized how real this was. Whenever he’d been in her bedroom before, all he’d noticed was Cassidy. She was so beautiful. And he usually had just one thing on his mind. Now he looked around. It was quite a room, with big picture windows and a fireplace in the corner. She said she’d cleared him out a closet. It was a huge walk-in deal that was as big as his bedroom back at the cabin. Even when he’d hung everything he’d brought, two rails remained empty.

He wandered through to the bathroom and unpacked his washbag. The double vanity ran the length of the room. Cassidy’s makeup and girl stuff strewn around one sink clearly told him which one was his. He stood back and looked at his toothbrush standing solitary guard by the faucet. He smiled. That was just the difference between men and women.

When he was done in the bathroom he looked around. He’d get used to it. He noticed that he’d left the toilet seat up so he went back. When he turned, she was standing in the doorway watching him.

He gave her a sheepish grin, for some reason he felt embarrassed to be caught in the act of putting the seat back down for her. “You’re not one of those kinky types who likes to watch bathroom stuff are you?”

“Eww! I am not,” she said with a laugh. “She jerked her chin toward the toilet. “And I’m not a hypocrite either.”

He didn’t know what she meant by that.

“I’ve never understood why women make such a fuss about the seat. Why are you supposed to leave it down for us, but we’re not supposed to leave it up for you?”

Shane laughed. “I’ve never questioned it before. It’s just one of those things you learn. It’s like saying please and thank you. It becomes engrained as a habit, you know you have to do it, even before you wonder as to the why.”

“Well, just so you know. If you leave it up it’s not a problem.”

“Thanks. And I in the spirit of equality, if you leave it down that’s not a problem either.”

She smiled. “Glad we’ve got that straight then. Are you ready to eat?”

He nodded. “Umm.” He looked at the toilet and then at her. “I think I’ll just wash my hands first.”

After they’d eaten, they sat out on the deck above the river. Shane toasted marshmallows in the little tabletop fire pit and handed her one. “You’ve got the perfect spot here you know.”

“I do know. I love it,” she said as she squished the warm marshmallow between her fingers. He watched her with a smile on his face.

“What?” she asked as she popped it into her mouth.

“Nothing, you’re just so cute.”

She rolled her eyes. “I am many things, Shane, but cute is not one of them.”

“You are to me.” He held her gaze. “I want to make this work, Cassidy.”

Her expression turned serious for a moment. “It scares the shit out of me, but so do I. Can we make a pact though, here and now, that if we don’t, if we can’t for whatever reason, we’ll part as friends?”

He shook his head. “I don’t want us to part at all.” He realized what he meant as he said it.

Cassidy didn’t seem to though. She just stuck to her point. “I know, but if we do. Please?”

He nodded. “I promise. If we do, we’ll stay friends.” The thought of going back to being her friend made his stomach churn. He didn’t want that. But the enormity of what he did want from her was only just dawning on him.

Chapter Eighteen

Cassidy closed up the cash register with a grin. She hadn’t had much foot traffic come through the gallery in the winter. She was pleasantly surprised by how many tourists were coming in almost every day now. She was glad that she’d taken the risk and had cards and smaller prints made up from her and Gina’s Montana line. They were selling well. It wasn’t as though they’d add to the bottom line in a big way, but they were samples of their work that were making their way out into the world. She had it in the back of her mind that at some point she and Gina might make a deal with Home Décor—the company who had bought up to the rights to much of the work she’d done in Florida. That deal had taken her from modestly successful, to…well… loaded was the word for it. She had boatloads of money, more than she knew what to do with, more than she even wanted. It had never been a primary motivator for her. However, feeling successful was a big motivator, and she wanted to know that she could repeat the success. Plus, she wanted to share it with Gina. Gina was far from loaded right now, and Cassidy was determined to help her change that situation.

She looked up at the sound of the door. Shane stood there. Damn he was gorgeous. He filled the doorway. His hat almost touching the frame above his head, his broad shoulders blocking the daylight behind him. His eyes shone, and that infuriating smile of his seemed a lot less infuriating today.

“Hey, beautiful. Do you want to come have lunch with me?”

She laughed. “We had breakfast together, we’re going to have dinner together. You want to have lunch, too? Aren’t you worried we’ll get sick of each other?”

He shook his head and came inside. He made his way around the counter and planted a kiss on her lips. “You would think that’d be the case, wouldn’t you? But it’s not. You’re like some addiction. The more time I spend with you, the more I want.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. “Aww, listen to you. I would never have guessed you could be such a sweet talker.”

He gave her a hurt look. “It’s not just talk. It’s true. I would never have guessed I’d be like this either, but I can’t help it. When I’m not around you, I miss you.”

She smiled. She felt the same way. Instead of teasing him, she wanted to let him know. “I miss you, too. I don’t know what you’re doing to me, but, whatever it is, it’s working.” She nestled against his chest, loving the feel of him. She hated to admit it, but snuggled into him like that, she did feel all small and sweet. She smiled up at him. “So take me out to lunch, take me to bed, do whatever you want with me.”

He grinned. “I like the sounds of that, but we don’t have long enough to do what I want. We’ll have to save it until tonight. We’ll have to make do with lunch for now.”

As they joined the line in the coffee shop, Shane grinned at her. “No chocolate mousse for me today?”

She laughed. “I thought I was the sweet something you crave?”

He cupped the back of her neck with his hand. “You are sweet, but also strong and smart. That’s what has me addicted to you. I don’t know why you ever thought I’d feel threatened by that.”

She looked up at him. “You really mean that don’t you?”

He nodded. “I do. And I think most men would feel the same way.”

She had to laugh. “You couldn’t be more wrong about that. You’re just strange.”

He pouted at her. “Here I am telling you that you’re special and different and you tell me I’m just strange.”

“And much as you put it on, it doesn’t bother you at all, does it?”

“Not one bit. I know you love me really.”

She stopped breathing as she looked up at him. “That’s a strong word.”

He grinned at her, but didn’t reply as they reached the head of the line and he ordered their sandwiches.”

Cassidy watched him as he ordered.
Did
she love him? Would she have asked him to move in with her if she didn’t at least think it was a possibility?

They found a corner table and started to eat in silence. Cassidy thought it best to stay away from the L-word for now. She needed time to think about it.

Shane grinned at her as he picked at his chips. It seemed he wasn’t ready to leave it alone. “What’s up? Did I scare you?”

“Don’t start down that road. That one’s a bit too important to get into a war over.”

“A war?”

“Yes, a bragging war. You’re braver than me, so you’ll tell me first.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want me to tell you?”

Her heart hammered in her chest. Was he about to say he loved her? “Do you want to tell me?”

He shrugged. “Not if you’re not ready to hear it. Not if you think it’s just some game.” He held her gaze for a long moment, then winked. “It isn’t.” He took a big bite of his sandwich.

Cassidy just stared at him. She didn’t know what to say. Love was such a big word. It was an even bigger commitment. Moving in with each other was one thing. Loving each other was a whole different proposition. But now she thought about it….She looked up as someone approached their table. Oh no, it was the girl who kept following Shane around. What was her name? Katie.

She stood next to the table and smiled at them. It was a tight, false smile. “How’ve you been, Shane? I’ve missed you.”

He looked up at her. “I’m good. Thanks, Katie. I hope you are too, but right now I’m having lunch with my girlfriend.” He shot Cassidy an apologetic look.

Katie looked at her; there wasn’t even the pretense of a smile on her face anymore. “I thought you said you weren’t interested in him?”

“I wasn’t at the time.” She smiled at Shane as he gave her a hurt look.

Katie scowled at her. “It won’t last you know. You don’t know him like I do. He fucks around, you’re just the latest challenge. The novelty will wear off soon enough and he’ll come back to me, he always does.”

Cassidy took a deep breath. She did not want to lose it. Katie wasn’t worth it, but her words grated. “Well, I guess I’ll just enjoy it while it lasts then.” She smiled sweetly. “If you’ll excuse us, we’re eating lunch. Don’t worry, I’ll send him on back to you when I’m done with him.”

Katie glared at her, then at Shane. Then she turned on her heel and stalked out.

Shane looked at her. “You’ll send me back when you’re done with me, huh?”

“Well, it sounds as though you regularly find your way back into her bed.”

He shrugged. “I used to for a while. As you’ve seen, she doesn’t like to take no for an answer.”

Cassidy let out a short laugh. “And poor little Shane is ever so obliging.”

His smile faded. “Don’t, Cassidy. I’m sorry, okay? She’s persistent, but I just want her to leave us alone. I don’t want you sending me away anywhere, and if you do, I sure as hell won’t be going to her bed.”

Cassidy felt bad, she’d snapped at him because she was jealous! That wasn’t his fault. “I’m sorry. It just caught me off guard.” She decided she may as well say it, since Katie’s little appearance had made it very clear for her. “I was just building up to telling you that I love you, so I’m a bit pissed that she spoiled the moment, that’s all.

~ ~ ~

Shane felt his jaw drop, but was powerless to stop it. He stared at her open mouthed for a moment before he could gather his wits. Part of him wanted to come back at her with something witty. All he could do though was reach across the table and take her hand. “I love you, Cassidy.”

For a moment the world around them disappeared. All he knew was this beautiful woman was squeezing his hand, smiling at him, looking happier than he would have believed his words could make her.

“How about that? All our games, all our teasing, who would have thought they would have brought us to this?”

“Not me. At least not before. Now though, now I feel as though they were all just a testing ground.”

“Testing for what?”

“To see if we were strong enough to handle each other. I didn’t believe you were.” She smiled. “I didn’t believe I was.”

That puzzled him. “Didn’t believe you were strong enough for what? What’s so hard to handle about me?”

She laughed. “You’re full on, Shane. You’re full of yourself, you’re full of your own appeal. I didn’t think I was strong enough to admit that I’ve fallen for you, hook, line, and sinker. But I have. Now all I can do is hope that we stay strong enough.”

“We will.” As he said it, he knew it. “We can handle each other’s bullshit, but more than that we’re learning to talk to each other, too. Do you know how many times these last few days, I’ve gone for straight up honest instead of going for the win?”

“I think I have some idea. I’ve done the same thing myself.”

“I thought so. And the more you do it, the more I feel safe to do it.”

She nodded, “And slowly we’re making each other feel safe.”

“I wouldn’t say there’s anything slow about it.”

She laughed. “I suppose there isn’t, is there? But I don’t think that’s a problem when you’re as strong and smart as we are, you just get on with it. We don’t need to be bound by what other people accept as normal—in time frames or anything else.”

Shane liked the sound of that. “We don’t, and don’t you forget it.”

She gave him a puzzled look, but he wasn’t ready to explain yet. He just hoped she meant it because the beginnings of a plan were forming in his head, and if he was going to pull it off, he needed her to mean what she’d just said.

“Okay. But I am bound by a time frame right now. I need to get back to the gallery.”

He smiled. “And I should be getting back down to the ranch. I’ve hardly been there lately.”

“Is it causing problems for you? Spending so much time with me, not being right there?”

He shook his head. “No. I just need to get better organized. I’ll figure out a new routine, now that I’m living in the lap of luxury up the road instead of in the shack on site.”

They left the coffee shop and started making their way back to the gallery. He took her hand as they walked and she smiled up at him. He’d never got why people held hands before, it’d always seemed strange to him. Now he understood. He squeezed her hand.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” he replied.

“What you said about living in lap of luxury instead of your shack. Does it bother you?”

“Not at all. I love it. I love your place. I love that my woman is smart enough to be financially successful.” A thought struck him. “Why, does it bother you that I’m just a ranch boy?”

“Not for me, no. My only problem would be if it was a threat to your ego.”

He laughed. “I keep telling you, my ego is robust enough to handle whatever you throw at me.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You know what I mean though.”

He did. “I know where you’re coming from, but you’re not taking into account that it’s me you’re dealing with. Not some big macho man. For starters, you being smart and strong feeds my ego, it doesn’t threaten me at all. And as for your house and your money, it doesn’t make me feel any
less
of a man. I like nice houses, the nice things money can buy, but they’re not a priority for me. And just in case you’re curious—if they were, I could have them. The guest ranch does very well. Success is important to me. Making a go of anything I set my mind to, that’s important. But the money is just a side effect. I make plenty. I just haven’t had anything I want to spend it on.”

Her smile told him he’d definitely said the right thing, he just didn’t know what it was. “Are you relieved I’m not after you for your money?” he asked, only half joking.

She slapped his arm. “No! And you know it. I’m just happy that money isn’t a big motivator for you any more than it is for me. And if I’m honest, I suppose I’m a little relieved that you and the guest ranch are successful in your own right.” She gave him a sassy smile. “Success is a turn on in a way that money never could be.”

He laughed. “I won’t argue with that.” They arrived back at the gallery. “Well, this is where I leave you.”

“Okay. Have a good afternoon. Any idea what time you’ll be home?”

He shook his head at her. “There she goes nagging already, and we’ve not even been together a week. I’ll be home when I’m ready woman and not a minute before.”

She laughed and put her hands on hips. “Then your dinner will be in the dog and your woman will be out looking for a new man.”

He pulled her to him. “There are so many things wrong with what you just said.”

She laughed. “I know. I hope we don’t ever get to that point.”

“We won’t; we don’t have a dog.” He winked at her, “But even more important than that, the man you’ve got is going to keep you so happy and so busy loving him, that you won’t ever want to go looking for another one.”

She looked up into his eyes. “Ever?”

He shook his head determinedly. “Never. Because I’ll always come home just as soon as I can. Wherever you are is where I want to be.” He smiled. “And you are what I want to do.”

She laughed. “I want to do you, too. So I’ll see you at home as soon as we can get there.” She reached up to kiss his lips.

“See you later, Princess.”