Page 30 of Dust Storm

“You’re not me,” Christian said as he rounded the truck and opened my door. “Let’s go. We’re late.”

7

CHRISTIAN

Cassandra looked so fucking pissed. It was cute.

She threw that oversized bag into the floorboard and grappled at the seat as she stepped up onto the running board.

The bottom of her high heel slid off the edge. I caught her hips as she teetered backward.

“Those are the shoes you’re gonna wear all day?” I asked as I gently pushed her into the cab.

Her eyes dropped to her feet, then lifted back to me. “I wear these every day. I’ll be fine.”

Sadie hopped into the bed of the truck to hitch a ride. I slid behind the wheel and pulled away from the house.

“I need to go into town,” Cassandra said without hesitation as she reached into the depths of her bag and pulled out a sleek, leather notebook. Lists upon lists filled the pages.

“Not on the schedule for today.”

She arched an eyebrow. “I wasn’t asking for your permission.”

“Fine then,” I said as I pulled up in front of the warehouse office. “Hope you like walking in those heels. I’ll see you in a couple days.”

I hopped out, popped her door open, and left her to stew. If she wanted to sit there and pout, she could sit there and pout.

If she wanted to attempt grand theft auto and take my truck, she could try. But Cassandra didn’t strike me as the type who knew how to drive stick shift. She’d stall out before she got to the property gate.

I had just flipped the lights on when she came storming in. “What is your deal, Griffith?”

“My deal?”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m being held hostage here.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “You’re supposed to be working a job.”

“Which I can’t do unless I have some connection to the outside world.”

I pointed to the chunky desktop computer that took up most of the space on the desk. “What do you think that is?”

“A relic that belongs in a museum.”

“Beggars can’t be choosers.”

“I’m not begging!” she shouted. One arm darted out and pointed to the corner. “Why is the cow in here?”

Mickey was resting peacefully on top of Sadie’s dog bed. The edge was the only thing that peeked out from under his mass.

I shrugged. “He goes where he wants.”

Cassandra dropped her bag on my desk, sending a stack of paperwork for the Texas Animal Health Commission onto the cement floor. “Why doesn’t anything bother you? There’s a flipping cow in your office!”

I pursed my lips, thankful that my beard hid my smile. It’d probably piss her off. “It’s a cattle ranch.”

“They should be outside! Far, far away,” she argued. “You do know the difference between people and animals, right? You eat animals.”

I choked on a laugh. “You can eat people, too. Particularly women. Or did your fiancé not do that for you, Princess?”

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