Page 24 of A Cameo for a Cowgirl

But he sure would be, as soon as any of them looked up here and noticed him, and said—

“Hey!”

He glanced across, and his jaw dropped. No way.

Cowgirl Cassie might not be wearing her white hat, but he’d recognize that look of contempt anywhere. Although, he swallowed, he hadn’t exactly expected that figure under the jeans and long-sleeve shirt.

She crossed her arms, and he hefted his gaze up to meet her eyes. Her stormy eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Whoa! I didn’t think you’d arrange a stripper, Cassie!” one of the women called.

A what?

“Oh my gosh,” Cassie mumbled, before shouting, “I didn’t, and he’s leaving!” She turned to him. “Go away.”

“Gladly.” He didn’t know what was going on but he had no wish for more of the cowgirl’s disdain. He wasn’t feeling that brave.

“No, don’t make him go,” the voice from earlier said. “It was just getting interesting.”

“Hurry up,” Cassie growled at him.

“Come on, Bud.” He nudged his horse.

“Aww, handsome guy, don’t run away,” the woman from below pleaded.

He peered at them, then raised his hand. “Sorry ladies, I’m gonna have to love you and leave you.”

“You don’t have to!”

“Yes, you do,” Cassie said. “Go.”

He glanced back at her, that earlier moment of wishing to flee departing. “What happens if I don’t?”

Her eyes narrowed. “You know you’re trespassing.”

“Am I? I was told this was land that was available to be used by all the cast and crew.”

“Who told you that?”

“Ted.”

“Hmph. Well, this side is.” She then pointed to the creek. “That side isn’t.”

“So, excuse me for being dumb, but why are you and your friends on that side?”

Her eyes narrowed further, but before she could answer, another of the bikini-clad women drew alongside her. This one looked younger, obviously not body conscious, unlike Cassie who still looked like she wanted to wrap herself in an invisibility cloak and disappear.

She shaded her eyes as she glanced from Cassie up to himself, still in the saddle. “Who are you?”

“Harrison. And you?”

“Poppy.” She glanced at Cassie again. “You two know each other?”

“Hardly.”

“What she means to say is that ‘she would like to know me more, but is afraid of the sheer amount of animal magnetism I possess’,” he said, quoting one of his lines from an obscure indie movie he’d done several years ago.

“The sheer amount of something you possess,” Cassie muttered.

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