Page 13 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

“Sing, please.”

Easton smiled. Straightening away from the bed, he leaned against the wall and started singing in a low voice, “‘Oh, you can’t get to heaven on roller skates …’”

Presley giggled as he sang all the verses he could remember of the song from junior Sunday school years ago.

Cassie watched him with a soft smile but didn’t move or say anything. He sang through a couple more funny gospel songs and then segued into “I’m Trying to be Like Jesus” and “How Great Thou Art”. Presley fell asleep on the third verse of the latter.

He let his voice trail off and tilted his head to Cassie. She nodded and he felt his anticipation ramp up. Finally alone with Cassie after years of longing for her. He wanted some answers, wanted to hold her close, and an apology wouldn’t be out of order.

The way she’d acted, none of the above might happen for him, but that wouldn’t stop him from trying. She was finally back. That had to mean they had a chance. It had to.

Chapter

Five

Cassie’s heartraced out of control and her entire body was warm with longing.

Easton. Her Easton. As he’d sung to Presley, helped settle her daughter to sleep, he’d been playful, warm, and sincere. He’d been the man she’d yearned for all these years.

She’d fought so hard to care for Presley, sacrificed as a single mom fighting to protect her daughter from her dangerous father.

For this moment, in the intimate darkness of this room, as the husky strains of Easton singing “How Great Thou Art” still lingered, she wasn’t alone. Presley had a man who cared deeply for her in her life, and so did Cassie. A man who was strong spiritually and physically. Could Easton really be that man? Had he matured and learned over the years?

No! She was thinking crazy thoughts. Easton wouldn’t take all that she and Presley needed seriously. He probably had adate he needed to get to. He most likely sang for every pretty girl.

Her heart thudded dully in her chest. She walked out into the main area, her back ramrod straight. She needed to get him out of here and then she could … what? Mourn his loss again?

No. She could focus on the weddings. Of course. She’d pull out her laptop and start researching her centerpiece ideas. She had multiple files ready to present to the brides and see what they would like. Some brides came in with ideas of their own, and she would be working off of the other wedding planner’s efforts. She’d have to revamp and refocus yet keep what they loved in place. It was a lot of work, but she thrived on the process and the final product. She wouldn’t miss a single detail.

Stopping to the side of the front door so Easton would have a clear path out, she turned to face him. He studied her. Those blue eyes tugged her in, and she wished she could fling herself at his appealing chest like her daughter had.

No. He had to leave or she’d fall prey to his charming, silken tongue and the enchantment of those blue eyes. She wasn’t certain what to say to make him go.

“Thank you for being so cute with her,” she managed.

“Not a problem. She’s bussin’, and of course she fell instantly for my rizz.”

He grinned even as she grimaced. Like every other female out there, her daughter was falling for Easton Coleville. Sadly, he was right. Cassie didn’t know how to protect her daughter’s heart from him, let alone her own.

He glanced back at the bedroom and then looked to her. “Was your ex abusive?”

Her breath rushed out. Of course Easton Coleville didn’t know the meaning of decorum or beatingaround the bush. “That is none of your business,” she said, terror slicing through her.

If Easton found out the way Baxter had treated her and Presley—coming to the house, shoving her down and almost kidnapping Presley, the fact that he was most likely a murderer, or the creepy notes Baxter had left about killing her and taking Presley … She shivered. The good old renegade cowboy would track Baxter down, and Easton wouldn’t stop at one punch this time. If only she could turn to Easton for protection, but she couldn’t trust him not to move on and kiss the next pretty girl. He’d break her and Presley when he did.

Easton’s brows lowered. The usually happy-go-lucky and teasing cowboy was not one bit happy right now. “Really?You’renone of my business? What we had means nothing and I shouldn’t care that you’re obviously running from your ex and your angel daughter is praying that her ‘mean dad’ won’t find you? What kind of a flop of a man do you take me for, Cassie?”

Cassie clutched at her throat. She couldn’t swallow past the dryness. If only she could trust him again. “Easton, please. Just go. I can’t?—”

Easton strode to her. She could feel the angst radiating off of him. She didn’t know how he’d react, but she doubted he’d just leave.

Then he wrapped his arms around her and tugged her against his chest.

Cassie’s breath rushed out. She’d never forgotten this spot, had longed for it and cursed herself for her weakness. To be back in Easton’s perfect arms was surreal. His body was even more defined and larger than the last time he’d held her, more than six long years ago. She should’ve been strong and pushedhim away, but she melted into him and savored his mint, citrus, and pine scent.

He simply held her. He didn’t make any moves or ask anything of her. She felt the beat of his heart and savored his strength and warmth.

“‘I wanna take away the hurts, but I just don’t have the words. Let me hold you …’” Easton sang to her in his manly tenor, and she longed to let him take away every hurt like he used to. For the first time in years, she wasn’t fighting through life on her own, protecting Presley from Baxter, supporting herself and her daughter in a sink or swim, dog eat dog world. She was protected and safe and loved.

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