Page 36 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

“Not now that my perfect woman is back,” Easton said.

He was pushing her boundaries. Their last conversation had been a yelling match. What show was he putting on for his brothers? But she couldn’t bring herself to pull away from his warmth and strength.

“Good for you two,” Rhett said.

“What about you, Rhett?” Cassie redirected. There was no ‘you two’. “Are you dating all of Kalispell?”

Rhett chuckled at that. “I’ve met a few nice ladies at church, but there aren’t a lot of intriguing women in the construction industry.”

“That surprises me,” Cassie teased. She relaxed more fully into Easton. She’d had so many crazy and fun adventures with these three and Walker. They all teased with her, but it was Easton she was drawn to and the only one she wanted to hug and kiss. Her pulse sped up and she thought of his husky voice saying, ‘Hold that thought’ as he gave her a meaningful look with those blue eyes.

No. She couldn’t. No sharing ‘that thought’ tonight.

“Back to you,” Rhett said. “Where have you been? What brought you home finally? Not this playboy.” Hepointed at Easton.

Cassie’s stomach rolled. Even his brothers called him a playboy.

“Again. Finished with that,” Easton growled at his brother.

“What’s up with no teenage lingo?” Houston asked.

Easton shrugged. “Cassie and Presley have inspired me. I’m a mature and committed man now.”

Cassie had noticed the lack of teenage lingo. He was committed to their safety. Could she beg for more?

“Um, bro …” Houston looked from Cassie to Easton. “You just claimed you’re with your perfect woman. Who is Presley?”

Cassie and Easton looked at each other and burst into laughter. They sobered and looked back to Houston and Rhett, who both had rock-hard jaws and clenched fists.

“I don’t understand what’s funny about him talking about another woman around you,” Rhett said.

“Presley is Cassie’s daughter,” Easton explained.

Houston’s eyebrows shot up. “You have a daughter?”

“Yes.”

“She’s the most adorable little girl in the history of the world,” Easton proclaimed.

Cassie lit up at his words. She felt their sincerity and loved him despite herself.

“Okay, bro.” Rhett smirked at him. “Time to hand over the man card.”

“Yeah,” Houston added. “I know you’re in love and all, but no sarcasm or teenage lingo and dialing up the sappiness is a bit of overload.”

“I love it,” Cassie admitted.

Easton tugged her closer and kissed her forehead. “All I care about is what you think,” he whispered against her skin.

Cassie didn’t know how to resist him any longer. Would shebe the world’s biggest fool if she let down her guard and he could convince her he hadn’t cheated?

“Let’s take that man card by force,” Rhett declared.

Cassie laughed. She thought his sappy words were the best lines she’d ever heard. But then her stomach clenched. What if they were only lines?

Chapter

Thirteen

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