Page 25 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

“I’m sorry,” he said to Cassie.

“Me too,” she murmured.

Their gazes met and held, and he thought she might be sorry for more than just her mom dying. She might be sorry about the mess between them and how angry she’d been. She didn’t seem angry now. She was vulnerable, sweet, and in need. Any worry he’d felt disappeared. He could hear Presley’s peals of laughter from the other room. He would take care of them, keep them safe, love them.

“Churchill has an APB out already as he’s been in hiding since he broke into Cassie’s home in Syracuse and tried to kidnap Presley,” Clint continued. “The detective in Syracuse also believes Churchill may have murdered his own grandmother, his first wife, and now his therapist.”

“What?” The hits just kept on coming. Cassie had been dealing with so much. Why hadn’t she told him? Begged him for protection?

“It’s true,” Cassie said quietly. “He’s gone insane.”

“Sounds like it.”

“We’ll have to run the prints to confirm Churchill murdered Ms. Johnston, but the note that was left points that direction, and no one else would have a reason to murder a shut-in lady.”

“What did the note say?” Easton asked.

Cassie shook her head like she couldn’t say it.

“’I’m coming for you next, Cassie,’” Clint said quietly.

Easton’s entire body went cold. “That loser won’t touchyou,” he vowed, pinning Cassie with his gaze. “I promise you, love.”

She studied him.

After a few moments, Clint interrupted. Easton realized he hadn’t given his oldest brother and Lily nearly a hard enough time when they got lost in each other’s eyes. This interrupting his and Cassie’s moments was annoying. “I’m glad you feel that way, brother. Because Cassie and Presley are going to stay with you at the ranch for the foreseeable future.”

“What?” Cassie asked.

“That is an ideal plan,” Easton said.

Clint focused on Cassie. “Cassie, not many know this, but the Coleville Ranch has been a safehouse for many people who are in danger, even some famous people like Elizabeth and Jacey Oliver and Eva Chevron.”

Cassie blinked at him.

“Furthermore, my dad trained all of us and our ranch hands to fight and protect. Our training is on level with most special ops teams.”

Cassie looked at Easton. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

Easton cocked an eyebrow. “When would I have told you? Dad started training us from the time we were young, but we just thought it was fun as boys. We didn’t start protection details until a few years ago.”

“Oh.” She focused back on Clint.

“Papa and Mama would of course welcome you at the main house,” Clint continued, “but we had an incident a couple months ago where Benjamin Oliver blasted through the exterior fence, almost killed Easton?—”

Cassie gasped.

“I’m all right now, love,” Easton assured her. “Don’t you worry. I’m too tough for any criminal to kill.”

“That’s why your forehead is scarred and you can’t ride in the NFR finals?”

The real reason was because the good Lord above needed him here to reunite with her and now protect her. But Easton only nodded. He prayed he could share the rest with her soon.

She drew in a breath and squeezed his hand. “I’m grateful you’re all right.”

“Thank you, love.”

Were all of Easton’s dreams about to come true? Cassie was letting down her walls, no longer angry with him. He could protect and love her and Presley. He felt terrible about her mother dying, and her ex definitely needed to be caught and put away for good, but he’d already committed in his mind to be here for her no matter what. If miracles could happen, this might be the answer to breaking through her walls and healing their relationship.

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