Page 28 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

“So Mama didn’t come over and scrub your toilet and drop off those steak fajitas?”

“Now I’m offended.” He was teasing; she knew she couldn’t offend him. Except in regard to the elephant in the room. Him cheating on her and believing she’d cheated on him. “Mama doesn’t spoil her boys,except with love.”

Cassie knew that was also true.

“Who is your mama?” Presley asked, breaking an uncharacteristic silence.

“Mama Millie.”

They paused on the loft, looking down at the living room and the large windows and winter wonderland that was outside. Cassie felt safe and cocooned by Easton’s house and by him.

“I’ll make sure you meet her soon,” Easton promised. “She’ll adore you.”

Presley smiled. “I know.”

They both laughed and exchanged a look that said, ‘Isn’t she the cutest thing on earth?’ Cassie’s breath caught in her chest. She’d longed to have someone to share Presley with like that. Someone who was gone over her little girl just like she was. Could Easton really be that guy? Could they turn back time, resurrect true love, and make those old dreams a reality?

She didn’t dare place her hopes, and Presley’s future, on the ultimate player.

“What’s up here?” she asked brightly, looking around. Her heart stuttered as she thought about this loft. It was something they’d teased about when they were dating. Easton claimed he’d build her a house with huge windows and a loft.

“The master bedroom.” Easton gestured her through the room on the right. It was spacious and beautiful and somehow still manly. It fit him, but she kept imagining she could fit in here too. Fire raced through her and she pushed those thoughts away.

He showed them the master bathroom and attached closet. She loved the huge jetted tub and the tiled walk-in shower.

The closet was massive; Easton’s western wear and bootsdidn’t come close to filling it. It all smelled like his unique mint, citrus, and pine scent. That smell made her stomach hop happily.

“There’s a lot of space in here,” she commented, trying not to mean anything by it.

“Space that needs to be filled.” He gave her a meaningful look.

“You’d better get shopping then,” she said, then turned away and walked back out, her cheeks burning. He’d seen right through her comment. Despite her misgivings, she wanted to fill that space.

They walked back through the master and out onto the loft again. Easton pointed at the room on the right. “My office.” Then he pushed open the middle door. “The bathroom.” He carried Presley into the room on the left. “And your room, Princess Presley.”

Presley scrambled out of his arms and ran into the bedroom. It was done up with log furniture and a massive log bed. The bedspread was blue gingham and so were the window treatments.

“It’s not a princess room,” Presley said. “But I like it.”

“That’s great.” Easton smiled. “You can enter the bathroom through that door so you don’t have to run onto the loft in your underwear at night.”

“We don’t sleep in our underwears,” Presley said, giving him a disgusted look.

“I do.” Easton grinned at Presley, then turned the power of that grin on Cassie.

“Oh, my,” she managed, putting a hand to her racing heart. She was in deep water here; she didn’t need to be thinking of him in that gorgeous master suitein his underwear.

Please help me,she prayed.I need to stay strong around him and not have these thoughts.

The doorbell rang like her prayers had been answered.

Easton’s brow furrowed. “I wasn’t expecting anyone. Please stay here.” He exited the room, closing the door behind him.

Presley looked up at her, apprehension in her eyes. Thankfully, Presley hadn’t seen her mom’s body, but she couldn’t help but pick up on Cassie’s fear and Clint’s seriousness at the sheriff’s office. “Mama?”

“It’s all right, love. C’mere.” She picked her daughter up and cuddled her close. It was probably just Clint bringing their things, but she doubted he could’ve gone and picked them up and made it here that quick. They’d only been here a short time.

She heard voices in the entryway. Easing closer to the door, she tried to listen but couldn’t distinguish much more than a male and female voice. Had one of Easton’s many girlfriends came to visit? Her gut churned uncomfortably. This was not going to work if he was going to have other women showing up.

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