Page 33 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

Her eyes narrowed and she folded her arms across her chest. “Really?”

“Really.” He spread his stance and his hands. He hoped this was the moment to talk it out. “After you cheated on me with Baxter?—”

“Are you serious right now?” she yelled.

His eyes widened. Her cheeks were flushed. She uncrossed her arms and flung them around. He’d seen her angry before, but not like this. Before, he could always tease her out of heranger. Now, she was furious. With him. And teasing would definitely fall flat.

“After I cheated on you?Thatwas the instigator to our breakup? Is that what you’re trying to claim?”

Easton was confused and getting a little frustrated himself. “What I’m trying to claim? Cass, I went to that wedding to surprise you and found you dancing with him and then he bent down and kissed you, and you didn’t push him away.”

She stared at him for a few beats and deflated a bit. “I guess I could see how it looked that way, but I was stunned by the kiss. I didn’t move away, but I didn’t return it.”

He lifted his hands. “Even if you didn’t want to kiss him?—”

“I didn’t,” she cried out.

“You not only didn’t push him away …” Maybe he was being a bit obstinate, but they had to get through this somehow, and the only way was forward. “But you yelled at me after I knocked him down. You told me you never wanted to see me again. That was harsh after I caught you cheating. I should’ve been the one making irrational demands.”

The color was back in her cheeks. She stormed up to him and poked him in the chest. “How dare you?” she said in a deadly quiet voice. It was more terrifying than her anger. “How dare you cheat on me and then act likeIwas the one who cheated?”

“Excuse me?” He was befuddled. “When have I ever cheated on you?”

“Oh, come on.” She rolled her eyes. “You’ve kissed every woman from here to the east coast.Whendid you cheat on me? When didn’t you?”

“Cass.” He kept his voice even and pushed down his frustration. “I have dated, and I know what the mediamakes it look like, but I haven’t kissed that many women and Inevercheated on you when we were together.”

Her nostrils flared. She glowered at him but didn’t say anything.

“After you cheated on me and thrust me out of your life,” he continued, “I did date. I dated a lot. I was trying to get over you and find someone I could love, who could measure up to you in my mind. Nobody could.” He prayed she’d be reasonable about this. How could it be counted as cheating if she’d already dumped him?

“Liar!” she screamed.

“Cass.” He was so confused by her anger and accusations.

She tried to dart around him. Easton turned and wrapped her up.

“Cassie, please. I want to forgive and forget, but you can’t seriously think I cheated on you when we’d already broken up before I even looked at another woman, and then I swear it was only because I was heartbroken and trying to somehow move on and resurrect my pride.”

She pushed at his chest. “Let me go, you liar.”

“Cass. I am not a liar. You know that about me.”

He let her go. He wasn’t going to hold her here and try to convince her he wasn’t lying. He’d never been one to lie. Exaggerate and boast? Sure. Lying? Never.

“You cheated on me before you even came to that wedding.” Her teal-blue eyes spat fire at him. “My friend sent me a photo of you from an online Western magazine and you were dipping some redhead back and checking her tonsils with your tongue!” Her voice rose as she all but screamed at him.

“Redhead? What magazine? I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“I can’t believe you! Just own it up to it, Easton!”

“Own up to what? I never cheated on you.”

A door opened upstairs and footsteps pattered out. “Mama? My Easton?”

Easton couldn’t help but groan. He adored that little girl, but her timing couldn’t have been worse.

Cassie spun from him and ran up the stairs. He watched her gather Presley close as Presley asked why she was yelling. Cassie apologized for waking her up, making no excuse for the yelling.

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