Page 37 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

Easton enjoyedthe time with his brothers and Cassie, marveling that she could go from yelling at him earlier to melting into his arms now. He wasn’t about to complain. Though he really wanted to kick his little brothers out and get to the bottom of her thinking he’d cheated with some redhead before she cheated with Baxter, he didn’t see his brothers near enough and Cassie was clearly enjoying their banter.

They drew her out about her degree, her wedding planner career, and Presley, but neither of them asked about her husband. That was probably for the best as her husband was a murdering psycho and Easton didn’t want her to feel embarrassed about that. The guy had played mind games with her while she was vulnerable and alone. It was not Cassie’s fault that she’d fallen for him.

It was after ten when Houston said, “We’d bettervamanos, as Marci would say. Cassie has a big day tomorrow.”

“I’m excited about it.”

“Not as excited as Clint and Miles.” Rhett rolled his eyes. “I’ve never seen such tough guys get all sappy. Not quite as bad as Easton here though.”

Easton took the ribbing. He didn’t even jump at his brother and put him in a headlock like he should. Mostly because he’d have to release his hold on Cassie.

“I like him sappy,” Cassie said, gazing up at him with those teal-blue eyes.

“Good,” he said. “Because after we get rid of these two yahoos, I’m going to be more sappy than you’ve ever seen. ‘I’m a fool, fool for you,’” he sang Alan Jackson’s words.

“Whoa!” Houston cried out. “He sings?”

“You got me, bro,” Rhett muttered.

Cassie raised her eyebrows. “I look forward to that.”

Easton’s heart raced. Was she serious or playing for the crowd? She’d acted completely different with Rhett and Houston here. It was like old times. Was she ready to forgive and forget or at least talk it out, or had she simply fallen into their former patterns?

“That’s our cue to get out of here,” Rhett said.

They all stood, and Easton and Cassie walked them to the door. Each of his brothers gave her a hug. He did smack Rhett upside the head when he held her longer than was necessary, dwarfing her with his six-four contractor build.

“Hey,” Rhett said, but he grinned and didn’t hit him back. He knew when he was in the wrong.

They finally said their goodbyes and strode off into the cold night.

Easton shut the door, deadbolted it,and turned to her.

Cassie bit her lip, folded her arms across her chest, and suddenly looked nervous. Oh, no.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

Her mouth twisted and her teal-blue eyes darkened. Was she going to refuse him? He wanted to be patient and he was fully committed, but he was dying to resolve this.

“Okay,” she finally said. She walked back over to the couch.

Easton followed her, sitting down next to her. Where to start? How to prove he hadn’t kissed some redhead when he and Cassie were together?

“I shouldn’t have let down my guard with Rhett and Houston here,” she started with.

“Excuse me?” He turned to see her better.

“I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.” She paused and studied her hands. “You broke my heart six years ago, Easton. That heartbreak drove me into the arms of a controlling, emotionally abusive husband who I know now is a murderer. I’m not sure how to heal from that or trust you won’t cheat on me with some other redhead.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Easton lifted his hands. “I hate the thought that I ever hurt you or that you turned to that scum Baxter, but this all stemmed from you seeing a photo and thinking I cheated on you?”

“Yes.” She folded her hands together.

“You never even asked me.”

She studied him. “You’re right. I saw the photo right before that fateful wedding. I was a mess that night but focused on my job. I got through the night and the wedding went well. Baxter asked me to dance and I reluctantly agreed, not wanting to upset my boss. Then you came in like a thunderstorm, knocking him down. I was furious at you for cheating on me and I didn’tstop to ask you about it in the middle of that nightmarish situation. I’d just pulled off one of the biggest weddings in upstate New York, my boss was congratulating me, and then my boyfriend wrecked the entire event.”

Easton drew in a breath. He could’ve been more diplomatic, not gone straight to violence, but he’d been a twenty-two-year-old hothead in love with her and defending that love.

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