Page 80 of Freeing the Wild
They all laugh, but I’m off the hook as the conversation swerves to how we plan on bringing Penny’s horses over to Silver Pines.Midway through the conversation, my phone buzzes on the table.It’s my dad.
DAD
I know you’ve got the ranch but I threw my back out shoveling.I could’ve used you checking in with me.
I couldn’t finish it.Do you think you can pop by tomorrow and give me a hand?
Busy day.Penny’s barn caved in…
DAD
That’s a shame.Is she alright?
Yep she’s fine, just shaken up.
DAD
Good to hear.She’s a nice lady.It must be hard there on her own.It’s nice of you to help her.
I blow out a breath and knock the rest of my bourbon back.Just when he pisses me off, he becomes almost human for a minute and I remember he’s on his own and he’s the only parent I have left.
I’ll stop by around lunch tomorrow and make sure you’re cleared out.
DAD
Thanks kid.
I watch as Cassie does her best to tip her head down to yellow and Mabel holds her position strong.Just before she makes her move, her eyes meet mine and she smiles.I smile back and, at that precise moment, she loses her balance and goes down in a pile of blonde curls.Mabel stands and starts star-jumping.She and Ginger move through some kind of choreographed handshake and Cassie sits up, high-fiving Mabel from the ground.I chuckle as I listen to her tell Mabel she was a tough competitor and I eye the way her pink off-the-shoulder sweater clings to all the right places.It’s loose and billowy, giving me the illusion that I could just slide my hands right under and feel all that soft—
“Careful,” Nash says seemingly out of nowhere.I didn’t even realize he’d moved to my side of the kitchen island and sat down beside me.
“What do you mean?”I ask, clearing my throat.
“Keep looking at Cassie like that and you’ll end up an old man like us.”
“Come on,” Cole adds from behind me, “give him the benefit of the doubt.He’s only looking at her because she’s a nice girl.”
“Fuck off,” I growl.
“Christ,” Wade mutters.“I get it now.You just couldn’t do it.”
I turn to face him.“What?”I ask defensively.
“I told you she was off-limits.She’s here to heal, to rest.She’s not here to hop into your bed.”
“What are we talking about, boys?”Papa Dean comes into the kitchen from the dining room.He’s just finished sweeping around the table.He sits down on the other side of me.
“Just talking about Haden making googly eyes at Ivy’s little sister,” Nash offers.
“It’s not like that!”I say.
Dean chuckles and pours himself a drink.
“Hell, boy.Those horse stalls out there in that barn.”He points in their direction and leans in toward me.“They ain’t got nothing on you.Cause you, son, are full of shit.”
Cole and Nash laugh, and I can’t help but join in.Fucking hell, I am full of shit.I look back at Cassie holding her hair up off her back after their intense game of Twister.It’s all I can do to will my hard-on to stand down, right here at the table.I should be trying to get past Cassie.I know I can’t really ever have her.Yet, every time I’m with her, it gets harder and harder to imagine my world without her.Even now, when I shouldn’t be, I can’tstop thinking of all the ways I want to make that little princess over there scream my name.
Less than two hours later, I’m pacing around my house.I’ve gone through a full weight training session, showered and tried to watch TV.Glenda is at Cassie’s and I know I’ve really gone and done it.Because now that I’ve had Cassie Spencer, I can’t stopthinkingabout having her.I wipe down my counters as I talk to myself.If I could just have her one more time, I can have closure on whatever this is.One more time to savor the way she tastes, the little sounds she makes …
