Page 86 of Freeing the Wild
He chuckles as my phone buzzes in my pocket for the third time today.I sigh and disconnect my arms from around his neck to check it.It’s Dax.Again.
“How many times is that today?”Haden asks with a furrowed brow.He knows Dax has been pushing me.I’m doing great in therapy and I’m learning real ways to cope with my anxiety about getting onstage.But Dax seems to have a hard time letting me move at my own pace, and that just straight up pisses Haden off.I put my phone back in my pocket, ignoring Dax’s call.I’ll deal with him later.
“Three too many,” I tell Haden.“He’s probably just telling me to post something other than rolling hills and horses on my social media.”
Dax doesn’t seem to process that my followers have never been happier; I’m taking the time to answer messages and engage with them in a way I haven’t before, and it’s keeping my writing frenzy going.Connecting with them again has made me remember why I started writing music in the first place.Well, that and this gorgeous cowboy’s face between my thighs most nights.
“Christ.Sorry.”Haden and I both flinch when we hear a man’s deep voice from the front of the barn.“When you said you were busy today, I gotta say I didn’t expect this.”
I back up.The man greeting us is tall, and rugged like Haden.He’s in his mid-fifties and wears a cowboy hat and boots.His jacket is an old Carhartt, tattered and worn.
“I was gonna pick you up,” Haden says, as he wraps his hand around mine.“Cassie, this is my dad, Jim.Dad, this is Cassie.”
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Haden
“Pleasure,” my dad says, extending his hand.I watch as he takes Cassie’s in his and she smiles.
“Pleasure?Or awkward as all hell?”Cassie laughs as she shakes.My dad chuckles deeply and I know instantly that he’s smitten with her.
“A little of both, I suppose.I didn’t expect to see my son, working hard at winning over a woman.”He turns to face me.“I texted you, but you were, uh … obviously busy.”
Christ.
“I drove my old Dodge up here,” he continues.“I’m hoping you have my torque wrench?I had my winter tires taken off the other day and I need to retorque the summer ones.Then we can go.”
I nod.I’m driving him to have a scan on his back.It hasn’t been right since he threw it out shoveling after the storm.
I nod.“Sure.Head on up to my place.I’ll be right there.”
My dad nods and tips his hat to Cassie.“To reiterate, it’s a pleasure to meet you, young lady.Anyone entertaining the idea of a cowboy for their future deserves to be told they’re a special kind of woman.”
Cassie smiles.“Well, sir, cowboys are my kinda people if they’re like Haden.”
She and I haven’t even uttered the wordfuturebetween us yet, and here my dad is bringing it up two minutes after meeting her.I wait until he leaves the barn.
“I’m so fucking sorry.He’s always just gotta open his yap,” I say when he’s out of sight.
Cassie looks up at me.Her thick black and white flannel is open just enough for me to see the outline of her waist and the curve of her hips in her painted-on jeans.Her long hair peeks out from under a cowboy hat.Damn, I could stare at her all day.Especially after she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me.She doesn’t push me to explain my dad or tell me what a prick he is for insulting what I do for a living.Instead, she just reaches up on her tiptoes to kiss me.
“Well, you heard the man.Stop apologizing and start telling me what a special kind of woman I am so that, tonight, when I’m with the girls, I can remember how much you appreciate me.”
I kiss her deeply as I pull her close.Fuck.Just the thought of being away from her tonight is enough to make me feral.I groan as we separate.
“I’ll walk you out,” she says.“I’m gonna throw Marlow’s blanket on her so she can get some fresh air anyway.”
She wears a pensive expression as we walk.
“So.Are you boys gonna behave tonight?Does your night out involve women?”
“Not a chance on earth of that happening,” I chuckle.“I’ve never met a group of men so obsessed with their women in my life.”
“Sounds like a good group of men to spend the night with then.”
I’m struggling not to say too much.Hell, I’m struggling with everything that has to do with keeping the way I feel aboutCassie in.I have no idea how to handle the fact that Cassie feels like mine but isn’t.I have no idea how to ask her to stay, or how we could ever make this work when her time is up.So, instead, I just stop walking, wrap my arms around her and kiss her one more time.
“Just so we’re good and clear, Cass.There isn’t a woman alive that could hold my attention now.In fact, the only thing I’ll be thinking about when I’m out tonight is all the ungodly fucking things I’m going to do to you tomorrow.”I drop a kiss on her forehead.“There could be a stadium full of women and the only one I’d see would beyou.”
