LITMIR.BIZ

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fond memories of her northern Nevada hometown and had always longed to go back. When her parents passed on, she and Brian were shipped to Los Angeles to live with their aunt Sherry. Brian had taken to city life far better than Cassie. It seemed to energize him whereas Cassie found the big city draining.

      After Aunt Sherry retired to Florida, Cassie stayed in Los Angeles mostly to be close to Brian, but she’d always missed the simpler side of life. She needed that, she mused, without question. Besides, she’d been under her brother’s wing too long. She wanted to cut the apron strings and branch out on her own. As sweet as her older brother had been, worrying about her at each turn, lending his support, she had finally decided to make some changes in her life.

      It was time for Cassie to take a stand.

      She wouldn’t tell Brian her plans to relocate until he got back from his honeymoon in Kuaui. She wouldn’t tell him that she had a job offer in Nevada, very near her own hometown, and that all had been settled but the signing on the dotted line. Upon his return she’d explain to her brother how badly she needed to do this. She would make him see that she wasn’t cut out for big city life.

      “I can’t wait to meet your date,” Alicia said eagerly. Both she and Brian had looks of anticipation on their faces.

      Cassie really hated lying. “He’s just a friend, really. I mean to say, he’s not my boyfriend or anything.”

      “He’s coming all this way for our wedding. To be with you,” Alicia reminded her.

      Cassie’s heart sunk to the floor. The soon-to-be married couple read far too much into this. And Cassie knew they only wanted her happiness. “Well, sure. But—”

      “It’s time for a toast,” Rick said, rising from his seat with a glass held high.

      All eyes at the table turned to Cassie, to see her reaction. It was natural for people to be curious, she supposed, but facing Rick and his new bride, after a humiliating breakup, was almost too much for her to bear. Yet she kept her composure and plastered on a smile for all to see.

      For certain now, she had to find herself a date for the wedding. She couldn’t take another day of concerned looks and sympathetic stares. There’d be no place to hide on the Sundance Riverboat Wedding Cruise tomorrow.

      Unless she tossed herself overboard.

      Two

      Jake slipped into the back of the Caboose Lounge and took a seat at the hotel bar. It was Rodeo Days in the small river city and rodeo riders from all over the country were welcomed with open arms at the hotels. He ordered a straight-up whiskey and turned to listen to the Country Riders Band, hoping their down-home tunes combined with the shot of Wild Turkey would lull him into sleep mode. He’d been keyed up lately, too wired to sleep and anxious about the rodeo tomorrow. It was always the same. Nerves. Excess energy. When he knew he should be sleeping, his body never seemed to cooperate.

      And visions of Cassie Munroe had danced in his head since he’d met up with her at the banquet today. He needed to get a grip, to get the tempting lady off of his mind and get some rest. What he didn’t need was a distraction. He’d come so far and was extremely close to achieving a goal that had been just out of his reach for years.

      Winning the rodeo championship meant more to him than the notoriety, money and respect he’d garner from his peers. Winning meant he’d done something that his father hadn’t been able to accomplish. Winning meant he’d finally be able to look John T. in the eye and say that he was just as good a man, if not a better one.

      He glanced at his watch. Damn, it was after midnight. He really should get some sleep. He ordered another drink, deciding to take it up to his room when a flash of red caught his eye. He stood up from his position on the bar stool and peered over the crowded room, thinking his mind played tricks on him.

      But it was no trick of the mind. He had seen Miss Sexy Red Dress. He stepped in a bit closer, making his way forward, watching her move fluidly, her body gyrating like some exotic dancer’s. Jake’s chest tightened and when her cinnamon hair lifted then fell onto her flushed face, he cursed silently. Mesmerized, he continued watching her. Her green eyes, big, wide, animated, focused on the man she danced with.

      Jake sat back in his seat and twisted his mouth in a frown.

      The woman intrigued him, but better to take his drink up to his hotel room than to sit here and listen to his heart pound hard against his chest, watching her dance. Jake glanced back behind the bar. “Could you hurry it up?”

      The young barkeep nodded his head. “Sure thing. Coming up in a minute.”

      When Jake turned around, another man held Cassie in his arms this time. This man he knew. Brody Taylor was a bull rider, full of himself and an all-around lady’s man.

      The music drifted into a slow, soulful ballad.

      Jake stifled an oath when Brody brought Cassie up flush against his chest. He noted her squirming in his arms—or at least it appeared she was trying to break the connection.

      None of his business, Jake thought, shaking his head. She’d given him the cold shoulder today once she’d realized who he really was. She didn’t want him interfering in her life. He turned away to glance at the bartender again. His drink was nowhere in sight.

      “You know what, forget it,” he called to the bartender, who’d been flirting with some young blonde at the other end of the bar.

      Jake stood, taking one last glance at the dance floor. He noticed Cassie slapping Brody’s hands off her rear end. Fury exploded inside of him.

      “Ah, hell,” he muttered.

      He made it to the dance floor in five quick strides and didn’t bother tapping Brody on the shoulder. “I’m cutting in,” he said firmly without giving Cassie a glance.

      “Like hell you are.” Brody turned, his body staggering some, his bloodshot eyes only just lighting with recognition.

      “Time for bed, Taylor.”

      The bull rider slanted him a crooked, drunken grin. “That’s what I’m aiming for, Griffin. Now get lost.”

      With a firm grasp, Jake removed Brody’s arm from Cassie’s. “Not with her, you’re not.” Jake pulled Brody’s hat lower onto his head with a tug. “You got two bulls to ride tomorrow. If you don’t get to bed soon, they’ll knock you to Texas and back. Now, go on.”

      Brody hesitated for a moment, probably too drunk to argue, then nodded and tottered away, slurring curse words.

      Jake finally peered at Cassie. She stood, somewhat dumbfounded, in the middle of the dance floor. “You okay?”

      “Just fine,” she said with definite irritation. That pretty heart-shaped mouth turned down into a pout. When Jake took her into his arms she asked, “What are you doing?”

      “I’m cutting in. You do want to dance, don’t you?”

      She broke away from him. “No. Not anymore.”

      Okay, so she didn’t want to dance with him. At least she wouldn’t be fending off the likes of Brody Taylor into all hours of the night. He followed her when she walked over to her table. He hadn’t noticed before, but she wobbled when she moved. And those bright, luminous eyes weren’t so bright anymore. In fact, they appeared every bit as hazy as Brody’s had been.

      Cassie slumped down into her chair and took a big gulp from a fishbowl glass of margarita. He stood over her. “How many of those have you had?”

      “Just one.” Cassie looked up at him in defiance.

      “One too many, I’d say.”

      Her lips quivered. She appeared so forlorn and her eyes misted with unshed tears.

      “Hey, I didn’t break something up back there, did I? If I did, I apologize. Want me to go hunt him down?” Hell, if she wanted Brody Taylor, she could have

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