The Bull Rider's Twin Trouble Page 8

  She laughed, unable to contain her glee any longer. She couldn’t help how good she felt when he was around, and for the moment the impulsive side of her was winning. She would hate to admit how nice it was to give it free rein.

  “Sit down and have some cereal, if you’re hungry,” she told him, gesturing to the empty seat at the table.

  “Oh, I’m fine. Don’t trouble yourself,” he said, but Zach had already hopped up and grabbed him a bowl and spoon.

  She said nothing, just gestured to the empty seat again. He conceded without any more argument. Soon they were all eating, the only sound the clink of spoons on ceramic bowls. Cassie felt more at ease than she had since first meeting Brock. She couldn’t pinpoint what, exactly, had happened overnight to so change her attitude toward him.

  Perhaps it was that her soreness and exhaustion, along with the excitement of her first patient’s looming appointment, had all combined to weaken the tight grip she’d been keeping and made her temporarily foolish. Perhaps the kiss from yesterday had worked some magic on her during the night, creating this newfound inner quiet. Either way, this new, relaxed version of her was exactly what she’d needed.

  Cassie smiled down at her bowl again before looking up at the boys and Brock. “Should we go visit some horses?”

  * * *

  BROCK WASN’T SURE what it was, but Cassie seemed different today. More at ease. Was it because she was sure he’d gotten the message when she turned him down yesterday and no longer needed to worry about him making advances? If so, she was right about that, and he was glad the air between them seemed clear.

  Brock led the way out the door as Cassie helped the boys put on shoes, but he stopped when he stepped off the porch. His truck was still parked in front of Cassie’s house, the back still full of the lumber they’d purchased the day before.

  He and Cassie would need to unload it once they got back from the horses, and then they could start on the paddock. Then Brock remembered the crowbar he’d left on the porch, and he decided to grab it and toss it into the truck bed so the boys wouldn’t trip over it or anything.

  Brock ran up the porch steps to grab it, only to find that Cassie was rushing down them at the same time, the boys right behind her. Brock stopped in his tracks and Cassie came to a halt, too, but the boys weren’t paying attention and bowled into her legs, propelling her forward into Brock.

  He put his arms out to steady her, catching her before they could tumble down the stairs together. His heart thumped so hard he was sure she could feel it where their chests met. She looked up into his eyes, and without thinking, he leaned toward her. Luckily, she turned away from him to check on Zach and Carter, and he was able to catch himself before doing something phenomenally stupid like kiss her. Again.

  Brock forced his gaze from Cassie and instead looked to where her children had been only seconds before. Now they were in a heap on the floor of the porch. Brock started to go to their aid, worried they had gotten injured in the collision or hurt themselves on the crowbar somehow, but then he noticed that they were both doubled up, laughing hysterically.

  Cassie put her hands on her hips, but she was smiling. “Now just what exactly is so funny? You’re not laughing at me, are you?”

  The teasing lilt in her voice made Brock grin. He loved seeing Cassie being silly with her boys.

  “Carter said we made you into a Momma-sandwich,” Zach said at last, gulping for air.

  Brock couldn’t help but laugh at the humor of four-year-olds. Cassie gave her sons another falsely stern look. “Well, making me into a Momma-sandwich has suddenly turned me into a tickle monster!”

  And with that she was on the floor with the boys, all three of them laughing as Cassie grasped at her children, who rolled desperately to evade her fingers.

  Brock was laughing so hard his side hurt. He couldn’t remember a time he’d laughed that much. Cassie glanced at him with a conspiratorial smile, and for a moment he felt as if he were a part of the scene instead of an outsider.

  He didn’t want to admit how good that felt.

  Cassie stood up, her cheeks red from exertion and amusement, her hair wild and her eyes shining. She was so pretty it hurt.

  She looked up at Brock, and his heart stuttered. “You ready?” she asked.

  Oh, he was ready, all right. For all sorts of things. It took him a moment to realize that she was asking if he was ready to go visit the ranch where the horses were being stabled. Once he understood, he nodded and followed her down the steps to her SUV. For the moment, he didn’t trust himself to speak.

  Chapter Seven

  Cassie glanced at the back seat to make sure her sons were buckled in, then started the car. As she turned in her seat while she reversed out of the driveway, carefully maneuvering around Brock’s loaded-down silver truck, her arm brushed against Brock’s muscular bicep. His large frame made the front of the SUV feel too small for comfort, and she was grateful the moment she could settle back into her seat, as far from him as she could manage. In the truck the day before they hadn’t felt quite so close, but in her car it was almost...intimate.

  And however much leeway she was giving herself to chat and be friendly, intimate was definitely not good. She’d tried to hide it, but that moment when she’d been pressed against his chest was almost more than she could handle.

  “Where are the horses being stabled?” Brock asked her as they drove away from town, toward some of the larger ranches that dotted this part of the country.

  “Stuart Ranch,” she answered. “Tom Stuart gave us a good price and won’t make me pay if I move them home earlier than expected.”

  She didn’t need to say what needed to get done for that to happen. Brock knew, and she was sure he would do everything in his power to get her animals settled as soon as possible. Another smile touched her lips.

  “I’ve known the Stuarts forever. One of the boys dated my sister for a while. They’re good people,” he said.

  She waited a moment for him to add more details, but the only sounds in the car came from the two boys playing in the back seat. The casual ease at the kitchen table shortly before was threatening to disappear completely, and she wasn’t sure what to do to save it.

  Luckily, the ranch was close, and soon Cassie gratefully left the confining vehicle. After a quick word with Grandma Stuart—who insisted she watch the twins while Cassie and Brock see to the horses—the pair headed to the large barn.

  Horses of all different types walked around the paddocks, munching on hay and relaxing in the morning sunshine.

  Tom Stuart was just inside the barn, working with a mare that seemed to be limping slightly. Cassie hoped the animal wasn’t too badly injured.

  “Brock! Haven’t seen you around in a long while,” Tom said, moving to shake hands with Brock. “It seems you’ve met your new neighbor,” he added, nodding toward Cassie.

  “Came to take a look at her horses. They in here somewhere?” Brock responded.

  Cassie couldn’t help but compare the two men. Though Tom was handsome in his own right, he couldn’t hold a candle to Brock. While both were muscular, Tom was taller, with a more wiry look to him, where Brock was more compact and solid. But that didn’t explain what made Brock stand out. He had a spark, a subtle inner liveliness, that called out to her.

  Cassie tuned back into reality and the two men before her.

  Tom pointed down the length of stalls along one side of the barn. “Cassie can show you where they’re stabled, if you don’t mind. I need to stay with Sadie here,” he said, patting the side of the large mare.

  Brock took a step toward the injured animal. “Any idea what’s bothering her?” he asked, rubbing the animal’s neck, then sliding his hand down to her leg, lifting the hoof and inspecting it.

  Cassie watched as Brock and Tom conferred over the horse’s hoof. Then Brock let go of Sadie’s leg an
d patted her one last time before turning to Cassie.

  She had been so absorbed watching him care for the horse, the concern he showed filling her with if-onlys, that his eyes on her sent a jolt of surprise through her. It took a long moment before she realized he was waiting for her to show him to her horses.

  With effort, she tore her gaze from his and, after a quick wave to Tom, turned to the stalls where Rosalind and Diamond were waiting.

  “Was it a very serious injury?” she asked.

  To her relief, Brock shook his head. “A bruised sole. Not fun, but she’ll be right as rain soon enough.”

  Cassie nodded as she walked up to her horses, turning her attention to the beautiful beasts before her. She was still amazed that they were hers. She’d only visited them twice, and every time she saw the two regal animals, she could hardly believe it.

  Before becoming a doctor, she’d wanted to be a veterinarian. Her childhood dream had been to live in the country and own and care for horses. Her mother had disagreed—and while her mother’s pushes toward a career as a doctor had been ultimately successful, Cassie had never given up her country dreams. She didn’t regret not becoming a vet, but she knew she would have always felt like she’d missed out if she hadn’t bought the ranch.

  Cassie pressed her face into Diamond’s neck, breathing in the scent. Horses of her own, a ranch that was actually coming together and a new life for her and her boys.

  If she could keep her nose to the grindstone, she and her boys would be settled and happy here. Then they could be a content little family.

  Just the three of them.

  Cassie didn’t like that there was a drop of sadness in that thought, and she tried to ignore how her heart thumped harder when she saw how kind Brock was to her horses.

  She walked up beside him, hoping to learn from him. “Do they have a smooth gait when you ride them?” Brock asked as he rubbed the legs of the sleek chestnut mare.

  Cassie felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I’ve never ridden them,” she said. She hated to admit the truth, but she said it anyway. “I haven’t ever actually been on a horse.”

  Brock gave her the look of disbelief she expected, but it quickly shifted to determination. “Well, then, we better saddle them up and take them for a quick ride,” he said, moving toward the saddles and tack hanging along the side of the barn. “Tom, you think your ma would be fine with watching the boys for twenty minutes while we let these ladies stretch their legs?” Brock called out to where Cassie could just see Tom in the dim light, still working with Sadie on the far side of the barn.

  “She’d keep those two for good and all if she had half the chance,” Tom replied.

  Brock nodded, as if that settled it, and picked up the first saddle. He made no mention of Cassie’s admission, just got to work, for which she was immensely grateful.

  Cassie watched carefully as Brock saddled each of the horses, explaining exactly what he was doing as he went. Once he had everything cinched tight and secure, Brock stepped up to Rosalind. “You should take Rosy,” he said. “Diamond seems like she might be a little skittish.”

  He explained to Cassie how to put her foot in the stirrup and swing her other leg over to get onto the horse.

  He stood holding the reins, keeping the large animal steady while Cassie attempted to mount her. As she swung herself into the air, she wobbled and instinctively grabbed at Brock’s shoulder to steady herself. She could feel his hand on her waist, helping her into the saddle.

  By the time Cassie was settled atop the horse and Brock’s hand had moved away, she was breathless, and not from the effort to get up there. It was the second time that day they’d had far too much physical contact, and it proved to Cassie that she certainly shouldn’t let it happen again if she wanted to keep her sanity. And her heart.

  She took the reins from him, careful not to touch him, and instead marveled at the sleek neck of the animal she was now sitting on, touching the horse’s mane with wonder. For the first time in her life, Cassie was on a horse, reins in hand. This had been a dream of hers since she was a little girl, and it was finally happening. Excitement and gratitude washed through her.

  “Thank you,” Cassie told him once he was mounted on Diamond and leading Rosalind toward the edge of the ranch.

  Brock shrugged, but she could see from his solemnity that he understood how important this was to her. “I was a greenhorn once, too” was all he said.

  She sat quietly, reveling in the feel of the large animal shifting beneath her.

  Once they were out of the property’s fenced enclosure, Brock turned Diamond toward a dirt trail that wound its way into the distance. Cassie turned Rosy the same direction to follow him, the way Brock showed her. When the horse did as directed, Cassie’s pride soared.

  “So...” he said.

  She knew what he was going to say. “Why did I buy a ranch and move all the way out here if I’d never even ridden a horse before?”

  He nodded, smiling at her perception.

  Cassie sighed and patted Rosy’s neck. “I’ve always lived in the city, and my mother was dead set against me getting on a horse, no matter how much I wanted to, so there was no chance to learn as a kid. When I was an adult and finally had the money, I bought tickets out to Dallas and planned to go for a week at a dude ranch so I could learn how to ride. I was all set to go when I found out I was pregnant. No horses for me. Since then, I’d always been so busy with the twins that the chance never came up again.”

  Cassie glanced at Brock to see his reaction. He nodded sympathetically. “Well, let’s make sure you get comfortable. You’ll be doing plenty of riding from now on,” he said.

  Cassie’s heart warmed at the thought.

  * * *

  BROCK WATCHED CASSIE carefully as they first set out, but it quickly became clear that she was a natural on a horse. Soon, he had to avoid looking at her because the swaying of her hips with the horse’s gait was more than his body could take. His admiration of her tenacity and refusal to give up on her dream despite the years and obstacles only made her more attractive, and he was having a difficult time resisting her.

  “These are good animals,” Brock told her. “The Wilsons may have let the place go a little, but they had good taste in horses.”

  Cassie’s smile was such a mix of relief, thankfulness and hope that Brock felt both embarrassed and pleased by her confidence in his assessment. He had seen the look in her eyes the day before, too, when he’d told her the fence didn’t need as much lumber and expense as they’d thought.

  She clearly had been worrying about finances and her choice to purchase the ranch and move so far from her home, and he was glad he could be the one to ease her concerns. He knew she would fit into her ranch and Spring Valley better than she might give herself credit for.

  Their eyes met and held for a moment. Then another.

  Brock felt the intimacy settle in around them and instinctively recoiled, shifting his eyes back to Diamond. She had turned him down once before, and he wasn’t prepared to get shot down again, so it was best to keep from getting his hopes up. This could easily turn into a romantic horse ride in his mind, and he couldn’t allow that. It was important to keep things friendly.

  He was starting to hate that word.

  “Your top three movies. Go!” he said.

  There was a silence, and for a moment he thought she wasn’t going to accept the change of mood. Part of him hoped that was true.

  Then she said, “Okay, first is The Count of Monte Cristo, then The Terminator and for the third—” she paused for a second, then spoke all in a rush “—CuriousGeorgeAVeryMonkeyChristmas.”

  “What was that third one?” he asked, risking a glance in her direction.

  Her face was red, but she looked at him defiantly. “Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas.”

  He starte
d to laugh, more at the look on her face than anything else.

  “What?” she demanded. “The songs are catchy. And I have little kids.”

  She laughed, too, and he delighted in the sound of it. “Now it’s your turn,” she said to him. “And no lying. If Sleepless in Seattle is one of your favorite movies, you need to own up to it.”

  Brock shrugged, still chuckling. “Sleepless in Seattle is overrated. I’m a You’ve Got Mail guy myself.”

  For the next half hour, they talked and laughed about Brock’s favorite movies, what they would do if they won the lottery, and what each would bring with them to a desert island.

  All too soon, they arrived back at the ranch. Brock hopped off Diamond and moved to help Cassie get down, but before he could, she had dismounted and was standing beside Rosalind, patting the horse with affection. “You’re really looking like a cowgirl,” he told her.

  “Thanks, but don’t try to change the topic. You need to give an answer. One item to bring to a desert island.”

  He grinned. “A premade emergency backpack full of food and gear counts as one item. I’ve bought one before, so I know it exists. Don’t get mad at me because my answer was so much better than yours. How would you survive if you just brought a book with you?”

  She shook her head at him as they led the horses onto the property. “That’s not the point of the question,” she said. And, because she was curious, “Why did you need a backpack full of food and gear?”

  “I went trekking and mountain climbing with some buddies at the last minute and needed supplies to last a couple of days,” he answered.

  He didn’t mention that the bag had slipped from his arm and smashed on rocks hundreds of feet below on their first ascent, nor how miserable the following days were because of it.

  Before she could ask more questions, one of the twins ran out of the house. “I saw you riding the horses from the window! You were gone a long time,” he commented.

  Brock turned to him, glad he wouldn’t need to recount some of his less successful adventures. “Carter, if you were going to an island with no food or water on it, what would you bring in your backpack?”