Authors: Paige Cameron
“Do I call the Priestess about setting up our wedding in the next few days?”
“I have to get back to work. Why don’t you call and make an appointment to talk with her? You missed your session with Pruet this morning. If he’s home you can see him, too.”
Cassie called Elle while Lang poured her tea and placed it in front of her. When she hung up, he bent and kissed her. “Got to go.”
“But you didn’t drink your coffee.”
He pointed to a thermos. “Taking it with me. Be good and stay out of trouble.” He winked and went out the door. She watched him ride off. It was a fine sight, him and his horse riding across the pasture full of wildflowers. If it wasn’t for her worry about her mom, her heart would be bursting with happiness.
* * * *
Nick arrived home later that evening, tired, but happy to see Cassie and Lang waiting for him. Cassie ran across the tarmac and threw herself into his arms.
“You saved me.” Her glowing face turned up to him.
“I took care of the problem with some good help.” He motioned to his guys hurrying to their cars. He put his arm around her waist. “What’s been happening since I’ve been gone?”
“I hope you won’t mind. We’re planning our wedding for two days from now. And right afterwards Mom will start her new treatments.”
“Wow.”
Damn, and I hadn’t talked with her yet.
Cassie caught his expression. “What’s wrong? You don’t look happy.”
“I am, believe me. But there is something we have to discuss. You might decide you’d rather marry only Lang.”
“No way. I want you both.”
“First thing in the morning, you and I are going on a horseback ride. We’ll take a picnic lunch.”
“Sounds wonderful. We need to reconnect.” Her look told him he’d worried her.
He rubbed his finger across the wrinkle between her eyebrows. “You worry too much. Everything is going to be fine.” He hoped.
Sara called that night to invite them to dinner the next evening to celebrate their soon-to-be wedding. All Lang’s, Nick’s, and Cassie’s families were coming. Nick, Lang, and Cassie decided they’d spend this evening eating pizza and catching up on all the recent events.
Cassie surprised them when she packed some of her clothes and told them she was staying at the cabin for the next two nights. “You two will be bachelors for the last time. Enjoy these two nights on your own. I need to be close for my dress fittings and planning with Rae and Elle. This way you’ll be very eager for your bride.”
Although they groaned and protested, they reluctantly agreed. Nick followed her back to the main ranch area and saw she was safe inside the cabin before he left.
“I’ll come by at seven and bring an extra horse for you to ride. Be ready.” He pulled her close and ravished her mouth. “Just so you don’t forget me before morning.” His mouth quirked up at the corner, and his eyes flashed with desire. “I won’t sleep until you are back in our bed for good.” Saying that, he left and took long strides back to his truck. Tomorrow, they’d have their talk.
He didn’t sleep. He’d gone to bed in one of the bedrooms on the other side of the house. The clock hands moved slowly toward five. Then he got up, fed the horses, and started breakfast.
Lang joined him, his hair wet from the shower. He buttoned his shirt and tucked it in as he came and sat at the table. “Had a rough night?”
“It shows?”
“Yes. You are worrying too much. She’ll be fine about what you do.”
“We’ll see. I’ve never felt as confident about her feelings for me.”
“You know you’re like a brother to me, so I can say this. You are stupid at times.”
“I’d punch you in the mouth, but you’re right. And Cassie might not like to see marks on your pretty face.” He laughed when Lang gave him a warning frown.
Chuckling, Nick put the eggs, bacon, and toast on their plates and joined Lang at the table. “Another long night, and then she’ll be ours.”
“Keep that thought when you’re talking with her today. Don’t mess things up.”
Chapter Fourteen
When they finished eating, Lang headed to his truck and Nick went to the barn to saddle two of the horses. They had a pretty mare they’d bought with Cassie in mind. He swung onto his stallion and headed to the cabin.
Cassie must have been watching for him. She came out the door before he could dismount.
“I’m ready. Don’t get off.” She rushed down the walkway. Her blonde hair had been pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore a blue cowboy shirt with silver trim and new jeans. Her hat swung from her fingers.
“You dressed up. That’s obviously a new shirt and jeans.”
“Nothing’s too good for my fella. I missed you.” She swung onto the mare’s back and leaned across to kiss him. “Good morning.”
His cock hardened at the sight of her, and his heart raced when her soft lips touched his mouth. “Behave, or we won’t go on a picnic. We’ll stay right here at the cabin.”
“We can do that if you want.”
“No. I want to be far from here, alone with you. And we can’t waste the delicious lunch Tessa packed for us.” He nodded to his saddlebags.
“What fun. I just have to be back in time for my final fitting at three. The seamstress is working overtime to finish my wedding gown.”
“I promise to return you in time. I don’t want to delay our ceremony tomorrow.”
The scent of hay, cattle, and wildflowers was blown around on the morning breeze. Once they rode past the main section of the ranch, quiet prairie land stretched for miles around them.
“Are we headed in any particular direction?” Cassie asked.
“A little ways ahead there is a shady spot by the river. We’ll stop there and talk then have our picnic.”
“Sounds good. I haven’t ridden much in the past ten years. I’d forgotten how much I love it.”
“How’s your mare? If you like we’ll buy you another horse.”
Cassie leaned forward and patted the horse’s neck. “She’s a beauty. I like her fine.”
“Then name her. She’s yours.”
“She’s so pretty and dainty. I’m going to call her Lady.”
Nick gazed across at Cassie. Her slim body was held straight, and she sat comfortably in the saddle. She was his lady. Her hair glowed golden in the sunlight, and flashing green eyes smiled back at him.
“What are you thinking?”
“About how naturally beautiful you are whether outdoors riding or in your shop working, and most of all in our bedroom with all your luscious body exposed.” As he’d expected, her cheeks flushed pink. “I love the blush on your cheeks.”
“Enough. You’ll give me a big head. Let’s race.” She took off riding fast toward a hammock of trees in the distance.
Nick let her get a head start before he urged his stallion forward. “Come on, boy. We can’t let the ladies beat us.” The stallion’s thundering hooves ate up the distance, almost as though he’d understood Nick’s words.
At the last moment, Nick pulled back on the reins and slowed. Cassie, eyes shining and lips curved into a smile, greeted him under the trees beside the river.
“Is this the place we were headed?”
“This is it.” Nick swung down and opened a saddlebag. “Here’s a blanket. Spread it out wherever you want.”
She wandered around the trees. “Here’s a spot with lots of soft pine needles. The blanket is thick, so maybe they won’t poke through.”
Nick brought an insulated bag and pulled out fried chicken, coleslaw, rolls, and grapes. In a smaller bag were two cans of soda and a bottle of water. “Everything we could possibly want, except a dessert. But that’s all right. You’ll be my afterdinner sweet.”
“But what do I get for dessert?” Cassie teased.
“Darlin’, you wound me.” He put his hand over his heart.
“You don’t look sweet to me. More like a salty, spicy appetizer.”
“So you have an appetizer and I have dessert. I’d say come and get me now, but”—he took her hand and motioned for her to sit—“we must talk first.”
“Why do I think I’m not going to like what you say?”
Nick leaned against the tree trunk, and Cassie sat where he could see her expressions. He’d started to pull her between his legs and hold her against him, but he wanted to see her face.
“We’ve never discussed what all I do here at the ranch.”
“You’re in charge of designing and building the houses and other facilities as needed,” Cassie said.
“True, I am. But I am also one of the warriors who go on assignment. I’d only been back from my last one a few days when you returned.”
“Can you tell me what you do on assignment?”
“I can tell you about my skills, and why I decided to come back and work with Mitch and Daren and the others.”
Cassie leaned forward, giving him all her attention. Nick opened a soda and took a long swallow.
“A few of us have heightened skills at night. Some have better vision, some of the men’s ability to hear improves even more at night. But one or two of us have all those abilities and a sixth sense regarding danger. It’s hard to describe. But when it all comes together, someone like me can make an excellent scout.”
“Can you give me an example? I’m trying to understand.”
“The other morning when we were taking the woman to meet with the police chief our sharpshooter saw the detective draw his gun the same time I did. But I heard a slight whisper in the change of the air and a tension up my spine. I didn’t hesitate. I drew my gun and whirled around. Peter didn’t have a chance to get us in his sights. My bullet hit him before his arm came all the way up.”
“Then you’re very valuable to the team.”
“Often I go in first. When I find their guard, I take him out. Quietly, quickly, and efficiently.” He saw the shock in her face.
“I have to be ruthless when necessary, but it’s never directed at anyone other than the enemy.” When she nodded her head, he felt a slight relief.
He opened a soda and handed it to her. She stared into his eyes as their hands touched.
“You went away. Why did you come back?”
“There were several reasons I left. One, to get experience in my field. Two, to try and find someone to replace you, and to try and deny the warrior side of me.”
“But you returned.”
“I missed the ranch, my family, my friends, especially Lang. We’d been buddies since we were kids. And I never found a replacement for you. I hoped you’d come home too, someday.”
“Did Mitch ask you to join the team?”
“That’s the other reason I returned. I heard they’d lost a man on a mission. They hadn’t had a scout with them. There are only two others that have the same skills I do. One was sick, the other had just gotten back. The team decided to go without a forward scout. I left knowing they were shorthanded. I had convinced myself they didn’t need me. I carry some guilt over the loss of my friend.”
“Why are you telling me this, Nick? Do you think I’ll feel differently about you?”
“You might look at me and wonder. Perhaps be afraid I can’t control that side of my personality. You haven’t been too fond of the ranch, and I’m definitely part of it now.”