Expecting the Cowboy's Baby by Charlene Sands Read Free Book Online Page A

hurting right now, but you’ll heal. And then some lucky guy will hog-tie you to him.”
    She stopped dancing to make her point. “I’m over the hurt, Jake. I need…space and freedom. I’ve never had that before. Brian’s been wonderful to me, but he’s overprotective. He’s made my life too easy. He’s been accommodating and I’ve allowed it. I think that’s why I’ve made so many errors in judgment lately. It’s my own fault for not being stronger. But now, well…things are about to change.”
    â€œAre they?”
    â€œYes, they are,” she replied firmly.
    â€œHow?”
    â€œI’m giving up my position at Brian’s company. I’ve accepted a job near my hometown that I’m very excited about. I’m through with the big city. I haven’t told Brian yet, so please don’t mention it. I don’t want my older brother to go into cardiac arrest anytime soon, especially right before his honeymoon.”
    â€œWhat do you do, exactly?”
    â€œI’m an accountant. I’ve always been good with numbers. I’m forever calculating things in my head. It’s almost an obsession.”
    He stopped to gaze at her. He spoke softly with an appreciative gleam in his eyes. “You don’t look like an accountant.”
    â€œI, uh…is that a compliment?”
    Jake chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
    â€œAnd to set the record straight,” she added, “the last thing I want is to have some Neanderthal hog-tie me to him.”
    â€œIf you say so,” he said a little too smugly. Heck, what did she care if he didn’t believe her? It wasn’t as though they meant anything to each other. They were reunited acquaintances who would soon say their farewells tonight, and that would be that.
    Jake must have been on the same wavelength, because the conversation died and he brought her up close again, pressing her to his solid body.
    They moved fluidly across the dance floor, Cassie falling into step with him. He draped his hand down her lower back, dangerously near her derriere, while the other hand played with the ends of her hair. His warm breath caressed her lightly as he nuzzled his nose into her neck, breathing her in, creating exciting thrills throughout her body.
    His hand slipped farther down her back, nearly not on her back any longer, and he whispered into her ear, “You’re a beautiful woman, Cassie Munroe.”
    â€œThank you. You’re not half bad, yourself.” It was an understatement by any stretch of the imagination. The man was sexy, thrilling, dangerous and…beautiful.
    â€œNow that’s nice to hear,” he said in a husky voice, leaning in, bending to her. His lips traveled along her throat, moistening, kissing, nuzzling until Cassie couldn’t take a deep breath. Her heart raced wildly. She kept telling herself it was all for show. Rick and his wife were on the dance floor, too. Jake must have noticed them. He was doing this for their benefit, not because he couldn’t keep his hands off of her.
    Those warning bells in her head rang loud and clear.
    Don’t fall for this guy. He’s all wrong for you.
    Cassie reminded herself Jake was the first guy ever tostand her up. And he hadn’t offered her any explanation. Even though it happened more than ten years ago, a girl had a right to know why.
    Cassie was eventually saved by the bell…the dinner bell. The band stopped playing and all the guests headed for the dinner tables, situated both inside and outside on one of the three-tiered decks.
    It was a good thing, too, that dinner had been called, because Cassie needed to get a grip. Grateful that Jake opted for outdoor dining, they sat at a little table for two on the lower deck of the riverboat. Cassie needed the fresh air. She needed to clear her head. She needed to have a table separating the two of them or else she’d surely experience a