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Chapter Five
“You know Slade is here, don’t you?” Jessica asked.
“Nope. I haven’t seen him.”
“Is that because of Chuck? Do you like him?”
Cassie touched up her lipstick, and rolled her eyes at her friend. Being on this double date hadn’t been what she wanted to do tonight. A good book and some hot chocolate had been on the cards, but Jessica had ordered her out of the house. If she hadn’t arrived, her friend had promised to burn her entire bodice ripper collection, not to mention her erotic romance. Cassie did own an e-reader, but she also loved paperbacks, and they were part of her proud collection.
She wasn’t risking anything happening to those books, so she was here now, touching up her lipstick, and trying to have a good time. Chuck was nice and all that. He was a rancher, was sweet on the eye, kind, but she also knew he was just after a cook for his ranch.
The last thing she wanted to be doing was stuck on a ranch all day. She loved cooking, cleaning, and relaxing, and none of that included working on a ranch. She had no interest in it, even though she didn’t mind Chuck talking about himself.
“If you’re hoping for wedding bells, you’re so totally wrong.” She turned to her friend.
“Chuck doesn’t do it for you?”
“He’s nice, and I don’t mind the dates, but I’m never going to be what he needs.”
“A cook?”
“You got it. Sorry. I’ve not got what it takes to be with him.”
Jessica sighed. “When are you going to get over this Andrew nonsense?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah. You do. From the moment that asshole hurt you—and I get that he did it in the most despicable of ways—you’ve not let anyone else in. All men are not like Andrew. They’re not all going to hurt you.”
Cassie blew out a breath. “I’m not doing this because of what happened between me and Andrew. I’m just … I’m not going to lead a man on because of it, or even pretend something could happen between us. I hope Chuck finds what he’s looking for. I’m just not it.”
They left the bathroom, and Cassie bumped into a large body. Before she fell back, strong arms caught her, and when she looked up, she smiled.
“Well, Jessica told me you were here?” She couldn’t help the happiness that flooded her at the sight of Slade, and even his cheeky grin.
“You’re here on a date?”
“Yes. Some of my precious possessions were threatened, so I had no choice but to come and party.” She patted his chest. “I better go. Have a nice night.”
She made her way back to their table, and found just William and Jessica there.
“Where’s Chuck?” she asked.
“He’s stepped outside for a smoke.”
Cassie nodded.
“We’re going to have a dance. Is that okay?” William asked.
“This is your first time away from the kids in a very long time. Go and have fun. I can amuse myself.” She waved them off with a big old smile. Jessica was a great friend, and she loved her so much.
Matchmaking was not Jessica’s forte, even though she really was convinced that she was good at it.
Tapping her fingers on the table, Cassie watched the happy couple, and was pleased she had come out, even if being here wasn’t exactly something she wanted to do.
“You know, I’ve always been a sucker for a woman on her own,” Slade said, dropping down beside her.
“What are you doing here? I thought you’d be picking up your next bedpost fling.”
