Read Online Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) by Kimberly Krey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly Krey
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just another tidbit Shane logged into his assessment of her. The woman before him was a mystery – a puzzle of sorts – and he was left to gather the pieces. He still had a long way to go, yet something was clicking into place. He just didn’t have the time to ponder exactly what it was about Cassie Lovell that set her apart from most women he’d met.
His thoughts were all but lost as her thumbs began pressing at the muscle along the outer edge of his hand. His eyes drifted closed at the feel of it. She moved slowly, thoroughly, rubbing small circles along the edges of his palm, paying extra attention to the spots just beneath each finger. A slight moan sounded from his throat, and Cassie giggled in response – a cute, quiet little sound.
After working the entire palm, she flipped his hand over and pinched at the skin on the back, tugging it away from the knuckle while making her way up and down each finger. She skipped right over his supposed wedding ring as if it were some permanent part of him. Shane expected to feel more annoyed at the thought – him being trapped in the situation and all – but even when he tried he couldn’t muster the anger he’d felt before he’d met the woman. Already, she had him under her spell. He was in trouble for sure.
“Next hand,” she said.
Shane didn’t hesitate. Couldn’t believe how good the massage felt.
“I’ve never massaged anyone’s hands before,” she said. “But I still remember every little move Grandma made while she did mine. Something that’s just stuck with me.”
Shane was surprised. “So what made you think of doing this for me?”
He watched her pale lids as she blinked a few times, keeping her focus on his hand. She shrugged before glancing up at him. “I just really appreciate what you’re doing for me, and I wanted to thank you somehow. Pay you back in some small way.”
He felt like a big heap of manure for whining about the whole thing now. Here this woman had her entire life turned upside down and he’d been the one complaining.
“It’s hard for you to be away from the ranch, from what you said,” she continued, her voice small and warm as she sandwiched his large hand between hers. Her statement made him feel even worse. Reminded him of how she’d praised her parents for the way they valued their precious mission work over their own daughter. A big piece of the puzzle was snapping into place.
“Listen,” he said, “I’m happy to do it. I want you to know that.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s a sacrifice for you, to spend this time away. All to come get me, work out this whole marriage charade so it looks like we’re having a decent honeymoon, when in reality you haven’t even kissed the bride.” She glanced at him shyly at first, through her lashes, head still lowered over his hand. But as she slowly lifted her chin, Cassie’s eyes drifted to his mouth.
He gulped.
Her words dangled in the air like an invitation, warm and welcome. Something in the atmosphere had changed, a new energy pushing right through his skin where it pulsed in his blood, pounded restlessly in his heart as he eyed that pretty mouth of hers in return. He couldn’t likely bring her home without a simple kiss, now, could he?
The dim glow of the muted TV screen played across her face like a reflection of dancing flames from a bonfire. The imagined heat of it licked at his skin as he got to his knees. Cassie sat up on the couch as he did, resting her legs off the edge at either side of him.
Shane had been only half-certain he should make such a move, but as Cassie reached out, rested her arms gently around his neck, he realized she wanted it too.
His heart pounded faster, hotter.
Perhaps a lone hotel room wasn’t the smartest place for a first kiss, especially if he intended to have it end with that, but there was no stopping the inertia that drew his hands to the warm curve of her hips. He inhaled that scent of her and let out a raspy
His thoughts were all but lost as her thumbs began pressing at the muscle along the outer edge of his hand. His eyes drifted closed at the feel of it. She moved slowly, thoroughly, rubbing small circles along the edges of his palm, paying extra attention to the spots just beneath each finger. A slight moan sounded from his throat, and Cassie giggled in response – a cute, quiet little sound.
After working the entire palm, she flipped his hand over and pinched at the skin on the back, tugging it away from the knuckle while making her way up and down each finger. She skipped right over his supposed wedding ring as if it were some permanent part of him. Shane expected to feel more annoyed at the thought – him being trapped in the situation and all – but even when he tried he couldn’t muster the anger he’d felt before he’d met the woman. Already, she had him under her spell. He was in trouble for sure.
“Next hand,” she said.
Shane didn’t hesitate. Couldn’t believe how good the massage felt.
“I’ve never massaged anyone’s hands before,” she said. “But I still remember every little move Grandma made while she did mine. Something that’s just stuck with me.”
Shane was surprised. “So what made you think of doing this for me?”
He watched her pale lids as she blinked a few times, keeping her focus on his hand. She shrugged before glancing up at him. “I just really appreciate what you’re doing for me, and I wanted to thank you somehow. Pay you back in some small way.”
He felt like a big heap of manure for whining about the whole thing now. Here this woman had her entire life turned upside down and he’d been the one complaining.
“It’s hard for you to be away from the ranch, from what you said,” she continued, her voice small and warm as she sandwiched his large hand between hers. Her statement made him feel even worse. Reminded him of how she’d praised her parents for the way they valued their precious mission work over their own daughter. A big piece of the puzzle was snapping into place.
“Listen,” he said, “I’m happy to do it. I want you to know that.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s a sacrifice for you, to spend this time away. All to come get me, work out this whole marriage charade so it looks like we’re having a decent honeymoon, when in reality you haven’t even kissed the bride.” She glanced at him shyly at first, through her lashes, head still lowered over his hand. But as she slowly lifted her chin, Cassie’s eyes drifted to his mouth.
He gulped.
Her words dangled in the air like an invitation, warm and welcome. Something in the atmosphere had changed, a new energy pushing right through his skin where it pulsed in his blood, pounded restlessly in his heart as he eyed that pretty mouth of hers in return. He couldn’t likely bring her home without a simple kiss, now, could he?
The dim glow of the muted TV screen played across her face like a reflection of dancing flames from a bonfire. The imagined heat of it licked at his skin as he got to his knees. Cassie sat up on the couch as he did, resting her legs off the edge at either side of him.
Shane had been only half-certain he should make such a move, but as Cassie reached out, rested her arms gently around his neck, he realized she wanted it too.
His heart pounded faster, hotter.
Perhaps a lone hotel room wasn’t the smartest place for a first kiss, especially if he intended to have it end with that, but there was no stopping the inertia that drew his hands to the warm curve of her hips. He inhaled that scent of her and let out a raspy
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