Cedar Hollow Read Online Free PDF

at her.
    “Cassidy, dear, please have a seat.” Mrs. Owens gestured to the small table where Ben sat. Cassidy glanced nervously at him and found him watching her, she quickly looked away and walked to the table avoiding eye contact. It was a small table, not meant to seat more than four, so there really wasn’t a chair that wasn’t close to his. She opted for the one on the opposite side of the small table, which left them face to face.
    Mrs. Owens carried a plate of food to the table and set it in front of Cassidy. “I hope you like eggplant parmesan.” Mrs. Owens smiled kindly down at her.
    “It looks wonderful, thank you.” Cassidy answered politely. Truthfully Cassidy had only had eggplant parmesan once before at a restaurant, she hadn’t been a fan, but it would be horribly rude to admit that now.
    “If there isn’t anything else I can get you I think I’ll retire for the night.” Mrs. Owens said sweetly as she picked up a large covered tray.
    “You’re not eating with us?” Cassidy asked alarmed.
    “No, dear, I take my dinner in my room.” Mrs. Owens explained holding the large tray.
    “Oh.” Cassidy hadn’t planned on having to eat alone with Ben, she had counted on Mrs. Owens being there as a buffer.
    “Goodnight, Lucy.” Ben said as he picked up his fork and started to dig in.
    “Night , kids.” Mrs. Owens called over her shoulder as she headed up a second flight of stairs at the back of the kitchen. It had been years since Cassidy had been referred to as a kid. She’d been on her own for so long now, it felt strange to have someone taking care of her.
    “Aren’t you hungry?” Ben asked gruffly as he continued to devour his meal. Cassidy realized she’d been staring afte r Mrs. Owens lost in thought.
    “Actually I’m starving.” She admitted looking down at her plate warily. It did look very appetizing. Tentatively Cassidy took a bite.
    “Wow, this is amazing! ” She remarked in surprise.
    “Just harvested it last week. Always better fresh.” Ben explained, concentrating on his food and not looking up from his plate. Cassidy felt an odd tension building between them, somewhere between hostility and attraction. Both of them were avoiding eye contact.
    “I didn’t realize you had a garden here.”
    Ben snorted derisively. “If we didn’t we wouldn’t eat.” He informed her coldly. “Of course I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore if I’m about to be out on my ass.” He challenged finally looking up at her. His eyes burned with hostility. Okay, so maybe the attraction was only on her part.
    “Look, I’m sorry for my comment earlier. I was frustrated and overwhelmed, but it was uncalled for. Thank you for the bath.” Cassidy said sweetly trying to ease the tension.
    “Whether or not you’re sorry doesn’t change the fact that we’re about to be kicked out of our home, now does it?” Anger radiated off of him, and perversely to Cassidy it only made him more attractive.  
    “Look , I haven’t decided anything yet.” She said defensively, wishing she had her high heels on. They made her braver.
    “Yes , well, we both know how this is going to end, and the longer you take mulling over your decision all you’re really doing is depleting our resources.” Ben shot back at her.
    “I can carry my own weight.” Cassidy retorted, offended. Nobody had been burdened with supporting her since the day she turned eighteen and she wasn’t going to let Mr. Ben Riley make her feel like some sort of free-loader.
    “Oh really?” Ben smirked, and damn if he wasn’t handsome when he smirked. “We’ll see about that.” He smiled cryptically and Cassidy suddenly felt very nervous.
    Cassidy looked back down at her plate feeling flushed a nd having lost her appetite. She picked at her food, her stomach was in knots. She shifted her feet uncomfortably stretching her legs under the table to cross her ankles and her foot brushed his under the table. He was barefoot