Expecting the Cowboy's Baby Read Online Free PDF

wedding.”
    â€œOkay,” Brian agreed. “We’ll see you later, sis.” He bent to give her a kiss on the cheek then said a brisk goodbye to Jake. Cassie watched the two of them head down the hallway.
    When they were out of sight, Jake took hold of her hand and led her back inside the hotel room. “Mind telling me what that was all about?”
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    Jake stood with hands planted on his hips, staring at Cassie. She made her way to the bed and slumped down, biting her lip. He took a seat on the opposite bed, facing her, waiting. She wore his shirt, looked damned good in it, too, and her exposed legs were enough of a distraction to keepJake’s mind from sorting all of this out on his own. He needed Cassie’s explanation.
    â€œThis is embarrassing,” she said, “and I’m sorry you got involved.”
    â€œInvolved in what, Cassie?”
    She looked into his eyes for a moment, then averted her gaze.
    â€œDoes this have something to do with that bull rider from last night?” Jake hoped not. For some bizarre reason, Jake’s gut clenched at the idea that Cassie might be interested in Brody Taylor, in any way, shape or form.
    â€œSort of. I, um, needed a date for my brother’s wedding. I, uh…oh, never mind. It’s stupid.” Cassie ran a hand down her face.
    â€œWhy is it so important that you have a date for your brother’s wedding?”
    Cassie crossed one leg over the other, a move that sped up his heart. She shifted on the bed, restlessly, and the shirt she wore— his shirt—moved fluidly with her, tempting him with a peek or two of her creamy skin above the knee. Jake curtailed his own desire to concentrate on what Cassie had to say. She stared into his eyes for a moment, then on a long sigh, began to explain. “Because, my ex-fiancé will be there with his new wife, that’s why. Because the date I had for today isn’t coming. And because I didn’t want to face a crowd of people with pity in their eyes. It was bad enough yesterday at the rehearsal dinner when I showed up alone.”
    Jake twisted his lips. He was beginning to get the picture, although for all he was worth, he couldn’t figure out why any man would dump Cassie Munroe. What had happened between them in high school didn’t count, in his estimation. He hadn’t dumped Cassie, but that night so long ago had been heart-wrenching for him and had changed his whole life. He couldn’t explain that to Cassie. He never spoke ofthat night to anyone. But that didn’t excuse the others who had treated her badly.
    She was gorgeous in her own unique way and intriguing, if not a bit flighty. Those green eyes of hers could just about melt any man’s heart. “I take it, it was a hard breakup?”
    â€œHumiliating. Two days before the wedding. Then the guy turned around and married his tennis instructor, just two months later.”
    â€œThat’s rough,” he said, understanding Cassie’s dilemma better now. He leaned forward and took both of her hands in his, resting them on her thighs. He ignored the sensation ripping through him from that contact, the sharp pang of desire. He couldn’t act upon his urges. Not now, not with Cassie so vulnerable. He wondered why she hadn’t asked him to the wedding instead of trying to pick up some stranger. “You could have said something yesterday.”
    Stark fear entered her eyes and they went amazingly wide. “Oh, I couldn’t ask you. You’re the last man I’d ask.”
    Jake flinched, his body tightening. The sting of her pronouncement ran deep, cutting through his heart. He’d been the outcast in school, the foster kid nobody seemed to want. And later he’d been the bastard son of a cold unyielding man. His own father hadn’t wanted him until it was too late. Far too late. Jake had known rejection all of his life. He’d dealt with it in his own