Love at Any Cost Read Online Free PDF Page A

brat.” Cassie pinched her waist. “But so help me, Al, if either of these two clowns corner me in the billiard room tonight, I’ll be showing you ‘sour.’ ”
    Allison lunged away, giggles bouncing off the walls as she sashayed to the door. She turned in a dramatic pose, hand on the knob. “Or thank me,” she said with a dance of her brows. “Because trust me—these two make Mark Chancellor look like the rump of your prize filly.”
    A deep-down chuckle rolled from Cassie’s lips, the first real laugh she’d had in way too long. Alli winked and closed the door, leaving Cassie with an image of Mark she could live with.
    That of a horse’s behind.

 3 
    S tudying herself in the mirror, Cassie sighed. Or tried to—the confounded corset wasn’t making it easy. She tugged up on the filmy off-shoulder sleeves of the taffeta gown and wished it didn’t expose so much of her pale skin. Especially given the hint of tan on her face from working outdoors on the ranch, dusting her nose and cheeks with too many freckles to count. But it couldn’t be helped, she supposed, especially since Alli had piled her hair loosely on her head in a full chignon that accentuated the long curve of her neck. Another sigh attempted escape. At least Alli’s face powder worked wonders in toning Cassie’s freckles and tan. She had to admit the wispy flaxen curls feathering her head and throat lent an ethereal air that made her feel graceful and beautiful for the first time since Mark had broken their engagement. From that night, Cassie refused to pretty up for anyone, wearing nothing but jeans and buckskin skirts except for the tailored suits and skirts she was forced to wear to church. But as her mother had so painfully pointed out, her cousins’ Nob Hill home in the big city was not some cattle ranch in East Texas, and the comfort of leather and denim would no longer suffice.
    â€œJust forget about Mark and enjoy being a girl again,” VirginiaMcClare had begged, ever worried that her only daughter would end up an embittered tomboy. Cassie smoothed shaky hands down a full bodice to her tightly cinched waist, palms gliding over slim hips that spilled into a trumpet-shaped gown. Enjoy herself? In a corset? Her full lips twitched. May as well be a noose. She peeked at the clock on the vanity, then blew out a gust of air that fluttered the delicate tendrils at the side of her face. “Thunderation, I’m late!” she muttered to the Gibson Girl in the mirror. “Sweet mother of pearl, why did I take a nap?”
    â€œBecause you were exhausted from days on a train?”
    Cassie spun around and grinned, the sight of her younger cousin Meg swelling her heart. “Meg!” She shot forward to give her a hug that made her giggle. “Let me look at you!” Cassie said, studying the shy and plump sixteen-year-old who’d always excelled in academics rather than social graces. A redhead like her mother, Meg had more of a pale strawberry blonde shade that washed out fair skin infused with freckles. A wide grin offered glints of gold in wire braces the dentist assured would work magic on Meg’s crooked smile. From early on, Allison had been the beauty and Meg the gentle wallflower who preferred to fade into the shadows where she could adore her older sister and cousin from afar. Cassie’s throat ached at the awful pranks and teasing Meg endured in school—just like Cassie—and she hugged her again. “You’re getting to be a lady, Miss Megan McClare, and soon to be a beauty like your sister.”
    Megan ducked her head in a shy manner, a twinkle dancing in eyes more vibrant green than Cassie had ever seen, even behind gold wire-rimmed glasses. “Aw, Cass, you know I’ll never be pretty like Alli and you, but that’s okay—lawyers don’t have to be pretty, just smart.”
    Tugging on a waist-long lock of