Page 30 of Country Charm

“I’m no dog, Cass, and you’re going to learn that real quick.” He squeezes my hand and brings me to a stand where a young man is taking orders.

“These milkshakes are made with the stuff from Harrison’s cattle. Get ready Cassidy, you’re about to lose the taste for anything in the city.”

I can see the double meaning in his face, and it worries me because I kind of think he might be right.

Chapter Sixteen

Hunter

I’m going to have hell to pay after all this. Franny is going to pitch a fit over the public humiliation, but I tried to warn her before tonight even came around. Is a public date with Cassidy around my entire hometown the best idea? Probably not. But I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Jake and hisfriendLena are working at the milkshake stand, Jake for pay and Lena as a volunteer. I imagine she’s doing it to spend more time with Jake. Her efforts are huge, I just hope Jake is giving her the recognition for it.

“Two chocolate milkshakes,” I say to him at the window. He looks down at Cassidy’s hand in mine and raises his brows. The kid couldn’t be discreet if he tried.

“Sure thing, Mr. Hill. It’s on me, sir.” He winks. I just shake my head. The kid is killin’ me. I needed him to save my ass at the stand today with Franny and got nothing. Now he’s giving me free milkshakes like I’m hard up.

“I can cover them,” Cassidy pipes up.

“You will not. I can pay.” I let go of her hand and reach back for my wallet, pulling out cash with a tip for the kids.Once he hands over the shakes, I turn to Cassidy. Handing her one, I take the flowers from her and hold them in the same hand as my shake so she can still have a hand free for me to hold.

“Are you ready to leave that city garbage in your past, Cassidy?” I say, raising my own straw to my lips.

“I don’t think so.” Her tone wavers and she looks down at the cup and then over to our entwined hands. I take a full gulp and then pull her hand to my lips and kiss the back.

“Just take a sip,” I encourage.

Cassidy looks up at me, her green eyes sparkling almost as much as her glittery hair. I’m surprised it hasn’t washed out. If I had anything to say about it, I’d tell her to keep it. It’s got a unique charm to it.

She brings her straw to her mouth and wraps those pouty lips closed around it. I watch her freckle-splattered cheeks hollow as she sucks. My dick instantly goes hard.I’m worse than a teenager.

She moans in appreciation and takes a deeper sip. I could listen to her make those noises all night. If it were up to her, I would have her making those noises all night, but only one night. Seeing Franny and all this small-town stuff probably has her even more resistant to the idea of more than one night with me. Hell, maybe she doesn’t even want a fling anymore.

I walk her around the square and name each of the different food vendors. She just drinks and walks silently next to me. I wait for her to show interest in something, but she just nods and keeps walking with me. The people in my town are watching us, but I don’t give a fuck.

I’m walking along with Cassidy toward the open area in front of the stage when Harrison catches my eye. He meets my gaze and I give the slightest shake of my head. That’s thelast thing I need. Harrison will surely scare off any last hope I have of winning over Cassidy.

“The last stand here is funnel cakes, deep-fried apple pie, deep-fried?—”

“Deep-fried apple pie! Deep-fried apple pie!” She all but pushes me over. She lets go of my hand and grabs my bicep, pulling me over to her, like I can’t hear her yelling.

“You don’t want real food first?” I ask. She looks up and scowls at me.

“Okay, okay.” She gives me a small smile, and I take that as another victory and pocket it. I know she has bigger smiles and I want one of those before the night is over. Hell, I want a lot more than one of her amazing smiles. But beggars can’t be choosers. I pull her over to the stand with the dessert and I can feel her humming with excitement.Sweet tooth, huh?

Thinking he’s sly, Harrison comes up behind us, but not directly. He waits for another person to get behind me, then he gets behind him. He’s trying to listen to our conversation, but Cassidy hasn’t been much of a talker tonight, which isn’t like her at all.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“Your town is interesting.” She’s pulling her bottom lip between her teeth and it has me wondering if there’s more. I wait quietly, seeing if she will continue. She doesn’t, she just looks at me. Weighing something in her mind.

“Good-interesting?”

“Different. I’ve never been in a place so… familiar? I don’t know the word. It’s a small town but not tiny. It seems like everyone knows each other, and everyone seems to get along, for the most part.” She rocks back on her heels for a moment.

“The city is huge, and you could never see the sameperson twice, and that seems to lead people to be,” she pauses thoughtfully, “less kind. I don’t know. I’m just surprised by the intimacy of it all.”

“I see, but don’t let one day fool you. Small towns have drama of their own, too. We’ve had all-out wars. Once, our main baker dated the woman who runs the post office. When they broke up the whole town was taking sides. We had to hold three town meetings in one week!”

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