Expecting The Cowboy's Baby

He really felt that he’d met her before.

And then it hit him. He’d been thinking of the women he’d known in the present. But he’d known her as a girl—in the past. Another lifetime ago, it seemed.

“Cassandra Munroe,” he called, stepping out into the foyer.

She halted, her shoulders slumping. She turned to him slowly. Those eyes, bright green and so incredibly startling, had given her away. No other female had eyes quite so remarkable. It had been years, ten or so, since he’d seen her. They’d only known each other for a short time while in high school and both of them had changed quite a bit, but Jake hadn’t forgotten her.

He strode down the hallway, watching her indecision from the subtle moves she made. The tilt of her head feathered auburn tresses onto her cheek, the rest of her coppery hair shifting slightly. “You went to Santa Susana High School,” he announced.

She stared at him a moment, her expression a mixture of emotions he couldn’t read.

“Do you remember me?” he asked.

“Jake Griffin,” she said, her tone flat. “We went to school together.”

“Yeah, for about a minute.” He removed his hat to scratch his head. “Hard kid to forget, huh?”

She stared at him a moment more with curiosity, it appeared, and a question on her lips. She fought a frown, but Jake noticed her struggle to keep her expression from faltering. “You look different,” she said. “All grown up.”

He cocked his head. “I could say the same about you, Cassandra.” He couldn’t pretend not to notice that Cassandra Munroe had grown up in very appealing ways. Her body was one to write home about and she had a unique face, not only those large, emerald eyes, but also a pouty, heart-shaped mouth and the prettiest silky hair.

“It’s Cassie now.” She darted a glance around, her eyes searching for the Sunset Room and a way out, no doubt. “I really am late. I should be going. It was nice seeing you again, Jake.”

He doubted that. The woman’s expression had chilled the minute he recognized her. Memories flooded in of his early high school days. Cassandra had befriended him when no one else had. He’d been a loner, an outcast, the boy even his biological father hadn’t wanted. Jack Griffin had been the foster kid that nobody wanted. He’d been bounced around from one home to another. Six foster homes in all. At times, Jake knew he had no one to rely on but himself. He’d never stayed in one place long enough to make lasting friendships. He’d never developed roots of any kind. He knew for the most part, his foster parents hadn’t cared for him. He’d been trouble at times. He hadn’t been an easy kid to have around, and later, in his teens, he’d been the boy mothers warned their daughters about. Cassie probably should have steered clear, too, because in the end, he had only hurt her.

Jake reminded himself he was on a mission to win the rodeo championship. He had to prove to his estranged father once and for all that he was every bit the man that John T. was. It was a personal promise he’d made to himself. He had no time for red-haired beauties, anyway, old acquaintance or not. He had no time for women, period. He’d gone that route once before and it had ended with disastrous results. His wife had left him for a man with a more stable profession. She wasn’t cut out to be a rodeo wife, she’d claimed, but Jake had known better. He’d known the truth—she’d abandoned him because she hadn’t loved him enough, or at all. Jake had come to the conclusion, without a doubt, that he wasn’t cut out for relationships, much less love.

He’d never known real love of any kind. It had been a long, hard road for a young boy, but he’d finally faced facts. Even his biological father hadn’t wanted him, until John T.’s legitimate son had died tragically. Jake still had his doubts as to why John T. had finally come for him. But he’d vowed not to open his heart up to anyone, and that included his father. That also meant no women, no entanglements and no distractions of any kind. “Think you can find the Sunset Room?”

A small smile surfaced. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine.”

Jake watched her walk away.

The woman certainly was “fine.”

He shook his head and headed back to the banquet. A horde of fans pounced on him before he reached the door, jamming photos and programs in his hand for him to sign. But Jake had trouble concentrating on names being dashed off in rapid succession.

His mind was on one distracting female.

And he doubted he’d be able to forget the all-grown-up, Cassie Munroe anytime soon.

Brian hugged Cassie to his chest and kissed her forehead. He whispered, “Thanks for coming, sis. I know this isn’t easy for you.”

Cassie stared blankly at her brother, still reeling from seeing Jake Griffin again after all this time. He’d been a boy, a tall, good-looking one when she’d known him, but now…well, Jake was a hunk of a man with chiseled features, sexy stubble and a well-defined mouth. She’d had a major crush on him in high school and had been so darn giddy when the boy she’d only known for a few weeks had asked her out. And then, without reason, he’d broken her young, tender heart.

A sigh escaped Cassie’s throat.

This weekend couldn’t get any worse.

“Cassie?” Brian’s voice brought her out of her musings.

“Huh?”

“I said, I know this isn’t easy for you.”

No, it wasn’t easy for her, but she’d made it through the rehearsal and now sat next to her brother, with Alicia by his side, in the Sunset Room and had to endure their sympathetic stares. They meant well, but Cassie was tired of being everyone’s pity case. She’d made up her mind when Rick broke up with her that it was for the best. She’d just wished they’d have come to that conclusion before the wedding invitations had been sent out. But for Brian’s sake, and for her own, she’d been very cordial about the breakup.

Rick Springer was Brian’s friend and business partner. It wouldn’t do anyone any good for Cassie to play the martyred soul. Cassie had come to Brian’s wedding and had every intention of enjoying herself.

“When do we get to meet your date?” Alicia’s smile and hope-filled expression had Cassie’s mind spinning. She couldn’t let on that her date wasn’t coming. True, a busted knee from playing basketball was a pretty good excuse, but Cassie was afraid that’s exactly what it would sound like to Brian and Alicia. An excuse. And they’d start worrying about her again. That was the last thing Cassie wanted. And trying to figure out what to do about it during the five-hour drive here had distracted her. That’s why she’d run out of gas. Nerves, and a mad dash to get here on time, had made mush of her brain.

Poor Alicia would be crushed to know Cassie was sans date for the wedding. Alicia had tried her best to be upbeat and had been a source of great comfort to Cassie when Rick had broken their engagement. She’d lent her support and had been a true friend.

Cassie braved a glance at her brother. Brian, too, waited patiently for Cassie’s answer.

He’d been concerned about her, as well; had suggested many times to set her up with one of his clients since the breakup, but Cassie had always refused. She didn’t need a dating service. Besides she knew almost all of Brian’s clients, having worked on their accounting books. Cassie hadn’t met anyone of interest in the small, personalized chain of sporting goods stores that Brian owned in Southern California.

Cassie took a bite of her chicken marsala, hoping for inspiration, and realized that she couldn’t taste the food. Raw nerves apparently affected her taste buds, too. “Um, he had an appointment he couldn’t miss. He’ll be here tomorrow for the wedding.”

Relief registered quickly on both of their faces and Cassie shot them a reassuring smile while she trembled inside.

Now what?

She’d have to make up another excuse tomorrow. She could only hope Brian and Alicia would be too caught up in their festivities to spend time worrying about her.

Or…she could find herself a date.

That would be a far better solution. She’d be able to save face, hold her head up high and she wouldn’t hinder her brother’s celebration.

Brian took hold of her hand and patted gently. “I hope you have a good time tomorrow. Alicia and I worried that coming to our wedding would be too soon for you.”

“Oh, I’m fine. I’m over it, really, Brian. And I wouldn’t dream of missing my brother’s wedding. It’s been three months and I’m…I’m actually glad I didn’t marry Rick.” She peered down the long table to the far end where Rick sat with his new wife. To her brother’s credit, the newly married couple had been strategically placed as far away as possible from her. Mentally, she counted nine people separating them. Yet as she glanced at Rick, no emotion stirred within her, no regret or anguish.

After the breakup, Cassie had often wondered if Rick had been too darn convenient a choice. He was her brother’s friend, business partner, someone Brian had approved of wholeheartedly. Had she considered marriage to Rick more for her brother’s sake than hers? Cassie had never contemplated her motives with such scrutiny before. But she’d had time to really think in these last few weeks. And during that time she’d come to the conclusion that marrying him wouldn’t have been the right move.

In truth, she wasn’t going to marry anyone until she had her feet planted firmly on the ground. She wanted a fresh start and, surprisingly, she wanted small-town life again. She had wonderful fond memories of her northern Nevada hometown and had always longed to go back. When her parents passed on, she and Brian were shipped to Los Angeles to live with their aunt Sherry. Brian had taken to city life far better than Cassie. It seemed to energize him whereas Cassie found the big city draining.

After Aunt Sherry retired to Florida, Cassie stayed in Los Angeles mostly to be close to Brian, but she’d always missed the simpler side of life. She needed that, she mused, without question. Besides, she’d been under her brother’s wing too long. She wanted to cut the apron strings and branch out on her own. As sweet as her older brother had been, worrying about her at each turn, lending his support, she had finally decided to make some changes in her life.

It was time for Cassie to take a stand.

She wouldn’t tell Brian her plans to relocate until he got back from his honeymoon in Kuaui. She wouldn’t tell him that she had a job offer in Nevada, very near her own hometown, and that all had been settled but the signing on the dotted line. Upon his return she’d explain to her brother how badly she needed to do this. She would make him see that she wasn’t cut out for big city life.

“I can’t wait to meet your date,” Alicia said eagerly. Both she and Brian had looks of anticipation on their faces.

Cassie really hated lying. “He’s just a friend, really. I mean to say, he’s not my boyfriend or anything.”

“He’s coming all this way for our wedding. To be with you,” Alicia reminded her.