Cupcakes and Cowboys (Sunset Plains Romance Book 1) (3 page)

“I appreciate the discretion. She certainly seems to dislike me. Are you and Cassidy . . . ?”

Mason pulled his hat low over his eyes, ignoring the question. “Well, come inside and I’ll show you around.”

The bunkhouse pretty much looked like the pictures Jase had found online while researching. The door opened into a large living room with a multitude of couches and a large television on one wall. Jase had expected a mess, but was surprised at how clean the place was—no clutter, and no dirt on the floor. Boots were neatly lined up next to the door.

“Where are all the men?” Jase asked, looking around the empty living room.

“A few cows fell sick today.” Mason walked through a set of sliding barn doors that led into an open kitchen with a long dining room table. “Mealtimes are at six, noon, and six. You’re welcome to anything in that fridge or those cupboards” —he pointed— “if you get hungry. On days you’ll be out on the range, you pack your own lunch before heading out.”

Jase tingled with excitement. This was so different from any role he’d ever played. Maybe it would be the role that finally helped him regain the fire he’d once felt. He’d shadowed soldiers and doctors and once even a forensic scientist for roles, but never a cowboy. This life overflowed with long days and hard work, but something about the simplicity appealed to him.

They left the kitchen and walked down a narrow hallway. The communal bathroom featured six of everything, and the bunk room held two rows of bunk beds, enough to sleep twenty.

Mason pointed to a top bunk near the middle of one row. “That’s your bed. Randy said you don’t want special treatment, so don’t expect any from me.”

Jase raised an eyebrow, but nodded. “All the ranch hands live here?”

“No, just the temporary hires. There’s another bunkhouse on the other side of the barn with more private rooms for the permanent employees, and some of the guys have families and live in town. I’m in the other bunkhouse if you need me. I’ll pick you up after breakfast.”

“Thanks, Mason.” Jase gave the man a firm handshake.

“Any time. I better go make sure Cassidy’s okay.” He disappeared out the door, leaving Jase alone in the room.

Maybe Mason and Cassidy weren’t together. But it seemed like Mason certainly wanted to be. Jase almost felt bad about putting his mentor in the doghouse. Almost. Something in the flash of Cassidy’s eyes made him long to figure her out.

His phone rang, startling him from his thoughts. His heart dropped when he saw who it was. Mother—she’d never been “mama” like Cassidy called Sara, or even “mom.”

Jase wanted to ignore the call, but knew if he didn’t answer she’d keep bugging him until he did. Maybe even send some of her people to hunt him down. “Hello, Mother.”

“You can’t seriously be in Oklahoma right now.” No greeting, no ‘hey, how are you?’ She always did have a way of cutting straight to the point.

“I’m researching my new role.” And on his own dime. Production didn’t mind funding a week or two of research, which is what he’d done in the beginning. But he couldn’t embrace a role so quickly. Slowly the time had stretched from a few weeks to a few months—eccentric, even by Hollywood standards, but his performances showed the effort he put in.

“Research is a week. Delaying production so you can shovel manure for four months is inexcusable.”

Jase’s stomach twisted. The producer had been annoyed, but agreed to Jase’s terms. How had she found out? “You aren’t involved in this film, so I don’t see why it matters.” There was no pleasing her—she wanted the Academy Award-winning performance, but it annoyed her endlessly when he put in the time.

“I am now. Clearly, you can’t be left to your own devices on this one. Production starts in a month. If you haven’t immersed yourself into your role by then, we’ll recast it.” And the phone clicked dead.

Cassidy stormed away from the bunkhouse, not allowing herself the pleasure of watching Jase’s backside as he walked inside. She couldn’t believe she’d have to put up with that . . . that . . . that
actor
for the next four months.

Really, when it came down to it, she couldn’t think of a worse word to call him.

Jase didn’t seem to have any idea that she was Drew’s ex-fiancé. The fact that Drew hadn’t thought she was worth mentioning hurt more than she’d expected it to, and made her dislike Jase even more. If he was best friends with a jerk like Drew, then Jase couldn’t be a very good guy.

Well, if he expected her to be starstruck and to fall all over him, he could think again. She would spend the next four months making sure he knew just how unimportant he was. And she’d start by acting like he didn’t exist.

The darkening clouds mirrored her mood, and wind rustled the leaves of the trees. She kicked a dirt clod across the grass, then stomped up the side steps and into the kitchen, slamming the door shut behind her.

Her mom looked up in surprise. She held a peach in one hand and a knife in the other, expertly skinning it. “You’re already back?”

Cassidy grunted. She yanked open the fridge and pulled out the makings for a salad—her mother provided one at nearly every meal, and she was sure this one would be no different. She needed to keep her hands busy.

“Where’s Jase?” her mom asked.

“At the bunkhouse.”

Mama dropped the now sliced peach into the bowl and washed her hands, then turned to scowl at Cassidy. “I thought I told you to show him around.”

“He’s a big boy—I’m sure he can figure it out.”

“I raised you better than this. Where’s your sense of hospitality?”

“It must’ve been shocked out of me.” Cassidy rinsed the carrots, then slammed them down on the cutting board and picked up a knife. “Why didn’t you tell me he was coming?”

Mama took a deep breath. “Your father and I made what we felt was the best decision for the ranch. We knew if we told you an actor would be staying here it’d upset you, and figured there was no use in poking the sleeping bull until we had to.”

“Did you tell Tanner?”

“It might’ve come up when we spoke to him on the phone a few days ago.”

“Oh, so you told your kid that isn’t living here and won’t be affected by it. Thanks a lot.” Cassidy glared at her mom, chopping the carrots forcefully.

“Careful, or you’re gonna take off a finger.”

The garage door opened, then closed. Her dad’s off-key whistle and the shuffling of boots being removed floated in from the mud room. A moment later, he entered the kitchen. His graying hair was matted down from a day spent wearing a cowboy hat, his flannel shirt dusted with dirt. He paused when he saw them.

“Well, aren’t you a bunch of sour faces to come home to.” He leaned down and kissed Mama, then turned on the faucet and washed his hands.

“Cassidy’s met our new house guest.” Mama raised an eyebrow meaningfully.

“Thanks for that, by the way.” Cassidy dumped the carrots over the greens and grabbed a cucumber. “It was a fantastic surprise.”

“We aren’t in a position to be turning down good money.” Dad grabbed a towel and dried his hands, his gaze steady and unyielding. “He’s paying us enough we can avoid another bank loan. We’ve lost a lot of cattle lately.”

Cassidy thought of Anabeth and her face heated uncomfortably. Her dad was making a business decision, and Cassidy should’ve done the same. She knew the cattle had been sick—that the ranch desperately needed money. But it didn’t make this any easier. “I hate this.”

“Give the boy a chance,” Dad said. “Just because Drew left you high and dry doesn’t mean the entire profession is of the same caliber.”

“I know it’s hard and probably brings up memories you’d rather keep buried,” Mama said. “But I expect you to keep a civil tongue while Jase is here. We need this.”

“He’s in a movie with
him.
” Cassidy spit out the words, her mouth bitter with the taste. “Anabeth Collins dropped by the bakery today and told me.
He’s
been going on and on in interviews about how much Jase helped him, and how the two of them are best friends.”

The kitchen fell silent. Her parents looked back and forth between each other, their eyes filled with anxiety.

“Sweetie, we had no idea,” Mama said.

“He reminds me of
him
—same arrogance, same smirk, same attitude.” Cassidy thought of the way he’d confidently proclaimed he was a method actor, so like Drew. She had no doubt that after a day on the ranch, he’d prove as feebly committed to his craft, too.

“I am sorry about that,” Dad said. “If we’d known, I would’ve thought a lot harder before letting him come.”

“So you’ll send him home?” Cassidy held the knife over the cucumber, her chest filling with hope.

“No. It doesn’t change how things are now.”

Cassidy sagged against the counter, dropping the knife. For her, it changed everything.

Twenty-six days. That’s how far she was from what should’ve been her first wedding anniversary. She was supposed to be in California with Drew, cooking him dinner and struggling to keep the apartment clean with a rambunctious six-month-old constantly creating messes. Her throat tightened and she curled her fingers toward her palm. Would it have been a boy or girl? Would he or she have been crawling yet?

It’s better this way,
she reminded herself.
I’m finally following my dreams. I never would’ve had the bakery if we’d gotten married.

The kitchen door swung open, and Jase’s tall, muscular build filled the frame. Drew always had a knack for barging in on conversations as well. Jase shut the door and paused, looking around the room. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting something?”

Cassidy glared at him, then returned her focus to the cucumber.
Just my life.

“Of course not,” Mama said, her voice falsely bright. “We were just having a chat. Dinner’s nearly ready.”

“Can I do anything to help?” Jase asked.

“Please, take a seat and relax. You’re our guest. We’ll get everything on the table in a jiffy.”

Cassidy couldn’t contain her snort of derision. A real rancher rarely got to sit and relax. Jase didn’t want to learn about ranch life—he wanted to pretend to learn about it so he could continue telling magazines about his method acting and how dedicated he was to his craft. Just like Drew. Her mind flashed back to the time he’d taken her rock climbing for “experience” and ended up complaining the whole lesson, or the welding class he’d quit after two days because the shop was too hot and it made him sweat, or a million other things he’d done halfway in the name of improving his performance.

She stifled a sigh. And she’d dropped out of culinary school, turned down an internship, and put off opening her bakery for him.

Dad sat down next to Jase, and the two talked about ranching while Cassidy helped Mama finish preparing dinner. Soon, they all sat around the square table. Cassidy tried to stay far away from Jase, but with only four of them, it wasn’t really an option. Besides, they all had their usual spots at the table, and the only free space was right next to Cassidy.

Dad reached out and grasped hers and Mama’s hands. Cassidy’s heart dropped to her stomach. Saying grace . . . how could she have forgotten? Jase looked startled, but quickly accepted Mama’s outstretched hand. Mama gave Cassidy a stern glare, and Cassidy reluctantly slipped her hand into Jase’s.

It was unexpectedly warm, his palms and fingers smooth against her skin.
No calluses,
Cassidy thought, trying to focus on that instead of how strong, yet gentle his grip was.
I bet he’s never done a hard day’s work in his life.
Drew’s hands had been like that. It should’ve been her first red flag.

Cassidy struggled to focus as Dad said grace. Jase was still an arrogant, entitled actor—someone who associated with
Drew
—no matter how nice his hand felt in hers. The second Dad said
amen,
Cassidy dropped Jase’s hand like a hot potato. He raised his bowed head and blinked his startling amber green eyes open. Cassidy almost lost herself in his gaze.

Until she caught his smirk.

She yanked the napkin off the table and into her lap, calling Jase every four-letter word she could think of in her head. It would be
hard to ignore him if he kept goading her.