“What do you say, princess?”
She licked her lips, swallowed. “Yes, Mr. Wilder.”
7
CASSIDY
For the restof the day, as I filled a large plastic container with water from the well and towed it with an ATV out to one of the cisterns, I thought of Hayes. As I took care of the horses, I thought of him. I couldn’t stop.
Of what was going on between us, because I had no clue.
None.
I was his?
I was staying at his house instead of the bunkhouse?
No way was he letting me near the other guys?
He sounded crazy.
He reminded me of my father in that he seemed to have plans for me. Ones I didn’t know about. When I graduated and came home, it seemed my father had been waiting for my return intent on using me to make connections with his cronies. As if I’d ever marry one of them.
They wereold.
So was Hayes. Well, not as old as them because they were probably in their sixties. Gross.
It was clear by the kiss Hayes had experience. My lips still tingled hours later.
But he also had plans. He had intentions.
For some reason, I felt safe with him. Hell, he was a little over the top with keeping me safe, to the point ofspankingme because I hadn’t taken care of myself.
I was confused. Overwhelmed. Still a little hungover.
“Hey, Cassidy!”
It was Sage, Buck’s wife. I’d met her a few times. Super nice. She’d moved here in the winter to fill in for her aunt who ran the diner in town, met Buck and got married.
I’d returned the ATV to the huge pole barn where the farm equipment was stored and just slid the door shut behind me.
“Hi.”
She was in a sundress and simple white sneakers. From what she’d told me, she’d been a big city lawyer. She looked nothing like that now. Especially with the cute baby bump she was sporting. Every time I saw her, her hand was resting on it.
“How’s it going?” she asked. “Heard you had a rough night.”
I rolled my eyes and groaned. “God, men blab.”
“Worse than women,” she agreed.
I sighed. “Just a touch of a headache, but I’m good.”
“I meant with Hayes,” she countered, waggling her eyebrows.
I groaned some more. “He’s… confusing.”
She laughed, hooked her arm with mine and walked me toward the stable. “It’s funny. Everyone says Hayes is the hardest to read, but out of the eight Wilder boys, to me, he’s the easiest.”
