He winked as he left, whistling some cheery, irritating tune that somehow still made my knees a little wobbly.
Mrs. Wright looked like she was about to swoon. Ruth was crying quietly. Me? I was torn between wanting to hug Gunner…and wanting to kick him in the shin.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, pushing up from my chair before I could change my mind.
I caught him just as he reached the front entrance.
“Gunner!”
He turned smoothly, arms open. “Well, hey there, Cassidy. Couldn’t stay away, huh?”
God, that grin. Somebody should outlaw it.
“I just wanted to thank you,” I said stiffly. “For what you did for Ruth.”
He shrugged; all easy charm. “Nothing to thank me for. I just threw a rope. She’s the one who’s got to grab it.”
“And the somethings?” I narrowed my eyes.
His mouth curved wickedly. He leaned down, tapping my nose with his finger. “Nosey, nosey.”
“I’m sure Last Creek Ranch isn’t my business, but I was wondering…”
“If it might be your kid’s club.”
“It’s a little more than a kid’s club.”
I scowled. He chuckled.
“Maybe, but like you said The Last Creek Ranchisn’tyour business,” he said softly. “Yet.”
Before I could demand he explain, he gave me a salute and sauntered out the door, the fading whistle of the stupid tune behind him.
Damn him. Damn him for being the most aggravating, swoon-worthy man I’d ever met.
And damn those jeans for making me forget which one mattered more.
Chapter 11
Hot N Cold – Katy Perry
Cassidy
As I walked back to my classroom after the meeting, Gunner’s casual kindness troubled me. The way he’d sauntered in to help Ruth without any fanfare or expectation. It wasn’t the actions of the man I thought I knew. The man who pissed me off royally that night three years ago.
Standing at my desk, packing my stuff away, the memory hit me with unexpected force.
Three Years Earlier
“You really don’t understand what these kids need, do you?”
The words sliced into me like a knife, changing the atmosphere of what had been a surprisingly great first date into something else entirely. Something sharp-edged and tense.
I set my glass down, taking a breath to calm my anger, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks. “I think I understand exactly what they need. That’s why I became a teacher.”
Gunner’s jaw clenched tight. “A teacher who wants to change everything about how we do things here.” He leaned back in his chair, the easy charm of earlier replaced by something harder. The patio lights of Downtown cast shadows across his face, making him look like a stranger. “These kids don’t need your fancy city ideas. They need to understand the land, their heritage.”
“Who said that I was trying to change everything?” I gripped the arms of the chair, afraid if I didn’t I might throw my drink in his face.
