2. Cash

2

CASH

When I looked up into the window of the guestroom and saw Daisy looking out, it felt as if everything inside me calmed. The last few years have been hell, but tonight, it’s all going to change. When Daisy spots me, I see the shock on her face. Fuck, she thought I was out of town. I’m on the move before I can think twice about it. The door slams as I walk into the house, and I cringe knowing that Daisy probably heard it. I go up the steps two at a time and take a deep breath before pushing open the door of the guest room. She must have heard me coming because her head is down, and she’s standing stiffly with her back to me.

She picks up something from the bed and stuffs it into her suitcase. “Where the hell do you think you’re going? You should be unpacking… not packing.”

She shakes her head, still not looking at me. “I’m sorry, Cash. I didn’t know you’d be here. I’m going to go.”

I step into the room and shut the door behind me. If possible, she tenses even more. Her brown hair is in waves down her back, and my eyes travel down her body, taking in the curvy hips and the way her ass looks in those tight jeans. “You’re not going anywhere. You just got here.”

I stop next to her and watch as she grips the material in her hands tightly. I want to reach for her, but I don’t dare. She doesn’t trust me. Not yet. And I can’t really blame her. “Daisy, look at me.”

When she doesn’t, I put a hand to her shoulder, but the way she tenses has me letting go. “Please, baby, look at me.”

She looks pained as she unclenches her eyes. When she finally looks at me, I search her wide eyes. She takes a step to move away from me, but unable to resist any longer, I wrap my hand around her wrist to hold her where she is. “The Christmas party is tonight. ”

She seems taken aback. “Party? I didn’t know there was a party tonight. I didn’t bring anything to wear.”

I interrupt her. “You’ll be beautiful in whatever you wear.”

Her mouth drops open, and she closes it before opening it again. When she still doesn’t say anything, I tilt my head to the side. “Say it. What is it?”

She shakes her head side to side and blinks up at me. She doesn’t realize it, but she’s looking at me with her heart in her eyes. She’s looked at me the same way since the first time she saw me. She doesn’t have the experience to hide her reaction to me, and that’s probably one of my favorite things about her.

She crosses her arms over her chest, pulling my hand off her wrist. “I thought you were going to be at some ranching convention or something. That’s what Lucy said.”

I shrug, hating that I asked Lucy to lie to her. “Don’t be mad.”

Her arms tighten around herself. “Don’t be mad? What am I going to be mad about?”

I suck in a breath. “I told Lucy to lie to you. I told her that I wanted you here, but I knew you wouldn’t come if you knew I’d be here.”

She’s shaking her head before I even finish the thought. “She lied to me?” I can see her mind whirling. “But why? You don’t want me here.”

I reach up and brush the hair away from her face and tuck it behind her ear. “I do want you here.”

She pulls back and looks at my hand as if I’m a strange man touching her instead of the one that I knew she has feelings for. “Why?”

I can’t help it; I laugh. “Why? Because it’s Christmas. Because you’re a part of our family.”

She stutters, “Your family?”

To stop myself from reaching for her again, I put my hands on my hips. “Yes, my family.”

She takes a step back. “I don’t understand. None of this is making sense. I should go.”

I firmly shake my head. “You’re not leaving, Daisy.”

“Cash, listen to me. I didn’t know about any kind of Christmas party. I didn’t know you were going to be here, and I think it would be better for everyone if I just leave.”

She starts stuffing things back in her suitcase, but I’m not going to freak out. Everyone on this ranch knows how I feel about Daisy, and no one is going to be stupid enough to drive her out of here. She disappears into the bathroom, and I take that time to go into the closet. When I come out, she’s carrying a toiletry bag to her suitcase. When she sees what I’m holding in my arms, she stumbles but catches herself.

I lay the bagged dress and the box on the bed next to her suitcase. “I think that will be appropriate for tonight.”

For the first time since I came in here, she smiles. “Lucy. She thinks of everything.”

I could tell her that the dress and items are from me, but I just shrug my shoulders, not wanting her smile to go away.

“I would like you to stay because there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

She tenses, the dress forgotten. “What?”

“I’ve talked to the principal at Whiskey Run Elementary School. They have availability for you to do your student teaching there this spring.”

She points to the floor. “Here? In Whiskey Run?”

I nod, seeing the excitement in her face. I hoped she would like the idea, but it seems she likes it more than I hoped. But just as fast, she’s shaking her head. “No, I can’t do that. I’m moving in with my brother and have it set up to student teach at a school near him.”

“You can stay here.”

“Here? Stay here? On your ranch?”

I nod, smiling. “Yeah, it’s only a fifteen-minute drive into town. You can stay here, and in the evenings we can have dinner together. I can take you riding on the weekends, and I’ll even go to the farmer’s market in town. Lucy said you love that at school.”

She looks at me as if I’m growing a second head or something. “What’s going on, Cash? I don’t get this. Any of it.”

She looks overwhelmed, and I know that after the way I’ve treated her, she’s not going to believe I’ve had a change of heart or anything. “Can you do me a favor?”

She puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head. Finally, I’m getting a glimpse of that sass. “I don’t know. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

She’s not ready to hear it. I know she’s not. “Promise me that you’ll think about it. Promise me that you’ll consider student teaching here in Whiskey Run.”

She’s about to tell me no, and I move toward her, not stopping until we’re toe to toe. I know I’m not playing fair. I put a hand on each side of her face and bring it up so she’s looking at me. “All I’m asking is for you to consider it. Give me a few days, Daisy. I know I haven’t always been right with you… Give me a chance to make it up to you.”

She licks her lips, and I’ve never wanted to kiss a woman as much as I do now. “Cash, I already have student teaching set up.” I start to talk, and she puts her hand on my arm. I slam my mouth closed because it’s the first time she’s ever touched me, and I am not prepared for how my body reacts. She starts to talk again, and I try to focus on her words. “I’ll stay for the party, but that’s all I can promise.”

Because I can’t resist, I lean down and press my lips to her forehead and then step back. My cock is hard in my jeans, and if I stand here much longer, she’s going to know exactly what I’m thinking. “Good. I need to go check on things, but I’ll see you downstairs.”

I turn to go and almost get out the door when she stops me. “Cash. ”

Fuck, how have I lived without hearing my name on her lips? “Yeah, Daisy?”

“I’ll stay for the party, but if you hurt me again, I’m leaving… and I’m not ever coming back.” She takes a deep breath and lets it out. “Your sister is my best friend, but I can’t keep letting you treat me like you have.”

I shake my head, wondering if I’ve handled all of this wrong. I wish I could make her understand that I’ve done all of this for her. I knew she wasn’t ready for a relationship with me. And I knew that I wouldn’t be able to exist here in Whiskey Run while she was three hours away at college. I’ve bided my time, and even if she hasn’t graduated yet, she’s close. And I can’t wait a minute longer.

I grip the door in my hand. “I know I don’t deserve it, Daisy, but I’m asking you to forgive me.” I hold my hand up. “I know I haven’t earned your forgiveness, but I will. There are so many things I’ve done wrong, but if you give me time, I’m going to make it right.”

Surprise registers on her face. “Okay,” she mutters, unsure.

I nod my head at her gruffly. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

I’m about to say hell with it, go across the room, and take her in my arms. My thoughts are crazy and possessive, and I want to seal the deal and make her mine in every way. Instead, I walk out of the room and close the door firmly behind me. She’s here now, and I need to do things right. From this point forward, everything I do is going to be for Daisy.