4. Cash

4

CASH

I feel like it’s been days since I left Daisy in her bedroom, but it’s only been a few hours. I’ve tried to stay busy. There’s always plenty that needs done on the ranch, but I wanted to stay closer to the house. I helped the guys clean up the sidewalks that lead to the event barn and did a few last-minute things there. When I finally went up to my bedroom to shower, I stood out in the hall for a few minutes listening to Lucy and Daisy laugh behind the closed bedroom door.

I wanted to wait on her and walk in together, but duty called, and I was needed at the event barn.

When guests start to arrive, I hang out at the entrance to greet people. My brother Hunter is nowhere to be found. I’m sure he’ll show up, probably just to see if our neighbor’s daughter is here. He’s been ignoring her for just as many years as I’ve been pushing Daisy away, and it’s about time he gets his head out of his ass.

But I’m not going to worry about that tonight.

Nope, tonight is all about Daisy and me.

I put a smile on my face as guests arrive. I’m feeling disheartened when Daisy is nowhere to be seen. Surely, she hasn’t changed her mind.

I’m about to go search for her when Lucy steps up from behind me. “Want me to take over greeting guests?”

“Where is she?” I ask her, eyes searching the room.

Lucy just laughs. “We didn’t want to stand in this line, so I snuck us in the side door. I left her over by the punch bowl, but you’d better hurry. I saw a few of your cowboys eyeing her.”

My voice is strained and barely controlled. “They fuckin’ know better.”

I’m on the move, leaving my sister to meet the remaining guests. When I spot Daisy, I about trip over my own boots. She’s fuckin’ gorgeous, but she always has been to me. I slow my steps but only because I know if I keep going like I am, I’m not going to be able to control myself. She finally spots me, and even from where I’m at, I can feel the heat in her gaze. When I stop in front of her, I put my hands on her shoulders. “You’re beautiful.”

She starts to shake her head, but I tighten my hands on her shoulders. “You’re the prettiest woman here, Daisy.”

She bites her lip, and I can see the way she wants to believe what I’m saying. I’ve hurt her so many times, I can understand why she would doubt me. My job for tonight is to make her believe it. Her hand goes to the necklace I gave her. “Cash, Lucy said this was your mom’s. I’ll return it tonight.”

“Fuck no you won’t,” I tell her and instantly regret the harsh tone. “Sorry. I mean, I want you to have it. If my mom was here, she would want me to give it to you.”

She wants to ask me why, but I can’t tell her that. Not here in front of half the town. “Dance with me.”

She looks around the room and then back up at me with a smirk. “There’s music, but no one is dancing.”

“Daisy, it feels like I’ve waited a lifetime to hold you in my arms. I don’t care if anyone else is dancing. Dance with me. ”

I hold my hand out to her and wait. I can easily manipulate her to the dance floor, but that’s not the way I want this to happen. The truth is, even though she’s well above age, she’s still ten years younger than me, and I don’t want to make her do anything she doesn’t truly want.

I’m holding my breath, waiting for her, and when she finally puts her hand in mine, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I lead her through the crowd of people, and when there’s an opening, I stop and take her in my arms.

She fits against me perfectly, just like I knew she would. With her hands on my shoulders, I circle her waist with my arms, pulling her against me. She holds herself stiffly, and I lean down to whisper in her ear, “You can trust me, Daisy. Let yourself go. I got you.”

She softens instantly, and I hold her closer. We sway with the slow country music, and before long, other couples have joined in, dancing too.

“You feel good in my arms, Daisy.”

She positions herself closer, and I know I should pull my hips back, but I don’t. She might as well know now what she does to me. My voice is gruff. “Sorry, but there’s no hiding my body’s reaction to you. ”

She blinks up at me. “That’s because of me?”

I laugh and nuzzle my nose against her neck, breathing in her fresh, floral scent. “Yeah, baby, that’s because of you. I get like this when I think about you, see you and now, after I’ve allowed myself to touch you and take you in my arms, I’m afraid I’m not going to want to let you go.”

She breathes out my name. “Cash…”

I lean my forehead against hers. “Fuck, it’s probably good that we’re surrounded by so many people because I don’t trust myself with you alone. I’ve waited so long for you, Daisy, and I don’t want to wait anymore.”

“You’ve waited for me?”

I let out a breath slowly and steadily and try to figure out how much I want to tell her. “You were eighteen the first time you came home with Lucy, and I wanted you then. Fuck, I would have sold the ranch to have you. But I was twenty-eight, and my parents had just died. I had my brother and sister suddenly depending on me. I had to keep the ranch going. I couldn’t follow you back to school, and I couldn’t ask you to stay. So I waited.”

“You wanted me?” she asks.

I smile. “No. It’s not past tense, baby. I want you. I wanted you then, I want you now, and I’ll want you twenty, thirty, forty years from now.”

The smile that forms on her face is breathtaking. “You want me.”

There’s no question in it. She’s just stating facts. Maybe it’s the bulge of my manhood poking into her stomach or the way I practically devour her with a look, but she looks as if she finally believes me. “Fuck yeah, I do.”

I’m about to suggest we get out of here so I can show her exactly how much I want her, but I’ve waited this long, and I want to do things right. “Come on. There are people I want you to meet.”

I walk her around the party introducing her to everyone. She meets Walker, the man that owns a large portion of the businesses in Whiskey Run, along with the compound and rehab center for wounded soldiers. Daisy surprises me when she’s shaking his hand. “Oh, you must know Jason Hawk then.”

Walker nods his head. “Yep, he works for me. Great man.”

Daisy just smiles. “He’s engaged to one of my very good friends.” When she sees me looking at her curiously, she adds, “He’s Olivia’s fiancé.”

I nod, and then we move on through the crowd. When I spot the principal of Whiskey Run Elementary, I make a beeline for the woman. “Mrs. Peters, hello. I have someone I’d like to introduce you to.”

I step to the side. “Daisy, this is Mrs. Peters. She’s the principal of the elementary school I told you about.”

They shake hands, and Mrs. Peters takes it from there. “Well, Daisy, it’s so nice to meet you. Cash informed me that you were going to be moving to Whiskey Run and would hopefully be a long-time resident. We are always looking for teachers. I do hope you consider doing your student teaching with us.”

Daisy’s mouth drops, and she looks at me. “You were serious about that?”

I squeeze her hand that I’ve not been able to let go of. “Absolutely.”

She thanks Mrs. Peters. “Well, I’ll definitely think about it. The spring semester starts in January, so I’ll have to decide soon.”

“Well, if it helps any, Whiskey Run is a special place to live. You would love it here.”

Daisy interrupts her. “Oh absolutely. I’ve always loved visiting and wished that I could live here.”

She purses her lips as soon as the words are out as if she’s said too much. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and tuck her against my side. “Well, I hope to help make that happen. Now, if you’ll excuse us, there are a few other people I would like to introduce Daisy to.”

She nods, and I walk away with Daisy tucked against my side. We only get a few steps and she stops. Her hand goes to my chest. “Cash, I need to go to the ladies’ room. Can you excuse me?”

She almost looks panicked, and I tip her chin up to search her eyes. “Are you okay? I can go with you.”

She forces out a laugh. “I think I can go to the ladies’ room on my own. I’ll be right back.”

She pats me on the chest and pulls her hand from mine. I watch her walk away and am about to follow her when the mayor comes to talk to me. I know that look. She’s overwhelmed. I’ll give her five minutes and then I’m going to go find her. “So what’s been happening downtown?” I ask the man in front of me.