Summer Rose by Bonnie K. Winn

Author:Bonnie K. Winn
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2015-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

The breeze ruffled through the changing grass and danced through the resisting wildflowers. Pricklepoppy, Indian paintbrush, and Apache plume battled with the thistle that ranged the meadow and eclipsed the pygmy forests of pinyon pine and juniper.

Cassie breathed in the incredibly sweet aroma of dewy grass and crushed pine boughs. Gazing across the precise design of the dutch doll quilt that covered the small space between the wicker picnic basket and Shane’s long, outstretched legs, she breathed a silent prayer of thanks for the perfect day.

“Don’t suppose there’s any food in that basket?” Shane questioned lazily as he contemplated the cloud-scattered blue sky overhead.

“Perhaps,” she answered, whisking the fresh white napkin off the top. “But no help, no food.”

“Oh, no, you don’t! I’ve done unspeakable things for you so you would take a day off.”

Cassie grinned to herself as she thought of Shane helping her dip the last of her sheep. He’d taken one disgusted look at her trying to dip the sheep with one hand while holding a book in the other, and had stepped in and taken over. Fortunately he hadn’t run into Evan, who’d also been helping her earlier. She still didn’t understand why Shane was so touchy about his brother’s crush on her. Couldn’t he see that it was just puppy love?

“And that, madam, is all I’m going to do. I’m going to lie here and let you cater to my every whim,” he finished, pushing his hat over his eyes and resting his folded hands across his stomach.

“How gallant,” Cassie responded, uncapping the jar of lemonade.

“Uh-huh,” he answered lazily, refusing to move.

Cassie smiled as she laid out the fried chicken and feather-light biscuits. She didn’t mind a bit. She had always resisted taking even an hour away from the never-ending chores at her ranch, but she’d finally weakened. And now, enjoying the peaceful trees swaying to the orchestration of the mild wind, and the handsome man stretched out beside her, she was inordinately glad—even though she knew he planned to try to sweet-talk her out of her land.

Refusing to dwell on what she knew was his true purpose, Cassie arranged their meal invitingly on the precious china plates she’d packed in the basket. Watching Shane relax, she plucked a long, feather-tipped wildflower from amidst the grass and crept over to his side. Whisking the errant bud beneath his nose, she announced, “Dinner is served.”

Shane opened a lazy eye. “Is this how you always announce your dinners, Miss Dalton? Remind me not to ask you to host my next formal affair.”

“I’m not accustomed to hosting a gentleman’s affair, Mr. Lancer,” she replied.

“Perhaps we should change that,” he suggested, his eyes heating in a familiar fashion.

She whacked his knuckles lightly with the wooden spoon she’d used to stir the lemonade. “Now, now, Mr. Lancer. You wouldn’t be trying to lead me astray, sir?”

“I’m trying, but I don’t think I’m succeeding,” he muttered, rubbing his offended knuckles as he rose to a sitting position.

Cassie offered him a dazzling smile, gleefully aware she was gloating.

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