The Rugged Cowboy: A Sweet Fake Relationship Romance (Cupid Ridge Cowboys Book 4) by Macie St. James

Author:Macie St. James [St. James, Macie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-08T16:00:00+00:00

12

They should definitely put some picnic tables back here if they were going to host big barbecues like this. It made no sense for everyone to sit in folding chairs, trying to balance plates on their laps.

That was Cassady’s overriding thought as she sat next to Tucker, trying not to spill hamburger drippings on her shirt. White had been a bad idea. It just invited stains.

“Have you ever seen him at work?” Everest asked.

They sat in a small circle—just Cassady and Tucker, Everest and Sawyer, and Zoey and Elijah. Elijah’s daughter was spending the night with one of her school friends. It was something she did often on Saturday nights these days, they’d said.

Cassady was taking way too long to answer the question. She couldn’t seem to make herself speak. If she lied, it might bring further questions that she certainly was not prepared to answer. What it was like to watch someone she loved hold onto a bull for dear life? That sort of thing. If she told the truth—that she’d never seen her supposed boyfriend rodeo rider in action—would it make her seem like a bad girlfriend?

“Not yet,” Tucker said. “She’s been so busy on the ranch, she hasn’t had time to get away.”

“Well, we’ll have to do something about that,” Elijah said. “Can’t have you missing out on your boyfriend’s events.”

Boyfriend. That word hung in the air. People saw her as Tucker’s girlfriend. It blew her mind that they’d actually think someone like him would date a simple, small-town girl like her.

Not that she didn’t have confidence in her looks, but Tucker looked like a movie star or supermodel. Even if distance wasn’t an obstacle, she’d have doubts he’d be with an average, everyday person like her long-term.

“I like that idea.” Cassady looked over at him, smiling. In doing so, she immediately felt her expression soften.

Would anyone else notice? If so, it was fine. They were supposed to be a couple, after all. It’d be weird if she didn’t get all mushy-eyed when she looked at her boyfriend.

What was weird was how little she had to pretend where that sort of thing was concerned. Her attraction to him was as real as real could be. That was the problem.

He looked over at her then. That was what really turned her insides to butter. Was it an act? From the intensity in his stare, it was hard to believe he didn’t feel the same attraction she did. It was as though nobody existed but her when he looked at her like that.

“What’s your long-term plan?”

Sawyer’s question pulled Cassady’s attention away from Tucker. She found herself gaping at Sawyer as he patiently awaited an answer from the man seated next to her. Was Sawyer asking what she thought he was asking?

“Plan?” was Tucker’s response.

He knew what Sawyer was asking. In the context of the conversation, they probably all knew. But Tucker was delaying, she guessed. He was putting off answering in the hopes that a good response would come to him.

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