Chapter 2
When he realized she didn’t move he lifted his eyes to hers again, “What?”
“Well, I’m just waiting for another insult, something I possibly missed in reading your mind that you wish to throw at me.” He actually smirked for the first time. It was a sloppy sideways one that actually made her toes want to curl. Oh dear, she thought to herself
“No.”
She swallowed to try and regain her breath that suddenly seized up in her throat. What the hell was wrong with her? She was supposed to be mad at him, but that sinfully sexy look just wiped it clean.
He couldn’t stop the outward show of amusement. He had to admit that he admired her guff. Yet, she obviously wasn’t from around here, because not many people could speak to him like that knowing the mood he was in. He had also seen Marla take her aside and talk to her prior to her serving him. He knew she was warned, but here she was openly defying him.
She nodded curtly and turned to walk away not seeing his eyes guide down to her backside before he gave his head a subtle shake and take a gulp from his coffee cup.
“How was he?” Marla asked with concern. The Diner was noisy and she could see that he wasn’t happy about something but he never was.
Cassie shrugged thankful that her blush had dissipated, “He’s fine.” She wasn’t one to tell stories about people no matter how rude they were.
“Fine?” she stared at her in disbelief, “Last time I served him he made a point of telling me I’d make a better living on my back then as a waitress because my skills were better that way.”
Cassie handed her ticket to Garnet through the window not hiding the wince she felt at those words. If he’d said that to her, she would have slapped him. “What did you say to that?”
“I told him he was probably right, but then I wouldn’t meet such wonderful customers like him. I acted tough but inside I was screaming. I didn’t want to give him ammunition.” She stared at her friend thoughtfully. “I suppose he said something about your looks.”
Cassie nodded ,”How’d you know?”
“Because you’re gorgeous.” She beamed, “Blake knows how to hit you to home every time.”
Cassie was slightly confused, “Close to home, but—” she was going to say something about Blake’s comment toward Marla, but Marla interrupted.
“I have a reputation Cassie, if that’s what you’re wondering.” It was her turn to shrug, “I grew up with an alcoholic parent, I know it’s not an excuse, but when you’re young you sort of look for love elsewhere—don’t worry about it.” she said seeing Cassie’s sympathetic look, “Blake is a nice looking man. His comment was probably justified. I may have thrown myself at him a few times—” she glanced past Cassie to see him drinking his coffee casually and sighed, “Okay, I threw myself at him a lot, I mean, look at him. He’s gorgeous—all big and muscle bound. Even as mean as he is, he’s still yummy. If he offered I’d still sleep with him no matter what he said to me. I have a feeling it would be well worth it.”
“Marla you are just too bold!” she said wide-eyed.
She giggled, “And you just figured that out?” then her eyes guided past her to Blake again and she made a sound of satisfaction, “Like I said, who cares if he doesn’t like me.”
Cassie laughed at her friend’s dreamy expression then shook her head, “I don’t think I like him at all so there’s no problem there.”
“Yeah but in the sack who cares.” She added with a wink before turning away.
Cassie flushed, she didn’t want to say that she’d never been with anyone and sound old fashioned, but she was saving herself for that special someone even though it seemed bleak that she would find it now. She had bills, lots of them from her father’s death even though they lost everything, he’d taken out loans to try and save the ranch. So that someone would have to wait a few more years until she was back on her feet and had time for a relationship.
He fell over from a heart attack three weeks ago and what little money she had ran out so she quit college and had to find a job. She was on her way through town on the bus when she saw the sign in the diner window and took that as a sign, especially when they hired her on the spot.
“Order’s up honey.” Garnet said.
Pulling herself out of her own self pity she focused on her job. Marla had gone back to her section.
She reached for the platter containing the stew bowl and bread but Garnet had a hold of the other side to get her attention, “Is Blake behaving?”
She smiled at his concern, “He’s fine.”
“Sure he is.” He said releasing the platter and grinning at her poor attempt to lie.
Shaking her head she took Blake his order and as she walked toward him, he watched her over the rim of his cup as he took a drink of coffee. At some point he actually switched sides at the table and sat facing her. Didn’t he care that he was making her uncomfortable? After knowing him for a few short minutes she already knew the answer to that. Probably not.
“You’re order sir.” She said setting the large bowl of stew down in front of him.
“My name is Blake.” He added absently while lifting his cup, “More coffee would be nice.”
So would a thump over the head, she thought, but forced a smile, “Of course.” And turned to go get more coffee.
This time he frowned while watching her, but still kept his eyes on her when she came back and filled his cup.
“What’s your name?” he finally said for the first time without cynicism.
She wasn’t going to answer him but decided that it was probably wise to do so. She was sure there weren’t many people didn’t reply to his questions. Normally she wouldn’t even bother but she didn’t want it to get back to Molly and Garnet that she was rude to a customer, “Cassie.”
He nodded before turning his attention to his stew without another word. She stared at him for a moment in frustration and confusion before turning and walking away. Maybe she shouldn’t have answered him. He seemed bored by it all.
“You okay hun?” Molly said after seeing her expression. “Blake can be rough.”
“Is that what you’d call it?” she finally showed her exasperation.
She laughed, ”Everyone seems afraid of him because of his size and demeanour, but he’s not that bad. He’s just a little lost.”
“Lost? Molly, he insulted me several times and I don’t even know him.” She cast a glance over her shoulder at the foreboding cowboy who seemed to be enjoying his stew.
“Yes, well you had parents who loved and cherished you, Blake didn’t. His mother abandoned him at a young age and his father was a very hard man. He was determined to make him into a man at an early age.” She nodded toward him, “He earned every inch of that masculinity through hard work. His father never gave him a break despite being his son, if anything he worked him twice as hard. He broke his arm in a steer wrestling contest here at a local rodeo and his old man refused to take him to a doctor telling him to tough it out.”
“That’s awful!” despite how he treated her moments ago, she felt bad for him.
“I took him after I gave his father an earful.”
“you?”
She nodded, “Ever since then he seems to respect me.” She studied Cassie’s expression, “He was fifteen.”
“Oh dear.” That did sound like a hard life.
“I just thought you should know. Don’t let him get to you. He’s tougher than Garnet’s beef jerky—and that man could make tough jerky.” She laughed, “And one hundred percent male.” She added, “the type you think died out with the turn of the century. He can still wrestle steers, ride bulls and break any rank bronco around.”
He certainly was all man, thought Cassie taking in his size and air of arrogance, but rude.
Molly eyed him carefully, “He has no problem getting women when he wants them either, but he doesn’t keep them around.”
She turned her attention back to her boss, “Gee I wonder why.” She said sarcastically.
“Because it’ll take an amazing woman to claim his heart and he hasn’t found her yet.” Molly answered, “Trust me, it’s not the women who end them. Blake may seem harsh, but he’s old school in the way he treats women. He may believe that they belong in the kitchen, but he’s big on chivalry. He’ll open doors, and pay for dates, none of that Dutch treat stuff. Believe it or not some ladies like to be treated that way even in this day and age. Believe it Cassie, he’s had more than enough of them fall in love with him.”
Cassie bit her bottom lip and stared at him. He was involved in his meal, but try as she might, she couldn’t deny that he wasn’t attractive and she was sure that there were many broken hearts in his past. She may like that old fashioned chivalry herself, but she also didn’t like to be told to stay in a kitchen even though she liked to cook. She wanted a career besides. There had to be a healthy balance.
Molly chuckled seeing her concentration while looking at Blake and held out her hand, “Give me your apron and go home honey. I’m here now. Your shift is over. Don’t wear out that young body of yours any more than you have to.”
Nodding, she set the coffee pot back on the burner and untied her apron. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Molly watched the younger girl walk toward the back to thinking that if she had her way she’d try her best to match the two up. Blake was in his early thirties, and Cassie may be young, but she was older in many ways. She was very sweet natured, intelligent, pretty and most importantly, full of love. Just what Blake needed.
Cassie groaned as her car complained noisily while turning it over for the third time. She paused and said a silent prayer before turning the key again. Another sputter, but no start.
That’s all she needed to end a crazy busy shift. Her feet hurt, she met the most infuriating man in her life, and her car was complaining. A car that probably had about as much life in it as she had energy at this point. For the second time today she felt like weeping. It wasn’t like her to feel sorry for herself, but everything seemed to be piling up at once. Bills, car trouble and most importantly, she missed her father.
There was a tap on her window and she screeched. Looking through the dirty glass there was none other than Blake standing there. He looked a little annoyed. Then after a moment she was sure he swore but it was muffled through the door. She gave him a questioning look and he made a motion with his hand for her to roll down the window followed by an impatient look.
Gosh, why was she so darn stupid around him? She rolled down the window.
“Pop the hood, or do I need to spell it out for you.” He said referring to her delayed response.
“I’m preoccupied.” She said flustered.
He shook his head and turned toward the front of the car.
She reached down and pulled the latch before getting out and following him.
He hiked up the hood with a creak of metal. “Jesus, what a piece of shit.” He said bending over the engine and using his large fist to pound on the top of the distributor cap.
“It’s all I can afford. I’m trying to make do.”
“Go see if it’ll start.” He said without looking at her and ignoring her statement.
She felt like screaming as she did as he asked. She turned the key and it sputtered to life. “Oh thank God.”
“It’s interesting that people thank God and not who actually did the good deed.” He said stepping up beside the door.
“Thank you.” She said feeling embarrassed.
“You can thank me by putting this thing out of its misery.” He said bluntly before he shut the door of her car and walked away.
She watched his broad back as he headed across the street to his truck. He seemed angry and annoyed with her, but he still fixed her car. She reflected on Molly’s words. Maybe he wasn’t as mean as people thought. Well, he certainly didn’t give much to go on.
The car shuddered as she shifted it into gear and again she said a silent prayer hoping like she did every day for the past three weeks that it would keep running for the drive out of town to the place she rented.
The car was purchased for a hundred bucks from some teenager when she found a place to live. She needed transportation to get to and from her job. It was cheap and it seemed reliable, but it probably wasn’t meant to be going so far every day.