Backlash Tender Trap Aftermath - Lisa Jackson Page 0,107

patting his sleek neck. “Come on, boy. We can do it. We have before.”

Tavish tossed his head before stepping into the river. The dark water swirled around his legs and belly. As she twisted the reins in her fingers, the first icy touch of the Sage brushed against her bare legs. Tavish stepped deeper, then began to float.

Cassie felt his legs stretch as he swam, carrying them across the current and toward the opposite shore. “That’s it,” she said, encouraging, soothing, though her throat was dry, her lungs constricted. “Hold on—just a little more . . .”

Finally his hooves struck bottom. Scrambling over the rocks, Tavish lunged from the river. Once on land, he shook, snorting and blowing, the bridle jangling loudly.

“Good boy!” Cassie cried, climbing off his back and tying him to the sagging fence separating McLean property from Aldridge land. “Wait for me.”

Her canvas shoes squished as she slipped under the barbed wires. She ran through the fields by instinct. Her heart was pounding, and though her shorts were damp from the cold water, she began to sweat. What if Colton wasn’t home? What if he wouldn’t see her? What if, God forbid, he was there with Jessica?

“Don’t go borrowing trouble,” she told herself as she approached the center of the McLean Ranch. The stables, barns and outbuildings loomed ahead, glowing eerily beneath the security lamps. Beyond the buildings and across the yard, lights gleamed in the windows of the McLean house.

Cassie nearly lost her nerve as she climbed the final fence and started across the yard. She was sure someone would look out the window and see her. And then what?

She was almost to the front door when a car approached. Headlights bobbing, engine whining, the sports car sped up the hilly lane leading to the house. Cassie’s heart sank, and she ducked behind a tree, silently praying she wouldn’t be seen.

The car screeched to a stop not far from the tree. A car door banged open.

“I never want to see you again!” a woman screamed, and Cassie recognized the voice as belonging to Jessica Monroe.

“Don’t you?” Colton drawled.

Cassie’s knees gave out. She leaned against the rough bark for support. So it was true. He was seeing Jessica! After he had made love to her. Her stomach roiled, and she thought she might throw up right there on the lawn.

“You’re a lying, two-timing bastard, McLean.”

“I didn’t call you,” he reminded her.

“It’s that Aldridge girl, isn’t it?” Jessica charged.

“Leave her out of this,” Colton warned.

“God, Colton, she’s barely out of diapers! And her father would murder you if he ever got wind—”

“Stop it!” Colton cut in, his voice low.

“Don’t I mean anything to you?” she wheedled, and a long silence followed.

So Colton didn’t care about Jessica! Cassie, flattened against the tree, heard her heart slamming against her ribs.

“You’re a fool, Colton McLean!” Jessica charged.

“Probably.”

Cassie heard footsteps crossing the gravel driveway and the sound of a car door slam loudly. She peeked around the tree trunk just as the convertible roared to life again and tore down the drive. Jessica’s long blond hair waved like a moon-dusted banner behind her.

Cassie turned her gaze to Colton. He was standing in the middle of the yard, but he wasn’t paying the slightest attention to the disappearing car. Instead, an amused smile curved his lips. His hands on his hips, he stared straight at Cassie.

“See enough, Cass?” he taunted.

Cassie swallowed hard. She wanted to run as fast as her legs would carry her back to the fence where Tavish was waiting, but she forced herself to step forward. She felt young and stupid and incredibly naive. “I heard you were dating Jessica,” she admitted, forcing her head up to meet the questions in his eyes.

“Not much of a date,” he said sarcastically. “It was her idea.”

Cassie managed a poor imitation of a cynical smile. “Seems like you have all sorts of women chasing you down.”

“Not many. Some are girls.”

She bristled. “How can you say that? After ... after—”

Colton sighed, plowing his hands through his hair. He closed the gap between them and grabbed her arm, drawing her into the shadows away from the house. “You are a girl, damn it,” he ground out, more exasperated than angry. “Seventeen, for crying out loud!” He dropped her arm and swore. “I don’t know what to think of you, Cassie.”

“We made love.”

He sucked in a swift breath. “I haven’t forgotten.”

“Then why haven’t you called or stopped by?” she asked, her heart pounding wildly with fear—fear