Sassy Cowgirl Kisses by Kathy Fawcett
Chapter 19
Ash had granny’s bungalow rented out for most of his university days, thanks to Casey and her property management team. Just recently, the little family who had been living there gave notice and moved up to Idaho.
“Should I advertise it for you?” Casey wanted to know, and Ash declined.
“I might live there myself for a time,” he’d said. Now, he was glad. For upon pulling into the driveway this Saturday morning, Ash saw a beautiful girl with yellow hair walking from the mailbox at the next house over. It was Sassy, he knew, and she was distracted, carrying a mug of coffee and wearing a short little sundress.
“Morning, Bo peep,” he said, getting out of his Jeep.
She looked up, startled.
“What are you doing over there, don’t you live at the ranch?” She asked.
“This is my granny’s house. Well, used to be hers,” he said, “she left it to me. I renovated it, same time that Casey renovated the house you and Freda are in. Same time that my dad renovated the house on the other side.”
“Wow, what a little fixer-upper party that must have been,” she said with a smile.
Ash nodded.
“It wasn’t dull, that’s for sure.” He was thinking about the antics of Ridge and Casey as they fell in love with each other.
“Is your house the same as ours?” Sassy pointed to the rental she and Freda shared.
“Not exactly. Of course, I haven’t been in mine for some time. Renters have been living here while I was off at school.”
“You must be anxious to take a look around.”
Oddly, Ash wasn’t. He’d stand and talk to Sassy all morning, if she’d give him the time.
“I’m a little nervous and reluctant, tell you the truth. It used to be my home when I was a boy. More and more, it’s becoming just a house.”
“Well come in and have a cup of coffee with me first,” Sassy said with a sweet smile. “I always think it best to put off uncomfortable moments. And I have Saturday bagels.”
“Cream cheese?”
“Of course,” Sassy said. “A true Midwest delicacy. I’d get bagels every day of the week if I could, but Freda and I never have enough time to swing by the Donut Den before work—we’re always running nearly late. So Saturday it is.”
“All right then,” he said, walking towards Casey’s little Parks Place rental. Sassy turned and led him into the house, her exposed skin shining with coconut butter. Ash tried to pry his gaze from her long legs so he could look around the house. “I remember when there was sawdust everywhere, and doors that needed to be hung.”
“Doors are hung, thankfully.”
“Freda must be sleeping behind one of them,” Ash said, wandering into the kitchen.
“Nope, she went to Lander again to see her guy. Sit down, I’ll bring you a plate.”
Ash did this gladly, as he found himself shaking a little. She just smelled so much like the girls at the beach in Michigan, and looked like them too. Ridge said to be careful of the Midwest girls, but here was one—right in Wyoming. Sassy was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. But she was nice, and the other day at the creek, they’d laughed and talked like old friends.
Now that she knew he was a West, he wondered if she’d treat him differently. And now that he was an owner of the ranch and she an employee, he knew he needed to act differently—didn’t he?
“How’s… how’s your hand?” Ash wanted to quickly get off the subject of being alone in Sassy’s house with her. Just the thought seemed to stir up rumblings in his stomach that he couldn’t account for.
“My hand? Oh, the splinter.” she said, handing him a plate with a warm bagel from the toaster. “Well, Doc West, it healed right up. Either from the extraction or the kiss. I haven’t decided yet.”
She was so pretty, and the memory of wrapping his lips around her porcelain finger as they sat by the creek, with her wide eyes looking at him in surprise, would have buckled his knees if he wasn’t sitting.
Ash exhaled a puff of air, realizing he’d picked the wrong topic if his goal was to avoid the provocative.
“So, your father…” he attempted, lamely.
Sassy cut him off, laughing at his obvious discomfort.
“Ash West,” she said, taking a bite of her bagel and lifting her coffee mug as she appraised him. “I suspect we’ll have lots of time this summer to talk about sad things such as my father and your grandmother. But it’s a perfect day, so let’s not spoil it.”
Relieved, he smiled and ate his breakfast.
“Since my car is still being repaired,” she said, “why don’t you show me around West Gorge today. I haven’t seen much besides the ranch and the grocery store. And something called the Mercantile, where they sell cast iron pots and fishing poles, and thick shirts that feel like they’re made of old tarps.”
“Yep, that’s about it,” Ash laughed.
“I did buy these boots, though.” Sassy lifted a tanned leg to show Ash the expensive leather-tooled Mercovas that graced her feet. His eyes traveled from the boots to her shin, to the cap of her knee, and then along the toned muscle of her thigh, stretching up and under the hem of her short, but casual morning dress.
“Wow, pretty,” Ash said, thinking, pretty pricey for an intern. He tried to keep his eyes on the boots, and not the glow of her flawless skin. “Have you been to the West Gorge Arts and Culture Center? Or up to Cindy’s Diner?” Ash’s voice sounded scratchy, like an adolescent.
“No, but I’d like to see more of West Gorge, and Wyoming.”
“Okay, let’s do it. How about I tidy up your kitchen while you go get dressed.”
Sassy wore a mischievous smile on her face as she stood. He was mesmerized, and couldn’t look away.
“Done,” she whispered.
Spinning around like a dancer to walk down the hallway, Sassy moved her hands to the hem of her sundress, then lifted her arms in one swift motion over her head—taking the dress with her. Barely breathing, he watched, spellbound, as she turned into her room wearing only her pink bikini.