âMaybe your opinion of me matters.â
His hand still on her wrist, he tugged her closer and rose from his seat. Their legs brushed and she lifted her gaze to his. Crickets chirped and tree branches rustled in the breeze, caressing the quiet night.
âCasey?â
A wayward strand of hair fell into her eyes. It was always doing thatâgiving the wholesome, sweet girl a sexy edgeâanother reminder that she was all woman now. Lifting his hand, he brushed the hair onto her cheek. His fingers lingered on the softest skin heâd ever felt. It would be so easy to kiss her again. âMaybe I want you to like me for purely selfish reasons.â
Her head tilted to the side and her lids lowered as she eyed his mouth. The hungry look on her face nearly blinded him. âBut that means ⦠Are you going to kiss me again, Casey?â
* * *
Redeeming the CEO Cowboy is part of The Slades of Sunset Ranch series. The sun never sets on love and redemption for these rich Nevada ranchers!
CHARLENE SANDS is a USA TODAY bestselling author of thirty-five romance novels, writing sensual contemporary romances and stories of the Old West. Her books have been honored with a National Readersâ Choice Award, a CataRomance Reviewersâ Choice Award, and sheâs a double recipient of the Booksellersâ Best Award. She belongs to the Orange County chapter and the Los Angeles chapter of RWA.
Charlene writes âhunky heroes with heart.â She knows a little something about true romanceâshe married her high school sweetheart! When not writing, Charlene enjoys sunny Pacific beaches, great coffee, reading books from her favorite authors and spending time with her family. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Charlene loves to hear from her readers! You can write her at P.O. Box 4883, West Hills, CA 91308, or sign up for her newsletter for fun blogs and ongoing contests at www.charlenesands.com.
To Don, the sweet, wonderful man I married many, many moons ago.
Happy Special Anniversary, Sweetheart!
One
As soon as Susanna Hart spotted the chrome-rimmed Cadillac SUV turning the corner and barreling down the street, her heart fisted deep in her chest. She had known this day would come. Casey Thomas was back in town.
She held her cousin Allyâs small hand and watched as the fairy-tale princess ball rolled to a stop at the front lawn of Caseyâs childhood home. Why wasnât she graced with good luck and timing the way some women were? She darted a glance at her front door thirty feet away. It was too late to make a mad dash. The roar of the engine mellowed. He wasnât far now. Thorny blades of grass pinched her bare toes where she stood like an immovable statue under the afternoon sun. Her palms began to sweat. She wiped her free hand on her denim jeans. âOh, no,â she muttered.
Allyâs gaze immediately lifted to hers. Susanna fixed her lips into a pretend smile, scooped up the ball and handed it to the two-year-old. âHere you go, Muffin.â
The worry on Allyâs face crumbled and she giggled. âIâm not a muffin.â She hugged the ball to her chest and announced, âI bakeded muffins, Auntie.â
Susanna tapped a finger to the side of her mouth. âOh, yeah, thatâs right. I forgot. Youâre my best helper.â
Allyâs smile widened. Poor kid. Ever since Ally had come to live with her one month ago, sheâd tried to find ways to put the child at ease and let her know she was wanted and loved. Little Ally had enough on her plate without worrying about her Aunt Susieâs sudden panic right now.
Even if Susanna hadnât recognized the blond-haired breaker of her heart, Casey Thomas, commandeering the wheel of the custom-painted glossy black SUV, she wouldâve guessed it was him. Flashy cars such as his didnât belong on Meadow Drive in the Reno suburbs. Neither did he, anymore.
But as he drove his SUV into the driveway of his childhood home and cut the engine, there was no mistaking the man whoâd taken her virginity nearly ten years ago.
Susanna stood rooted to the spot spinning thoughts of nonchalance in her head. Sheâd seen Casey a few times in the last ten years. This shouldnât be so darned hard. They could simply pretend the whole taking-her-virginity incident never happened, like they did when heâd come to pay his respects at her fatherâs funeral. Like they did when Casey broke his back riding rodeo and Susanna, being Audreyâs best friend, went with his sister to pay him a visit in the hospital. Like they did when theyâd bumped into each other at Sunset Ranch after Audrey had her beautiful baby girl, Ava Kasey Slade.
The driverâs door opened and a beagle-size mutt scurried over Caseyâs lap and leapt onto the driveway. Allyâs arms fluttered excitedly. âDoggy!â