In this sexy, sweet prequel novella to her new series, USA TODAY bestselling author Maisey Yates welcomes readers to the charming small town of Copper Ridge, Oregon, where itâs never too late for second chances
Thereâs not much about his teenage years that Jake Caldwell can be proud of. Except maybe for keeping his hands off cute, kindhearted Cassie Ventimiglia. She was the only one who saw him as more than a tattooed rebel who couldnât wait to leave the ranching life behind. Now heâs back in Copper Ridge to sell his fatherâs propertyâand staying right above Cassieâs coffee shop. And out of nowhere, the girl heâs never forgotten is offering a whole lot more than fresh-baked muffinsâ¦
Jakeâs dark, smoldering appeal hasnât changed one bit. But Cassie has. Following everyone elseâs rules didnât quite work out. Time to ask for what sheâs always wantedâ¦and what Jakeâs more than happy to give: a wild, hot romance that could make a one-time bad boy realize heâs back for good.
Donât miss Part Time Cowboy, the first in the Copper Ridge series, from HQN Books!
www.MaiseyYates.com
Chapter One
JAKE CALDWELL HAD most definitely improved with age. It really didnât seem fair. Rather than gaining five pounds around his hips like she had, his chest and shoulders had grown broader, his waist trim, his stomach washboard flat. It almost, almost, made her rue her addiction to the Loganberry tarts she stocked in the pastry display at The Grind. Almost.
Cassie Ventimiglia slowly sank down behind the counter, putting Jake, who was outside dismounting his motorcycle, out of her sight. She didnât need to spend any more time looking at him. She needed to take inventory of her soy milk. She opened the mini fridge that was built into the counter and began to dutifully do just that.
Her soy milk supply was sufficient. Which was good to know. Important. Much more important than taking in the view outside.
Cassie rose again slowly, eyeing the small dining room. Most of the women in it were casting subtle glances outside. And Cassie figured they werenât checking out Copper Ridgeâs main street.
Jake had that effect. But he always had. Even back when heâd been that dark scowling boy with perfect hair and wicked blue eyes wandering the halls of the high school, tattooed and bad news, and everything that kept mothers of good girls awake at night. And ensured that the fathers of good girls kept their shotguns close by.
Actually, that was probably why he had been so fascinating. As far as Copper Ridge, Oregon, went, he had been universally disapproved of. And what was more attractive than that, when you were seventeen and just starting to figure out that there was more to life than what your parents had told you? Nothing. At least not as far as sheâd been concerned.
Of course, she had actually gotten to know him. Had seen beneath some of his tough exterior. Had bothered to see him as a human being. For all the good that had done her. Sheâd just ended up with a crush wider than the Columbia River Gorge. And before sheâd been able to confess that, before sheâd been able to tell him just what she wanted from him, heâd left.
She seemed to have that effect on men. But she wasnât going to think about that right now. She was going to think about muffins. She could inventory those next. So hooray for that.
Anyway, she had no reason to be...staring at him, thinking about him, drooling after him. Heâd given no indication at all that he was interested in her as anything other than a tenant he happened to live near. He was aloof to the point of being cool. That was something that had changed.
When heâd been a teenager heâd had an air of intensity, anger and restlessness about him. Now he just seemed...well, he seemed almost bored to be here. Like he was looking through things.
Like he was looking through her.
The little bell above the door chirped and she looked up just in time to see Jake walk in. He had been here for more than a week. Back in town, staying in the apartment next to hers. It was a complicated situation, really.
Jakeâs father had owned the building that housed her coffee shop and the apartments above it, in addition to a couple of other properties in town and a ranch just outside of it. That meant Jake was the owner now. And effectively her landlord.
At least he hadnât changed much since heâd arrived, with the exception of inhabiting the neighboring apartment. She only hoped he continued to not change things.
He came into the coffee shop every day and ordered an Americano and a muffin. Which meant that she should be used to him by now. It meant that her stomach should not go into a free fall, her heart should not skip several beats, and her palms should most certainly not get sweaty.