Expecting the Cowboy's Baby Read Free Page B

young barkeep nodded his head. “Sure thing. Coming up in a minute.”
    When Jake turned around, another man held Cassie in his arms this time. This man he knew. Brody Taylor was a bull rider, full of himself and an all-around lady’s man.
    The music drifted into a slow, soulful ballad.
    Jake stifled an oath when Brody brought Cassie up flush against his chest. He noted her squirming in his arms—or at least it appeared she was trying to break the connection.
    None of his business, Jake thought, shaking his head. She’d given him the cold shoulder today once she’d realized who he really was. She didn’t want him interfering in her life. He turned away to glance at the bartender again. His drink was nowhere in sight.
    â€œYou know what, forget it,” he called to the bartender, who’d been flirting with some young blonde at the other end of the bar.
    Jake stood, taking one last glance at the dance floor. He noticed Cassie slapping Brody’s hands off her rear end. Fury exploded inside of him.
    â€œAh, hell,” he muttered.
    He made it to the dance floor in five quick strides and didn’t bother tapping Brody on the shoulder. “I’m cutting in,” he said firmly without giving Cassie a glance.
    â€œLike hell you are.” Brody turned, his body staggering some, his bloodshot eyes only just lighting with recognition.
    â€œTime for bed, Taylor.”
    The bull rider slanted him a crooked, drunken grin. “That’s what I’m aiming for, Griffin. Now get lost.”
    With a firm grasp, Jake removed Brody’s arm from Cassie’s. “Not with her, you’re not.” Jake pulled Brody’s hat lower onto his head with a tug. “You got two bulls to ride tomorrow. If you don’t get to bed soon, they’ll knock you to Texas and back. Now, go on.”
    Brody hesitated for a moment, probably too drunk to argue, then nodded and tottered away, slurring curse words.
    Jake finally peered at Cassie. She stood, somewhat dumbfounded, in the middle of the dance floor. “You okay?”
    â€œJust fine,” she said with definite irritation. That pretty heart-shaped mouth turned down into a pout. When Jake took her into his arms she asked, “What are you doing?”
    â€œI’m cutting in. You do want to dance, don’t you?”
    She broke away from him. “No. Not anymore.”
    Okay, so she didn’t want to dance with him. At least she wouldn’t be fending off the likes of Brody Taylor into all hours of the night. He followed her when she walked over to her table. He hadn’t noticed before, but she wobbled when she moved. And those bright, luminous eyes weren’t so bright anymore. In fact, they appeared every bit as hazy as Brody’s had been.
    Cassie slumped down into her chair and took a big gulp from a fishbowl glass of margarita. He stood over her. “How many of those have you had?”
    â€œJust one.” Cassie looked up at him in defiance.
    â€œOne too many, I’d say.”
    Her lips quivered. She appeared so forlorn and her eyes misted with unshed tears.
    â€œHey, I didn’t break something up back there, did I? If I did, I apologize. Want me to go hunt him down?” Hell, if she wanted Brody Taylor, she could have him. Jake wasn’t going to break up a love affair, if that’s what the woman was after.
    â€œNo, no. I don’t care about him. I’m just…so tired. I took an allergy pill a while ago.”
    â€œAnd washed it down with the margarita?”
    She nodded. “It’s been a long day.”
    Cassie couldn’t believe Jake Griffin was standing there, in the flesh. She’d been thinking about him all day. And the minute she’d laid eyes on him on the dance floor, her heart sped up and her toes curled. Just gazing up into his dark, ominous eyes made her dizzy. Well, the allergy pill had a little something to do with that, she assumed, but