Ask Me No Questions (The American Soldier Collection 12)

“Cass is moving into Tranquility. She just needs to decide on which place she likes more. Of course, I would love to have her stay on my ranch. I’ve got plenty of room with my sons and their team living next door.”

“I told you already, Red. I wouldn’t take advantage of your generosity.”

“But it’s silly to pay rent on a place when you can have your choice of living in the house or in the smaller cottage on the property. I don’t have anyone renting right now,” Red pushed, and she smiled.

“You are persistent, sir. We’ll talk about it,” Cass told him.

“Over some beers,” Red said, and the others joined in as they made their way to the bar.

Garrett headed around to set the beers up for them, and Red led her down toward the other side. She immediately noticed a man standing there, his eyes focused on her and then her body. She felt a little shiver of interest. That surprised her, but then again, the man was definitely a nice piece of eye candy. Tall, around six feet two or so, big brown eyes, crew-cut brown hair, and an expression that read reserved but ready for a fight. He was a soldier. No mistake about it.

Red placed his hands on her shoulders and introduced her to the man with the tight navy blue T-shirt and blue jeans. He was ripped with muscles, defined in his arms and even his abs. She could tell by the way his shirt sat snugly against his torso.

“Cash, I would like you to meet an old friend of mine. Cassidy Williams, this is my son Cash.”

She smiled wide and reached her hand out for him to shake. Cash held her gaze intently, and when their hands met and he squeezed, she felt an instant attraction. She pulled her hand away and stepped toward the bar.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Cash. Your father has told me so much about you.”

Cash leaned a little closer and held her gaze. It was as though he was sizing her up.

“Well, I’m sorry to say that my dad has kept you a secret. Never heard him mention you before.”

She felt her cheeks go warm, and then Red chimed in as Garrett passed out the bottles of beer.

“That’s because we hadn’t seen one another for a few years. But a week ago, at that retirement dinner, we bumped into one another,” Red stated with a smile.

“That was some night. But we had a good time catching up,” she replied.

Cash stared at her and then his father.

“So, how do you know one another?” Cash asked.

“The woman is the best ER trauma nurse in the U.S. Marine Corps,” Garrett stated.

Red raised his bottle of beer. “Sure as shit is.”

“Marine Corps?” Cash asked with an attitude, and that attraction she felt disappeared. Seemed he was like a lot of military guys, thinking she couldn’t handle the intensity. How wrong he was.

“Yes, son, she helped to save a lot of lives—”

“In the ER along with Dr. Reynolds. I wish he were here. He would love to see Garrett again.” She winked at Garrett.

“Hey, I was a different person then,” Garret said and began to tell them about how much of a jerk he’d been.

Cass looked at Red, who she hoped got the hint that she didn’t want anyone knowing what she had been a part of. She didn’t like bragging or being bragged about. She did her job. That was it.

Red gave her a nudge, and she made a few comments about Garrett, and then his brother, a Texas Ranger, arrived with a woman. She was beautiful and very nice as she joined them by the bar, and the men told stories about knowing one another. It was really cool and quite relaxing as some other patrons joined it. It was as if everyone knew one another and shared a common bond. She liked that and hoped it wasn’t a mistake heading here. The last thing she needed was to bring trouble this way and be embarrassed if Blaze showed up to harass her. But this was temporary. She wouldn’t be here for that long if it all worked out accordingly.

* * * *

Cash was impressed with Cassidy. She was very attractive, had a charismatic personality, and she was funny. She made several jokes that had them rolling with laughter, causing a larger crowd of people to join them. It was annoying him that he was losing involvement in the conversation until Red pulled over another stool, placed it right by Cash, and had Cass sit there.

She gave him a small smile then took the seat next to him. Cash inhaled the scent of her shampoo and some delightful perfume she wore. She was appealing in so many ways, and by the way these guys were drooling over her, she wouldn’t be going home alone.

For some strange reason, it pissed him off. Until his father invited her over for dinner tomorrow night after he helped her move her things into the cottage on his ranch. Cash felt a bit sick to his stomach. Was his father seriously going to hit on Cass? She was younger than Stryker by at least five years, if not more.

Red started talking to John Luke, so it gave Cash an opportunity to talk to Cass. He placed his arm over the back of her chair and leaned closer.