Ash: A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 2 (The Beckett Brothers) Read online

“He hates everyone,” Cassidy said, as if she was commenting on the weather.

  “Then why do you have him?”

  “I love him. Look at him. He’s so beautiful.”

  Ash glanced over at her then back to the horse. “He’s another devil. I can tell already.”

  “Well, if you do your job correctly, he’ll become a pussycat just as Diablo did,” she said in a teasing voice.

  “I do love a good challenge.” Ash looked at her and winked without thinking what a double meaning it represented. She quickly glanced away from him. Had she thought the same thing? Damn, she was beautiful.

  Clearing his throat, he looked back to the horse then climbed the fence and jumped down into the corral. He heard Cassidy hiss in a breath.

  “Please be careful, Ash.”

  “Worried about me?”

  “I’d be worried about anyone in there with him.”

  Ash glanced at her. “And here I thought you cared.”

  When she didn’t say anything, Ash grinned and sauntered toward the horse with his hand out.

  “Come on, boy. Settle down. No one wants to hurt you,” he told the animal in a low tone of voice.

  He watched as the horse pinned his ears back and his hoof pawed the dirt. When he tossed his head and reared up, Ash heard Cassidy gasp but he didn’t take his eyes from the horse as he moved even closer. Grabbing the reins, he pulled on them to get the horse closer to him. Ash reached out and touched the horse’s nose then jumped back when the horse snapped at him.

  “He’s got a mean bite,” Everett called out from behind him.

  “You think every horse has a mean bite, Everett,” Ash said grinning.

  “Damn horse needs put down.”

  “It’s not happening, Everett,” Cassidy said with determination making Ash smile as he faced the horse who wanted very much to bite him.

  Ash chuckled when he heard Everett muttering under his breath.

  “I’ll do my best with him.” Ash reached out a hand toward the horse, snatching it back when the horse snapped at him again.

  “I’d shoot him if it were up to me, right Cassie?” Everett said.

  “Good thing it isn’t up to you, Everett,” Cassidy teased.

  Taking a deep breath and blowing it out, Ash reached a hand out again and patted the horse’s neck. This time the animal allowed it. The skin under his hand quivered, but the horse stood still. When he turned his head toward Ash, he stood his ground and the horse didn’t snap at him again. Good.

  “Whoa, boy. I’m not going to hurt you,” Ash whispered as he rubbed his hand along the horse’s flank. “What’s his name?” he asked without turning around.

  “Golden Boy,” Cassidy said.

  “Seriously?” he asked, thick sarcasm lacing his voice.

  “I didn’t name him,” she said in a huff.

  Ash grinned but didn’t turn to let her see. “Glad to hear it.”

  ****

  Cassie stared at Ash’s ass in those tight jeans. Well, it hadn’t just been the chaps that made his ass look so great since he wasn’t wearing any today. It was his ass, period. The man was just too gorgeous for her peace of mind and she didn’t want to think of him in any way, but she couldn’t help it. He was the hottest thing on two legs, and try as she might to keep her eyes off him, she couldn’t keep her gaze from giving his backside a thorough looking over. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from groaning. His red T-shirt hugged his broad back, and he had it tucked into those jeans. On his feet were well-worn cowboy boots and a white straw cowboy hat sat easily on his head. Down low, just like it should be worn on a cowboy.

  Her mother had told her he was thirty-five—the same age as Ross—but Ash just carried himself with such confidence, that it made him seem so much more mature. The man was sexy as sin with his dark hair, ice blue eyes, and lips made for kissing. Damn it! The scruff covering his lower face, neck, and strong jaw was such a turn on for her, and she knew he didn’t wear it just for style. She wiggled on the rail and almost fell off. Grabbing the wood to steady herself, she hoped he hadn’t noticed. She watched as he talked to the horse and ran his hand over the horse’s back, and she wondered if he was that gentle with a woman.

  “He’s really good with horses. I can’t believe he’s gotten that close to him so fast,” Everett said from beside her and reminding her she wasn’t alone.

  “I’m hoping he can calm him down. Dad says he’s the best.” She quickly looked back to Ash when she heard the horse whinny, and then saw him rear up. Her breath lodged in her throat. “Ash.”

  “He’s fine,” Everett put his hand on her shoulder. She hadn’t realized she’d said his name aloud.

  “I know. It’s just that Golden Boy is so mean. I don’t want to see Ash—anyone—hurt by the horse.”

  When Everett didn’t say anything, she glanced over at him to see him staring at her. The heat poured into her cheeks as she looked away.

  “You’d better make a decision on what to do with that horse. He is a beautiful animal, but he’s got one hell of a mean streak. If you have him gelded, he’ll calm down and make a great pleasure horse.”

  Suppressing a shiver, she looked back to see Ash rubbing his hand up and down the horse’s face and talking to it. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but apparently the horse loved it because as she watched, the horse butted his head against Ash’s chest. When he turned to look at her and smiled, she almost fell off the rail again.

  Good Lord, Cassie. You’d think a man never grinned at you before.

  Not a man as hot as Ash Beckett—never before.

  “Get him eating out of your hand, Ash—please.”

  Spinning around on the rail, she jumped down then walked down the aisle of the barn to head for the house. She had to get away from him or make a complete fool of herself.

  “All right. I’m going to take the horse to my ranch and work with him.” She heard Ash say as she widened the distance between them.

  Stepping out into the sunshine, the wind whipped her braid around to her face. Grabbing hold of it, she kept a tight grip on it as she walked across the dirt area of the yard then strode up the steps and entered the house. She let out a sigh as she closed the door behind her. Pulling a chair out from the table, she took a seat, rested her elbows on the table, and covered her face with her hands.

  She couldn’t be thinking of any man, and especially a man like Ash Beckett. He was just too…male…and she never wanted to get close to any man again. Ross had broken her heart, and she had a feeling Ash Beckett could do more than just break her heart, he would shatter it.

  Pushing the chair back, she stood and walked to the door. Peering out, she watched as Ash led Golden Boy to the trailer hitched behind his truck and loaded the horse. When he stepped out of it and closed the gate, she saw the wind blow his hat off. She laughed as Ash hung his head and put his hands on his hips. He ran to pick his hat up, but it blew away toward the house. Without giving it a thought, she opened the door and ran down the steps to get his hat as it hit the bottom of them. Holding it until he got to her, she then handed it to him.

  “Thank you. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to run all over God’s creation to catch it,” he said as he took the hat from her and slapped it against his thigh to remove the dust, making her look to his crotch. Those jeans fit him really well.

  “You’re welcome. I saw it blow away and thought I’d help so you wouldn’t have to chase it too far...” God! She was gushing stupid like a teenager. “Would you, uh…like to come in for some coffee?”

  “I would, but I’d better get uh…Golden Boy to my ranch. I’ll work with him tomorrow.” His mouth seemed to twist in distaste when he said the horse’s name.

  Cassie smiled. “You don’t like his name, do you?”

  “No. It seems too common for a palomino.”

  “How about I call him Goldie?”

  A slow heart-stopping grin lifted his lips, and his white teeth flashed in his tanned face. “Not
much better, but I suppose that’ll work.” He placed his hat on his head, tugged it low on his forehead, and touched the brim. “I’ll bring him back when I settle him down.”

  “All right.” Her eyes locked with his for a long moment and she thought he was going to say something else but then he gave her a nod, and turned on his heel to leave.

  “Ash…um…”

  “Yeah?” He turned to look at her.

  “Let me give you my phone numbers in case you need to ask me something about the horse.” Oh, good Lord, Cassidy Marlowe Porter! She almost rolled her eyes at her own brashness.

  “Sure,” he said as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

  She gave him her cell number as well as the landline number at the cabin. “Thanks again.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled and spun around then jogged to his truck

  Cassie couldn’t keep her eyes off his ass. Good heavens. Total cowboy. She’d been born and raised in Montana, so she loved cowboys. She was used to being around them but none had ever been so cowboy as Ash Beckett. She laughed when she thought of Ash making fun of Golden Boy’s name. There were probably a lot of palominos with Golden in their name.

  As she watched, Ash climbed into his black pickup, started it up, and then pulled away from the barn and down the driveway. Cassie sighed as the truck and horse trailer disappeared. She really shouldn’t be thinking of Ash at all. Yes, he was hot, but a lot of men were. But she had to admit, at least to herself, that not many were as hot as he was. However, her trust issue with men was at an all-time low right now. Fear of having her heart broken again crippled her, but she’d invited him in for coffee anyway. What was that about?

  “Well, he did refuse.” She frowned at the thought of his rejection. “Well, not really refused. He said he would but he wanted to get the horse to the ranch so…” She shook her head. You’re reaching, Cassie.

  Entering the house, she placed her head against the window in the door. As hot as she thought he was, nothing could ever come of it. Her heart was only just beginning to mend.

  ****

  Ash drove up to the barn at his ranch and parked his truck. After climbing out, he walked to the back of the trailer.

  “Hey, Ash,” Ernie said as he walked toward him.

  “Ernie. I need to get this guy in a stall. He’s not friendly, and I don’t want him near the other horses. Also, let the men know to stay away from him. I’ll work with him tomorrow.”

  “Will do.” Ernie stood beside the trailer as Ash unhooked the latch. “He’s a gorgeous horse.”

  “Yeah, but another devil,” Ash said just as the horse reared up once out of the trailer. Ash grinned. “See?”

  “I don’t know how you do it, but better you than me.”

  Ash tugged on the reins to settle the horse then he led him into the barn. Ernie walked in front of him and opened a stall gate. Once Ash put Golden Boy inside the stall, he quickly stepped out as the horse reared up again.

  “Damn. He really doesn’t like it in there, boss.”

  “Too bad. It’s his home for a few days.” Ash stared at the horse. “I’ll settle you down.”

  Ernie laughed as the horse tossed his head and pawed the straw. “I think he disagrees.”

  Ash smirked. “I’ll do it, or one of us is going down.”

  “Bullshit. One, you’d never hurt a horse and two, you’ll do it.”

  “I hope so. Do you know if the north field was cut? The truck will be here tomorrow to pick up the feed, and we need to get the other silo filled.”

  “Yep. It’s done and ready to be loaded.”

  Ash slapped him on the back, pleased that he can count on his men then walked out of the barn into the bright sunshine. Dust wafted around his boots as he walked across the yard. Ash loved being able to work with horses on his ranch. He’d been a bull rider for five years before coming home to grow feed and train horses. His only real competition was Trick Dillon in Clifton, the little town next to Hartland. Ash was sure he wasn’t even close to being as good as Trick but if Trick was busy, he had no problem sending people to Ash. However, Ash only trained horses on the side now and mostly, only for Nora and Brian. Unless Trick was overwhelmed with business and sent Ash a client, Ash rarely did any breaking or training any longer. He was too busy growing organic feed for horses and cattle. The fact that his family was wealthy wasn’t something Ash thought about much. He wanted to make his own money, so he did by planting and growing feed on almost all of his five hundred acres along with close to a thousand acres he leased from Bonner Gentry, and several hundred acres from Cord Maddox, both in Clifton. He’d quit breaking and training horses when his feed took off like wildfire and now had the reputation as the best produced.

  Sighing, he headed for the back door, holding onto his hat since the wind had picked up again. Grinning, he thought of Cassidy running out to pick it up for him. He really wished he could have gone in for coffee, only it wasn’t coffee that he really wanted. Damn. Shaking his head, he climbed the steps and entered the kitchen.

  His Alaskan Malamute, Bandit ran toward him, his nails clicking on the floor as he skidded to a halt in front of Ash. Removing his hat, he hung it on a peg, rubbed Bandit’s ears then walked to the sink, and turned it on to fill a glass with cold water. Jerking when the back door opened, Ash spun around to see Belinda Hasselbeck enter and smile at him. Maybe he needed to start locking the door.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked as he leaned back against the counter, set the glass down, and folded his arms. She couldn’t seem to take the hint. He’d told her three months ago he didn’t want to see her anymore, but she kept coming around. It had only been sex for him, but she’d wanted more.

  “I came to see you,” she purred as she moved closer to him then put her arms around his neck. Ash pulled them away. She jumped back when Bandit nudged her with his nose.

  “It’s over, Belinda. You need to move on.”

  “Oh come on, Ash. What we have is too good.” She stepped back from him and folded her arms under her breasts, and he knew it was a ploy to get him to notice them, but it did nothing for him.

  “We don’t have anything. Not anymore. Just go. I need to shower. You found your way in…find your way out.” He strode out of the kitchen.

  Chapter Two

  Damn it. Ash didn’t need Belinda hanging around. He wasn’t interested and coming around wasn’t going to change his mind. He strode down the hall, entered his bedroom, and then the bathroom. After stripping off his clothes, he turned the shower on and as the room filled with steam, he opened the glass door and stepped in. Turning his back to the spray, he groaned when it hit between his shoulder blades. Twisting back around, he hung his head under the water and placed his hands on the wall and watched the day’s grime swirl down the drain. He jerked in surprise when the door opened, and a naked Belinda stepped in, sliding up between his arms.

  “What the hell are you doing?” he asked.

  “What does it look like? I’m taking a shower with you. Just like we used to.” She stood on her toes and kissed his jaw.

  Ash pushed her away. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want her. It had been a long time since he had wanted her. It was why he’d broken it off with her. He had even told her he didn’t have any feelings whatsoever for her, but she refused to listen. Even the sex hadn’t been that good, at least, not for him.

  “It’s nothing like it used to be. Get out,” he muttered.

  Belinda stared up at him, smiled then dropped to her knees. Ash grabbed her shoulders trying to stop her.

  “Let me do this, Ash. I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered as she leaned forward and took his dick into her mouth. When he groaned, he felt her smile.

  Damn it! He stepped back and stared down at her. This was not going to happen. He grasped her arm in his hand, pulled her up and from the stall then he let go of her arm and jerked his chin at her clothes lying on the floor.

  “Get dressed and get out. Now,”
he growled at her. He wasn’t in the mood for any more from her.

  Belinda stared up at him, and he watched as her eyes narrowed and her lips flattened then she reached down and picked up her clothes.

  “Ash—”

  “Get your fucking clothes on, or I’ll drag you out of here as you are.” He folded his arms and stared at her. It didn’t even occur to him that he was standing there naked while water droplets rolled down his chest as well as the rest of him.

  “You can be such a prick,” she snapped in an angry tone.

  “And you can be one hardheaded woman. This is over. It’s been over. I don’t want you here. Now get out,” he said through clenched teeth.

  He watched her dress then she stormed out, slamming the bedroom door behind her making him wince. A moment later, he heard the kitchen door slam. He blew out a relieved breath. Damn her. He didn’t like hurting anyone, but he’d told her a long time ago it was over.

  Turning, he closed the bathroom door and stepped back into the stall. He couldn’t help but think if it had been Cassidy in the shower with him, he sure wouldn’t have tossed her out. God! What a thought to have. He wanted her, he wanted to feel her wet hot mouth on his cock, and then he’d take her hard and fast making her scream his name as she came. He wanted to go down on her and taste her.

  Closing his eyes, he imagined her sucking on him. He groaned low in his throat and wrapped his hand around his hard cock. Shaking his head against the mounting arousal, he turned the hot water off. The cold water did the trick. He’d rather have Cassidy than pleasure himself. Being with a woman was better than his hand.

  “Fuck,” he muttered as he shut the water off and reached for a towel. Drying off, he stepped out then wrapped the towel around his waist and moved to the mirror. Swiping a hand across it to remove the steam, he glanced at it and frowned at the reflection staring back at him.

  “She’s not interested in a relationship. You finally find a woman that you could possibly see a future with, and she’s not interested. So let it go.”

  Staring at himself in the mirror, he blew out a breath. Shaking his head, he reached for the shaving cream and squirted a blob into his hand then applied it to his lower face, jaw, and neck. Picking up his razor, he shaved then wiped the rest of the cream off his face with a small towel.