“Are you still a nurse now?” he asked her.
She licked her lower lip and turned toward him, legs crossed as she pulled her blouse closed, stopping the great view he had of her deep cleavage.
“Not anymore. I do private nursing and rehabilitation care.” He squinted his eyes at her and glanced at his dad, who happened to glance his way at the same time.
“Is that right?” he asked, wondering if his dad was thinking of hiring her to work with Stryker. He felt his gut clench and concern fill him. Stryker would eat this one alive, Marine or not. It didn’t sit right with him at all.
“Are you working nearby? Is that why you’re moving here?”
“No, I needed a change from Houston. Your dad mentioned Tranquility, and there is a small VA facility about thirty minutes north from here. I have options, plus I can commute back to Houston if necessary for temp jobs. Living here is only temporary. How about you? What do you do now that you’re retired from the Corps?”
“I work for the police academy in the training facility.”
“Training in handling weapons?” she asked.
“That and self-defense, hand-to-hand maneuvers and techniques.”
“Ah, interesting.” She smiled.
God, she’s so beautiful.
He stared at her mouth, her soft lips lightly glossed, and then those gorgeous hazel eyes. He was feeling things he didn’t want to feel. Hell, things he had never felt for a woman he’d just met.
“So you taking my dad up on his offer of moving in with him?” he asked her, and she looked a bit embarrassed. Was there something going on between Cass and his dad? Shit, why did that make Cash feel jealous and angry?
“I’m not moving in with your dad. He suggested the cottage on his ranch. It sounds really nice, but I’ll decide tomorrow afternoon when I come by for lunch.”
“You’re invited, too, Cash, and tell the others,” Red told him.
“I’ll see who is around tomorrow.”
“It’s Saturday. You’re all off. Tell them to stop by at any time. Cass will arrive by twelve, and we’ll check out the cottage together. It may need some work, but if Memphis joins us, then he’ll be able to check out the electrical on that air conditioning unit,” Red said to Cash.
Cash looked at Cassidy and gave a small smile. “Looks like I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.”
“I guess I’ll be meeting some of your team.”
“Maybe,” he replied.
It made him feel protective. Him and his team. His brothers were close, and they’d survived by keeping up their guard. They’d had their share of women who came and went. None lasted more than a roll in the hay, especially with Stryker spitting vinegar. But he knew the guys well. Coast, Orlando, and even Memphis would be attracted to Cassidy. She was different, she was beautiful, and she was going to be living less than five hundred yards from their place. At minimum, Orlando would try to get down her pants.
That cottage on his dad’s property was nearly on the border of theirs. Hell, when they walked out on their back porch, they would be able to see her on hers. He swallowed hard. Why was he feeling a bit of excitement at seeing Cass again?
“So tell me about the guys. Do you all work on the ranch? Have any livestock or horses?” Cassidy asked.
“Memphis takes care of the horses and, in between, works some construction jobs and does electrical work for people around town. It’s more of a hobby to keep busy.”
“That great. I have to admit it can be hard to transition out of the service and back to civilian life. I guess that’s why I chose to work at the VA hospital in Houston. I didn’t want to become too far detached from the soldiers and helping.”
“You were in the field a lot?”
She nodded and looked away.
“You worked the triage for incoming wounded overseas?” he asked.
She nodded again but didn’t expand or even give a verbal reply. He stared at her, and then Red interrupted.
“You have got to see some of these old pictures on the walls, Cass. I bet you might recognize Frederick. Come on and I’ll show you.”