A persistent buzzing near her ear made Cass groan. She stuck out a hand and patted around until she found her cell phone, then drew it under the covers and blinked the display into view.

Daddy.

She pushed up onto her elbows, shoved the hair out of her face, and cleared her throat before taking the call.

“Hi, Dad.” She was proud of her tone, no hint of the hurt she was feeling at all.

“Hi, sweetheart. Are you okay?” She had to give him credit, he sounded sincere.

“Do you care?” A little bitter maybe.

“Cassandra, how can you say that? You mean the world to me, and you know it. Ever since your mom…”

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she cut him off, guilt coating her aching heart.

There was an awkward silence, then he cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I have to get to work, but I wanted to check in and make sure that Texan was treating you right. The week will be over before you know it and then we can get back to that wedding of yours.”

She hated the disappointment that twisted her stomach and brought tears to her eyes. “Okay, Dad. Bye.”

“Bye, honey. And… thanks.”

The line went dead and she was left staring at the striped paper lining the wall over the bed. Why did she let him get to her? He was never going to change. He’d never said, but she knew he blamed her for his wife’s death. She blamed herself. If she hadn’t had been a brat on the way to school that day, her mom would still be alive.

And now it was just the two of them and dozens of regrets.

Voices down the hall reminded her she was a guest in someone’s home. Good manners told her she should get up and make nice even though burying herself back under the covers was much more tempting. It had taken hours last night to fall asleep. Especially after that, that… heathen dumped her into the bathtub.

And no, she was absolutely not remembering the feel of his arms or the strength of his shoulders. No. No. No.

With any luck, he’d be busy on the ranch, doing whatever it is they do on a farm, and she’d hardly have to see him at all. She had no problem visiting with his family, though it went against the grain to lie to them about her and Matt’s so-called engagement. But really, anyone who saw them together would know something was up—how did he expect to pull this off around the people who loved him?

She shrugged. Not her problem. Their agreement only specified she act the part, not make it believable. Besides, she liked Matt’s abuela, who had been warm and welcoming to a complete stranger last night. Cass had felt an instant connection to the older woman and had no intention of lying to her more than necessary. If Matt wanted to lay it on thick, that was up to him. All she wanted was to pay her dad’s debt and go home so she could get married.

She picked up her phone to call Jeff, then set it aside. What could she say? Hi, honey, funny story. He’d never understand. His patience with her dad was nil anyway, never mind something of this magnitude. It was one of the few things they argued about. He tended to look down his patrician nose at anyone he deemed less than perfect, and her father with his paunchy stomach and gambling problems topped Jeff’s list of flaws.

Funny enough, Matt, who had every reason to mock her father, had treated him with the utmost respect. Even taking the time to assure him that his daughter would be handled like a princess during her stay at the ranch.

Only Cassandra caught the sarcasm directed toward her and her citified ways. That’s okay. She had nothing to prove to Mr. Tall, Dark, and Annoying.

She dressed with care, not too sure how people in Texas went about their day. After all, this was the blue jean capital of the world, wasn’t it? The closest she owned was a pair of finely woven white linen pants that she teamed with a sapphire blue top and a chunky gold chain around her neck. A sleek up-twist to get her heavy hair off the neck in deference to the heat, a spritz of her favorite, Aerin, to boost her confidence, and Cass opened the door to face the day.

“There you are,” a cheerful female voice called from down the hall. “I was just coming to get you. Matthew wants to take you riding today.”

Cass turned to face the pretty young woman striding toward her wearing, yes, denims, and a bright yellow t-shirt that suited her cheerful expression.

“Sophia, right?” All the Shaughnessys had been blessed when it came to the gene-pool. Matt’s youngest sister was apple pie fresh, with rosy cheeks and a wide smile that invited you to laugh along with her.

“Yep. I’m the cute, friendly one. Don’t hold my brothers against me, okay?”

Cassandra laughed. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Then the rest of what she said sank in.

Riding? Like on a horse?

Oh, hell no.