Shoulda Been a Cowboy. Maisey Yates

it on the floor.”

      “That was before I knew you were intent on throwing me out onto the streets.”

      “I am not throwing you out onto the streets.”

      She lifted her hands and then slapped them down against her thighs. “You might be. You don’t know. You’re going to wash your hands of me. And leave me to be devoured by the winds of fate.”

      “That is... Just a little dramatic, don’t you think?”

      “It’s not dramatic at all! You are talking about selling my building out from under me. I don’t think there is an overdramatic where that’s concerned.”

      “If that were the case. But nothing has been decided, there is no specific buyer threatening to take anything from you, and I am not paying you for the muffin.”

      “You know what? That’s just petty, is what that is. You were going to pay me for the muffin, and then I told you not to, but now I want you to, and you won’t.”

      “That’s because you’re being retaliatory. And I think it’s small.” He was more amused by all this than he should be. More amused by her than he should be. But she was quick, and she was a lot more fiery than he remembered her being in high school.

      “Oh, so now I’m small? Yeah, I’m small. That’s what I am. A small business owner. And I’m being crushed by The Man.”

      Jake had never been accused of being The Man before in his life. He didn’t exactly have the look for it. “I am not crushing you. And I’m going upstairs now. Where I can eat my muffin without being abused.”

      “Abused? I would’ve thought you were a bit sturdier than this, Caldwell.”

      “I’m very sturdy. I promise you that. I just also happen to have an aversion to histrionics.”

      He turned and headed back toward the door,. He didn’t have the luxury of worrying about Cassie Ventimiglia and her coffee shop. Yeah, it would suck if whoever bought the place took it out from under her. But he was sure there were terms that could be worked out. And yeah, maybe her rent would go up, but she was underpaying. He also knew she didn’t have a predetermined amount of time on her lease. So she didn’t have any protection in that manner either.

      And sure, it made him feel bad. But not enough to willingly submit to holding onto a piece of Copper Ridge. Not enough to submit to holding onto a piece of the Caldwell family.

      There was a reason he had left all those years ago. And the reason was as valid today as it had been then.

      Cassie didn’t know. Nobody did. And that meant the way he handled things was nobody’s damn business but his.