Free A TEMPORARY MARRIAGE: PART ONE (AVALON BAY ROMANCE SERIES Book 1) by Vicky Dean

t-bone steaks on.
    “So, how many cows do you have on the farm?”
    “About a thousand, mainly Holsteins and Jerseys.”
    “What’s the difference?”
    “Holstein cows are black and white and Jersey cows are brown. Holstein’s produce more milk but the Jersey’s milk is higher in fat content. We also have about fifty bulls for natural breeding.”
    “Bulls scare me,” Cassie confessed. “I feel quite certain that if one was loose, I’d be the freak victim of it impaling me.”
    She watched Richard assess her to see if she was serious. He must have thought she was, but he laughed. “Bulls are surprisingly safe to be around as long as they are happy and surrounded by cows.”
    “And apart from milk, do you produce anything else?”
    “We maximize the ranch’s potential by producing and processing a full array of fresh branded and private label dairy products. Let’s see…we have milk, flavored milk, buttermilk, egg nog, half & half, whipping cream, cottage cheese, butter, yogurt, sour cream, ice cream and ice cream novelties.”
    “That takes a lot of work, and people,” Cassie said.
    “Indeed, which is why you are a savior, although no one aside from us will ever know it.”
    “I’m still in shock that your grandfather was prepared to take that risk.”
    “You and I both, but just like always, his risks seem to pay off,” Richard said.
    “I bet you’ve seen some things in your lifetime,” Cassie commented.
    “Indeed, but nothing quite like this,” Richard said. “To this, whatever it is.” He lifted his wine glass and they toasted.
    It made Cassie already feel better to know that they were in this entire thing together, and there was definitely relief that Richard was a nice guy. Regardless of the consequences, she never would have agreed to it if he wasn’t.
    Nearly three hours passed by and it was time for Cassie to head back home. There had been no awkward silent moments or anything other than pleasant conversation. And tension—the kind that made your mind drift off to intimate moments with someone you were attracted to.
    When Richard dropped Cassie off, he reached into the center console of his truck and handed her two sets of keys. “For the ranch, and Primrose House.”
    “Thanks, I guess I will need these, huh,” Cassie said.
    “You should go to Primrose and take a look tomorrow. See what you think,” Richard said.
    “Thanks, I’m really looking forward to looking it over. It’ll be so exciting.”
    “I’d take you myself, but with everything going on, I have too much work to do. Hopefully you understand,” Richard apologized.
    “I do, and don’t worry. I’m fairly independent,” Cassie said.
    He smiled and nodded, and she got out of the truck, shaking his hand because she didn’t know what else to do. If any nosy person was watching, they probably wondered what the heck was going on.
    “Call you tomorrow,” Richard said as she shut the door.
    She waved and walked up the steps slowly, surprised at what a good evening she’d had and how much she’d enjoyed Richard’s company. But she would also enjoy her bed and a good night’s sleep—one with dreams of Paris from an Eiffel Tower view.

A WEDDING
     
    Cassie woke up feeling quite strange. She had nothing to do aside from whatever she wanted. This was something she wasn’t used to so she decided to dive into the Internet and explore the various places listed out in the brochure about France. As she checked things out, including the climate, she felt compelled to go shopping for some new clothes for the “honeymoon.” However, then she thought that it might be fun to buy clothes in France. How strange that it was her largest decision that morning—crazy, actually.
    She pulled out her phone and texted her mom to see if she wanted to meet for lunch, to which she replied with an enthusiastic, all capital lettered, yes.
    Waiting at the restaurant, Cassie wrote out her to-do list for the wedding. There was a lot to do.