by Lauren Wood
He had protested it, but I wasn’t going to do it any other way. I don’t care if everyone there had heard me screaming his name. I couldn’t think of that or even change it. But I could change whether or not we went downstairs together. After the debacle with Cliff, it seemed way too early to be claiming a relationship all over again. A small part of me was afraid that was going to end in much of the same way. I don’t think I could deal with the public humiliation of that happening again so close to the other failure.
I didn’t look at too many people when I got to the kitchen. I could feel eyes on me and I knew it was for many reasons. But I was just going to acknowledge the fact that we still didn’t have any assignments for everyone. So I gave out the assignments I had at the top of my head for certain people and then I patch-worked the rest when I saw who was still standing in front of me.
Barb was one of them and I decided that it would be better if she was away from the ranch. It wasn’t that I didn’t like her, but Dante was right about it being a constant reminder. Not only had Cliff cheated with her, but Dante had had sex with her as well. I don’t know which fact I disliked more, but I knew that I didn’t want to be the jealous type. Dante had a lot of ex-girlfriends and I was under no assumption that I was the only one. Far from it and I was just going to be happy that now I got to reap all of the benefits of that experience.
“Morning Dante.”
I heard her voice as she was leaving and for a second I wanted to tell her to leave. I could handle her being with Cliff. There was really nothing in between us, but I didn’t like the fact that she was still talking to Dante, not in the least little bit. It was not something I wanted to worry about. The fact that he didn’t answer her back made me feel a little better, but not enough. I started to consider the importance of me being the better person about it. Maybe that stand point was overrated.
“It’s good to see that you cleared everyone out. So what am I supposed to do today, boss? You got me mending fences again?”
I smiled at him, trying my best to shake off all of the ill feelings that I had. “No, not today. Today you are with me. I have some business to attend to and I need you there to talk to some people about the horses, what they can do and all of that jazz. Are you up for a little road trip?”
His eyes got darker and I ignored the look. I was still really sore from our extra shower lovemaking. I needed some time to recover. Even though I had been in a relationship not that long ago at all, just a couple of days with Dante and I was beat. He really knew how to keep me satisfied.
“Come on, none of that Dante. Don’t tell me that this is going to interfere with your work.”
He snapped out of it and said that it wouldn’t, but it already was. This was the first time I was late since I started running the place and I hated that I was so short on the assignments for the day. I was going to have to find a way to make sure that it didn’t happen again. There was still a part of me that wanted to stay there with him, drag him upstairs until he ravished me again like his eyes suggested. But I couldn’t and I had to push it out of my mind.
“It isn’t going to interfere with anything. I can wait. I waited this long to get you into bed, I can wait a little longer. Now that I know you are mine.”
I didn’t bother to correct him. I liked the way it sounded, even if I wasn’t too keen on being anyone’s property or anything of the like. There was no reason that I had to be owned, but I did like the way he said it. I liked that he claimed me, because at the end of the day I claimed him too. It was the real reason I was now eying Barb as the enemy. I had a feeling I was going to look at every female that way now, for better or for worse.
We got out to the truck together and I didn’t tell him where we were going. He wasn’t going to like who I saw yesterday and I had a feeling that he was going to dislike this meeting about as much. It was the way that it had to be though. I had made up a business plan with someone and even though it hadn’t worked out on a friend level between us, the fact was that it was a good business deal. I was not above working with someone I wasn’t that interested in as a person, to make the ranch grow.
“So where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
He smiled at me and I wished then that I had told him what we were going to be doing. He most likely wouldn’t be looking at me the same way, but I wanted to hold onto that smile a little while longer. Dante would know soon enough and I can’t say that I was looking forward to it.
Chapter 14
Dante
“Why does that car look so familiar?”
She didn’t answer me when we pulled up to a building. I had seen the little red sports car before, but it took me a minute to place it. I know that I had seen it before, but where? Then it hit me and I wasn’t sure how to feel.
“Why is Cliff here?”
“He is here for the meeting I was telling you about. I had to meet with him yesterday with some investors. Today we are going over the plan with the bank and more investors. I want you here as my expert.”
I was floored and I could tell by the way she was avoiding my eyes that she knew why I was floored. This was not at all what I expected and it was literally the last thing that I thought would happen. What was I supposed to say to this?
“So you met with Cliff yesterday?”
She nodded her head, still not looking at me and I was a mix of emotions. There was a lot I wanted to say, but now wasn’t the time. Cece was getting out and she had a look on her face like she was asking me silently to be nice. I didn’t want to be nice to such a man, but it had to be important for her to ask.
“Tell me that this is just business?” I don’t think I could have handled it being anything else than that.”
“It’s just business Dante. I would never get back with him.”
“I am just confused why you would have anything to do with him after everything that the two of you went through. I don’t know how you would even be able to be around him. I felt the same way about that woman, but I really can’t understand this.”
I was fuming and I was trying hard not to let it out and let her know that is how I felt. But I couldn’t help it. What the hell was she doing?
“Please let’s not make this a thing Dante. I know that you were going to be mad, but I need you to go in there and pretend that you don’t hate Cliff. This could be really good for the ranch and would take care of all of our money problems.”
I didn’t know that there were money problems and I felt bad that I wasn’t that involved in all of that. I got my check every week and it cleared, so what was I going to say about it now? Now that I knew there was something wrong I could help and as much as I didn’t even like the idea of seeing him again, I knew that I was going to do what was necessary to help, no matter how much I felt like it was going to do my head in.
So the pleasant feelings and butterflies that I was feeling from before were gone. The trip was now leaving a bitter taste in my mouth and I wished that I hadn’t come. The last person that I wanted to see was Cliff. It hadn’t even been a week since she threw him off of the property. I would never understand how she could compartmentalize so much, ranch be damned. I don’t know if I could.
We got into the building and Cliff looked about as happy to see me as I was to see him. He still wanted Cece, I could see it in his eyes when he looked at her. But she was mine now. I had made my mark. It took everything in me not to take the time and pull her to me, claiming her even more in front of everyone. It wasn’t professional, but the only reason that I didn’t do it was because I knew that Cece would not appreciate it at all. So I held back, shaking the hands of the other people in the meeting and ignoring the hand out from Cliff. I was trying to make it an oversight to everyone else, but to him, he should know that it was a slight.
Sitting down, it wasn’t long before the scope of the meeting was clear to me. Cece and Cliff had come up with an idea to lease out our horses for the day or weekend like someone would do a c
ar. I didn’t know how I felt about it, but numbers and projections were being thrown around that I had a hard time ignoring. This could be lucrative and it was the first time I looked at Cece as a business woman. I was there for the horse and handling side of it, but everything else was already played out in her head. She had a handle on all of it and it made me realize even more how capable she was. To be as young as she was, she had really changed the ranch for the better and it looked like she was on her way to doing more of that.
Cliff wasn’t as big of a problem as I thought he would be. Cece basically ignored him unless he asked a direct question and even then she was short. A comment was made about the iciness in the room and she just shrugged and didn’t mention why it was that way. It was because she was far more professional and grown up than I was.
It was a strange meeting, but by the end of it a contract was signed that was going to make Cece and the ranch a lot of money. I voiced some concerns about having someone with the horses at all times, but she wanted to talk about it more in depth when we weren’t in front of people. I took it as the ride home was as good of a place as any to do so. I had so many questions and not very many had anything to do with Cliff. I wanted to know where she had come up with the idea for it.
“Well Cliff was telling me about a few of his friends that were invited to the rodeo, but couldn’t find a horse in time or the one they were using had an injury. Since horses are fairly expensive to maintain, one is enough for many. We have all of these wonderful horses that are ready to go and it seemed like we just needed to put the two together. So when I was at the rodeo last week, I did some talking to some people, gave out some flyers and the phone has been nonstop ever since.”
It was a strange way to come about it and I didn’t like that Cliff was involved. “So how did Cliff get involved?”
Cece was just looking at the road and didn’t let on her emotions. “I don’t know, this was happening before we had the falling out. He called me the next morning to see if I was still going to go and I decided I was. It is a great opportunity for the ranch. It will get our name out there and the extra revenue will go a long way to a remodel. There are many things that need to be replaced. Not to mention I will be able to pay you all a better wage. You will be getting a raise this next week, since you will have new duties. But no more mending fences for you. I think this is going to keep you busy.”
“I think it is a great idea, but what about the horses? I don’t know if I am comfortable leaving them with some stranger. They have to be taken care of. It’s our duty to make sure of it.”
She pondered it for a moment and agreed that it was dangerous to just let it go. “You are right Dante. We will have to find someone else that can go with first timers that lease one. I know that you are particular about who works with the horses, so you are more than welcome to pick a couple of handlers. I would rather you pick out from who we got. We can trust most of them and hands are easier to find. This is going to be a good raise for whoever you choose.”
I was a little flabbergasted that she was giving me so much more responsibility. It meant that she believed in me and I was glad for it because I knew that I would never do anything to ruin that trust that she had for me. I really did respect her and want nothing but to help her. We were feeling more and more like a couple. Was this because of what happened the last couple of nights or was this the plan all along?
“How long have you been planning this?”
“Not too long. A couple of weeks. I didn’t even know if it was going to go through. That is why I am just telling you now. That meeting was the last of them and I knew that it would be better with you there. You are going to have a major role here with the ranch. Are you sure you are up for it?”
I nodded my head and told her that I was. “I am not going anywhere Cece.”
“Good, because I need you.”
“In more ways than one I hope.”
She smiled at me and there was a faint look of lust in her eyes, most likely something that she was trying to hide because just as quickly it was gone. But the look had done its damage and when we stopped for something to eat at a small diner by the interstate, I was sick of waiting around. I pulled her into a bathroom and took her against the wall.
When we walked out, her hair was messed up and her clothes were crooked, but she had never been so beautiful to me before. I absolutely loved the way she looked after she had found pleasure. The fact that I was the one that was giving her that look made it all the better. I didn’t know how else to describe it but it was pure perfect. It seemed that everything about Cece I found perfect.
Back in the truck, I drove and she leaned against my shoulder. Even before all of this, I had enjoyed the way she felt leaned up against me, but now I got to rub her while she laid there and it made it a hundred times better.
When she fell asleep, it felt like all of the stars had finally aligned in my life. It wasn’t a feeling I was used to having, this grip like feel over my heart, but lord help me I did. The woman curled up against me was perfect and I loved her.
It was one realization of many for the day. I had likely always felt this way, but now it was impossible to ignore. Cece was what I had been looking for this whole time. Now that I knew it, I was never going to do anything to mess it up.
At the ranch I shook her awake and she smiled at me. It was better than the old reaction of embarrassment.
“Sorry I went to sleep. I swear you are like a sleeping pill Dante. I always sleep better after we are together.”
It was one of the best compliments that I had heard in a long time and it really made me smile. There was just something about the way she looked at me and the way that my heart melted when she did.
“Are you coming over or am I going to you?” I just wanted to make it clear I wasn’t done with her yet.
“Um, I think you should come to me. The walls aren’t very thick over at the hand house and I am already getting looks.”
I waved her off and kissed her before we went our separate ways. It was hard to say goodbye to her, even though I was going to see her rather quickly. I just couldn’t get enough of her. This had to be the love that I always heard about. I had never felt it before, but I knew that with Cece this was what it was.
Chapter 15
Cecelia
Life was going good, but it was also going really fast. I don’t know what I had gotten myself into with the leasing thing, but it was blowing up quickly. Now I was running around all of the time and it was because of the new deal I had struck with Cliff’s people. I still had to see him on occasion, but Dante met with him more than I did. I let him take care of Cliff for many reasons. It made him feel better about it I supposed, though he did show his anger from time to time.
Dante and I were still together and though nothing was official, everyone knew that we were an item in Conroe. It was big news in a little town and though there was also gossip about Cliff when I was dating him, I was glad that that part of my life was over. I didn’t miss anything with Cliff. I was falling for Dante, even though it was becoming less and less free time that we had to see each other.
Picking him up after not seeing him for two days, the first thing I wanted to do was give him a kiss. But he wasn’t worried about romance right now. That in and of itself was enough for me to question everything and wonder what was going on. He was always ready to do a quickie wherever we could find a place. It was always exciting and that was what I was looking for. I wanted him, badly and I started to pout when he pulled away from the kiss. It had been two days and I was going to lose myself if he didn’t give me what I wanted. Didn’t he know how badly I was missing him?
“What’s up?”
“I had to go out and get Thunder.”
Thunder was my favorite horse and I wanted to know why. He had a concern on his face that I didn’t like to see. He was never the nervous type and that meant that it was something serious, because Dante was looking rather serious at the moment.
“Because Laura wasn’t there like she was supposed to be and the renter hit him several times from what I hear. I got a call from someone working in the stables that I know. He actually has a couple of marks. I don’t know what to do right now. It is one of your old boyfriend’s rodeo buddies. If he would have been there, I would most likely be telling you this from a jail cell. I was worried about this happening and I want to know what you think we should do about it.”
That was where it all fell apart and I didn’t know what to say. It was something he had brought up multiple times, but after hiring two people to go out with the horses on the first couple of visits, I thought that it wouldn’t be a problem. Laura was a bright young girl that I thought had a future with us. This seemed to be something else that I was apparently wrong about.
“Fire Laura.”
He smiled at me and finally kissed me. “Good, I was hoping you would say that because I already did. I can’t have people like her working for me, well for you.”
“No, that is your deal. I will back up whatever decision that you make.”
“About what?”
“Staff. Why?”
“I think you need to drop the rodeo clowns and go with the other clients. They are more trouble than they are worth.”
“And you hate working with Cliff.” I thought I would mention that, even though as soon as I said it, I knew I was going to grow to regret saying it.
“I am not going to deny it.”
“So you want to get rid of that whole area of business? That is a lot of it right now.” I was worried about Thunder and I was already ready to go see him, but I was still stuck on why he was trying to get rid of all of that business. It was a lot and with everything going on, it would be helpful to have.
“Yes, I do. They are nothing but trouble and I know that it was a mistake to work with him. Men like Cliff are bad news.”