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  How was I supposed to face him now, knowing what I know?

  “There you are Cece.”

  I smiled at Cliff as I sat back down, but I wasn’t feeling the kiss he tried to give me. Instead I turned my cheek at the last moment and he planted one there instead. Cliff was nice, hot, all of the above, but I don’t think he would ever make me feel the way I felt just watching Dante go to work on that stranger. How lucky the woman was and how much I wanted it to be me.

  “Are you okay?”

  I nodded my head that I was, but I could feel my face was hot and there was nothing that I could do about it. I don’t think I was ever going to get those images out of my mind for as long as I lived. It was hard to fathom how it was even possible. I was never going to be able to look at Dante the same again.

  “Yeah, I am fine.”

  “Did you find what you were looking for?”

  I smiled to myself and agreed. I had found something, but I wasn’t sure if it was what I was looking for or not. It was certainly something that I hadn’t seen coming.

  “Good, then let’s watch the show. I have been coming here for years, but I still like to watch all of the barrel racing.”

  I wasn’t worried about the show going on in front of us. My mind was elsewhere and I caught my eyes scanning the crowd, trying to see if I could see Dante anywhere. I saw his little blonde friend, but she was on her own again and I didn’t know where Dante was. Why did it sadden me so much? I was here with Cliff. He was a great guy and I should feel lucky that he picked me, even if I was having second thoughts now.

  “Do you mind if I join you?”

  I looked up and saw Dante standing next to us. He wanted to join us, but I didn’t know if I could even look at him the same. Was he really going to act like nothing happened?

  I nodded my head and told him that he could. When he moved next to me, I saw the look on Cliff’s face, but I wasn’t bothered. When I saw how he looked at me, I knew that he was feeling far more relaxed. He had a look on his face that I had seen before. So that is what he was grinning about all of those times.

  “So what did I miss?”

  I shrugged. “Not much really. Some barrel racing. Where were you?”

  “Oh, I just had something that I had to take care of is all.”

  “I bet.”

  ***

  “So what is going on with you Cece? You haven’t said a word since we got in the truck to come home. Are you not ready to leave Houston and your little boyfriend?”

  I ignored his comment because I knew that it wasn’t because of Cliff now. I didn’t want to get back to our old routine. I wasn’t ready to get back to the ranch and see what had happened while I was gone. More than that though, I dreaded this ride back. I could barely look at Dante. How was I ever supposed to be able to speak to him again when all I could see in my head when I looked his way was him rutting into that woman and making her scream?

  “I will see Cliff again. He is coming down next week to check out the ranch and some of the horses. It has nothing to do with him. I am just tired and ready to get home and see what kind of damage I have to fix.”

  He waved me off like I was being silly and I was just happy that he was off of the Cliff subject and why I was acting strange. Anything to get the attention off of me. I didn’t need the extra looks.

  “It isn’t going to be bad. You left the ranch in good hands. Everything will be fine. We were only gone two days.”

  “Yeah well, a lot can happen in two days.”

  Dante agreed and had this faraway look on his face that I was certain matched mine. I didn’t like to think about all of the differences that had happened this weekend, but I was curious what Dante’s look was for.

  “Are you sad that you didn’t find any strange when we were in Houston?”

  “Who says I didn’t?”

  That had my face turning red because the picture of him rutting like a stead was back in my mind and I looked out my own window so I didn’t have to look at him. He really had no idea what he did to me and that was just as well. He didn’t need to know.

  “Well it must have been quick.”

  “No, you were just too busy with your rodeo star.”

  I didn’t say anything for a time, letting the silence settle back in over us. I liked that way it felt being with him, but sometimes talking, in this position in general was causing problems so it was better not to say a word. It was better to do that, then to say something that I would regret later. I had enough regrets at the moment.

  “So do you really think you are going to see him again? He seems like a busy guy?”

  “Why are you worried about it?”

  “Just looking out for you Cece. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  I nodded, but didn’t answer him. His concern was questionable, as were his motives. I don’t know why I was mad, but I was and we still had another 6 hours in the truck together. It really was best that I shut my mouth. It was hard, but I leaned against the passenger door and told him to wake me up when he was ready for me to drive.

  Falling asleep was quick because thoughts and Cliff had kept me up both nights. I had fun and I would see Cliff again, but for now I just needed some rest and less conversation with Dante. He had always messed with me if I ever got too close. This time was no different.

  ***

  “Come on Cecelia, it is time to get up.”

  I sat up and again I found that my body had snuggled up against him and my head was on his chest. His arm was on the back of the seat and I couldn’t believe that I had done that again. How embarrassing.

  “Sorry. Where are we?”

  It was dark and I couldn’t see much, my eyes still adjusting to the dim light of the moon. It didn’t take long for me to realize that we were back at the ranch.

  “I thought you were going to wake me up when it was my turn?”

  “You just looked so comfortable. I didn’t want to disturb you. You were also in a bad mood. You slept the whole way so you must have needed it.”

  “Thanks Dante. I didn’t get much sleep the last couple of nights.”

  “I bet.”

  I didn’t meet his gaze, but instead got out of the truck and watched him drive off to put the horses up. I should have helped him. It would have been the right thing to do after he had driven home the whole way without my help. But I didn’t. I still didn’t want to face him and think about everything, so I slinked away into the house and tried to adjust myself enough to get around. I didn’t want to turn the lights on, knowing that they were going to be bright in my face.

  I wasn’t ready to see it all in the light of day. I plodded up the stairs and jumped in the shower before lying down. Even though I had slept the whole ride home, I was beat and went right back to bed. I looked out the window once to see Dante going into the hand house and he stopped before going in and looked up at my window. I ducked down like he would be able to see me, even though the room was dark.

  Why was he looking up here at me? What was I going to do with this feeling inside of me? I had a boyfriend that wasn’t him, so I shouldn’t be thinking about him like that all of the time. I groaned out loud and went to bed. I would think about it all in the morning. It would look better in the light of day, hopefully anyways.

  Chapter 7

  Dante

  Cliff was fast becoming a fixture at the ranch and he was one that I can’t say that I was very happy to see. Not only was he always around to drive me crazy, but Cece had acted differently towards me since we got back from Houston. While I figured that it was because of Cliff, it really had more to do with something else. I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

  “Good morning Dante.”

  Cliff as always, popping up and trying to be friendly. It had been a month since Houston and he was dating the boss. We didn’t have to be friendly. I couldn’t stand him. I thought he was junk and I knew that she could do better. I would do so much to Cece to make her happy, but that also mea
nt taking a step back when I had to. It didn’t mean that I wanted to do it, but it did mean that I was going to have to deal with him until she decided that he wasn’t worth her time.

  Until then, I had started to see Barb on the side. Ever since she had been hired, there had been long glances that became something more when my sexual frustration just became too much. I had always had a good time with Barb and the dark-haired woman made it easier to see her as someone else and to play make-believe, but I wasn’t too worried about all of that. It got me through the night and Barb didn’t seem to mind at all. She was getting hers and I was getting mine, the pretense didn’t really matter.

  “Morning Cliff. Is Cece up and around yet?”

  “Cece?”

  He didn’t like that I called her a nickname, but I could care less. I had worked with her for well over a year and he was new. He needed to back off and I wasn’t going to give in an inch. I ran this ranch, Cece knew it, so her boyfriend was just going to have to get over it.

  “Yeah, is she up yet? We have a lot of work to do and I need her here to take care of it.”

  “She is up, but I think she is rinsing off right now. Got a little messy this morning, if you know what I mean.”

  I did and it grated my nerves, as my teeth clenched together. The same went for my hands, but I balled my fists for just a moment, knowing that it wasn’t my place. She wasn’t mine, but waiting for her to see what was in front of her was getting hard. I wasn’t a very patient man and having to see who she chose over me as such an idiot was hard to swallow. Why him? I don’t think I was ever really going to figure it out. I really just didn’t get it. I don’t know if I ever would. Why couldn’t she see what a slime ball he was?

  “Ahh, well when you see her, tell her I will be out on the far barn. I can’t really get started until she is out there with me.”

  “She might need a little time. You sure you can’t start without her?”

  “I need two hands. You want to help?”

  Cliff looked uncertain and I grinned at him. While he liked to exude a certain feeling, there was a bigger part of him that had no clue what he was doing on a ranch. He rode bulls, not horses and had made it clear that he was just here for Cece, trying to convince her of a great idea that he could use her horses for. I didn’t trust the guy and I certainly didn’t trust him around the horses.

  “Sure. I guess. I don’t really have anything better to do.”

  “I thought you would be busy around Houston.”

  “Nah, it is never as busy as I would like it to be. I will go back next week, but I doubt I will even stay overnight before I come home. I am enjoying spending time with Cecelia.”

  I just nodded my head a little and started to walk away. I didn’t want to talk to him. It was bad enough I had to see him running around the ranch house with nothing but boxers on and a bare chest. I didn’t want to spend any more time with him than I had to.

  I left for the barn and I didn’t expect him to come out. I knew that he had agreed, but I was sure hoping that he would just keep right on and send Cece out instead. When I saw him walking towards the barn a few minutes later though, I had a feeling that Cliff was jealous. It made sense, I was and she wasn’t even mine. It gave me a sense of satisfaction until I remembered that he was the one that got to lay with her at night. He was the one getting the satisfaction, not me. Barb was fun, but she was no Cece. If she was, I would be content with her and I wasn’t.

  “Thought I wasn’t going to see you.”

  “Why? I said I would come out and help you. I want Cecelia to get some sleep so that I can have a round two later.”

  He was back to talking about her and it still set my jaw on edge. Didn’t he get that I wanted to choke him out when he talked like that? He had a grin on his face that told me maybe he did. He was testing me and Cliff wasn’t going to like the results. I could only hold back for so long.

  “You shouldn’t talk about Cece like that. She is really private.” And I didn’t want to hear it. It was that simple.

  “She will be alright... You seem to be the one that has a problem with it.”

  I did, very much so, but I waved him off and told him that he didn’t know what he was talking about. I did have feelings for her, but I wasn’t going to come out and tell this guy something like that. It was none of his damn business.

  “Just warning you. I know that you haven’t been with her long, but she wouldn’t appreciate this kind of talk.”

  “Were you with her?”

  The question threw me off, but it also told me that he was in fact jealous and that made me feel a little better. He thought I could take her away from him and maybe it was time to start trying.

  “No Cliff. She is my boss and I just respect her.”

  “Yeah, but with an ass like that, it is damn hard to respect her. She has the filthiest mouth…”

  “What are you guys in here doing?”

  Cliff’s voice trailed off and I looked to Cece to see if she had heard him. I really hoped she had and then she would see what kind of skeezer he was. Cliff didn’t deserve her. It was just that simple.

  “I just thought I would come out here and help Dante get some work done while you rest. You are going to need it.”

  Cliff walked up to her and gave her a kiss, before he moved to her neck and started to make her giggle. I looked away, a bit of bile coming up in my throat and there was nothing that I could do about it. Sometimes I wished that I didn’t feel anything for Cecelia. It would have been easier, but never did I think it would be so hard. Watching her with someone else was enough to make me lose my mind.

  She pushed him away finally and told him that she would handle it. Cliff didn’t know much about ranch life and he told her that he was eager to help.

  “If you want, I will just let the two of you have at it and I will go fix the posts in those corrals in the back. I don’t want a horse getting out that I have to chase down. It really is just a two person job.”

  “Wait Dante, are you sure?”

  I turned back to see her pushing Cliff’s hands off of her, but the man was still touching her and I just couldn’t be there to see it. I didn’t want to be. The last thing that I wanted him to do was touch her and seeing it was just too much.

  “Yeah, it will be fine. You know what to do boss.”

  I walked away and tried not to notice the look on Cliff’s face as I was doing so. He had a self-satisfied smug look on his face and there was nothing that I could do to stop it. I was just going to have to bide my time, no matter how badly I wanted everything to change and be different. When I finally got my hands on Cece, which I would, I knew I would, I was going to make sure that she never even thought about leaving me again. It was all that kept me from putting the man on his back every time I saw him.

  ***

  I was fuming the rest of the day and I stayed out in the far corrals for most of it. The sun was setting behind me as I walked back up to the hand house. I didn’t want to see Cliff and Cece hanging on each other. I didn’t have it in me today, so I just wanted to get in and get some rest.

  There was noise as soon as I entered and I had a feeling that I knew what it was. It was also clear which room it was coming from. I should have just kept walking. I didn’t care anyways, not really, so why was I so worried about it? I had to know who Barb was in there with. I knew that it wouldn’t matter, but something drew me to the door and all I could do was move forward as if I was in a trance.

  When I got my hand on the doorknob, I could tell that it wasn’t locked. I should have stopped there. The moans from the other side of the door were enticing and made it clear what was going on. She didn’t mean that much to me, so why was I so worried about who it was she was in there with?

  Opening the door, the light from the hallway lightened up the room and there was a man on his knees, facing towards the door with Barb’s ass in his hands. He was moving slowly and Barb wasn’t as into it as it had first sounded. She wasn’t
nearly as quiet when she was with me and I was going to take that as a good sign.

  “Barb?”

  She stopped and looked up. The man still hadn’t heard me. “Dante, this isn’t what it looks like.”

  Barb was pushing the guy off of her and it was only when he hit the floor and made a sound that I realized it was someone I knew very well. I had talked to him a few hours before. He was one of the people that I was trying to stay away from. I had to make sure, had to see him and when I did, I just shook my head. What the hell was wrong with him?

  “Cliff. Well isn’t this quaint.”

  I wasn’t mad at Barb. We were sort of together, but not really. She had just become a convenience that I took advantage of a couple of times a week or more. There wasn’t talk of the future, but I was upset at Cliff. How could he be so stupid to cheat on Cece and to do it in the way that he was doing it? It just didn’t make sense to me and I had to wrap my brain around it.

  Walking out, I didn’t answer the calls or the questions that came out from behind. I didn’t want to see either one of them again, but I was more pressed on the fact that I had to tell Cece. She had a right to know after all. But damn, I didn’t want to be the one to have to tell her. I didn’t want her to hate me over it and I had a feeling that she wasn’t going to be happy to hear this from me.

  Chapter 8

  Cecelia

  “Where have you been Dante? I was looking for you earlier. Cliff bailed on me halfway through the work in the barn and now we don’t have enough stalls for the night. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not. They might get out or fight if they have to share.”