I hold back a sharp burst of laughter. “Not likely.”
“So why me?” she says. “I’m nothing special.”
The earnest concern on her face smothers all laughter for good. She’s not fishing for compliments or trying to be difficult. She’s truly mystified.
“We’re not just salt-of-the-earth cattle ranchers,” I say.
Cecilia tilts her head. “I know that. I was born into the same world.”
“Exactly. Do you think we can risk trusting just anyone to join our family?”
“Then why do you trust me?”
“You’ve already answered your own question. I have no intention of making explanations. Not about my life. Not about my family. And no starry-eyed girl raised by civilians would understand this. Oh, maybe she saw a few movies and thinks she knows what’s up but she doesn’t. Nobody has to explain a thing to you, Cecilia. You already understand.”
She likes hearing me say her name, no matter the context. The impact is always subtle. A barely perceptible flinch doesn’t escape my attention and her eyes drop to my mouth.
She’ll get to hear me say her name a lot more. Soon enough I’ll be whispering a long streak of dirty shit while buried deep in her tight pussy. And I won’t be doing my job right if she doesn’t say mine too.
I wonder if she’s the noisy type, if she’ll scream and dig her nails into my back as she shatters. If not, she will be.
But first thing’s first. The sun is moving higher in the sky. It’s far from hot but we can’t sit out here on flat ground in direct sunlight all day. Plus I’d like to be out of sight when Getty returns in a shitty mood with plans to cause more trouble.
“You feel like taking a drive into town?” I ask her. “We can leave now.”
She raises an eyebrow but she’s clearly pleased with the suggestion. “Did I see a bookstore while we were driving through there yesterday?”
Sort of. The Vigilance Drugstore carries a single shelf of books.
“We have books around here,” I assure her. “We even know how to read them. And we’ll grab some lunch while we’re out.”
At the mention of food, Tye is instantly summoned from his slumber. He bolts to his feet and stretches. “Fuck yes. I’m starving.” He pulls Cecilia up before she can object to what’s happening. “Come on. We’ll go to Rustler’s. They buy their beef from us. I’ll even cut up your steak for you so you don’t break a nail.”
Cecilia politely disentangles herself from his grip. “Thanks but there will never come a day when I need you to cut my food, Tye.”
She looks back to make sure I’m coming too. Her face relaxes when she sees I’m right behind her. It’s funny that she thinks I’d be anywhere else.
Until I close this deal, Cecilia is never getting very far without me.
She hasn’t yet admitted it yet, but she’s made her choice. Soon enough she’ll be ready to commit out loud.
“By the way,” Tye says to her as she flings away the arm he keeps trying to drape across her shoulders, “what did you do with my hat?”
9
CECILIA
“I’ve got it,” Alice says. “This is an elaborate practical joke. They’re old family friends, right? Your brothers must have put them up to this.”
“They are completely serious. Trust me.”
“Of course I trust you. It’s these Torino men I don’t trust.”
“Tempesta. Not Torino.”
“Whatever. I’ll fly out there and have a chat with them.”
That would be a spectacularly bad idea.
