Page 15 of Rugged Courage

“Thanks,” I say softly, feeling oddly vulnerable. “It’s not something I talk about much.”

“I’m glad you told me,” Cece replies. “It helps me understand you better. There’s something I should tell you, too.”

I look at her, surprised. “Oh?”

Cece takes a deep breath. “I come from money. Like old money.”

It takes me a minute to process what she’s saying. “You’re…rich?”

“My family is, yes.” Cece goes on to tell me about how she came camping to figure out what to do with her life. How she wanted something different from her parents but couldn’t figure out what she should do. “But meeting you, and then Waylon? If Waylon will let me, I want to help with Creek Ravine. I have the means and contacts to provide significant assistance. I want to help.”

“That’s…I’m not sure what to say.”

Cece shrugs, and there’s so much emotion in it. “It’s not something I talk about, though everyone back home knows my family. It’s one thing I love about being with you—you didn’t know who I was, and I could tell you liked me for me. Everyone at home? They have some kind of agenda, so I always have walls up. With you,” she says, placing a hand against my jaw, “I can be me.”

“Oh, Cece.” I pull her into my arms. “You’re perfect exactly as you are. I don’t care who your family is or how much money they have. I care about you. I always will.”

“You know,” she says, “what you said about doing the right thing, even when it’s hard...that’s exactly the kind of integrity I want to bring to my work.”

I nod, understanding her sentiment. “It’s not always easy, but at the end of the day, you have to be able to live with yourself.”

“Exactly,” Cece agrees. “I want to use my resources to make a real difference, not throw money at problems from a safe distance like my parents. They go to fancy galas and write checks and believe that’s enough. I want to do more.”

“That’s admirable,” I say, genuinely impressed. “A lot of people in your position wouldn’t bother.”

Warmth spreads across Cece’s face at my words. “Thanks. It means a lot to hear you say that,” she replies. “I also need you to know that what you did in the Army doesn’t change how I feel about you. If anything, it makes me admire you more.”

I look at her, torn between hope and disbelief. “You mean that?”

“Of course I do,” she insists, cupping my face. She traces the line of my jaw, and I shiver. “You stood up for what you believed in, even when it cost you everything. I admire your strength and integrity in standing up for your beliefs.”

I let out a shaky breath, pulling her into my arms. She melts against me, her heart beating in time with mine. “I love you, Cece,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.

“I love you too.”

Then we’re kissing, deep and passionate. My hands roam her body, exploring every curve. She responds in kind, her fingers working their way under my shirt to trace the planes of my chest. The kiss deepens, our tongues exploring, tasting. It’s like we’re trying to pour every ounce of love and desire into this one moment.

We stumble toward the bedroom, shedding clothes as we go.

Cece chuckles against my lips as I fumble with the buttons of her shirt. “Impatient?” she teases.

“You have no idea,” I growl, the sound coming from deep in my chest.

“Cece,” I begin, my voice rough with emotion, “I want you to know... I believe in you. I will support you in whatever you want to do.”

She meets my gaze, her eyes soft. “I believe in you, too, Dane. In us.”

The last of my restraint crumbles at her words. I close the distance between us, cupping her face in my hands. Our lips meet in a kiss that’s both tender and passionate, filled with all the longing and hope I’ve been holding back.

When we finally break apart, breathless, I rest my forehead against hers. “I want to build a life with you, Cece,” I whisper. “Forever.”

Her answer is another kiss, deeper this time. Without breaking contact, we continue moving toward my bedroom.

Cece freezes at the sharp shrill of her cell phone. She pulls back, her eyes wild and her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. It’s my sister—she’ll keep calling until I answer. I have to take this.”

CHAPTER 9

CECE

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