Page 38 of Holding The Reins

“You don’t see him stare at your ass,” he fires back.

I shrug. “Well, I guess it’s settled then.”

“What’s settled?” He chuckles

“We’re both just too hot for our own good,” I say, just as Flirty McShows-her-ass comes back with our orders.

“Enjoy, Mr. Carter,” she says, ignoring me completely, proving my point.

I gesture to her while she’s still in earshot by hiking my thumb over my shoulder and mouthing “see what I mean,” which makes Nash laugh harder as he shakes his head at me.

After we spend an hour at Sage and Salt going over everything we have for the Sundown Festival, I find myself not wanting to leave CeCe with Sonny at the office to go meet with my supplier at the Horse and Barrel.

It’s quiet when I arrive. Mondays always are. It’s the only day of the week we’re closed and I work at the bar going through our inventory list and giving the place a good wipe down before the delivery is due to arrive.

Something shimmery catches my eye from the area the Not Angels were sitting last night. I make my way over to the booth and pick up the glittery gold infinity shaped charm necklace off the seat. I recognize it at once as CeCe’s. She was wearing it last night with her white dress and red sandals. I bring it to my nose like an obsessed stalker and breathe in the strawberry scent that still lingers there.

Since when in my life have I ever remembered a woman’s outfit? I ask myself, just as my delivery driver pulls up to the door. I put her necklace in my pocket and head out to help him unload.

By the time I get back to the office at four, I notice her car is gone.

Couldn’t hack it the rest of the day? Had to sneak out early?

Rae

Don’t tell my boss. Such a hard-ass.

I chuckle.

Secret’s safe with me, Rae.

I push down my disappointment that she’s gone already and count how many hours I have left before I can see her face again.

It’s a full out dance party at the ranch when I come through the front door for Monday dinner with a Spicer’s cake in my hands for Mama Jo.

CeCe and Mabel have the stereo blasting in the living room as the evening sun streams in the big picture window, and they are dancing up a storm to Miranda Lambert’s “Geraldine.” They’ve got a little dance routine going as I pass by them.

“Evening, Mr. Carter,” CeCe sing-songs as I wander past her. Something about the way she emphasizes Mr. Carter makes my dick twitch. It’s not just her tone but also the formal address. Everything she does is fucking sexy as hell.

“Mr. Carter?” Wade grunts as I enter the kitchen.

“Work joke,” I say quickly.

He nods as he swirls his bourbon before taking a sip.

“It’s going well for you, having CeCe Rae around?”

I nod. “Yeah, she’s been a big help.”

There is nothing going on but I feel like he can read my “hearts for eyeballs” as Sonny puts it, a mile away.

“Good, I’m glad she’s with you. Watch over her, Andrew hasn’t given her an easy time, Mama says. He won’t agree to sell, won’t agree to ship her belongings. Keeps telling her she has to come back to Seattle if she wants them. He’s a real piece of work. I have half a mind to run him up the creek if I see him, and CeCe tends to bury herself in work when she’s trying to avoid something.”

My jaw tenses as I turn to watch her laugh and spin around the living room with Mabel. Her hair is loose and wavy down to her waist, her jean shorts and tank sit perfectly around her curves but it’s her smile—it’s a sucker punch to the gut. It lights up my whole fucking day that smile.

This Andrew must be a special kind of stupid. What kind of a moron lets her go?

“I’ll be right there with you, brother,” I say as he hands me a glass of bourbon and we clink glasses before taking a big swallow.

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