Page 82 of Cruelest Contract
“You got it,” he says.
“How’s the cabin looking?”
“Fully outfitted with all the bells and whistles. Sensors on every door and window. Exterior cameras. No blind spots. I checked it out myself. It’s on a separate system from the main house but an alert will be sent to the barracks if anything should get tripped up. I sent you the app link with a temporary password. Left a loaded shotgun under the bed. Pistol in the nightstand. Tye double checked everything.”
“Appreciate all you did,” I say. I like to think I’m less suspicious than my father. Maybe not. Maybe something essential broke in me the day my mother was murdered and it can’t be fixed.
Cecilia’s history is just as brutal. I won’t take chances. She needs to know she’s safe here with us. Storm’s Eye Ranch is her home now.
Sonny gets flagged down by my father and I return to my table in time to hear Tye trying to convince Alice that it’stradition for the maid of honor to give the best man a ceremonial lap dance.
Cecilia rolls her eyes. “Don’t listen to him. Tiberius likes to run his mouth but he only pretends to be predatory. He’s as intimidating as a kitten.”
Tye leans way over and flashes a wicked grin. “But I’m ten times cuter. You should have married me instead.”
I shove him back into his own seat and drape my arm across the back of Cecilia’s chair. She rubs her palm over her bad knee. It’s a habit, something she does when she’s feeling anxious.
I move my arm and find her hand, lacing our fingers together. She turns her head and looks at me. Once again I’m rocked to the fucking core by the fact that this beautiful girl is now mine.
MY WIFE.
Those two words together conjure all the primal senses. I fuckingneedto be alone with her.
“You want to get out of here soon?” I ask her.
Her lips tilt up at the corners. “Yes. But Enzo worked hard on a cake. Cherry filling with buttercream frosting. Mel says it’s your favorite. We need to stay a little longer.”
I’m about to make a case for a counterargument when my father suddenly stands. His wine glass is in his hand and I assume he’s about to make a toast.
“Let’s all raise a glass to congratulate my son and his beautiful bride. And now they’ll give us the privilege of watching them share their first dance together.”
Shit.This is news to me. I don’t know what he’s up to. There wasn’t supposed to be any dancing today.
Judging by the wide-eyed expression on my wife’s face, she’s not in on the joke. She looks to me for an explanation but I have none.
Sonny waits until he receives a cue from my father and then he squints at his phone. The sound system was recently upgraded for the digital age and within seconds the first notes of music drift from the hidden speakers in all four corners of the room.
The hair stands up on the back of my neck. I recognize the song immediately.
How could I not?
It’s there in the grainy footage of my parents’ wedding three decades ago as they shared their first dance. I knew the lyrics long before I knew the title. When my mother was alive, she used to coax my father into dancing with her in the foyer late at night. I’d watch them from the stairs, curious about why they thought dancing to some old song with goofy smiles was fun.
On instinct, I seek out my brothers, one by one. Tye frowns and stares down at his empty wine glass. Fort leans back in his chair with his brow furrowed. Getty watches our father with no trace of amusement.
They know this song as well as I do. We’ve heard it coming from our father’s study often enough. Lately, we’ve heard it more frequently.
My father’s eyes are on me. I don’t have the heart to refuse him. Cecilia, I hope, will forgive me for that after I’d promised this day would be entirely hers.
I squeeze her hand. Part apology, part request. She comes willingly when I pull her to her feet and lead her to the middle of the room.
Her eyes are full of questions. My hands drop to her waist and she allows me to hold her close. An uncanny sense of déjà vu makes no sense. I’ve never danced with anyone before.
“What song is this?” Cecilia whispers. “I’ve heard your father playing it in his office.”
“It’s calledLost In Your Eyes. It was their song.”
“Theirs? Your parents?”
