Page 36 of Cruelest Contract (Storm’s Eye Ranch)

CECILIA

“ D on’t forget about Louisa,” I beg Mel.

She gives my cheek a maternal pat. “Your cat will be fed and taken care of.”

Alice nearly topples me with a ferocious hug. “My beautiful princess bride best friend.” She hiccups.

“I’ll take care of this too,” Mel assures me and accepts custody of a weepy, mildly drunk Alice.

The cake has been cut and the sun has set.

When Julian suggested the time had come to make our escape I was more than ready.

He’s having a word with Fort in the yard while I say goodbye to our guests at the bottom of the front porch steps.

As I watch, Fort nods in agreement with whatever Julian said and he starts walking toward the stables.

Then I find myself face to face with my brothers. We regard each other with awkward wariness. Angelo’s nose is definitely broken. Matthias is exchanging glares with Getty and Tye.

There are a lot of things I want to say.

I want to remind them how our father used to bring home cheesy, fun souvenirs for us every time he traveled on family business.

I want to ask if they know what brand of perfume our mother always wore because I’ve searched for years and have never been able to find it.

I barely know these men now but there was a time when we were vital pieces of a real family with all our quirks and grudges and private jokes.

Do they think about this? Do they remember?

“Thank you both for being here,” I say to them. It’s an odd sendoff because Angelo was ordered to show up and Matthias roared in without an invitation, intending to snatch me away.

“Yeah, enjoy the toaster,” Angelo grumbles and gingerly touches his face.

Matthias flings one final glare at the Tempestas and leans in. “You call me if you need anything, Cici.”

“I don’t have your number,” I remind him.

He has the grace to look embarrassed over the remark.

“I can leave my contact info with that friend of yours,” he suggests.

“You do that,” I say with a glance at Alice. At the moment she’s being mothered by Mel. She’s sleeping in my room tonight and she flies back to Arizona tomorrow. If not for Mel, I’d feel funny about leaving her alone here.

Julian moves to my side and extends a hand of peace to my brother. “Matthias.”

Their handshake looks strained, even painful, but neither man flinches.

“Take care of her,” Matthias says and turns away with a troubled frown.

I would have hugged him. I would have told him I’m truly glad to see him again.

And I understand how watching a wedding, any wedding, must be excruciating for him, given his past. But Matthias kicks at a rock and stares at the horizon with his arms rigid, looking as huggable as a prickly pear cactus.

Julian peers down at me with sympathy in his dark eyes. “Are you ready?”

I swallow and try to work my face into a smile. “I just need to get my bag.”

But he starts steering me away. “Your bag is already waiting for you at the cabin.”

This man. He thinks of everything. I’ve never even seen Julian make a list and yet somehow he keeps track of a hundred tasks at once, missing nothing.

“Wait, where are we going?” I ask, holding up the skirt of my dress so it doesn’t trail in the dust.

He slips his arm around my waist. “You’ll see.”

Seconds later, Fort reappears and he’s leading a horse. It seems unlikely he’s planning to go for a ride. The horse isn’t even saddled. Fort stops a few feet away and waits for Julian to explain.

“This is Luna.” Julian reaches over and takes the lead rope from his brother.

The sky isn’t completely dark yet and the floodlights in the yard show me that Luna is an older brown mare. Her huge brown eyes are full of patience.

“She was a therapy horse for years,” Fort adds. “Now she’s retired. As gentle as can be.”

“And she’s yours,” Julian says. “You don’t have to ride her, Cecilia. But I didn’t want you to feel left out of ranch life and thought you might enjoy having a horse of your own. You can visit her anytime. Feed her, brush her, whatever.”

Luna is motionless and her soulful eyes are tranquil as she gazes at me.

Julian has a firm hold on her lead and she gives no sign that she’s agitated in any way.

Tentatively, I offer my palm, pausing inches from her nose to give her an option whether or not she wants to be greeted.

She eagerly extends her neck and grazes her soft nose across my hand.

“Hi, Luna,” I say in a hushed voice, careful not to move too quickly. She takes half a step forward, angling for more petting. She lowers her head and closes her eyes when I run my palm over her neck.

I’d forgotten this, the simple unrivaled joy of being chosen and trusted by a horse.

“What a sweet girl,” I murmur, petting her with both hands now.

Luna nuzzles my shoulder. A dormant emotion lights up.

It’s the purest kind of happiness. The kind that I knew the first time I climbed into a saddle.

The same one that drove me to race to the stables after school and spend all my free time there.

I’ve missed being with horses. And even if I never gather the courage to climb into a saddle again, I can still have their company.

Julian knew that I would feel this way. I’m floored by his powers of perception. I’ve never known a man who can see me this clearly. It’s almost daunting.

“Thank you,” I say to him. “She’s wonderful.”

Julian grins. “You’re welcome.” He gives the lead rope back to Fort so Luna can be returned to her stall.

A short distance away at the main house, a shadowy figure lurks at the edge of the wraparound porch. His dark clothing blends into the night and his facial features are obscured. Still, the intensity of Cassio Tempesta’s gaze stabs right through the darkness as he watches us.

I don’t always know what to make of Julian’s father.

I don’t fear him, not exactly, but I understand why most people do.

The tip of my finger is still sore from the prick of a blade.

It stopped bleeding quickly and I removed the bandage before the ceremony.

Cass was delighted to walk me down the aisle.

He was very considerate and there was unmistakable pride written on his face as he handed me off to his son.

But then he played that old song. His song. His and Teresa’s…

This shook Julian up. For a second he looked positively stricken. Julian doesn’t rattle easily so I can only assume his father’s move came as a complete shock, and not a welcome one.

A light breeze chills my skin and I wish I’d brought a sweater. But no sooner has this thought crossed my mind than Julian shrugs out of his tux jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. He’s such a constant gentleman.

Well, mostly a gentleman.

After all, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the rainy afternoon when he broke my bra, cut off my panties and then used his fingers to fuck me against the shower wall until I couldn’t stand.

Julian’s jacket is warm and covered with his scent. The level of sex appeal he radiates should be considered a health hazard. His tie is gone and his shirt sleeves are rolled up.

I want to kiss him again. I want to do everything with him.

A sudden flash of headlights startles us and Julian quickly moves in front of me. A horn honks and the oncoming pickup truck brakes to a halt.

“Your chauffeur is here!” Tye yells from the open driver’s side window. “Get in. I’ll escort you to your honeymoon.”

Julian snorts. “You’re drunk.”

Tye belches. “Not even close. Come on, it’s my duty as best man.”

Julian sighs but helps me into the front seat, careful to tuck my dress in so it doesn’t get closed into the door. He spots a bottle sitting in the drink console.

“How trashed are you planning to get tonight?” he asks and hops into the back.

“Not at all. This is for you.” Tye passes the bottle to me. “Wedding present.”

I squint at the label. “Tennessee bourbon.”

“The good stuff,” Tye says and winks.

“That you stole from Enzo’s liquor cabinet,” Julian points out.

“Stole,” Tye scoffs. “Like everything in the kitchen doesn’t belong to us. Now stop complaining before your pretty bride figures out you’re a fucked up control freak who is not half as handsome as me.”

I put a hand over my mouth to smother potential laughter.

Julian doesn’t even dignify the insult with a comeback.

The Tempesta brothers are always bantering and squabbling over something and it’s not rare to see them throwing fists around.

But somehow their love and devotion to one another is never in question.

Meanwhile, my brothers and I can barely string together two sentences for a conversation. Even Gabe, no matter how much it hurts to admit.

If Tye really is drunk, he hides it well and drives with slow precision over a gravel road toward a wooded area of the ranch.

The cabin is a modest one story with stone walls.

I can’t be positive in the darkness but I think this is the house I spotted from my window the first morning I woke up at Storm’s Eye Ranch.

We’re less than a mile from the main house and yet the setting feels remote. The warble of water is an underlying soundtrack and I try to guess which direction it’s coming from.

“Hold on.” Tye dives out of the truck the second he sets the brake. His speed is impressive as he jogs to the house, punches in a keypad code and opens the front door. He gestures with a flourish. “Door service. Paradise awaits, kids.”

Julian is already helping me out of the truck. My balance is a little off since I’m trying to hold onto Tye’s bottle. It doesn’t matter. Julian sweeps me into his arms like I’m no heavier than a pillow.

“I’ll leave you two alone now,” Tye says. “Feel free to make all the noise you want.”

I’m still wearing Julian’s blazer and Tye tucks the truck keys into one of the pockets. He takes a step back and gazes intently at his big brother.

“Congratulations, Jul,” he says, utterly serious and sober. “I mean that.”