Mountain Man's Beauty

by Lauren Wood

I wanted him to be mine, all mine, but it was impossible to keep a man like Dante. He was a womanizer and I was just another pawn for him to play with.

  I felt for my boss and now I had to make her mine.

  Cece was every cowboy’s wet dream in town.

  I need her in the worst way.

  Dante

  I tried for years to seduce the boss. Cecelia was what I wanted and every other girl was just a means to an end. But not her. Cece was the end game.

  I finally got her into my arms. I knew that I only needed one night to make her mine.

  All I had to do was get her screaming out my name, begging for more and I wouldn’t be able to get rid of her.

  I am going to have her for life, the girl I waited for all of this time.

  She was going to be mine. All mine. Every inch of that sexy body was going to be mine for the taking.

  Every damn inch.

  ***

  Chapter 1

  Cecelia

  “How is hiring going?”

  I shrugged and made a face at my friend. It had been one of those days and the more I thought about the line of people I had to interview most of the day, it would have just made my head hurt more.

  “I still haven’t found some regular hands. I am short four at the moment and I wish I could find a couple real quick. I am sick of trying to cover everything with less people than I need. It never used to be this hard to keep people. I guess the work is too hard or something.”

  “I don’t know how you do it. I work as a secretary sitting on my butt all day. I get tired just watching you run around here.”

  Karen took another drink of her cold coffee and I just shook my head again. I had tried before to get her to work with me on my family’s ranch, but she wasn’t going for it. There were a lot of reasons why not, even though I would pay double what she makes now. Karen just didn’t want to do this kind of work and some days I can honestly say that I don’t blame her. There were days that I didn’t even want to get up, but I loved my job, no matter how difficult it was or how sore my muscles were at the end of the day.

  “I think a lot of people are on the same page Karen. You would think that I was suggesting that they eat a rat. I had a guy today that told me there was no way that one person could do everything I wanted. I think I am just going to have to give up on it all. I wish I could find more people like Dante and Carl. If I had a couple more of them, I wouldn’t have to look anymore.”

  “How is Dante?”

  I sighed and just shrugged a little, not wanting to have this conversation again with her. “The same as always. I don’t know why you bother worrying about him. He is bad news and a heartbreaker.”

  “No he isn’t. He is just looking for one thing and there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes a girl isn’t looking for a happily ever after, just a good night.”

  I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore her implication. Dante was handsome, very much so, but he knew it and that was always a problem. He had hit on me a couple of times when he first started last year, but I wasn’t biting. I knew all about men like him and though Karen thought she just wanted a good night, it would be painful in the end. She would fall, like a woman always does for that type and then be crushed when he doesn’t change his ways. It’s madness.

  “Well, don’t hold back on my account.”

  She crinkled her nose. “No, I don’t think I am his type. You are more the kind of girl I see him at the bar with, then me.”

  “You never know. But I am not getting into it between you two. He is a good employee and I don’t want it getting complicated. He is a wonder with the horses.”

  Karen pouted for a moment and then brightened back up. “If you aren’t going to hook me up, you could at least find out if he has a girlfriend or anything.”

  I could have reminded her that he didn’t date, he brought back random women to the hand house all of the time. They were always different, never introduced and never brought to the main house for dinner. It was rather clear to me what Dante was looking for. Instead of arguing, I just went with it though. She didn’t want to hear my real opinion.

  “I will see what I can do. I don’t know if he is seeing anyone right now, but next time I see Dante around I will ask him.” I just didn’t want him to think that it was because of me and some interest that I had in him. I would have to be clear that I was asking for Karen.

  She thanked me and had this beaming smile on her face. I didn’t get it with Dante. The man was sexy, sure, but how did he get grown women to lose their minds a little bit. It just didn’t make sense and though it was entertaining to see, I didn’t want Karen to go down the same path. She had a tender heart and didn’t need to get it broken because of some pheromone that Dante was letting off. I knew better myself than to get involved with it.

  Karen left a little while later, complaining about the lack of air conditioning in the office. My father never liked A/C, so when the house was modernized, he had worried very little about upgrading the heating and cooling. Over the years I had gotten used to it and rather enjoyed the slight breeze on another hot day in Texas.

  I sat back in my chair and tried to figure out what I was going to do for next week’s schedule. It was one of those weeks where I was already short, something that was normal at the Barclay’s Horse Ranch, but now there was another rodeo in town and several of the horses were going to have to be transported to the location. That meant I was going to lose Dante on the ranch, which meant chaos. He did a lot when he wasn’t a womanizer and I was going to miss him. I knew I was going to be the one that picked up the slack if I didn’t get in gear and hire someone else immediately.

  “Speaking of the devil.”

  “Huh?”

  “I was just thinking about you. What are you doing this Friday night?”

  “Seeing if you had any hires for me to train before I leave for Houston.”

  “Not at the moment. You have any friends that I can hire on?”

  Dante sat down on the other side of the desk and smiled at me with that boyish look. “What are you looking for?”

  “Hands mainly.”

  “I know a few people. I will make some calls. Those flyers didn’t work?”

  I sighed and blew out a deep breath. “No, they didn’t. I wanted to go to the rodeo next weekend, but I don’t know if I am going to be able to. Hell, I don’t know what I am going to do when you are gone Dante.”

  “Aww, are you going to miss me?”

  He was up again and walking behind me. He was being patronizing, but I didn’t care. I knew what he was going to do next and usually I would shrug him off, but right now I needed it. Dante was always on and the charm was something that he couldn’t turn off or he just refused to. It was hard to deny what Karen and many others seen in him, but I knew him too well to ever consider him a romantic option.

  But his hands were amazing and I was going to allow it. “You have a lot of tension in your neck Cece.”

  I agreed but didn’t say anything. It was best just to let him work. Dante had first rubbed my shoulders after a long ride where it was killing me. I had learned then that he had magic fingers, but I also learned quickly that his tongue was too honeyed for me. I had to be careful to not get sucked into his vortex.

  “Does that feel good Cece?”

  “You know it does Dante.”

  He bent down and moved close to my ear. “You should imagine what I could do if you would let me rub on more than just your shoulders.”

  His hands were moving down my arms and I felt one of his fingers lightly touch the underside of my left boob. That pulled me from it and I shrugged off the hands that drove me crazy.

  “That’s enough. I am feeling better, thank you.”

  Dante grinned and leaned on the desk in front of me. “I will wear you down one day Cecelia.”

  “Doubt it. You know how I feel about it. But seriously, get that wolf look off your face and tell me who it is that you know that can start immediat
ely. They have to know a little something and be able to learn, that’s it.”

  “You had a lot of people in and out of this office today.”

  I just gave him a look. “I know.”

  “So the bar is that low now?”

  “Ever since hiring you Dante.”

  He grinned again and I just shook my head. “So?”

  “Well I was seeing this chick that worked at Billy’s. She doesn’t like it over there, pay is crap. She knows her stuff, knows the animals, so she would be a good fit.”

  “Are you still seeing here?”

  “Jealous?”

  I returned that grin he always had on his face with one of my own. “Not at all. Don’t let it get in the way of your work and I don’t care. But my friend wanted to know if you were seeing anyone.”

  “That curvy blonde with the huge rack?”

  Shaking my head, I nodded in agreement. That was Karen in a nutshell, according to a man. It was the first thing that entered the room and the part of her that everyone seemed to remember more than anything else. But it also proved my point about the depravity of the man.

  “Yes, that’s the one. But I would rather you just say you are taken.”

  His smile faded and he got serious.

  “Why did you ask then?”

  “I said I would. I don’t go back on my word. So forget Karen. What is this girls’ name you were running around with?”

  “Barb.”

  “Give me her number and I will give her a call. Or if you want to do it yourself, I am sure she would be happy to reward you for such good news.”

  “Well do I get a reward for bringing in some help?”

  Dante leaned in like he wanted a kiss, pursing his lips up.

  “I will keep writing your pay checks. That is all. Besides, you are the one that is getting run ragged. I figured you would like some help around here. Get your little girlfriend in here, sounds like you owe me.”

  “I am yours for the taking Cece.”

  I groaned and waited for the name and number. I wasn’t going to tell Karen what he said. It really was for her own good. Dante was a mess. And frankly, I just didn’t like the idea of them two together, at all.

  “Get her trained enough so that I can go to Houston next weekend and we will be square.”

  His smile finally faltered and I was going to take that as a win.

  “You are no fun.”

  “Yeah, I know. Dealing with you guys all day doesn’t help. I need a break.”

  Dante also gave me another name that might work out and I told him I would call him in the morning. At least the second suggestion wasn’t a woman that he was sleeping with. It didn’t matter to me of course, why should it? But I didn’t want any cat fights on the ranch because he was dating both.

  Yeah, Karen dodged a bullet this time. Dante really was a big mess that would cause anyone who cared heartache.

  Turning off the light in the office, I went out on the porch and watched the moon as I had a hot tea to calm my nerves. Every night I came out here. The familiar sight was something that reminded me of my parents. It was night’s like this, when I was exhausted to no end, that I wondered if I would be able to do this all. They had died almost two years ago and I really thought by now I would have it all together. Sometimes, I wasn’t so sure. Was I really better off than I was when I had to take over? I felt sometimes like I was taking two steps forward and then three steps back.

  “Tomorrow will be a better day.” I whispered the reminder before I went back in the old ranch house and up the stairs to my room. The bed was calling to me and I was unable to not hear the call. With any luck, I could get some people in tomorrow and get some training done before next week.

  Chapter 2

  Cecelia

  The week was a long one, but I did manage to hire both of Dante’s suggestions, as well as a couple other stragglers that came through. It was going to be the first time I had left the ranch in months and I hoped more than anything that it would all still be here when I got back. Taking the horses up to Houston was just me and Dante. I wasn’t looking forward to the car ride, but I knew that it would be good to get out for a bit and get away from all of the pressures at home.

  I didn’t have to go to the rodeo, but it was a favorite past time of mine. I used to travel to many in the area with my dad and I just wanted to get that feeling back that I had when I went with him. It didn’t matter that I had to drive in with Dante. He was already going and I was really just tagging along. I had a little business to conduct, but more promotional and not really all that needed. What I needed was a break.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  I had a duffel bag in my hand and I nodded my head that I was. He had already gotten the two horses in the trailer and squared away. We weren’t supposed to leave for another hour, but I think we were both anxious to get out of here. I know that I was.

  “Yeah, you?”

  “Yeah, hop in and let’s go. It is going to be a long trip. We won’t get there until this evening. Do you want to drive first, or do you want me to?”

  I told him that I would take the wheel first. I felt refreshed in the mornings and it would give me something to do besides that accounting paperwork that was in the front pouch of my duffel. The last thing that I wanted to do was get into that. It was another part of the ranch running that gave me a headache.

  So I got into the driver’s side of the truck and moved the seat up so that I could reach the pedals. Dante had me by about a foot and a half and he chuckled from the passenger side when he saw me do it. I just ignored him, like I did most of the time.

  He started in pretty quickly, asking about Karen and how she was doing. I didn’t say much, letting him know that I wasn’t going to entertain the thought of the two of them together and I certainly wasn’t going to promote it.

  “It was a mistake to say anything Dante. I don’t want her getting hurt, so if you could just blow it off, I would appreciate it.”

  “I still think you are jealous.”

  “I could have had you before if I wanted to.”

  Dante looked out his window. “You know, you are about the only woman around here that can tell me no.”

  “Your kryptonite doesn’t work on me Dante. It is just that simple. I know what you are looking for and I know that I am not looking for the same. You are a nice guy, but I bet you are a horrible boyfriend.”

  “I sure the hell wish it did. The more you tell me no, the more I want you.”

  I just shook my head and told him that it just proved how perverse he was. I pulled the subject away from what it seemed to always go to and enjoyed the drive. Ever since taking over the ranch, I hadn’t had much time to myself. The main reason I hated talking to Dante half of the time was the fact that he got me thinking about my love life, or lack thereof anyways.

  It had been a little barren lately and though I had a friend back home that I hooked up with on occasion, even that had gotten to be too much commitment and I hadn’t seen him in almost a month. I didn’t need that reminder that I had now.

  “Gosh, it is hot in here.”

  “I told you that I would fix the A/C if you wanted me to.”

  “No, usually I am okay with it. It is just this traffic. There is no moving air.”

  The windows were both down and I finally held the wheel with the top of my knee and maneuvered in the twenty mile an hour traffic so that I could take off the shirt that was starting to feel like it was suffocating me. I had a camisole on underneath it and I instantly felt better as cool air dried the sweat off of my skin.

  Moving over to throw the shirt in the back, I caught Dante staring at me. “What? Do I have something on me?”

  He had a strange look in his eyes and I wasn’t sure what was going on in his head. I never really knew. That was the challenge of him.

  “No, nothing.”

  I sighed and leaned my head back on the rest. My trip out was already becoming too much. It wasn’t w
hat I had envisioned and even though I was going to enjoy the rodeo, I had known all along that I wasn’t going to enjoy the ride too much.

  ***

  It was dark when we got there and Dante nudged me a little. “Wake up Cece, we are here.”

  My eyes were finding it hard to adjust and it took me a minute to realize that I was propped up against his shoulders and I had a little drool on the side of my face. I wiped it away quickly, hoping that he hadn’t seen it and sat up. I mumbled an apology for crashing out on him. “I have told you before Cece, anytime.”

  I wasn’t going to listen or look in his eyes. This is what I told myself and I turned away before I could be roped into it. I was still a little sleepy and since he couldn’t stop talking about intimacy on the way up, I had of course had several disturbing dreams that left me in a strange state of mind. I needed to get away before I did something that I was going to regret later.

  “You are going to take the horses in, right?”

  “That is my job boss.”

  “Good, I am going to go down to the hotel and get us checked in. Your key will be waiting for you at the desk. I will see you in the morning Dante.”

  He had hesitation in his face, but after a moment of waiting for more of a response, I realized that I wasn’t going to get anything else. I grabbed the duffel bag and threw it over my shoulder. Dante most likely didn’t get why I was just leaving, but I knew it was because of the way my mind worked right now. He had me thinking about nothing but sex and I had to get away. Maybe I wasn’t as immune to him and his kryptonite as I liked to think I was.

  Making my way the short walk to the hotel we passed as we drove in, I wished that I had waited around as the bag got heavier. That or I wished that I hadn’t packed as much as I did. It was getting heavy and I still wasn’t even all the way awake. I had a lot of things on my mind and the walk wasn’t helping.

  When I got to the hotel, there were a few people in line that were waiting to check in. From their attire, it was clear that I wasn’t the only one coming over from the rodeo. It was a line full of cowboy hats and boots. I felt right at home here for some reason. It wasn’t the sight I had expected to see in Houston.