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“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. I heard noises. I didn’t know. I never….I’m so embarrassed.” I bury my face in my hands and a nervous sob breaks free. I have absolutely no control. My shoulders begin to shake and ugly noises fill the room. He kneels between my legs and forces my hands away from my face. I flinch and he immediately lets go.

“I’m sorry. I just want you to look at me.” I look him in the eyes and something between us ignites. His warm brown eyes lock on mine. They aren’t angry. They are filled with something else that I can’t discern. He seems to shake it off and then I see a bit of sparkle in his eyes and an amused smirk slowly stretches across his face. “So, you miss me, huh?” He smiles.

I have to laugh through my tears. I know he’s trying to make me feel better and distract me like he always does. “Laney sent that.” I sniffle.

“Oh, so you don’t miss me?” He pouts.

My gaze falls to his full pouty lips and then I shake my head in embarrassment. He’s on his knees in front of me with his hands on my bare thighs. My legs are slightly spread and I can’t stop them from trembling. I want him to reach out for me again. I won’t flinch this time, I promise myself. I was just caught off guard.

As if he hears my thoughts, his hands reach out and cradle my face as he swipes at my tears with his thumbs. I have to tell myself to hold still. My body stiffens as he continues to touch my face. “You have black shit smeared all over your face.”

“Laney put makeup on me.”

“You look pretty, even without this stuff.” He reaches up and twirls a strand of hair around his finger and I think for just a second that he might be pulling on it. Pulling me towards him. “I like your hair. It looks really nice. Did you have fun?”

“I did.” My voice cracks. Something is happening between us. I can feel this intense magnetic pull. My eyes fall to his lips as his tongue darts out and wets them. I prepare for it. I ready myself. But then he lets go of my hair and backs away.





CHAPTER 12





Amy



Candice is back. It’s been a week since she caught me staring at her and Dillon having sex. I know they had a big fight and I’ve seen him respond to texts all week while we cared for the horses together. Yesterday, he took her call and left the barn to talk to her in private. He never said a word about it to me.

He never mentioned the incident again, but he’s been different. He’s been keeping his distance. We work all day together and we eat dinner together and then at night I go to Laney’s room and he goes to his. I miss him next to me. I’ve been craving his touch ever since he held me after I opened up to him about my past¸ since he held me after my nightmare on the couch, since I watched him having sex and since he almost kissed me. I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before. He clears the terrifying images in my mind and quiets the noises. He makes me feel safe and protected. He makes me feel desired and wanted. I need him. It’s an indescribable need. I wish I knew what he was thinking.

I’m helping to clean out the guest house because eventually Dillon wants to use it as an office when he expands the business to include customers. It’s just a small one bedroom cabin. He wants to use the bedroom for storage and turn the space up front into a sort of lobby and office for guests to check-in and do paperwork. I needed something to keep me busy while he does things on the ranch that I can’t really help with. I fiddle with some boxes as I watch them through the window. Dillon walks Candice to her car. She’s carrying a bunch of stuff in her arms. She throws it all into her car and then stands with her arms crossed like she’s still mad at him. I watch Dillon hug her, it’s a friendly hug but she doesn’t return it. They exchange a few more words and then she drives away.

I watch him stand there with his head hung as he watches her leave and wonder what happened. Did she leave him because of me? Did I ruin his relationship with her? Is he mad at me and that’s why he’s been so distant?

He walks back into the house and a few hours pass before I see him heading to the guest house. I quickly grab a broom and pretend to be sweeping before he comes in.

“Want to get out of there?” he asks as he swings the screen door open. He is biting his lip nervously.

“Where do you want to go?”

“I have something I want to show you.”

“Okay.”

Dillon takes my hand and we walk to the first barn where they store all the farm and tractor equipment. They also have these riding machines that I’ve seen him drive. I’ve been asking him about them because they look like so much fun.