away with a frown. "You really won't let this go, will you?"
So he was hiding something. The realization sent her heart plummeting to her toes. Disappointment flooded her. "Only because you're hiding something, and you're trying to bamboozle me with, with..." she waved her hands between them. "Whatever this is."
Trace's eyes flashed as he leaned forward. "This... is sexual chemistry, which we have in spades. Only it won't go anywhere, because you're more interested in tilting at windmills."
"I'm more interested in learning the truth," she corrected, chest heating. How had she let him seduce her with all his talk of liking his whiskey neat? "I don't sleep with liars." Her voice rose. "Been there, done that, and it's never gonna happen again." She pulled on the door handle and shoved it so hard, she nearly fell out. "So you go ride your bulls in your fancy boots, and I'll be watching, but not for the reasons you think. And as soon as I figure out what your story really is, I'll make sure everyone knows it."
"Cecilia, wait-"
She pushed off the seat and jumped off, landing with a thunk. A white-hot flash of pain exploded up her legs, and it was all she could do to not cry out. But she would not give him the satisfaction, no sirree. As quickly as she could, without further irritating her tender feet, she made her way to the arena, climbing up to the top of the only set of bleachers to join Izzie, her sister Catalina, and Jeanine. Three pairs of eyes turned to her, then widened. She flashed them a smile that felt far from genuine. "Hi, guys. Everything okay?"
"You tell us," Izzie said, eyebrows at her hairline.
"What in the heck happened to you?" Jeanine asked. "You look... you look,"
"Corcodillus singula sexus," Catalina supplied, pushing her thick glasses further up her nose and peering up at her. "Lizard sex."
"What?" Cecilia gaped at Catalina.
Jeanine bounced in her seat, clapping her hands. "Ohmygod, you did it, didn't you? You rode Trace Walker like a bronco."
Heat raced up her face. "Absolutely not," she sputtered.
"Don't you dare try to deny it," Izzie declared. "Cat and I saw you two sucking face on 20."
"Wait, how did I miss that?" Jeanine asked. "I drove down 20, too. I didn't see anything," she said with a pout.
"And look at you now," Izzie pointed out. "You're flushed and your eyes are wild. I haven't seen you look like this, well... ever."
"Lookie, lookie, lookie," Jeanine squealed loud enough for the guys on the other side of the arena to hear, and pointing at Trace. "Look."
Cecilia glanced over her shoulder and met the full force of Trace's heated stare. There was so much to unpack in the second their gazes collided. Heat. Anger. But it was the hurt that surprised her. Why should his feelings be hurt? He was the one hiding things.
"He's looking right at you, CiCi. He's devouring you with his eyes."
"That is pretty hot," agreed Izzie.
"Oh hush," Cecilia snapped, turning away. "Nothing happened. And more importantly, nothing is going to happen."
"Ha," she tossed back with a shake of her head. "So that wasn't you Izzie and Cat saw with Trace? Weston told me he caught you guys practically kissing in Dottie's parking lot yesterday morning."
Izzie covered her mouth with both hands, eyes twinkling as she bent in uncontrollable laughter. "I think you've met your match CiCi," she said between spasms. "I don't think I've ever seen you so flustered. I'm calling it right here, right now. You'll be saying I Do before Christmas."
Cecilia snorted. "Ha. Ha. You guys think you're so funny." She lowered her voice, eyes darting between her two best friends. "When are you going to tell Jaxon you're in love with him, huh, Iz? And what about you?" She arched a brow in Jeanine's direction. "You and Weston have been doing this dance, for how long now? Two years? When are you going to ride that horse into the barn?"
"Okay fine, we see your point," Izzie said, blushing furiously. "But don't you think one of us should be lucky in love? You've had more than your fair share of heartache, CiCi. Why not allow yourself a little happiness?"
"I won't deny there's chemistry. But something's off. He's hiding something, and whatever it is, Weston knows about it." She stared hard at Jeanine. Did she know something, too?
Jeanine looked momentarily confused. "I don't think so. Weston made some comment yesterday about his license being expired, and I know