11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Dominic

T wo weeks later, and I still couldn't get that night with Cassie out of my head. To make things even more odd for me, I stayed with her the whole night. I was usually the hit-it-and-quit-it type of guy. However, I could be open and honest with myself; when I saw Cassie that first day, I fell hard. She was never going to be just a lay, she was going to be my lady. And I was pushing for that.

Which is why I had asked for a special date night. Sure, she and Tony had taken me out to some of the amazing art galleries, to some of the most gorgeous churches, and to some more delicious restaurants, but I wanted a night to experience the sunset and the stars .

When I talked to Cassie, she said she knew just the place. So, some friends down the street were having another sleepover, which gave us another free night. Hence why I was on my way to her house, thoughts of our night on replay. Was I hoping for another? Sure. Did it have to be soon? Nope. I was happy just calling this awesome pair mine.

I pulled up to the house, smiling as she walked out with a picnic basket and a blanket. I climbed out and opened the passenger door for her, taking the items.

"What's this for?"

"Food to eat and something to sit on. Just trust me, huh?" she told me, giving my cheek a kiss before she climbed into the car.

Twenty-six minutes later, after following her directions, Cassie had taken me out to a peaceful piece of desert. She got out, grabbed the blanket, and laughed at my look. This was the first time I had been out to the desert at all.

"Don't be scared," she taunted, putting the blanket on the ground. "No wildlife will come out this way. There are lots of people that come out to this area for stargazing." She patted the spot next to her and I had to take in just how different of a person she was from our first meeting. She had opened up over the weeks and it was refreshing.

"What's all in the basket? "

"Oh, just a couple of items I made. Along with a drink; care for a prickly pear margarita?"

"Sure," I told her, finally sitting down. I watched as she poured the drinks and then handed me one. I took a tentative sip, surprised by the flavors, and took a bigger drink. "That's better than I thought it would be."

"It usually is. People think it would be too tart, or too sweet, but nope." She smiled at me before turning to watch the waning light of the sun as it set. The bright pinks, purples, and oranges were literally mind-blowing, and I knew that picture would always be in my memory.

Talk about breathtaking. How was it that I had been here for over a month but hadn't stopped to see something like this? This, my mom would love. And though the place still didn't have water, I was enjoying my pool way too much. And now seeing this? Yeah, I could learn to love Santa Fe.

"Serene, isn't it?" She jumped slightly and I blinked, not meaning to let that slip.

"It is. When Peter wanted the divorce, Tony was with my mom. I came out here to think. Spent hours just watching the sunset then lying down and stargazing. I saw so many shooting stars, and I made a wish on every one. They ranged anywhere from hoping Peter wasn't meaning it or hoping he was, to giving me the strength to make it through.

"Being a single mom didn't scare me, nor did living on my own. That was all easy, I had been doing it for so long. But I wanted to be strong to find love again. Hell, not even again, just to find it. To find someone to love me like I deserved. It's hard to put faith in that emotion when it's already betrayed you once before."

I watched as the desert wind blew her hair back gently. I watched her side profile as her gaze stayed locked on the last colors fading into twilight. I watched as her mouth drew tight and her nose pinched slightly. I watched as she took a deep breath.

And I felt everything .

She deserved the world and it sucked that someone took it away from her. Peter was never the man for her. Not that I was sure I was, but I was going to be the best damn man I could be.

She swallowed then grabbed her drink, taking a deep chug. And in fascination, I watched as her tongue swiped along her lip, taking the last drops of liquid. I needed to clear my mind of those thoughts, so I jumped up, turned my phone on, and then held my hand out to her.

"May I have this dance?" She beamed at me as she stood, and I felt like I could hang the moon. "You're the strongest woman I know, Cassie," I told her, wrapping my arm around her waist. Her arm wrapped around my neck, and I held her hand.

"I'm proud of my heritage. We're Espinosa's. We're strong, brave, determined, and though people might want to throw shit at us, we toss it right back. I come from a long line of females that I wouldn't want to go toe-to-toe with, and I love it.

"I have a typical Mexican family, lots of us, but as far back as I can remember, we've stood our ground. The men in our family call my aunts, her daughters, Chelo's Rangers, and they are. They're just like Rangers. It's a trait passed down to all of us females. And ask any of my cousins; we're all proud. We're all strong."

I swayed with this woman in my arms, her words touching me. Cassie was far stronger than she gave herself credit for. I could picture that a man like Peter would run rampant over her if given the chance, but I felt that she still stood up to him. That strong feeling, in fact, turned me on greatly. She didn't understand just what I saw. But she fucking would.

"In fact, it's them that gave me the strength to think I could feel anything for a young man, like yourself," she murmured, a smile clear in her voice .

I slid my hand up her back and then pulled her even closer, my lips taking hers in a bruising kiss. She was going to feel just what I thought about her, and out here was just the perfect spot to answer some of those wishes she had.