Fortunately Genesis was distracted by him too, so she didn’t say anything in response. He dove in and everyone squealed in delight. I noticed that all of the girls were careful to keep their heads above water.
I wished so badly for a magazine. Or a computer. Or my phone. Watching Dante flirt with the masses was not my idea of a good time.
He surfaced and waved at me. Then he swam over and came up to the edge, crossing his arms on the side of the pool. Which obscured my view of his perfect chest.
As Pepé Le Pew would say, le sigh.
I felt hyperaware of every detail—how his muscles flexed in his forearms, how the water droplets clung to his dark hair, how his smile seemed brighter and more blinding than the sun.
And I was hyperaware of how much I liked it.
“Come in. The water feels nice.” I could actually feel nineteen sets of eyes boring into me.
“I’m good. Thanks, though.”
“Your loss,” he said, flinging some water at me. I refused to be goaded into responding.
Genesis started to say something to me, but we were interrupted by Harris’s voice. “Good afternoon, ladies. I hope you all got a good night’s rest, because this afternoon Dante would like to take everyone out on a group date. You’ll be going horseback riding. Cars will be out front waiting for you in one hour.”
Everyone practically sprinted back in the house, nearly trampling Harris in the process. I wondered if an hour would be long enough for them to get ready. “You’re not going in?” Dante asked.
“You’ve seen me without my makeup. I don’t need to impress you.”
“You don’t,” he agreed.
But Genesis was gathering up her things, so I decided to go inside after all. I didn’t want to be left alone with Dante when we had such little clothing on. Bad things might happen.
And I wanted to kick the part of me that got excited at that prospect.
Chapter 7
Those gorgeous eyes, that amazing body, that incredible brain, that earth-shattering smile . . . but enough about me. How have you been?
“When did he see you without your makeup?”
“What?” I was just delaying for a second until I could think of something. “Oh, last night. After the Heart Celebration. It wasn’t a big deal.”
Technically he had seen me last night without my makeup on because I had cried it all off. But if I told her that, then I’d have to explain everything, and I didn’t know if she could keep a secret and I couldn’t risk my career.
I was still lying to her though, and I did not enjoy it. Another girl might have seen right through me, but Genesis just accepted what I said.
Fortunately, I had my red cowgirl boots with me, and some comfortable black leggings. I put on a soft T-shirt, one I wouldn’t mind the horses chewing on if they got affectionate. I hadn’t packed a hat, not knowing there’d be a need for one. The show had given us bathing suits; maybe they’d give us some hats so we didn’t burn.
Genesis put on a similar outfit, including well-worn boots. That surprised me. “Where are you from?” I asked her.
“Iowa,” she said. “Farm girl.” Which explained it.
There were indeed hats downstairs by the front door, and we picked up a couple.
We were also the first ones down. There were two twelve-passenger vans waiting. We climbed into the first one, where I asked Genesis more about where she grew up.
Just as it was time for us to leave, the other women arrived en masse. And most of them were wearing Daisy Dukes, tank tops, and high heels. They all had cowgirl hats on as well, and a couple had even tied bandannas around their throats. Like they were doing their own slutty interpretation of what a real cowgirl would dress like.
They were going to be sorry later when the inside of their legs had been rubbed raw from saddle burn. The high heels were the stupidest part though. They would be sinking into the ground left and right, and they would slip in the stirrups.
It wasn’t my job to babysit them though. Just to find out which one was the least vain and the least stupid and point Dante in her direction.
When we got to the ranch, Dante was already there, and everyone spilled out of the vans, racing toward him. And, as I’d predicted, they very nearly broke their ankles on the way. One of the ranchers called everyone over and asked who knew how to ride a horse. Genesis and I were the only ones who raised our hands. He told us a couple of basic commands that they used, and then sent us over to the stables to choose a steed while he taught the other girls how to control their horses.