Princess and the Cowboy (Justice)

How’d this promising day turn so dark, so fast, dammit!

CHAPTER 14

MARIA

I should have known better. All my life my papa has told me boys only want one thing, and they’ll say and do whatever they have to get it. I partly believed him, but a bit of hope had lived inside of me thinking that maybe, just maybe, not all men are that way. I was so wrong.

I’m so stupid. I mean, come on, Maria! He tricked you into his bed by trying to scare you with ghosts and it worked. He even told me the things we were doing were mistakes we could make. Gah, I’m so naïve.

My papa is partly to blame for this. He may have warned me, but he kept me so sheltered for most of my life that I never got to experience things for myself. If I’d had more interactions with men, then I would have been able to handle myself better. Even as I think those words, I know there would have been no resisting Sterling.

“I don’t know, it seems a bit plain.” Heather scrunches her nose as she stares into the full-length mirror.

She has on a pure black dress. It actually looks amazing on her. I try not to hate on her for being with Sterling. It’s not her fault he’s a liar. If anything, I feel guilty, even though I didn’t know they were together. I hadn’t even bothered to ask if he was with anyone, to be honest. I should have been more cautious, especially after everything that recently went down with my sister’s husband.

“It brings out your natural beauty,” I tell her honestly. I’ve always been of the mindset that women should lift other women up.

I peek over to my left where Sterling has been looming in the doorway. He’s staring at me. I know he’s trying to corner me, but I’ve kept myself tucked over in the corner and around people so I don't have to be alone with him. I’m not ready to hear whatever lie he’s going to try to feed me.

It’s clear he and Heather have something going on. It might not be super current, but it’s at least something that’s been on and off again. As rude as she can be, I would never try to take another girl's man. Even if that man has already stolen a few pieces of my heart that I don’t think I’ll ever get back.

“Natural beauty?” Heather laughs. “This nose is a work of art. So are a few other things.” She openly adjusts her breasts inside her dress. “I’ll give you my doctor's number.”

I drop my head to look down at my breasts. She’s now the second person after my stepsister to suggest I need to get a boob job. I pull my shoulders forward, shrinking back into myself. I think the whole idea of killing someone with kindness is going to end up killing me instead.

“Her tits are perfect,” Sterling drawls. Heat rushes to my face. He should know. His mouth was all over them last night.

“Sterling!” Birdie snaps at him, her eyes wide.

“They are. In fact, let's get you into one of the dresses to prove it.” Cam grabs the white dress I was fawning over earlier.

“You can never have too much cleavage, Sterling. Don’t act like you don’t enjoy curves.” Heather smirks over at him. I wish a hole would open and swallow me up right now. How is this starting to feel worse than the other day with my sister?

“Try it.” Cam pushes the dress into my arms.

I take it from her, not wanting to be rude. Birdie designed it. But honestly, the last thing I want to do is come stand beside Heather in a dress.

I slip behind the divider to get some privacy while I put the dress on. “Let me. The zipper is hidden in the back.” Birdie steps in behind me to help me into it. I have to ditch my bra. “Yes, I knew this one would be good for your shape.” She leans in next to my ear. “Your ass looks killer in this.”

“Thanks.” I laugh.

What’s so amazing about the dress is it’s both sexy and elegant at the same time. When you see it from the front, it’s form-fitting but covers every inch of you except for your arms and one leg that peeks out from the slit that goes all the way up it. But then you turn around, and the whole thing is backless.

“Are you ready, Heather?” I hear a deep voice ask that I don’t recognize.

“I told you I'd call when I was ready to go, Denver,” Heather huffs in her pouty voice. “I’m busy. Come back later.”

“I’ll wait,” the man responds.

“Oh, you can meet Maria. She’s new,” Heather says, actually sounding nice for once.