Silence filled the cab of the truck. Zeke avoided the main roads heading back to the ranch. He hadn't said much to her since seeing her embracing Chrissy.

Zeke had seemed taken aback at the sight of the them. Chrissy attempted to make small talk with him, but he had been very short tempered with her. Talia exchanged numbers with Chrissy, said a quick goodbye then dragged Zeke out to his truck.

"What's your deal?" Talia asked

Her question was met with tense silence.

"Come on, Zeke. Stop being a baby."

His knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.

"Fine. I will do all the talking then." Talia cleared her throat.

"Hello, Lia." Talia said in an overly deep voice.

"You know I hate when you call me that."

"Yes, but I love to annoy you."

"I know that. So, what is your problem?"

"I don't have a problem. I'm a man. Men don't have problems like you ladies."

One side of Zeke's mouth lifted.

"Oh puhlease. You men are more drama queens then most women."

"You see, Lia, men are beings capable of separating emotions from their thoughts. They are able to think rationally at all times. You women have your monthlies that keep you from having a consistent frame of rationality." Along with the deep voice she waved her fist.

"Well, thank you for explaining things. I'm glad you did since I don't have the privilege of having a thinkin' stick like you do."

A snort broke from Zeke. "A thinkin' stick?"

"Yes. Now, don't interrupt my conversation. It's one of the best ones I've had with you."

She cleared her throat again. "That's why I am here for you, Lia. To help keep you rational."

"Thank you so much, Zeke. You didn't answer why you are being so bitchy though."

"Men are not bitchy. It is in the definition of a bitch that we can't be one."

"Now, you are being ridiculous. Tell me is the problem biological in nature?"

"Biological?" She asked herself with his deep voice.

"Is there something wrong with the peen and bits? I hear the wrong underwear can cause problems."

"WHAT??? There would never be a problem with my perfect manly package." She exclaimed using her deep voice.

"Well, I can't think what else it could....Oof" Talia was flung against the seatbelt as the car jolted to a stop.

Zeke reached over, unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her to him. His lips crashed against hers. She scored her nails against his scalp as she dragged them through his hair. A moan escaped him but was muted by Talia shoving her tongue into his warm mouth. His hands flexed on her thick waist.

Talia broke the kiss to heave in a breath. "What was that for?"

His sexy dimple winked at her making her panties melt. "I needed to shut you up." A sensual gleam reflected in his eyes. "I think I did a damn good job."

"Yes, you did." Talia kissed him lightly on the lips. Her soft lips massaging his as she cupped his face.

He took her hands in his then broke the kiss. "I was worried about you. You didn't tell me you were leaving. While I was cleaning up Terence and Max, you disappeared with Jeremiah."

"I'm not your prisoner, Zeke."

His lips touched her palms, then said, "I know you aren't, but I was afraid you were just leaving me now that he was here."

"Can't get rid of me that easy, Zeke." Talia slid back into her seat.

"I was scared." He whispered.

Talia's eyes searched his face. He wasn't acting in that moment. In that moment, he was vulnerable. She saw he had given her a piece of himself and she hadn't even known it.

"No reason to be. Now, let's get back to the ranch. I'm sure there are things that need to be attended to." Linking their fingers together, Talia squeezed reassuring him that he wasn't alone.

***

Talia looked at herself in the mirror. Denim skirt. Check. Western style vest. Check. Cowboy boots. Check. Hair poofed up and out using half the state's reserve in Aqua Net. Check.

"Wow!" Chrissy said from the bed.

She was dressed in similar southern girl attire. Though, unlike Talia, she could pull it off. Talia looked like one of those horrid mama's on child pageant shows.

"Yeah, wow." Jeremiah's unimpressed voice came from next to her.

"Why did we agree to go to this thing?" Talia flopped back on her bed.

Two screeching voices yelled, "DON'T FLATTEN YOUR HAIR!"

Talia shot back into a seated position.

"You agreed because I have a babysitter for once and needed to have an adult night out. There is only one bar in this dry town and that is where we are headed."

"Not to mention we have three of the sexiest movie stars coming with us." Jeremiah licked his lips.

Chrissy and Talia just stared at him.

"Why do I have to look like this to go?"

"It's country western night. You need to look the part."

Talia sighed resisting the urge to lay back down. The only thing stopping her was the ringing in her ears. She didn't need a repeat performance of the two screech owls sitting on her bed.

Two weeks ago, Talia had rekindled her friendship with Chrissy. It turned out to be one of the best things that had happened to her in recent months. They texted and phoned like they were back in high school. Chrissy had even brought Mariah over to visit the ranch. That little spit fire got along well with those two devils in horseshoes, Zeus and Hera. She rode Hera, brushed both of them and snuck both the apple slices Chrissy had packed in her lunch. By the end of the day, Mariah was passed out on a hay bale while Talia and Chrissy watched the hunky movie stars do all the heavy lifting.

Since her last interaction with Max, she hadn't spoken to neither him or Terence. Zeke had set them up in a small cottage away from the main house. Talia learned the whole purpose for their visit was to get in shape for their next movie. They were there to sculpt their bodies with good old-fashioned dirty work. It wasn't just their bodies they worked on though. There had been a few times she tip-toed around them learning lines and working on some secret project. The less socializing, she did with those two the better for her.

Their night out was going to be both a release of steam and a goodbye. Jeremiah would be going back to L.A. in two days. His visit had flown by, but she understood he didn't have the luxury of remote work like she did.

"You guys ready to-" Zeke's head popped into her room. His jaw dropped.

"Yep. We are ready. I'm riding with Chrissy." Jeremiah said grabbing Chrissy's hand and dragging her out of the room.

"You look."

"Don't say it. I look ridiculous." Talia said.

"No, you don't. You look sexy as hell." Zeke was in front of her in two strides. He pulled her hips toward him. "Can't you tell what I'd rather do than go to this bar?"

Talia could feel his hardness pushing into her belly. She cleared her throat. "So, you have a kink for lots of denim and women with big hair?"

Zeke brought his hand up to her hair and it made a crunching sound. "Holy Hell! How much of that crap did they use?"

Talia looked to the ceiling thinking. "A can and a half. They wanted to make sure my pin straight hair stayed poofy all night. Even through dancing."

"You gonna get out there and do the Texas Two-Step?"

"Hell No!" Then she thought about it. "Well, I guess if I have a few drinks."

Zeke smirked at her. Pulling her flush against him, she had to tilt her head back to see him. His lips slowly descended to hers. Taking small sips from her lips heated her blood just enough that when he stopped she moaned.

"Don't drink too much tonight." His kissed her nose.

"Why?"

That dimple popped out. "I want to do a lot more than kissing when we get home tonight. Let's go."

Talia couldn't fightthe smile that lit up her face as one of the sexiest men she'd ever knowndragged her out of her room.