Page 56 of Dust and Desire
“It’s nothing,” he said, avoiding my gaze. “Just ranch stuff. Logan wants me to take on more responsibility with the breeding program.”
Something about his tone didn’t ring true, but before I could press him further, Dolly appeared with her notepad.
“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite customers,” she said with a knowing smile. “What’ll it be today, boys?”
We ordered our usual, burger and fries for me, chicken fried steak for Alex, and fell into easier conversation. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that Alex had been about to tell me something important before changing his mind.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?” I asked when Dolly had left with our orders. “You seem... I don’t know, tense.”
He reached for my hand again, thumb tracing circles on my palm. “Just a long morning. And now with your ex coming to visit...” He shrugged. “It’s stupid, but I guess I’m a little jealous.”
“Of Ali?” I couldn’t help the surprise in my voice. “Alex, we’ve been divorced for two years. That chapter of my life is completely closed.”
“I know, I know.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Like I said, it’s stupid. Ignore me.”
Our food arrived, temporarily halting the conversation. As we ate, I found myself studying him, the way his shoulders remained slightly hunched, how his eyes kept darting to the window and door. It was subtle, but something was definitely off.
“You’d tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?” I asked softly.
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw something there. Fear, maybe, or guilt. Then it was gone, replaced by that warm smile I’d fallen in love with.
“Of course I would,” he said. “I love you, Dustin. There are no secrets between us.”
I wanted to believe him. I did believe him. But as we finished our meal and parted ways, him back to the ranch, me to the inn to book Ali’s room, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Alex Reyes was hiding something from me.
And whatever it was, it scared him enough to lie about it.
Chapter 21
Dustin
Iwasn’t sure if I was dreading the moment I’d see the rental car coming up the driveway or not. Part of me wanted to see Ali. I had missed her since the day I’d left New York. But the other part of me, thenewme, wanted to keep those worlds apart forever, wanted toneverstep foot back in that lie I lived for so many years. But it was too late to back out now. Ali already had a room in town, and her plane had touched down in Amarillo over an hour ago.
As if the universe was reading my thoughts, I saw a black sedan come over the top of the nearest hill, the sparkling clean car shimmering in the sun. It looked so out of place, so obvious that it didn’t belong. Sometimes I wondered if I looked like that too. But now that Alex was in my life… well, I finally felt like I was in the right place. And no matter what happened with Ali, this is where I was going to stay. There were no doubts in my mind that Alex was the right choice, now and forever.
I shifted uncomfortably on the porch steps, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans. The sedan kicked up dust as it approached, leaving a cloud trailing behind it like some kind of dramatic entrance in a movie. Part of me wanted to laugh at how perfectly it capturedAli’s style, always making an impression, always slightly out of place yet somehow belonging everywhere she went.
The car pulled up beside my truck, engine cutting off with a gentle purr that seemed almost offensively polite compared to the rumbling engines I’d grown used to hearing around the ranch. For a moment, nothing happened. I could see Ali’s silhouette through the tinted windows, and I wondered if she was having second thoughts too.
Then the driver’s door swung open, and there she was.
“Dustin!” Her voice carried across the yard, bright and familiar. She looked exactly the same, her dark hair falling in perfect waves around her shoulders, designer sunglasses perched on her nose, a smile that could light up Times Square.
I stood, surprised by the genuine warmth that flooded through me at the sight of her. “Ali.”
She practically ran to me, throwing her arms around my neck. She smelled like expensive perfume and airplane air, and for a disorienting moment, I was back in our Manhattan apartment, coming home after a long day at the firm.
“Look at you,” she said, pulling back to examine me. “You’re tan. And is that muscle I feel?” She squeezed my bicep with theatrical surprise. “What happened to my pale workaholic?”
“Manual labor will do that to you,” I replied, suddenly self-conscious about my worn jeans and dusty boots. “How was your flight?”
“Awful. Cramped. Full of screaming children.” She waved a dismissive hand. “But who cares? I’m here now.” Her eyes drifted past me to the tiny house. “So, this is where you’ve been hiding.”
“Y-Yeah,” I smiled. “It’s not much, but it’s home.”
She tilted her head, studying me with that penetrating gaze that always made me feel like she could see right through me. “You look happy, Dustin. Really happy.”
Something in her tone made my chest tighten. Was that surprise? Regret? Anger? I couldn’t tell.
