Page 61 of Dust and Desire
“A wanderer,” Ali observed, her lawyer’s eyes seeing more than I wanted. “What made you decide to land in Sagebrush?”
“They had a job open, and I needed one.”
“And do you plan to stay?”
The question caught me off guard, but I nodded. “Right now, I am.”
She lifted and eyebrow. “Why?”
Dustin’s thumb traced circles against my palm, and I found myself answering honestly. “Him,” I stated simply.
The word hung in the air between us, raw and honest. Ali’s expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something like relief in her eyes.
“Well,” she said quietly, “I’m glad he found someone who sees his worth.”
Our food arrived, temporarily saving me from the intensity of theconversation. As we ate, the talk shifted to lighter topics instead of an interrogation. We talked about Ali’s adventures in learning to ride, Dustin’s newfound love of cooking, the characters that made up Sagebrush. It was almost... comfortable.
Until I glanced out the window and saw it.
The red truck was parked across the street, barely visible in the growing darkness. But I knew that truck. I’d know it anywhere, right down to the dent on the driver’s side fender.
My fork clattered against my plate, and Dustin turned to me with concern. “Alex? What’s wrong?”
I forced a smile, even as my heart hammered against my ribs. “Nothing. Just clumsy. I’m fine.”
Dustin frowned, clearly not believing me. “Are you sure? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m okay,” I insisted, though my voice sounded strained even to my own ears. “Really.”
Ali was watching this exchange with sharp eyes, her lawyer’s instincts clearly sensing something amiss. I needed to get it together before she started asking questions I couldn’t answer.
“So, Ali,” I said, desperate to change the subject, “how long are you planning to stay in Sagebrush?”
She allowed the diversion, though her eyes remained focused on me. “A few days, maybe a week,” she replied, her gaze still studying me. “Depends on how things go. I’m finding the place has... unexpected charms.”
I nodded, trying to focus on her words instead of the panic clawing at my chest. The red truck was still there, a shadow I couldn’t escape. I took a long sip of water, willing my hands not to shake.
“You should stay for the weekend at least,” Dustin said, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “There’s a small rodeo competition on Saturday at the arena. Nothing fancy, but you’d get to see Caroline and her students compete with one another.”
Something flickered across Ali’s face at the mention ofCaroline’s name, a brief flash of interest she quickly masked. “I might just do that.”
I forced myself to eat, mechanically cutting my chicken fried steak into smaller and smaller pieces while keeping my eyes away from the window. Keith was out there watching us. Watching me with Dustin. The thought made me sick.
“Alex,” Dustin’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, his hand warm on my knee under the table. “You haven’t touched your food. What’s going on?”
I met his concerned blue eyes and hated myself for the lie I was about to tell. “Just tired. Long day.” I managed a smile that felt brittle on my face. “And maybe a little nervous meeting the ex-wife.”
Ali laughed, the sound surprisingly genuine. “Oh please, I’m not that intimidating.”
“Says the woman who made the CEO of her company cry,” Dustin countered with a fond smile.
“That was one time,” Ali protested, waving her fork. “And he deserved it. He was being a prick.”
Their easy banter continued, but I found myself checking the window every few seconds. The truck was still there, engine off, headlights dark. Just waiting. My skin crawled with the knowledge that Keith’s eyes were on us, on this moment that should have been just ours. I swore I could see his silhouette in the driver’s seat.
“You know what?” I said suddenly, pushing my plate away. “I think we should head back. Early start tomorrow and all that.”
Dustin looked surprised. “But we haven’t had dessert. Dolly’s apple pie is the best in the county.”
