Page 69 of Dust and Desire
Heat flooded my cheeks, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. “That was different. I was different.”
“Were you? Or were you just finally honest about what you wanted?” Keith reached out as if to touch my face, and I jerked back. His hand dropped to his side, his smile never faltering. “You have until tomorrow night to decide. Meet me at the old, abandoned barn on the north edge of the property at sunset. Come alone and come prepared to leave.” His eyes hardened. “Or I start making phone calls. To Dustin. To his ex-wife. To the local paper. I have quite the story to tell about the mysterious cowboy with the violent past.”
“I don’t have a violent past,” I hissed, my hands clenching into fists.
“Don’t you?” Keith’s eyebrow arched elegantly. “I have lots of saved text messages from you with proof that would say otherwise. People believe what they want to believe, Alex. Especially about outsiders. It only takes a little nudge.”
My stomach twisted with nausea. This wasn’t just about me anymore. Keith was threatening to destroy everything I’d built here, everyone I cared about. The worst part was knowing he could do it. Keith Bordeaux was the kind of man that could turn on the charm at any moment. And when I’d met him, I was still angry. I remembered what I’d said, and he was right, it was damning evidence even if I never acted on it.
“You’re bluffing,” I said, but the words sounded hollow even to my own ears.
“Am I?” Keith reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He flipped it open, revealing a silver ringset with a black stone. “I had this made for you three years ago. Been carryin’ it ever since.” He snapped the box shut and returned it to his pocket. “I don’t bluff, darlin’. Not when it comes to things I want.”
The morning sun suddenly felt too bright, too harsh. Birds sang in the distance, oblivious to the nightmare unfolding beneath them. I thought of Dustin, still sleeping peacefully in our bed, unaware that his world was about to be shattered one way or another.
“Sunset tomorrow,” Keith repeated, already turning to walk away. “Don’t be late. And don’t try anything stupid like tellin’ your sheriff friend. I have eyes everywhere in this little town.” He paused, glancing back over his shoulder. “Oh, and Alex? Don’t bother packin’ much. I’ve already bought you a whole new wardrobe. Somethin’ more befittin’ a Bordeaux since you’re gonna take my last name.”
I watched him walk away, his confident stride carrying him across the pasture toward where I assumed he’d parked his truck. My legs felt leaden, rooted to the spot as the full weight of his ultimatum settled over me.
Leave with Keith or watch him destroy Dustin’s life… and possibly endanger him physically. The choice was impossible, yet brutally simple.
I had to protect Dustin. No matter what it cost me.
Chapter 25
Dustin
Ihadn’t heard from Alex all day, which was a bit strange. Usually, we texted back and forth nearly all day. His responses were sporadic usually, taking a moment between jobs to reply when he could. But today was radio silence, and I figured it must’ve been a particularly busy day on the ranch.
So when Ali messaged me and asked me to meet her for dinner, I was more than happy to accept. I shot a quick message to Alex, letting him know where we’d be and that he should join us when he was free. Usually, they let him out around four in the afternoon, so he’d have plenty of time to clean up and meet us down at Dolly’s Diner before we’d even ordered.
But when I got to the diner, only Ali was there. In fact, I didn’t even notice Alex’s blue truck as I left the ranch. Maybe he was already on the way. Or at least I hoped he was. I was starting to get a little worried.
“Hey,” Ali said as I slid into the booth across from her. She looked different somehow, more relaxed than she had since arriving, her hair pulled back in a casual ponytail instead of her usual perfect waves. “You look worried.”
“Just wondering where Alex is,” I admitted, checking my phone again. Still no response to any of my texts. “He usually gets off work by now.”
Ali’s expression softened with something that looked like understanding. “Maybe he got held up with something. Ranch work doesn’t exactly follow a nine-to-five schedule, right?”
“Right,” I nodded, though the knot in my stomach didn’t ease. “How was your day? Did you survive another riding lesson with Caroline?”
A flush crept up Ali’s neck, and she suddenly became very interested in the menu. “It was... educational.”
“Educational?” I raised an eyebrow, recognizing that tone. It was the same one she’d used in college when she was trying to downplay her interest in someone. “What kind of educational?”
“The kind where I learned I have terrible balance and Caroline has very strong hands,” she said quickly, then seemed to realize what she’d implied. Her blush deepened. “I mean, for catching me when I fell. Multiple times.”
I couldn’t help but smile despite my worry about Alex. “Ali Harris, are you developing a crush on my cowgirl friend?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she protested, but the way she couldn’t meet my eyes told a different story. “She’s just... interesting. Very different from anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Different how?”
Ali was quiet for a moment, absently turning her water glass. “She doesn’t care about any of the things that usually matter to people in my world. Designer clothes, expensive restaurants, what kind of car you drive. She just... sees people for who they are underneath all that.” She looked up at me then, her expression vulnerable. “When’s the last time someone looked at you like that, Dustin? Like you were enough exactly as you are?”
My chest tightened. “Recently, actually.”
“Alex,” she said softly, and it wasn’t a question.
