Page 79 of Dust and Desire
I leaned in, my lips brushing his ear. “Play your cards right, and maybe we can sneak away for a bit during the bonfire.”
His eyes darkened with interest. “Is that so?”
“Mmm,” I nodded, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before pulling away. “But first, we need to be social. Caroline will never let us hear the end of it if we’re late.”
The drive to the Turner Ranch was short, the familiar landscape rolling past our windows. Alex’s hand rested on my thigh, a casual touch that still sent warmth through me. In the distance, smoke curled up from the barbecue pits, and as we got closer, I could see trucks and cars parked in the field beside the main house.
“Looks like a good turnout,” Alex observed as we pulled in beside Caroline’s pickup. The sun was starting to sink toward the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and reds that made the whole landscape glow.
“Dustin! Alex!” Caroline’s voice carried across the yard as we climbed out of the truck. She strode toward us, her dark braid swinging, dressed in clean jeans and a Western shirt that was a far cry fromher usual dirt-stained work clothes. “About time you two showed up.”
“We’re right on time,” I protested, checking my watch.
“Which means you’re late by Caroline standards,” Alex laughed, accepting her one-armed hug.
“Damn straight,” she nodded. “Come on, Beau and Lucas are about to make some big announcement. They’ve been actin’ all secretive and giggly all day.”
As we followed Caroline toward the gathering crowd, I spotted Ali chatting with Jack Turner near the barbecue pits. She’d been making more frequent trips to Sagebrush lately, claiming she needed the break from city life. The fact that those breaks always coincided with Caroline’s barrel racing competitions was something none of us mentioned, but all of us noticed.
“Look who I found,” Caroline announced as we approached, her hand sliding naturally around Ali’s waist in a gesture that still made me do a double-take.
Ali’s face lit up when she saw us. “Dustin! Alex!” She hugged us both, the stiffness that had marked our early interactions completely gone now. “How’s the house expansion coming along?”
“Slow but steady,” Alex replied, his arm settling comfortably around my shoulders. “Should be finished before winter hits properly.”
Jack Turner clapped a hand on Alex’s back. “Good to see you boys. Grab yourselves a plate!”
The food was laid out on long tables. There was brisket, ribs, potato salad, and all the fixings of a proper Texas barbecue. We filled our plates and found seats around one of the picnic tables, joining Logan and Dakota who were sitting shoulder to shoulder.
As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the ranch, Beau and Lucas made their way to the center of the gathering. Beau looked nervous, fidgeting with the brim of his hat, while Lucas stood beside him, radiating quiet confidence.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Beau called, hisvoice carrying across the yard. The chatter died down as people turned toward them. “Lucas and I wanted to thank y’all for coming tonight.”
“Free food always draws a crowd,” someone called out, prompting laughter.
Beau grinned, visibly relaxing. “Well, we actually have a couple announcements to make. First—” he glanced at Lucas, who nodded encouragingly, “—we’re getting married. In the spring.”
A cheer went up from the crowd, followed by applause and whistles. Caroline let out a long sigh.
“About damn time,” she said.
“And second,” Lucas said, stepping forward with a broad smile, “we’re happy to announce that we’ve hired some extra help for the ranch. Starting next month, we’ll have Diego Martinez joining us as our new ranch manager.”
A tall, lean man with dark hair and warm brown eyes stepped forward from the edge of the crowd, raising his hand in a shy wave. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with the kind of easy smile that immediately put people at ease.
“Diego comes to us from a ranch down near Houston,” Beau continued. “He’s got experience with cattle, horses, and just about everything else we throw at him.”
“Welcome to the family,” Jack called out, raising his beer bottle in salute. The sentiment was echoed around the gathering, and I watched Diego’s face flush with what looked like relief and gratitude.
“Now let’s eat!” Lucas announced, and the crowd began to disperse back toward the food tables and conversations.
Alex squeezed my shoulder. “Think he’ll fit in?”
I studied Diego as he was immediately surrounded by Logan and Dakota, who were no doubt giving him the lay of the land. “He seems nice enough. And if Beau and Lucas hired him, he must be good at what he does.”
As the evening wore on and the sun finally disappeared behind the hills, someone lit the massive bonfire that had been constructedin the field behind the house. The flames leaped high into the darkening sky, casting dancing shadows across the faces of everyone gathered around it. Someone had brought out a guitar, and the soft strumming of familiar country songs drifted through the warm night air.
I found myself sitting on a straw bale with Alex pressed against my side, his hand resting casually on my thigh. The simple intimacy of it, the way we could just exist together in this space surrounded by people who’d become our chosen family, filled me with a contentment I’d never known was possible.
