Page 68 of A Rancher's Vow
The song came to an end, and she shifted to upright beside him. Their fingers were still linked as they waited for the next song to start.
Shim shuffled forward, bowing slightly to Charity. “You owe me a dance.”
“So I hear.” Charity squeezed Dustin’s fingers before letting go. “Save me a seat. I’ll need a break after this.”
“Because we will dance and not simply sway lazily,” Shim offered to Dustin before twirling Charity away with an evil laugh.
“You’re an ass,” Dustin called after them.
Shim didn’t break stride in the two-step, but somehow managed to hold up his middle finger so it flashed Dustin every time he and Charity rotated on the floor. Charity laughed out loud.
All was well.
Dustin turned to leave the dance floor. Luke motioned him over to where he and Kelli had settled at a table just to the side.
Dustin sat, gratefully accepting the bottle his brother handed him. “It’s a wild one tonight.”
“Good turnout, that’s for sure.” Luke leaned in. “Hate to be the bearer of news—not sure if it’s good or bad at this point—but you’ve been spotted on social media again.”
“Fuck.”
“No, this time it might be okay. They’ve bought the girlfriend line.” Luke held up his phone. “Has to be someone local.”
The social media post was from a generic@AroundHeartFallsaccount.
Look who was spotted out for the night! I think they look adorable. Shipping this hard. #DusTee #SilverStoneStud #CuteCountryCouple
An image of him and Charity all snuggled up as they walked down the boardwalk earlier that evening accompanied the text.
“Okay, that’s slightly creepy.” Yeah, it was confirmation that he wasn’t eligible to be pursued. But he didn’t want this to turn into people stalking him and Charity instead.
Luke eased his legs under the table. “A few more people reposting, and you’ll be truly in the clear in terms of the bachelor angle.”
“You guys look good together.” Kelli poked him in the side. “You being nice to her?”
“Very nice,” he assured her. “As nice as she allows.”
Luke frowned. “What are you guys talking about? Of course he’s being nice. Caleb would have his head otherwise.”
Only, Kelli wore the kind of smirk that said she wasn’t as oblivious as Luke. She waited for Dustin to say something more, but since there really wasn’t anything official to say yet, Dustin kept his mouth shut.
She raised a brow but nodded. Then she turned to Luke and smacked him on the arm. “Your brother is old enough he doesn’t need the threat of Caleb hanging over him so he behaves.”
“Really? I’m older than him, and you still threaten to tell Caleb when I plan to do shit with Tucker.”
Kelli rolled her eyes. “Because you two are hellbent on killing yourself with some of your hare-brained competitions. Only the wrath of Caleb keeps you on the straight and narrow.”
Which was both true and hysterical, so Dustin was laughing when a breathless Charity arrived back at the table.
“That was fun. Now hydrate me,” she ordered.
Dustin pulled her into his lap so he could whisper in her ear even as Luke handed over an unopened bottle. “Keep a smile on your face, okay?” he warned before presenting her with the phone. “We’re in the news again.”
She stiffened slightly as she read it, then groaned. “Hashtag,Dus-tee? That’s what they’re going for?”
“I think it’s cute,” Kelli offered.
“As cute as online notoriety can be,” Luke offered dryly.
