Page 110 of Dove
“Wait a dang minute.” His eyes widened in recognition, and he set the paper back down. “You’re Hex’s boy.”
I sighed internally. This was small town living, I reminded myself. This was why Dove and I wouldn’t stand a chance if wemade our relationship public. This town forgot nothing and no one—no matter how many years passed by.
“Yes, sir,” I repeated, brusquer than I meant it to be.
“Sorry to hear about your pa,” he apologized somberly. He dipped his head in respect. “He was a good man.”
He was a good man to everyone but his own son.
“He’ll be missed,” I forced out. The words tasted like ash on my tongue, and a sharp stab of guilt coursed through me. It was sad that the local mechanic was more sorrowful about Gareth’s passing than his own son.
He rested his hip against the desk. “We was wondering where you ran off too, son.” His eyes sized me up with clear curiosity. “Got bit by the city bug, did ya?”
I remained silent, knowing that whatever I said would be fodder for local gossip. I wanted to remain out of Haven’s scrutiny for as long as I could. We were already the focus of the town’s attention because of our parents’ passing, I didn’t want to give them anything more to talk about. And believe me, they didn’t need much to go off of. Gossip in Haven was like fire during a drought—one tiny spark could become a raging wildfire within minutes. Best to remain under the radar, especially now that Dove’s and my budding relationship was something neither of us wanted the town to find out about.
“Well.” Rodney coughed, as if realizing I was a paying customer. “I’ll go get your order.” He picked up the invoice lying on the desk, eyes skimming it once before he made his way into the back.
I let out a tired exhale once he was gone. It wasn’t anywhere close to living in the city, but Marleysville was built up a hell of a lot more than Haven was. I didn’t know everyone there, for starters. Hell, I barely knew my neighbors. Here if you didn’t wave to someone, you’d find yourself walking into a bar that went quiet, or every eye set on you when you went groceryshopping, whispers following you down the aisle. Haven was a small, tight-knit town, but that only meant that word traveled fast and fierce through the community.
I had a feeling I’d be the next topic of conversation after this.
Shaking my head, I pulled out my phone and messaged the only contact I’d programmed into it so far.
How’s your day going, beautiful?I hit send, and my text sent with awhoosh.
I wasn’t sure what Dove was up to this morning, or if she’d even had her phone with her, so I wasn’t anticipating a quick reply, but to my surprise, my phone pinged a moment later.
I’ll tell you the moment I know who thisis.
I huffed a laugh at her sassy reply. Typical Dove.
Figures you’d have enough men calling you beautiful I’d get lost in the crowd.
Who is this
Her lack of punctuation had me chuckling.
I’ll give you one guess, little dove.
My phone rang a moment later.
“Figure it out yet?” I teased.
“What are you up to?” Her voice carried an edge of suspicion, but I could practically hear the smile on her face.
“Running errands, like I told you.”
“You said you were going to pick up parts.”
“I am, I just had a few other stops to make before that.”
“Well,” she huffed, her voice strained like she was picking up something heavy, “don’t break this one.”
Over the line, I heard her murmur softly, as if she was talking to someone else.
“I’ll try not to,” I replied. Then when curiosity got the best of me, I asked, “What are you doing?”
“Attempting to lure Clover out in the field,” she replied, worry clear in her voice. “I don’t think she’s feeling too well,Josh. She doesn’t want to leave her stall. We might have to call the vet.”
