Page 18 of The Cowboy and His Beauty
"That's bullshit and you know it. I had a right to know before taking that job."
"You had no idea after all these weeks?"
I shake my head.
"He isn't the man you knew in high school. Dash has—"
"Corey. His name is Corey," I interrupt.
"No, he's Dash now. The military changed him, and he isn't the same guy. You know it, too. You should get to know him as he is now."
"He shouldn't have hidden it." I cross my arms and sit back in the seat.
Ben studies me. "Did something happen between you two?"
I don't answer.
Ben sighs. "How did you find out?
"He cut his hair and shaved his beard after we kissed last night. I saw it this morning."
"Wow. As a guy myself, I think I have the authority to say that's huge, Sky. What did you say?"
"I asked him why, and if he did it for me. Then I left. I was trying to merge Corey and Dash into one person, and I couldn't do it while I was standing in front of him."
"Talk to him, Sky. He put himself out there and you walked off."
"Because I didn't know what to do. It's a shock discovering that the guy I was getting to know over the last few weeks is my ex. A man I loved and was ready to start a life with, but who walked out of my life without looking back."
"Loved?" Ben raises an eyebrow.
"I don't know how I feel. I locked those feelings up so long ago."
"I understand. I was there, and I saw what it did to you. All I can say is to be honest with him. Take this time to talk and get closure, if nothing else."
"I’ll think about it. I'm going for a drive before I head back. I need to think about what I want to say first." I reach over and give him an award hug before stepping out of the car, spying a few of the ladies from church in the square.
"We’re going to keep them talking." I nod in their direction.
Ben chuckles. "Let them think what they want. Maybe they’ll stop trying to set me up."
"Be careful, pookey! I'll see you tonight. Muah!" I say loudly enough for them to hear.
Ben laughs as I close the door and walk to my car without sparing them a glance. I take the road to circle the lake before heading back to Dash's place.
No matter what, he's still Dash in my head. I think back over the last few weeks. He danced around the subject, but he didn't outright lie to me.
He knew who I was the whole time. Why give me the job? If I hadn't shown up on his doorstep that day, would he have ever talked to me again?
When I get back to the ranch, I find Dash alone in the barn. He turns toward me when he hears me walk in and just watches me. Neither of us says anything. After an hour's drive, I still have no idea what to say, but I see Corey now, more so than this morning.
He watches me as I slowly approach him. I hesitate for just a moment before reaching up to gently touch the large scar on his face. This man is a grown-up version of my Corey, a sexier version.
"Welcome home, soldier," I whisper, and lean in and softly kiss his scar.
He shudders and wraps his arms around my waist, burying his head in my neck.
"Corey—"
