Page 5 of The Cowboy and His Beauty
"And their son, Corey, isn't back from the military?" I ask, wanting to be sure.
Austin shrugs. "I haven't heard anything, and no one's mentioned him."
"But this Dash … he's a nice guy?" I wonder out loud.
"I think so. He and Phantom have a bond. I see him petting him when they’re in town together. Animals have the best sense of people," Austin says.
"Everyone always has nice things to say in here. He's helped a few of his neighbors deal with the land developers in town," Jenna adds.
I don't share my plans to go over and introduce myself later. I know they’ll try to talk me out of it. Instead, I shift the topic to what I've missed around town since the last time I was here.
Things like the librarian, Candy, getting engaged to Ben's friend, North, over Christmas, and the family drama involved. What I wouldn't give to have been a fly on the wall for that one.
I spend the day with my parents and then make the excuse that I'm going to see a friend for dinner. I stop at the store and get what I need to make my meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. I also grab a cake from the tiny bakery section.
My nerves buzz the whole way to Michael’s ranch, and the butterflies in my stomach are intense. I made this drive many times in high school and always enjoyed it because it was relaxing and meant time with Corey.
I pull into the ranch and take a few deep breaths before approaching the familiar stone house.
I ring the bell and knock on the door the way I always did. A moment later, Dash opens the door and stands there, staring at me. He doesn't speak a word, and I rush to fill the silence.
"Remember me from the store yesterday?"
Dash nods.
"I asked around about you and no one knows much. They say you keep to yourself, but I was wondering if I could make you dinner. I brought the stuff to make meatloaf. This way someone can say they gave you a proper Walker Lake welcome," I ramble.
A small, amused smile takes over his face, but he says nothing.
I wait for him to speak, but he keeps staring at me. So I stare right back, taking in his beard and the jagged scar on his cheek before looking him right in the eye.
Still, he says nothing.
"Do you talk?" I ask gently. Did the injury that gave him the scar also leave him mute?
"Yes." His voice is rough from lack of use.
"Do you want me to leave?" continue once it's clear he won't say anything more.
"No."
That is all I get. "Okay. May I cook your dinner?" I ask politely.
"Yes."
I nod and return to my car, grabbing the bags of food from the store. When I turn to head to the house, I crash into a wall of pure muscle.
Those sparks are there again. They render me paralyzed for a moment before I take a step back and look into Dash's coffee-brown eyes. Eyes that I swear are familiar, but I still can't figure out where I know him from.
His chocolate-brown hair has a slight curl that peeks out from the cowboy hat on his head. Coffee and chocolate? I must be hungrier than I thought. Of course, that's the moment my stomach growls, breaking the silence between us.
Without a word, he takes the grocery bags from me and turns toward the house. Am I supposed to follow him? Did he change his mind? I watch him walk back to the house, his Wranglers hugging all the right places. The view is something to be appreciated. I'm debating what to do when he stops on the porch and looks back at me, catching my eyes on his gorgeous ass.
He nods his head toward the house, and that's all the encouragement I need to follow him inside.
This could be a very quiet supper.
Chapter 4
