Page 2 of Dust and Desire (Sagebrush Cowboys #5)

“Well, look what the cat dragged in!” Caroline’s voice made me jump. She’d spotted me and was already marching over, dust kicking up around her boots. “Dustin Corvus, emerging from hibernation. Must be a special occasion.”

I managed a smile. “Just thought I’d get some air.”

“In this heat? You’re either brave or stupid.” She grinned, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. “Though I suppose that shoebox of yours must be like an oven right about now.”

“The AC’s working overtime,” I admitted.

Caroline’s sharp eyes studied me for a moment, and I felt transparent under her gaze. She glanced over her shoulder to where Colt was now laughing with his student, then back at me with a knowing smirk.

“You know,” she said, dropping her voice, “he checks with Logan all the time to make sure you’re doing alright.”

My heart stuttered embarrassingly in my chest. “Who does?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t play dumb, Corvus. It doesn’t suit you.”

Before I could respond, she was called back to the arena by one of her students .

“Maybe you should go out with the boys sometime instead of holing yourself up in that shack. Might make things a little less miserable, huh?”

“I’m not?—”

But I didn’t get to finish. She simply gave me a wink and sauntered off, leaving me with a strange flutter of hope that I immediately tried to squash. Colt was with Eli. Everyone knew that. Caroline was just being friendly and trying to coerce me into having a life. Just like Ali.

I leaned against the fence, telling myself I’d just stay for a few minutes before heading back.

The sun beat down mercilessly, and I could feel sweat starting to bead on my forehead despite the shade from my hat.

But I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Not when Colt was right there, all golden skin and easy confidence, moving like he was born in the saddle.

He must have felt me watching because suddenly those green eyes found mine across the arena.

For a split second, our gazes locked, and I felt that familiar jolt of electricity shoot straight through me.

Then he flashed that devastating grin, the one that probably got him out of trouble his whole life, and raised his hand in a wave.

“Hey there, city boy!” he called out, his voice carrying that hint of playful challenge that always made my pulse quicken. “You finally escape that air-conditioned prison of yours?”

Heat flooded my cheeks, and it had nothing to do with the Texas sun. “Something like that,” I called back, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.

Colt said something to his student, then started walking toward the fence where I stood.

Each step closer made my mouth go drier, which seemed impossible in this humidity.

By the time he reached me, leaning his forearms against the top rail just a few feet away, I was fighting the urge to flee back to my tiny house and hide.

“You picked a hell of a day to venture out,” he said, pushing his hair back from his face with one hand. The gesture made his bicep flex, and I had to look away before I did something embarrassing like stare. “Must be pushin’ one-ten out here.”

“Caroline mentioned something about me being brave or stupid.”

“Well, which is it?” His eyes crinkled at the corners, and there was something in his expression I couldn’t quite read. Amusement, maybe. Or curiosity.

“Jury’s still out,” I managed, surprised I could string words together at all with him this close. God, I could even smell him… a scent of sweat and leather that made my head spin.

“You know,” Colt said, his voice dropping lower, more intimate, “Eli’s been askin’ about you.”

My stomach dropped. Of course. Eli. His boyfriend. The one who got everything I wanted without even trying. “Has he?”

“Mmm.” Colt’s gaze was steady on mine. “Says you’ve been avoidin’ everyone. Logan and Dakota too. They’re worried.”

The guilt hit me like a physical blow. I’d been so caught up in my own misery, my pathetic pining, that I’d been neglecting the people who actually cared about me. The people who’d become my chosen family.

“I haven’t been avoiding anyone,” I said, but it sounded weak even to my own ears.

Colt raised an eyebrow. “When’s the last time you came up to the main house for dinner?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. He had me there.

“That’s what I thought.” But his tone wasn’t judgmental, just concerned. It made my heart do a little flip.

“Sorry… I just…” I paused, not sure which excuse to pick.

“Tell you what,” Colt said after a quiet moment. “Why don’t you come into town with us tomorrow night? All the boys are meetin’ up at Dolly’s. We’d love to have ya.” He moved a bit closer, lowering his voice. “We’re gonna get drunk and sing karaoke. Shirts may come off at some point.”

I nearly choked on my own saliva. The image of Colt shirtless and drunk, singing karaoke, was enough to short-circuit whatever remained of my rational brain. “I, uh...” I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. “That sounds...”

“Fun?” Colt supplied, that wicked grin spreading wider across his face. “Dangerous? Exactly what a hermit needs to get back into the world?”

“All of the above,” I admitted, hating how breathless I sounded.

“Good.” He pushed himself back from the fence, and I immediately missed his proximity. “Seven o’clock. Don’t make me come drag you out of that tar and paper shack myself.”

The threat sent an entirely inappropriate thrill through me. The idea of Colt Dawson showing up at my door, all determination and swagger, maybe pushing his way inside my small space where we’d be inches apart...

“I’ll be there,” I said quickly, before my imagination could run any wilder.

“Attaboy.” He winked. Actually fucking winked. And I felt my knees go weak. “I gotta finish up class and break in a new ranch hand all afternoon. I’ll see you at the diner tomorrow.”

He turned away with a smile and a wave, heading back to his students.

I was left there, leaning against the fence with my cock straining against my jeans and sweat running down my neck for reasons that had nothing to do with heat.

God, I felt pathetic pining after the rodeo star I knew I could never have.

With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself away from the fence and headed back across the property toward my air conditioning. That was far more than enough outside for today.