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Dylan turned her head to look at Alex. He didn’t look her way as he ate his lunch. Could she do it? Could she risk another broken heart? What if he didn’t break her heart? What if he treated her like gold? She nibbled on her bottom lip.
“You’re going to drive yourself insane if you don’t make up your mind,” Peyton whispered.
Dylan looked at Peyton. “He is hot, isn’t he?”
“Hot is an understatement. He seems like a nice man.”
“He has to be nice. It’s his job.”
“I suppose that’s true. He can’t be a prick and have to work with people.” Peyton glanced at Alex and back to her. “I think you should go for it. There’s just something about him. He’s hot, yes, but he has an air of mystery about him. What happened that he seems that way, I wonder.”
“I don’t know, but I agree with you,” Dylan murmured.
“Then find out. Dylan, when was the last time you had good sex?”
“Good sex? What is that? It’s been so long since I’ve hadanysex that I can’t remember if it was bad or good.” Dylan shook her head. “No, that’s not right. I remember. It was with Travis, and it was awful. God! Why did I put up with him for so long?”
“We all held on longer than we should have with our spouses. None of them were decent men. They figured the buckle bunnies were there for the taking and take they did.” Marlowe shook her head.
“And just how do I know if Alex is like that or not?”
Marlowe shrugged. “You don’t. Not until you spend time with him. I knew once Hank and I got serious, he was a wonderful man who would never hurt me intentionally. Not like Johnnie did. Or how Trace did you, Peyton, and how Travis did Dylan. We deserve good men in our lives. I’ve found mine, now you two need to.”
“I’d love to find one. I just don’t trust cowboys.” Peyton sighed.
“None of us do. Well, Marlowe does now, and I do trust Hank with her heart.” Dylan smiled.
“I trust him with my heart too. Peyton, any man can be good, and any man can be bad. He doesn’t have to be a cowboy to break your heart.” Marlowe smiled at Peyton.
“I cannot believe you two are trying to talk me into dating another cowboy.”
“Okay, look. Maybe not go out and specifically find a cowboy, but don’t shoot one down either. You’ll know right away how he is. We screwed up with others, but now we know what we want and don’t want. Trust me, if you had a man like Hank, you’d feel different. I know he’s a good man, and I know he loves me. He’d never hurt me like Johnnie did. Not ever. I believe that in my heart.”
Dylan nodded. She just didn’t know if getting involved with Alex Reeves was worth it. She watched him as he sat at the counter, smiling at something Rissa was saying. His grin was gorgeous, but there was something in his eyes that made her think he was holding something inside. But, what?
As she watched him, he stood, removed his wallet from his back pocket, handed Rissa money, and waved off the change. He glanced around, saw her looking at him, and nodded, then he walked out.
“All he has to do is look at me, and I’m lost,” she murmured.
“Then let him find you,” Marlowe said as she touched her hand.
Dylan looked at her. “I’ll think about it.”
“It’s all you can do. We’re here for you, no matter what,” Peyton said.
Dylan knew that. Her friends were the one constant in her life, besides her daughter. Could she take a chance and let someone else into her heart?
Chapter Four
Alex made a cup of coffee and once it was ready, he picked it up, blew on it, and sipped the hot brew. The liquid nearly scalded his lips, but the taste was worth the risk. He walked to the door, opened it, and stepped onto the porch. The air was crisp, and he could see fog lingering over the field. A faint hint of moisture hung in the air. Birds chirped as they flitted from tree to tree.
When he saw his breath hang in the air like a cloud of smoke, Alex knew that even though it was chilly, it would be a beautiful day. The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky.
He had the day off, so he decided to spend it at the pond fishing. He was glad of the chance to take a break from Dylan’s case and clear his head. He felt like he was on the cusp of figuring out what was going on, but something just wasn’t clicking for him.
Reluctantly, he knew he would have to tell Dylan that her ex-husband probably wasn’t behind the rustling. But what Alex feared in its place was much worse; he suspected Travis Martin was there for another reason—to take his daughter. Alex spent a lot of time trying to find Martin yesterday so he could question him, but the man was good at hiding. No matter who Alex contacted, no one knew where Martin was. Alex wasn’t sure he believed that, but he had nothing else to go on.
He entered the house, set his empty cup in the sink, grabbed his coat and hat, strode out the door, and entered the barn.
