Page 111 of Dust Storm

I wasn’t psychic. I got lucky with the lipstick print on his crisp dress shirt. The real information was thanks to Wednesday Addams’s lookalike, who was more than willing to spill a few small-town secrets while she did my makeup.

“Well,” he rasped, eyes darting to his overpriced car. “I’ll let you get on with your day.”

“I think that’s best for both of us.”

I waited until he was easing back into the driver’s seat before I spoke up again. “One more thing, Mr. Mayor—” I grabbed the top of his door. “When the invitations go out for the groundbreaking, you will receive one. You will RSVP. You will tell every important person in town to come. You’ll arrive on time, have exactly one drink, sing this family’s praises and be a loud supporter of our projects, and then leave early.”

He swallowed. “Don’t tell my wife.”

“That’s your business.” I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t make it mine.” And with that, I slammed the door.

It was already my business, but I’d find a more discreet way to speed up karma’s swift and steady hand.

Dottie matched my energy on the way back, taking off at a canter. I matched my breathing to the pounding of her hooves. The fury kept me grounded.

I kept an eye out for the truck as Dottie raced back to the barn, but it was nowhere in sight.

Maybe the driver had gone out to where Christian and the boys were.

Dottie tossed her head back as we neared the barn, and I ran a hand down her mane. She slowed and loped inside like an old pro, standing still so I could hop down.

I fished around in my pocket and found a spare peppermint. Miraculously, I managed not to cringe when she nibbled it off my palm.

The office was just as I had left it—an absolute disaster. Development timelines, grant proposals, contracts, and contractor quotes littered my desk.

Christian’s desk. I self-corrected the intrusive thought. It wasn’t mine.

I changed my shoes again, sifted through the pages to find the keyboard, and did a quick internet search. I waited while the printer spat out a photo, then tacked it to the wall and dove back into the mess.

Organizing the documents Christian needed to sign was the easy part. Getting him inside long enough to sign them was the hard part. The stack he needed to address was growing by the minute.

If I kept them in the office, he would keep finding something more important to do…

Deciding better of it, I scooped up the stack and carried them over to the house. I could flash my tits and coax him into taking ten minutes to go over everything.

When I rounded the narrow corridor between the barn and office, I stopped.

That truck was parked in front of Christian’s house.

I clicked the pen on top of the stack. If he was in there, I’d get these done even sooner.

But I didn’t hear male voices when I jogged up the porch. Not Christian’s, at least.

“No!” Gracie’s giggle was clear.

A deep laugh joined in and I paused to listen.

“Pass the purple,” Bree said.

What time was it? I had just eaten lunch before the mayor showed up. It couldn’t have been much past one in the afternoon.

“I think we need glitter,” Gracie said.

“Nah, you know your dad’s rule. No glitter in the house.”

Bree and Gracie were supposed to be at school. Christian’s mom was in town. The girls had dance tonight. Why were they home?

Fear and adrenaline crept up the back of my neck like snaking vines as I hurried up the steps and let myself inside.

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