Page 47 of Secret Southern Promises

Dolly gave me a brief nod, her attention already back on the groceries in front of her. “Bye, Boone,” she said quietly.

With a final glance, I turned and walked out of the store, feeling like I was leaving things unfinished. She had seemed fine on the surface, but I knew better. Dolly had questions, and I didn’t have time to give her the answers she deserved. Not now.

I climbed back into my truck and stared at the steering wheel for a moment, letting out a frustrated breath.She wasn’t fine.I could see it, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

The sooner this weekend was over, the sooner Dolly, Nash, and I could settle into life.

Life together.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Dolly

“He’s not going to be there, Lindsay.” I pulled the last pie from the oven and tossed the hot pads on the counter.

“You don’t know that,” Lindsay countered through the phone, always the optimist.

I rolled my eyes. “The auction is tonight, Linds, and he’s not here.”

“He still has time to make it,” she insisted as if saying it over and over would somehow make it true.

“When did you switch to Team Boone?” I asked and raised an eyebrow, my irritation clear.

“Since he came back into town and swept you and Nash off your feet.” Her tone was teasing, but I could hear the seriousness beneath it.

I scoffed. “Yeah, and then he found out I lied to him for fourteen years, and then he left again. So, tell me how that counts as ‘sweeping’ us off our feet?”

“Dolly,” Lindsay said softly. “He didn’t leave. Not for good. He had to go for work, and you know it.”

I knew she was right, but it stillfeltlike he had left. The past few days had been hard to ignore. Boone had texted me over the weekend, checking in, but we’d barely managed to connect beyond that. He was busy with rodeo sponsors, and I was juggling the store and Nash. Life kept getting in the way.

“Look,” Lindsay continued, “the only reason why Boone really needs to be there is so Nash isn’t disappointed. The whole town knows now that Boone’s his dad, and I’m pretty sure Nash is counting on showing him off tonight.”

I let out a sigh. “I don’t blame him. Nash is proud of Boone. I get that.”

“You’d have to be blind not to be dazzled by that man,” Lindsay laughed.

“You haven’t even seen him in person for years,” I teased and shook my head as I glanced at the pies cooling on the counter. Boonewaseasy on the eyes, but that wasn’t the point. Nash wanted to show off his dad because, in his eyes, Boone was amazing.

“Oh, sweetie, I have seen him on TV. I may be a married woman, but I’m not dead.” Lindsay’s laughter bubbled through the phone and lightened the mood a little.

I couldn’t help but laugh along with her. “Well, his dazzling behind better be at the pie auction. That’s all I’m saying.”

“He’ll be there,” she repeated with so much confidence that I almost believed her.

“Mom!” Nash’s voice echoed through the house as the front door swung open. He was home from school. I could hear his footsteps hurrying inside, and it reminded me that he was as anxious as I was to see Boone tonight.

“I gotta go, Linds. I’ll let you know what happens.” I ended the call and went to meet Nash in the living room, where he was pulling off his backpack and tossed it onto the couch. “Hey, bud. How was school?”

Nash shrugged, as nonchalant as ever. “It was fine. Did you get the pies made for tonight?”

I nodded, trying to sound enthusiastic. “Yup, all four of them are done and ready to go.”

His eyes lit up a bit at that. “What kind did you make?”

“Two mile-high apple, bourbon pecan, and a buttermilk.” I paused and hoped he wouldn’t notice the significance of that last one. Boone’s favorite. Why had I made that, knowing he likely wouldn’t show?

“Nice,” Nash said with a grin. “Thank goodness you didn’t make a quiche.”

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