Page 14 of In the Dust

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“Hey!” A nervous grin rises on my face as I greet Brad. “What are you doing here?”

He wraps his arm around me, looking at Colton with a sideways glance. “Well, I wanted to surprise you.” He gives an awkward grin as I finish off my beer.

He reaches out to shake Harper’s hand. They’ve met a few times when she’s come out to visit me. Then, he introduces himself to Jackson.

He seems to already be over what looked like me in a compromising position. That’s the thing about Brad; there’s nothing that ignites him. He’s always calm and collected, and no fiery embers ever swirl in his eyes.

But the way he shakes Colton’s hand with a bit more muscle than he did with Jackson shows a faint hint of rivalry.

Sometimes I wonder what he’d be like with a little competition to deal with, however, he’s not that kind of guy. He’s safe.

The kind of man that makes you feel secure.

“I can’t believe you're here.” I hope he doesn't detect the hint of sadness in my tone, because I can’t explain it myself.

I look to Colton, who disappears into the crowd. “Yeah, I wanted to surprise you.” Brad shrugs.

“Well, you sure did!” I grin, lightening the mood. “How was the flight?”

He nods, tucking his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “It was good, I called you when I landed in Atlanta, but I didn’t want you to figure it out.”

Colton returns, handing me a new bottle of beer. I thank him before returning my attention to Brad. “I’m glad you’re here.” It is pretty cool I’ll get to show him my hometown.

“Me too, but I’m hungry,” he decides, wrapping his arms around my waist to walk us to the tall tabletop next to the pool game.

I don’t miss the way Colton watches us. He’s never seen me with anyone else, and I can tell it’s bothering him from the way his eyes darken and his jaw clenches.

“Dixie?”

Brad’s voice makes me fall back to reality. “Huh?”

“What kind of food do they have?”

I pluck the menu from behind the ketchup bottle, handing it to him. “This and that,” I say nervously, knowing he’s never had anything like this.

His eyes skim the menu. “Is everything fried?”

A laugh escapes me. “Not the salad,” I joke.

Colton, Jackson, and Harper all meet us at the table. Colton takes the seat directly across from me, his eyes studying my every movement. It’s like I’m a science project he’s trying to dissect.

The waitress walks over, her eyes trailing over Brad’s business attire in a bar full of cowboy hats and wranglers. “What can I get for ya, darlin’?”

The bar is crowded and loud, so Brad has to raise his voice to a higher octave to be heard. “The cobb salad, light vinaigrette.” He roams the menu for a moment more, his eyes narrowing as he searches for something they probably don’t have. “And a dry martini.”

Colton tilts his head to the side and nearly spews his beer. I send him a warning glare, and he raises his hands up innocently.

The waitress gives him a bright smile, holding in a laugh herself. “We don’t carry that.”

I have to save him, so I say, “He’ll take some wine.”

“I’ll take the bottle.”

Awkward silence at the table is drowned out by the roars of people watching the game. Football is big here, and Colton doesn't even notice the silence as he cheers along with everyone else.

But his attention doesn't stay on the television for long. “So, Brad,” Colton says. His cowboy hat hangs low on his head, the shadow casting over his blue eyes. “How long are you in town?”

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