Page 22 of Dusty
His eyes found hers immediately, warm and steady. “Thought I’d come in through the back, make sure the latch was working properly.” He grinned. “Besides, I heard there was a tree that needed some muscle to decorate,” he drawled, flexing his arms and causing Sharon to chuckle.
“Perfect timing,” Ms. Patti said, patting his cheek as she passed. “You can make yourself useful while I check on the others.”
She disappeared into the living room, leaving Sharon alone with Dusty. The silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken words. Finally, she knew she’d have to be the first to break the silence.
“I can’t make her understand being here, being around me, it puts them all in the crosshairs of Cooper Madison. The Boudreaus have been nothing but good to me, and I will not allow my actions to bring danger to their doorstep.”
“You don’t have to worry about the Boudreaus. They’ve got the kind of security and protection most small nations wouldenvy.” He reached forward and allowed his knuckle to brush against her cheek, his touch barely there but she felt it all the way to her soul. “I gave my word I’d take care of you, and I aim to keep my promise.”
“But Dusty…”
“I’m good at my job, Sharon.” His smile was grim. “And I’m even better at protecting what matters to me.”
The implication in his words made her heart race. She’d only known him days, yet somehow he’d become invested in her safety—inher. And it scared her how much he’d come to mean to her. He was a weakness Cooper could exploit, if he found out.
From the living room, Christmas music started playing, the cheerful notes at odds with the tension in the kitchen.
“You can’t protect everyone,” she whispered. “And I can’t be responsible for anybody getting hurt. They’re good people, Dusty.”
“So are you.” He closed the distance between them, his hand settling gently on her arm. “And good people deserve to have someone in their corner.”
The warmth of his touch traveled through her, melting something that had been frozen since the night she’d grabbed the files and ran.
“You don’t have to face this alone anymore,” Dusty continued, his voice a rough whisper. “Let us help you.”
As she looked into his eyes, Sharon felt the walls she’d built start to crumble. It had been so long since she’d trusted anyone, depended on anyone. The hidden evidence was both her salvation and her curse—proof of Cooper’s crimes, but also the reason she couldn’t stop running.
“Sharon!” Daisy’s voice called from the living room. “Come see! We found the perfect spot for the star!”
Dusty’s hand slid down to take hers, strong and steady. “What do you say? Ready to experience a Shiloh Springs Christmas?”
Standing in the kitchen, surrounded by the aroma of Ms. Patti’s cooking and the sounds of laughter from the other room, Sharon made a decision. Maybe, just for tonight, she could pretend she belonged.
“Okay,” she said, squeezing Dusty’s hand. “But tomorrow—”
“Tomorrow will take care of itself,” he interrupted gently. “Tonight is for frosting cookies and hanging ornaments. And remembering there’s still good in the world worth fighting for.”
As he led her toward the living room and the waiting tree, Sharon wondered if perhaps she’d found something in this small Texas town she hadn’t even known she was looking for—not just safety, but a reason to stop running.
Dusty watched fromthe doorway as Sharon laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. The youngest Boudreau granddaughter, Jamie, was attempting to hang an ornament on a delicate branch, while her mother gave advice. Jamie spun around, hands on her hips, looking like a miniature version of Beth, and everyone laughed. The Christmas tree, which the Boudreau family had dragged in earlier that afternoon, filled the small living room with the scent of pine, mixing with the savory scent of the lasagna in the oven.
Sharon looked different tonight—relaxed, the tension momentarily gone from her shoulders. It struck Dusty how quickly she’d adapted to this small Texas town. It had to be day and night difference from the Chicago high-rises she’d left behind. The colorful lights from the tree reflected in thewindows and she smiled, her eyes shining with a warmth he hadn’t seen before.
Glancing across the living room, he caught Antonio’s eye and gave him a subtle nod toward the back door. They needed to talk, away from curious ears. Once Antonio headed toward the kitchen, Dusty turned and stepped out through the back door. The damp December air hit his face as he stepped onto the small back porch. Night had fallen early, as it did this time of year, and the small backyard behind Sharon’s borrowed cottage seemed quiet and dark, the only light coming from the single bulb beside the back door. Within moments, Antonio stepped through, his expression solemn.
“Tell me you’ve got something,” Dusty said quietly, not wanting their voices to carry back inside. “After that run-in at the diner today, I know Madison isn’t backing down.”
Antonio’s face was half-shadowed in the light spilling from the porch fixture. A bit of light peeked through the kitchen window. “My contact at the Chicago field office called. Madison’s gone dark—holed up in his Lake Forest estate. Hasn’t been seen at the office or any of his usual haunts. Canceled meetings, charity appearances, everything. And nobody at Kerrigan’s office building is talking. It’s like Madison or Kerrigan have issued a gag order to the whole company. Definitely gives rise to questions.”
Dusty frowned, his gut tightening. In his years of law enforcement, he’d learned that when powerful men like Madison started behaving erratically, trouble wasn’t far behind. “That doesn’t sound like someone who’s giving up,” he said, keeping his voice low.
“It doesn’t,” Antonio agreed. “Unofficially, the Bureau’s actively looking for Sharon now. The VP’s murder has everyone scrambling.”
Dusty felt a spike of alarm. “Do they think she did it?”
Antonio shook his head slightly. “Off the record? No one who’s working on the case believes she pulled the trigger. But her prints were on some incriminating documents, there’s a witness who swears Sharon pulled the trigger, and running isn’t helping her case.”
“What did you tell them?” Dusty asked, suddenly worried about how much his friend might have revealed.
