Page 55 of Mustang Valley

“I just know how you are. You like to try and fix people. This kind of baggage needs a professional.”

I know Dash’s old habits will die hard, and mine probably will, too. Maybe my sister is right, but I’m not going to avoid Dash. I don’t want to. “He’s pushing people away because he’s terrified of caring about someone again after the pain of his dad. And what will it do to him if I won’t be his friend? It will just reinforce that cycle.”

“Okay, Dr. Molly,” she teases.

I shoot my eyes to the ceiling. My sister isn’t as sensitive as I am. Or maybe she is. Maybe her coping mechanism isn’t all that far from Dash’s. Maybe that’s how she saw it so easily. Is she brave, or is it all bravado? Only just now have I ever wondered.

She eases up. “You’re okay with everything?”

“Yeah. Even though we had sex and it should be awkward, I actually feel better about where we’re at than before. It was all tense but not, and sort of… I don’t know. It was like there were lots of unspoken words before, and now he’s opened up.”

“Well, I’m not going to be pedantic about it. Sex can just be sex, and people have complicated relationships more often than not these days.”

“It’s not complicated. We’re friends.”

“Whatever you say.”

I change the subject, and we talk about her moving date and when and how I’ll move her in about a month’s time.

One month. In one month, I need to ask myfriendto move out. Maybe it would have been easier when he was just my boss.

Shit. Lily is right. This is complicated.

ChapterTwenty-One

DASH

I wasproud of myself for growing like I did yesterday morning. I can’t let myself fall in love with someone, but if I’m ever going to be human again, I need to try on some more relationships. Get myself out there. Or in there. I did both with Molly.

It won’t be easy ignoring the ache to touch her, but I’m sure it will subside at some point, moving into a friendship. Before long, she’ll be just like Mateo to me. A buddy. A pal… I hope.

The only person I ever really hang out with besides my family is Mateo. I was happy when my man moved back to Starlight Canyon permanently, though the moment he did, something else happened, too, so we didn’t see much of each other.

I knock on the door, and there’s Stella, all freckles and fire, with her baby bump on full display. “Hey, Dash. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Just hoping Mateo’s here.”

She pushes the door open farther to let me in. “You want a coffee or something?”

“No. I won’t be staying long. Just a quick question for Matty. And I wanted to ask in person.”

“He’s out back working on the fencing for the new training ring.”

Stella opens the back door, and just as she does, Matty is making his way back to the house, rubbing his hands together.

He smiles when he sees me. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

Stella pushes a fallen strand of hair off her exhausted forehead. “I’m heading upstairs for a nap. See you later, Dash. And…” She pauses, narrows her eyes. “Did you do something different to your…” She circles her face with her index finger.

It’s probably the sex glow. “Nah. Same ol’.”

She shrugs, waves, and waddles off with her hands on her back.

“Wow, getting close to little Maximo coming,” I say, already knowing it’s a boy and that Mattywillget his way with the name.

Matty comes into the kitchen. “I can’t wait. I already know I’m going to want a million of them running around. Maybe I was a rabbit in a former life.”

I laugh gruffly. “Imagine Hero Condoms seeing you now.”

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