Desert Bound (Cambio Springs) by Elizabeth Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

and their two boys. Allie and her three boys and one girl. Ted and Alex rounded out the group. They were taking shelter on the back porch while the kids played inside. Five boys under fifteen and one baby sister could make a hell of a lot of noise. 
    Allie nudged him. “I don’t know what you said to Kevin, but thanks.”
    “Yeah?”
    “He seemed a little better after he helped you out this afternoon.”
    “Good.”
    “You pull that alpha crap on my kid?” 
    He knew Allie was teasing, so he said, “Only when he needed his butt kicked. You got a problem with that?”
    “Nope.” She shook her head before she grinned. “Just be prepared. He might be your shadow from now on. Ollie’ll have some competition.”
    Nope. He wasn’t going to say anything. Biting his tongue. 
    Alex still hadn’t spoken more than a few words to his old friend since Allie’s husband had left. Had no idea what Ollie was doing with the knowledge that the feelings he’d been carrying for over fifteen years might actually stand a chance with Joe out of the way. He wouldn’t say he was happy that Allie’s husband left her…
    Exactly.
    “Might be better if he spends time with Ollie, don’t you think?” Ted offered. “After all, Alex works so much. And when—” She broke off, suddenly flustered.
    “What?” Alex asked.
    “Nothing.”
    “No, what were you going to say? When what?”
    He knew what she had been going to say before she thought twice. In the back of his mind, it twisted and burned. The nerve… Her distrust in his intentions had hurt him. Frustrated him. Now, she was just pissing him off.
    At least she had the grace to look embarrassed.
    “It’s nothing. Forget it.”
    He didn’t want to let go. Months of frustration came to a head. “Tell me.”
    Jena said, “Hey guys, let’s not—”
    “No, Jena. I want to hear what Ted was going to say. I’m betting she was going to tell me that I should keep my distance, so that Kevin doesn’t get attached to another guy that leaves.”
    Allie paled as silence fell over the table, and Alex saw Caleb put a hand on Jena’s shoulder.
    “Alex,” Caleb warned. “Take care.”
    The embarrassment had left Ted’s face. She was just as pissed off as he was. She raised her chin. “I’m just thinking about the kids.”
    “Hey—” Allie tried to speak up, but Alex cut her off.
    “No, you’re not. You’re thinking about yourself and insulting me, implying that I’d ever abandon anything that mattered that much.”
    Caleb stood and ushered Jena and Allie into the house, leaving Ted and Alex alone on the porch. 
    Her face had paled. “It wouldn’t be the first time. Or I guess we didn’t matter as much as I thought we did. Good to know.”
    Her whispered words almost knocked the breath out of him, but the anger was harder, stronger, and it took control of his tongue.
     “You’re still dredging up history, but as far as I know, the only one in town still waiting for me to leave is you.”
    “Just because you say—”
    “When did I lie to you, Ted?”
    A child’s shout came from the house. Laughter answered. A reminder of everything he’d given up. The life they could have had.
    “I’m not doing this.” He stood up and left his beer on the table, walking toward the lit trailer in the distance. Ted followed him.
    They weren’t halfway there before she said, “I’m looking out for my nephew, Alex. The last thing Kevin needs—”
    “You are so full of shit !” He spun and gripped her arm. “This has nothing to do with Kevin. This is about you and me, so tell me: When did I lie to you? When?”
    “You never—”
    “I never told you my plans? Maybe that was because you didn’t listen.”
    “That’s not true, and you know it.”
    “Really?” He stood back and crossed his arms. “What did you think I was doing in LA? Following after you like a puppy? Working construction until you graduated?”
    “We always planned to come back here. When school was