“It’s okay, darlin’.”
She smiled. “But I couldn’t just up and leave. So I went to see Diablo. I thought if I said goodbye to him, I would be saying goodbye to you.”
“Please don’t say I look anything like that ugly cuss.”
“He’s a beautiful animal, but no, you don’t look anything like him. It was just me being silly.”
“The only silly thing you did was leave me. My heart broke right in two.”
“I’m so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Maybe.” His unusual eyes gleamed. “If you make love to me all night.”
Dusty sipped her espresso. “I might be able to manage that. I’m feeling better tonight than I have in weeks. Thank you for that.”
“I didn’t do anything. Except make sure you got a decent meal. Have you been eating?”
“Sort of. Sam’s been after me about it. I just haven’t felt much like eating.”
“I know, darlin’. Everything’s going to be all right, no matter what happens. I’ll make it all right. But you have to do your part to keep your body strong.”
“You’re right.” She nodded. “I will.”
“Good. Or I might have to get nasty with you.”
Dusty couldn’t help smiling at him. “In that case, I may have to starve myself.”
Zach shook his head, and his lips curled into that wicked grin that stole Dusty’s breath. “You’re so damned adorable. So damned perfect.”
“Sweetheart?”
“Hmm?”
“Since I now have no secrets from you, could you tell me something?”
He sighed. “You want to know the whole sordid Angelina story, don’t you?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Are you sure? It’s long and boring and I come off bad in it.”
“I can’t imagine you coming off bad in anything. Although what you ever saw in that Mary Ann Summers clone is beyond me.”
“Who the hell is Mary Ann Summers?”
“From Gilligan’s Island? Geez, Zach, don’t you ever watch old reruns?”
“Mary Ann? The girl next door from Kansas? Heck, she’s hot.” His tone was teasing.
“Don’t get any ideas about dumping me for Angelina, darlin’.”
Zach let out a guffaw. “Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Then tell me the saga of the McCrays and the Bays.”
“They own the ranch adjacent to ours.”
“I thought Angelina said they were on the western slope.”