Through the Dust (Black Springs Ranch, #2)

by Amber Palmer

“Fuck the leather, fuck the lace. Cheers to the ones who sit on our face!”

Like, who did he think he was? An outlaw on the run? Get over yourself.

“You know, if you really want to keep me quiet, you could give me something to fill my mouth with and shut me up. It’s worked for others in the past.”

My mom always said I had too much of my dad in me. At first, I thought it was a criticism, something I always challenged her on. As I got older, though, I realized it was the best compliment anyone could’ve given me.

“Are you saying I can’t read?” he asked. He seemed offended, which was weird because that was exactly what I was saying.

And I’d been dirty talked into a quiet submission. Who knew that was a thing?

A small-town Taco Bell drive-thru on a Saturday night was my own personal kind of hell.

My job would always come first, and a lot of women didn’t understand that. Not that I blamed them by any means. They deserved more than coming in second, but I’d never found anyone worth putting first.

And then there was that slutty fucking gold chain around his neck. Who knew it would be so hot?

Death was inevitable, but not for my parents. I always thought they’d live forever.

Teach those kids to fight the patriarchy or whatever you do.” She rolled her eyes. “They’re six, Lennox.” “Never too early to start empowering the next generation!”

I thought that this life on the ranch was all I ever wanted, but I would give anything to stop Lennox from looking so goddamn sad.

“I’m a big man, killer. I’m used to taking up space.”

We were both a mess, but we could be a mess together. Maybe we could make something new, something tangible, something absolutely fucking epic.

I might have fallen in love after just one night, too, but I wasn’t talking about the goddamn mattress.

“So, what’d you tell everyone we were doing today?” I asked, setting my fork down and reaching for the glass of water she’d set out earlier. Lennox pursed her lips. “I might have told them you had the shits again.”

“I don’t like hearing it any more than you do, but if you’re grown enough to do it, then you’re grown enough to call it like it is.”

“Oh, you didn’t think I was going to let you come, did you?”

“Holy shit, you’re a secret smut slut!”

“That’s fine right now, but I’m done hiding, sweetheart. You deserve a loud love. Besides,” I said, leaning down with a smirk. “It’s getting too damn hard to keep my hands off you.”

love that you kept something you thought I peed on in your pocket. That’s so romantic, baby.”