Free Secret Desire by Susan D. Taylor

sucker-punched him in the gut.
    He walked back to the barn, wondering if Claire was seeing anyone special. He’d kept up with her life by occasionally speaking about her with Mr. Robertson, but he’d never downright asked if she was involved with someone.
    He approached the 1974 Honda Elsinore he’d bought at auction a month ago. Riding and working on vintage motocross bikes freed his mind. If he hadn’t thought he’d scare the daylights out of Claire, he’d have followed her and found her in Seattle. But stalker status was not exactly an improvement in relationship with Claire. After buying his parents’ farm months ago, he was just about finished with the renovations of the house. He wasn’t certain whether he’d stay. That all depended on Claire.
    A car door slammed. Her car bolted down the driveway, lifting up dust from the gravel road. He made another call. “Hello, may I please speak with Mr. Chase, Jr.?” He waited for the connection. “Bob? It’s Dustin Murray.”
    “Dustin, what’s going on?”
    “I’ve got a favor to ask. You’re representing Claire Robertson in the matter of her parents’ estate.”
    “Yes. That’s true.”
    “Send the bill to me.”
    “What?”
    “I’d like to take care of the cost of the probate. They don’t have much and she doesn’t need to be concerned with another bill.”
    Bob laughed. “I think Claire’s parents had us all fooled.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well you know I can’t break client confidentiality but it’s fair to say Claire’s parents left her a wealthy woman. They may not have spent much money, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have any. Mr. Robertson made some sound investments that paid off.”
    Dustin watched the line of dust that continued to rise from where Claire’s car was headed. “I couldn’t be more pleased for her. Still, send the bill to me. On principle. I already offered and won’t withdraw just because her financial picture is brighter.”
    “Dustin, from what will soon be public probate knowledge, the Robertsons will be considered one of Mill Spring’s well-off families. I’m not saying up to your status, but comfortable. Speaking of success, you’ll probably be in Forbes before the year is out. Small town doesn’t mean small mind.”
    “Just dumb luck.”
    “Well then hooray for idiots.” Bob chuckled. “Maybe I’m closer to a gold mine than I realized.”
    Dustin said his goodbyes. He wasn’t taken aback by the news. Claire’s father had asked for tech financial advice from time to time. If Mr. Robertson had been able to use that information, then bully for him to be smart enough to invest at the right time.
    His parents were somewhat the same. They’d invested and spent frugally and now had enough to live a life they’d decided was truer to their nature. His parents had reinvented themselves, even if it had meant they went their separate ways. He couldn’t imagine the Robertsons going through some midlife crisis. They’d seemed more the type to stay the course of love and life. Now, the one couple who’d seemed to have it all was gone. So much had changed recently. His throat constricted. He needed some space. Damn. If he felt their loss, what must Claire be feeling? Remorse wasn’t what he needed to buy into. He could be her rock and start from there.
    He lifted the motorcycle onto a stand and removed the wheels. He’d replaced the worn tires as well as some bent spokes and tightened them one at a time. He’d ridden as a boy and was no stranger to this farm. He jumped the ditches and hills, rode over the fifty-seven acres as familiar as his frame of mind. Not a huge spread but enough space to ride freely and race the wind.
    After he reinstalled the front and back wheels and reconnected the chain. He tested the brakes, adjusting the tension, and tuned the suspension. He removed the motorcycle from the stand and set the Honda on the ground. He reached for his helmet and goggles hanging on the wall