by Barb Han
“And the baby you’re investigating… Is that for you or a friend?” Kate didn’t look at him.
“Me,” he said so quietly that she almost didn’t hear him.
“Where are we?” she asked, not recognizing the wooded area. Hadn’t there been another layer of security earlier?
“This is the west end of the ranch property,” he answered, as he was waved in by security.
When Dallas had told her he owned a hacienda on the ranch, she wasn’t sure what she’d expected. A large shed? A tiny log cabin?
Certainly not this.
The gorgeous Spanish-style architecture was about the last thing she would have imagined.
He’d explained that each of his brothers had a place on various sites on the land. His sat near the west end so he could take advantage of the sunset.
“This whole property must be enormous,” she said, eyes wide.
“Pop added acreage over the years,” Dallas said as he parked in the three-car garage.
There was a vintage El Camino, completely restored, in the second.
“That belong to you, as well?” She hadn’t thought about the fact that Dallas might not live alone.
“I like to work on cars in my spare time,” he said, holding her door open. “That is, I did when I used to have free time.”
She let him take the diaper bag as she unhooked Jackson, and then she followed Dallas into the house.
The kitchen was massive and had all gourmet appliances. There was an island in the center with enough room for four bar chairs.
“Is the ranch keeping you too busy to pursue your hobbies?” she asked.
“That and trying to transition my old business to the new owner,” he said.
“Why sell? Why not hire someone to run the other business for you and keep it?” she asked.
“Didn’t think I could do justice to either place that way.” Dallas’s tone was matter-of-fact. “If I’m involved in something then that’s what I want to be able to put all my attention into, and not just write my name on an office door for show. A man’s name, his reputation and his word are all he really has in life.”
“Powerful thought,” she said, trying not to admire this handsome stranger any more than she already did. Those were the kinds of principles she hoped to instill in her son.
Dallas stood there, his gaze meeting hers, and it felt like the world stopped for just that brief moment.
And that was dangerous.
Kate threw her shoulders back. “Is there somewhere I can give Jackson a bath?”
“Let me give you a quick tour so you’ll know where everything is,” he said. “My brothers arranged for you to have supplies waiting.”
She nodded, afraid to speak. Afraid her voice would give away her emotions.
The rest of the house’s decor was simple, clean and comfortable looking.
“A crib was delivered from the main house. They keep a few on hand up there for overnight guests.” He stopped in the middle of the living room. “If you need to reach out to your employees, I’d rather not alert anyone to the fact that you’re here. The fewer people who know where you and Jackson are, the better.”
“I know I already asked, but are you sure this is a good idea?”
“The security staff knows we have a special guest and that you’re staying at my place. They’ll tell maintenance what they need to know to stay safe, so no one’s in the dark. But it’ll be best to keep your identity as quiet as possible,” Dallas said, showing her the bathroom attached to her guest suite. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“Once I’m able to put Jackson down, I’d love clean clothes to change into after a hot shower.”
A dark shadow passed through Dallas’s eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to think about you naked in the shower,” he grumbled. Then he said something about making a fresh pot of coffee and walked out of the room.
Kate smiled in spite of herself. She didn’t want to like the handsome cowboy any more than she already did. Her heart still hadn’t recovered from its last disappointment.
And an attraction like the one she felt for the cowboy could be far more threatening than anything she’d experienced with Robert.
Adding to her confusion was the fact that Dallas O’Brien had secrets.
CHAPTER EIGHT
He had tried not to watch too intently as Kate fed Jackson his bottle. But Dallas couldn’t help his natural curiosity now that the seal had been broken on that subject and the possibility he was a father grew a fraction of an inch.
“Mind keeping an eye on him while I clean up?” Kate asked and then laughed at Dallas’s startled reaction.
Dallas couldn’t say he’d had a stunning track record watching his brothers. Colin had broken his arm twice in one year on the tire swing Pop had set up on the old oak in the yard. Both the twins, Ryder and Joshua, had endured broken bones more than once on Dallas’s watch, while climbing trees, and then there was the time Tyler had rolled around in poison ivy. And forget about Austin. That kid had had Pop joking that he needed a physician on staff for all the sprained ankles and banged-up body parts over the years.
“You sure about this? I’m not exactly qualified to take care of a baby,” Dallas said, eyeing the sleeping infant.
The little boy looked so peaceful and innocent.
And Dallas figured that would last until Kate turned on the water in the shower.
“I think you’ll be okay while he’s out. He’s a heavy sleeper,” she said. “Or I could just take him in the bathroom with me and open the shower curtain to keep an eye on him, if you’re not comfortable.”
“No, don’t do that,” Dallas said, figuring he might need to know how to take care of a baby sooner than he’d anticipated. If Susan’s child was his, these were skills he was going to need. And Jackson really did seem like a good baby. “I’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Dallas said with more confidence than he felt.
“I’m just in the next room showering if you need me,” she said, and he shot her a warning look about mentioning the shower again.
The last thing he needed while he was caring for a baby was the image of her naked in his mind.
His nerves were already on edge and even seeing the baby sleeping so peacefully in his Pack ’n Play didn’t help settle them.
“Just go before you put any more images in my mind I can’t erase,” Dallas said to Kate.
One corner of her lip turned up in a smile and it was sexy as hell.
Watching a sleeping baby had to be the easiest gig ever, he told himself. And yet he could feel his own heartbeat pounding at the base of his throat. His mouth was dry, too. He hadn’t felt this awkward and out of place since he’d asked Miranda Sabot to be his girlfriend in seventh grade.
Jackson half smiled in his sleep and it nearly melted Dallas’s heart. There was a whole lot of cuteness going on in that baby basket.
There was a knock at the door. Thankfully, the disturbance didn’t wake the baby.
Dallas welcomed the delivery from Sawyer Miles, one of the security team members who worked for Gideon Fisher. He thanked him and brought the box into the kitchen.
The pj’s were folded on top, so he took those and placed them on the bed in the guest room. Next, he put the food containers in the fridge for later. Dallas returned to the living room and eased onto the chair next to the little boy.
All Jackson had to do was fist his little hand or make a sucking noise for Dallas to jump to attention. Was this what parenting was like all the time? He felt like someone had set his nervous system on high alert. It was fine for a few minutes, but this would be exhausting day and night.
He’d seen that same look of panic on Kate’s face more than once in the past twelve hours, and for good reason.
Being alone with a baby was scarier than coming face-to-face with a rabid dog in a dark alley.
Jackson made a
noise and Dallas jumped to his feet. He stared down at the Pack ’n Play with more intensity than if there was a bomb ready to explode inside.
The little guy must be dreaming, because he was making faces. Cute faces. And they spread warmth all through Dallas, which caught him completely off guard. He didn’t expect to feel so much for a baby that probably wasn’t even his.
The door to the guest room opened and Dallas heard Kate padding down the hall.
He swallowed his emotions.
“Going outside to get some fresh air. Jackson’s fine,” he said, before she entered the room.
Dallas moved to the back door and walked outside.
The past half hour had been nerve-racking, to say the least. A whole host of emotions Dallas wasn’t ready to acknowledge had flooded him. If he was a father, would he be awful at it?
He told himself that knowing Kate was in the shower had him on edge. But it was more than that and he knew it. Being on the ranch had always centered him, no matter how crazy the world around him became. Not this time. His life had spun out of control fast. And he felt nothing but restless.
Distancing himself from Kate and the baby would provide much-needed perspective, he told himself as he tried to regain footing on that slippery slope.
The truth was he liked having Kate and Jackson in his home, way more than he’d expected or should allow. And that caught him off guard. He chalked the sentiment up to facing the first holiday season without his parents.
Then there was the issue of what had happened to Susan and her baby. Dallas hoped both were doing fine. He hadn’t thought about babies much before being told that he might be a father. He’d been too focused on making a name for himself, striking out on his own. Not that his last name was a curse, by any means; Dallas had never thought of “O’Brien” as anything but a blessing.
But being a man, he’d needed to make his own mark on the world. Having come from a close family with a man like Pop at the helm had made Dallas want to do his father and himself proud.
Instead, he’d let him down in the worst possible way.
Dallas had always known he’d eventually come back to the land he loved so much and step into his legacy. That was all supposed to happen far off in the future, however.
His parents weren’t supposed to die. And it sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be his fault.
If they’d only listened to him when he’d said he could arrange to have the unsold art pieces taken back to the art gallery in the morning, instead of insisting on returning them that evening. Then Pop wouldn’t have had that heart attack while driving, and both would still be alive.
He couldn’t help but wonder if his father would think of him as a disappointment now. Sure, Dallas had been successful in business, but his personal life had always been more important to Pop. Dallas had failed his parents. And he couldn’t help but think he’d failed Susan in some way, too.
Not knowing what had happened to her and her baby gnawed at him.
Then there was the news about Morton’s death. So much was going on, and Dallas decided that half the reason his attraction to Kate was so strong was that, on a primal level, he needed comfort, proof life could still be good.
He tapped his boot on the paved patio as he gripped the railing. Even the evening chill couldn’t snap him out of the dark mood he was in.
He could blame his missteps on working too much, or on his emotional state, but the truth of the matter was he should’ve known better.
Now Susan might be dead, and he couldn’t ignore the weight of that thought or how awful it made him feel.
If he’d told her they could get married, would she be okay?
Maybe he should’ve strung her along until the baby was born, and all he’d have had to do was swipe a pacifier and send it to the lab for DNA testing. Susan would have never had to know and wouldn’t have been in such a desperate state.
Then he’d know for certain if the child was his. He could’ve arranged help for Susan, and not just with the baby. She needed counseling or something to help get her mind straight.
Dallas stabbed his fingers in his hair as the wind blew a chill right through him.
So many mistakes. So many questions. So many lives hanging in the balance.
He caught a glimpse of one of his brothers out of the corner of his eye.
“Hey,” Tyler said. A shotgun rested on his forearm as he approached.
“What are you doing out here?” Dallas asked, before he hugged him.
“We’re taking voluntary shifts, walking sections of the property,” Tyler replied. “Haven’t seen anything suspicious so far.”
“Thank you for everything,” Dallas said.
“What are you doing out here all by yourself?” Tyler asked.
“Thinking.”
“You figure anything out yet?” he said with a half smile. He always knew when to make a joke to lighten the tension.
“Pie is better in my mouth than on paper,” Dallas quipped.
“A math joke.” Tyler chuckled. “I like it.” His expression became solemn. “Seriously, is there something on your mind you want to talk about?”
“Nah. I got this under control,” Dallas said. He did want to talk, but surprisingly, not with one of his brothers. He wanted to talk to Kate.
“You always did carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, big brother,” Tyler said. “We’re here to help if you want to spread some of that around.”
“And you know how much I appreciate it,” Dallas answered.
They stood in comfortable silence for a little while longer, neither feeling the need to fill the air between them.
“It’s going to be different this year,” Tyler finally said with a sigh. He didn’t need to elaborate for Dallas to know he was talking about the upcoming holidays.
“Yeah.”
“Won’t be the same without her holiday goose and all the trimmings at Christmas supper,” Tyler murmured.
“Nope.” None of the boys had accused Dallas of being responsible for their parents’ deaths and none would. He held on to that guilt all on his own.
“You heard anything from Tommy lately about possible involvement from another vehicle?” Tyler asked.
“Nothing new.” Dallas rubbed his chin and looked toward the setting sun.
“I get angry thinking about it,” his brother admitted.
Dallas nodded and patted him on the shoulder. “Heard Uncle Ezra has been talking to the rest of the family about letting him take over the gala,” he said at last.
“You know him—always blowing smoke,” Tyler said. “He couldn’t handle it alone anyway, and I don’t know why he wants his hand in everything.”
“Have you spoken to Aunt Bea lately?”
“Heard it through the grapevine that Uncle Ezra has been trying to get her to sell her interests in the ranch to him,” Tyler said. “And he’s been cozying up with the McCabes, which I don’t like one bit.”
“Neither do I. That family has been nothing but trouble over the years, and just because Pop is gone doesn’t mean I’d betray his memory by bringing them anywhere near the ranch, let alone the gala.” Dallas swung his right leg up and placed his foot on the wooden rail off the decking, then rested his elbow on his knee.
“Isn’t that the truth,” Tyler said. “Uncle Ezra needs to check his loyalty. He wouldn’t have anything without Pop’s goodwill.”
“Unfortunately, not everyone is as grateful as Aunt Bea,” Dallas said. “Plus, together they only own five percent of the company. What does he hope to gain by forcing her out?”
Tyler shrugged. “He’s making a move for something. We’d better keep an eye on him. Harmless as he seems, we don’t know what he’s really up to, and I just don’t trust him. I don’t think Mom ever did, either.”
“Good point. She was adept at covering up in front of Pop, but I saw it, too.”
The back door opened as the sun disappeared on the horizon.
“Everything
okay out here?” Kate asked.
“I better get back to the main house,” Tyler said to Dallas.
“Check in if anything changes,” he replied, then introduced his brother to Kate.
“Evening, ma’am.” Tyler tipped his gray Stetson before disappearing the way he’d come.
“I didn’t mean to make your brother feel like he had to leave,” Kate said.
“You didn’t,” Dallas assured her.
“I made coffee in case you want more,” she told him, stepping onto the patio and shivering.
“It’s cold out here. We can talk without freezing inside.” Dallas glanced around, aware that there could be eyes watching them from anywhere in the trees.
This time of year, the sun went down before six o’clock.
“Where’s Jackson?” he asked.
“Sleeping in the other room.” As Kate walked past him, Dallas could smell the wild cherry blossom shampoo Janis kept stocked, and it reminded him of a warm, sunny Texas afternoon. There wasn’t much better than that. “It’s been a long day and I’m glad he doesn’t realize what’s going on.”
She’d showered and had changed into the pajamas that had been brought over for her. They’d been pulled from a stash of extra supplies in case guests forgot something at home.
“Good. You found them.” The all-white cotton pajama pants and simple matching V-neck button-down shirt fitted her as if they were hand-tailored, highlighting her soft curves.
Dallas forced himself to look away after he caught himself watching a bead of water roll down her neck and disappear into her shirt.
Coffee.
He poured a cup, black, and then paused.
“Think you can sleep?” he asked.
“Probably not,” she said with a sigh.
“Coffee sound good? Because I can have some tea they serve at the main house delivered if you’d prefer,” he said.
“Coffee’s fine. Maybe just half a cup.”
“Cream’s in the fridge.” He pulled out a jar of sugar and set it on the counter.
She thanked him.
“Can I ask you a question?” Kate perched on the countertop and took a sip of her coffee.
He nodded.
