“If Ellie is his, I’m not sure he’ll let you take her with you.”
Cole scoffs. “Oh, believe me, I’m counting on him puttin’ up a fight.”
I nod. “I believe it.”
Ellie looks about as interested in talking to Dallas as she is to be dragged out here just to sit on a bench. And Dallas, he’sgrinning at her, then cocks his head, asking her something. In response she removes her sunglasses.
And damn, if she’s not his. Bright blue eyes, high cheekbones, dark hair.
“Ellie, say goodbye now,” Cole calls out. “We’ve got to get going.”
Dallas stands and for a second it looks like he’s going to reach for her hand. But he shoves them in his pockets instead as they walk back.
“When will we see you again?” There’s a shift in my brother’s voice. And for the life of me, I can’t read it.
“You call me when you’re ready. In the meantime, I imagine, you’d want to meet us at the hospital for some tests.”
Dallas nods. “If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. I’m going to need to make damn sure myself.” He tips his hat again.
“Here,” I offer, pointing to my truck. “I’ll give you a ride back.”
When I return, Dallas is back in bed staring at the ceiling. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” It’s the wrong thing to say right now. I should ask him how he’s feeling about all this. If he wants to talk about it. If he’s angry.
“What the fuck’s your deal?” he snaps. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really buggin’ you out.”
“Running this ranch by myself, for starters.”
“Yeah, well, what do you think I was doing years back when you were planning a life on the road with Bonnie? Think that was easy for me? For Dad when he thought I’d be pullin’ him out of retirement? Least you got help. Hear Rose is doing just fine.”
I glare at him and turn away, storming out of his bedroom.
To my surprise, he follows. “Something I said?”
“Just fuck off and go back to being a lowlife.”
“What, is she causing trouble? Flirting with a couple of cowboys?”
My jaw tightens and I glare back at him.
“Heard from Randy you got your feathers ruffled Monday afternoon when you caught them talkin’ to her.”
“It was six o’clock. They were all hanging around for no reason.”
He keeps his gaze on me. “Say a pretty girl is reason enough.”
I stalk away from him.
He follows like he’s got nothing better to do. “Now is this because you’re being protective of your best friend’s sister? Or you got your own eye on her?”
I don’t lie to my brother. Never have. So I don’t answer.
Instead, my eyes flick away, jaw tightening because I can’t deny it.
“Oh.” Dallas pulls back. “Well then—”
“Look, I’m not the one who’s in deep right now.” I cut him off because he’s clearly deflecting.
