Free Stockyard Snatching by Barb Han Page B

and grandeur of the place.
    “I do now but not in this building. This was my parents’ home. They opened up a wing for club guests and there are offices on the other side. My brothers and I each have our own hacienda at various places on the land,” he said. “Our parents built them in hopes we’d stay on after college.”
    “Your parents don’t live here anymore?” she asked, unable to imagine leaving such a beautiful home.
    Dallas shook his head, and seeing the look on his face, a mix of sorrow and reverence, she regretted the question.
    “They died a few weeks ago.” He said the words quietly, but the anguish in his voice nearly robbed her of breath.
    She exhaled and said, “I’m so sorry.”
    He put the car in Park, cut the engine and stared out the front window for a few seconds. “Let’s get some food in you,” he finally said. Then he opened the door and exited the car.
    Before she could get her seat belt off, Dallas was opening her door and holding out his hand. She was greeted by a chocolate Lab.
    “Who’s this guy?” she asked, patting him on the head.
    “That’s Denali. Been in the family fourteen years,” Dallas said.
    “He’s beautiful.” She took his outstretched hand, ignoring the sensual shivers vibrating up her arm from the point of contact. What could she say? Dallas was strong, handsome. The cowboy had shown up just in time to save her and her son from a terrible fate. So she couldn’t deny a powerful attraction.
    He was also a complete stranger, a little voice reminded her—a voice that repeated those words louder, a warning from the logical side of her brain.
    Maybe if she had taken more time to get to know Robert before she’d jumped into a relationship and marriage, things might’ve turned out differently, that same annoying voice warned.
    Instead, she’d allowed herself to be influenced by his easy charm and good looks. She’d gone against her better judgment after a couple of months of dating when he’d handed her a glass of wine and asked if she wanted to “get hitched and make babies.”
    Looking back, a piece of her, the logical side, had known all along that she didn’t know Robert well enough to make a lifelong commitment. She’d been young and had given in to impulse.
    And when things didn’t go as planned, he’d bolted.
    Not that she could really blame him for wanting out when she couldn’t make the last part happen. He’d been clear that babies had been part of the deal all along. And his attention had wandered after that. Or maybe even before. Kate couldn’t be sure. All she knew for certain was the information in the texts that she’d seen once she’d figured out he was having an affair. Even though she should’ve read the signs long before, and maybe a little part of her knew, there was still something about discovering proof of his lies—seeing them right there in front of her—that had knocked the wind out of her.
    Logically, she knew all men were not Robert. But her heart, the part of her that withstood reason, knew she’d never be able to completely trust a man or a relationship again. She’d always question her judgment when it came to them now.
    Dallas held the front door open for her as she forced her thoughts to the present. One step at a time, she entered the O’Brien home. The inside was even more breathtaking than the outside, if that was possible.
    “Did you grow up here?” She imagined him and his brothers chasing each other up one side and down the other of the twin staircases in the foyer.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Dallas said, and there was something about his deep baritone that sent sensual shivers racing down her back.
    “It must’ve been a wonderful childhood,” she said and then chided herself for saying it out loud. She, of all people, should know that looks could be deceiving when it came to families. Maybe her perfect-on-the-outside relationship with Robert had been easy to fake, given that she’d grown up in a similar