The Hero (Sons of Texas #1)

Prologue

Late July

Natalie smoothed her windblown hair from her face as she entered the restaurant in downtown Dallas. Dakota’s had superb steaks, and it also happened to be one of her favorite places.

She was seated at a table for two near the vast windows while she tried to contain her anxiety. Pulling out a compact from her purse, she checked her makeup and hair for something to do while she waited.

Ever since the phone call two days ago, she’d been antsy. She had no idea why she agreed to the meeting. Or why the hell she was a ball of nerves.

Liar.

Natalie briefly closed her eyes and sighed. Fourteen years hadn’t dulled her feelings. Everyone said it was just a high school fling she would soon forget.

To help her get over it, her mother attempted to push her to marry into Dallas society. Natalie’s answer was to leave Texas altogether for college. That’s where her life took a drastic turn and opened a plethora of possibilities.

Somehow, she found herself back in Dallas. It still made her shake her head in wonder. Though she loved her job. It was the only thing in her life she did enjoy.

“Natalie.”

She looked up to find a tall man with cowboy boots, starched jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a gray tweed sports coat standing at her table. Atop his head of dark hair was a black Stetson. He hastily removed the cowboy hat and held it against his chest as he shot her a charming smile.

“Darlin’, you’ve only gotten prettier, if that’s possible.”

She smiled and started to rise when he placed a kiss on her cheek. Natalie motioned to the chair. “Orrin Loughman, you’re still a flirt. Please sit.”

He pulled out the chair and lowered his tall frame into it before he bent and rested his Stetson, top down, on the floor. A quick glance showed that despite being in his fifties, Orrin looked better than most men in their thirties. When he straightened, his gold eyes caught and held hers.

The waiter’s arrival halted any more talk. Once their drink order had been placed, the waiter walked away.

“I bet you’re wondering why I wanted to meet,” Orrin said. The smile slipped. His tanned face had more lines of strain and worry than she remembered. His hair, so dark brown it was nearly black, now sported gray at the temples.

But it didn’t detract. If anything, it made Orrin even more handsome.

Natalie nodded at his statement. “It wasn’t as if you were at the ranch a lot. We rarely talked in the year I dated Owen.”

Orrin began to speak but hesitated when the waiter appeared with their drinks. He accepted his bourbon with a nod while Natalie slowly twirled the stem of her wine glass.

She hated that she’d brought up Owen. She’d sworn she wouldn’t. But when it came to Owen, her mind and heart did as they pleased.

“My son was a fool to let you go,” Orrin stated.

Natalie took a drink of the chardonnay and hated the flutter of happiness his statement caused. That joy she’d found so long ago was gone. She needed to remind herself of that.

“But that’s not why I wanted to see you.”

Of course, it wasn’t. Had Natalie actually fooled herself into believing Orrin was attempting to bring her and Owen back together?

She hadn’t seen or heard from Owen since the night of their graduation when he’d dumped her so suddenly. After spending the summer in tears, she’d left him and everything to do with him behind.

Or so she’d thought.

She met Orrin’s gold eyes, determined to forget Owen. “Why, then?”

“I recently learned you work for the Russian Embassy.”

That caused a small hesitation before she gave a nod. “I do.”

“In the past year, have you seen or heard anything about Ragnarok?”

Natalie frowned as she leaned her forearms on the table. “You mean the tale in Norse mythology about the end of the world?”

“I wish.” Orrin ran a hand across his chin.

She would never forget how often Orrin had been gone on some mission for the Navy SEALs, leaving his three sons behind with their aunt and uncle on the massive Loughman Ranch.

He never spoke about his assignments, but it wasn’t difficult to guess that whatever Ragnarok was, it had something to do with a job.

“I can’t help you if you don’t give me more information,” she urged.

Orrin’s gaze narrowed. His look was intense, as if he were attempting to read her mind. “Why Russia?”

She blinked, taken aback by the question. “I learned I have a natural affinity for picking up languages. Russian and Italian are my favorites. I did so well, I was offered a job in St. Petersburg.”

“And the embassy?” he pressed.

“As a Westerner, I wasn’t always looked upon favorably in Russia. It became more and more challenging to work there. So, I returned to Texas. That’s when the Russian Embassy contacted me. I’ve been there for the past seven years. Now tell me what the hell this is about.”

Orrin pushed aside his bourbon. “You’re sure you haven’t heard of Ragnarok?”

“Positive.”

“Do me a favor. If you do, call this number.” He pulled out a business card with the Loughman Ranch insignia and slid it across the table.

Natalie picked up the card and turned it over to see a phone number. “Do I need to be concerned?”

Orrin blew out a deep breath. “We all do, darlin’.”

That didn’t help. If anything, it made dozens more questions pop into her head. They all rushed in at once, and while she was sorting through them, finding which one she wanted to ask, he carried on as if he hadn’t just mentioned a clue to something she suspected was highly classified.

Orrin tossed back his bourbon.

“Tell me more,” she urged.

He opened the menu, winking at her over the top. “I’m starving.”

That was Orrin’s way of politely telling her she would get nothing more from him. There was no more talk of Ragnarok, missions, or Owen. For the next hour, Orrin asked enough questions about the past fourteen years to keep her talking nonstop.

But she didn’t quit thinking about Ragnarok or what it could be.

By the time he walked her to her car, she wished she’d known Orrin better fourteen years ago. The time with him today had been beyond pleasant. It made her long for the past.

And worry.

Whatever Orrin knew, was important enough to seek out the ex-girlfriend of his middle son. Not something Orrin would do lightly.

Two weeks later, Natalie walked into her boss’s office to get a stack of files when she saw an open report on his desk. Her gaze landed on one word halfway down the page—Ragnarok.