Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
D allas had sunk so deep into the armchair in front of the inn’s fireplace, he was starting to wonder if he’d ever get out.
“Yeah. Uh-huh. Got it.” He ended the third tedious work call of the morning and let his head fall back.
Then his eyes closed. And then…
He sat up straight before he could drift off to sleep.
This was a mistake. More and more often he’d been tempted to take a nap at work, but it was Monday morning, and he wasn’t even at the office.
So instead he stood and stretched.
“It’s just Monday,” he muttered to himself, so he was surprised when an answer came from behind him.
“It might just be a Monday for you, but some of us have rooms to clean and yurts to repair.” Bailey crossed her arms over her chest, and Dallas automatically did the same.
“I wasn’t even talking to you,” he said.
She looked around pointedly.
Yeah, okay. Point taken.
Her eyes narrowed on him. “I’m surprised you’re still here. I thought you were heading back after the long weekend.”
He shrugged, mostly because he had no answer. He’d also thought he’d just stay for the long weekend, but when he woke up this morning…
“I can do my job from here, for the most part. So I figured I’d stick around for a little while longer.” At her frown, he added, “Is that a problem?”
Yes. The answer was clearly yes. An age-old annoyance flared to life.
For two people born from the same womb, only minutes apart, one would think they’d have figured out a way to stand each other’s company by now.
She shifted from foot to foot as if maybe she felt slightly guilty about the fact that she clearly didn’t want her brother here. “Look, if you’re sticking around because you think I can’t handle this?—”
“That’s not what I’m doing.” And just like that, some of his anger ebbed. Just a little. When she still looked doubtful, he huffed. “I’m not.”
She turned her head and gave him some serious side-eye. “Did Dad ask you to do this?”
“Dad doesn’t even know I’m here.” He arched his brows.
She blinked. “Oh.”
He let himself gloat. Served her right for jumping to the worst possible conclusions all the time—when it came to him, at least.
Granted, he had come here with an ulterior motive. But being concerned for Willow and whatever secret she was hiding wasn’t a crime. If anything, it made him a good big brother.
“What did I miss?” Drew asked as he entered. He was looking between his girlfriend and Dallas like they were two sparring boxers about to launch into the next round.
“Dallas is sticking around for a while,” Bailey gritted out.
Drew, at least, seemed pleased, a broad smile taking over his face when he slung his arm around Bailey’s shoulders. “Oh yeah?”
Bailey shot her boyfriend a look, but his smile was still warm and friendly. “For how long?”
“Uh, not totally sure yet. Just…needed a break from the office.”
“Cool, cool.” Drew punched his shoulder. “Glad to have you on board, man. Always nice to have more helping hands around this place.” Now it was his turn to give Bailey a look. “Right, babe?”
Bailey nodded, her lips straining into a tight smile that looked as though it hurt. “Right.”
Dallas stared at her in surprise. Wow. She just gave in without a fight. That was a first.
“Is this…a truce ?” He stressed the word, making it sound like some kind of crazy, foreign concept.
Bailey’s lips twitched. “Don’t get your hopes up, Cowboy. But—” Another look passed between her and Drew. “We do have a crazier-than-usual month coming up, so…”
“Really? Isn’t this offseason?”
Bailey nodded. “Technically, yes. But between a Halloween party, the town’s Fall Festival, and Margot Colbert’s wedding next month…”
She blew out her cheeks, and everything about her said—overwhelmed. He might have teased her about biting off more than she could chew if his brain hadn’t gotten caught on the wedding part.
The last name was enough to call up the image that had been haunting him for the last two days. Big brown eyes, full lips…
Regret ate at him when he recalled the way she’d flinched. At the tired look in her eyes before it had switched to anger.
Had he been a jerk?
He winced as Ronnie’s words about him following in his dad’s footsteps came back to him.
It still rankled, days later. But it didn’t make him feel any better about the way he’d teased her when she was clearly stressed about something…
Bailey and Drew had started talking shop and were heading out the way they’d come in.
“Hey, wait. Did you know Ronnie’s back?” Dallas called after his sister.
Bailey spun, her eyes lighting with pleasure. “She is? I knew she was coming back for the wedding, but I didn’t know she was here already.” Turning to Drew, she bounced on her toes with a grin that made her boyfriend disgustingly smitten. “Oh my gosh, I have to call her. Do you mind if I?—”
“Go, go!” He shooed her away with a laugh, following not far behind.
Dallas watched them both disappear through the doorway, lost in thought.
So Ronnie had come home for her sister’s wedding—but she was too preoccupied to tell her childhood bestie?
He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, frowning at the empty doorway, his mind darting back and forth between what Ronnie had said that day and the look he’d seen on her face when he’d first spotted her.
It was almost a relief when the sight of Willow darting by in the hallway caught his attention. He heard the side door open and close.
“Where’s she off to?” He was already moving to follow her before the words were out of his mouth.