Desperation clogged her throat. She’d tried talking to Belle about Dawson, but it hadn’t gone well, nor very far. Belle had seized upon something she’d said and ranted about her ex-husband for thirty minutes. Then she’d dissolved into tears and gone down the hall to the bedroom.
So definitely not a good chat, and certainly Caroline had not said everything she needed to in order to start a real relationship with Dawson. They texted constantly, usually in the afternoon or evening, and Caroline sure did like him.
He hadn’t asked her out again, and she wished she could tell him she’d driven to the ranch today because she’d finally talked to Belle, and they could go to dinner.
She found herself rounding the corner of the barn,the exit road right in front of her. But she kept turning to the right and that put her in front of the farmhouse. It was clearly much older than the house a few hundred yards away, but someone took care of it.
The lawn had been winterized, and all the flowerbeds cleared for springtime blooming. The shutters had been painted a dark red, and a navy blue star sat up near the pinnacle of the roof. Everything else was white, and it screamed old-school Texas from the very foundations.
She got out of her car at the same time Dawson parked, and she smiled at the clucking and warbling of chickens somewhere nearby. Everything felt slower, more peaceful, here, and Caroline craved this small-town quaintness with her whole soul.
“Should be good,” he said as he came around the front of the truck. “My momma is a good cook.”
“What did she make?”
He took her hand at the same time the sound of another vehicle filled the air. They both looked toward it, and Dawson’s frown deepened. “Looks like Duke and Zona are coming too.” His expression turned to one of anxiety, and his hand in hers tightened. “Is that okay? You want to meet them all?”
“All of them?”
“Well, we all work here,” he muttered. “I’m sure Brandon’s inside. He’s more of a momma’s-boy than I am.”
Caroline had no idea how to get out of this. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to. She stood there while Duke pulled in, her mind buzzing and fuzzing. Finally, about the time the tall, darker-haired man dropped from the truck and slammed his door, she blinked. Focused. Knew what she wanted.
“I’ve already met Duke,” she said. “And I want to meet them all.” She slid her hand up his arm and moved her other one to clutch his. “Okay?”
He met her eyes, something dark and dangerous and enticing swimming in his gaze. Desire. “We’re a barrel of fun,” he deadpanned. “But this might be good. Meet us now, so you can get out early if you need to.”
“You haven’t even asked me out,” she whispered.
“Didn’t know it was an option,” he whispered back. In a louder tone, he said, “Hey, guys,” and started toward his family.
Duke and his wife Arizona had come, and the same teenager Caroline had seen riding her bike got out of the back too. She looked like she’d been crying, and Caroline instantly wanted to shield her, protect her, and also leave so this family could talk without a stranger present.
But Dawson had a hold of her hand again, and he said, “You guys haven’t met Caroline, I don’t think.” He beamed stars and light and all shiny things at her for a brief moment. “This is Caroline Thompson. She’s the Wildlife Officer assigned to our ranch for the burrowing owls, and….” He swallowed and cleared his throat. “And she’s this really amazing woman I keep trying to go out with.”
Duke smiled too, and the gesture totally transformed his face. “Sure, Caroline.” He stuck out his hand, and she had to release Dawson’s to shake his brother’s. “It’s great to see you again.”
“You remember Duke,” Dawson said. “He runs the ranch. His wife, Arizona. We all call her Zona.” He smiled at her, and while tension radiated from the woman, she too had a friendly, bright smile and firm handshake for Caroline.
“And my favorite niece,” Dawson said. “April.” The way they held each other’s gazes said something, but Caroline couldn’t decipher it fast enough.
“It’s my pleasure to meet you,” April said diplomatically. “I’m gonna go see what Grandma made for lunch, okay?” She waited until both of her parents nodded at her, and then she left.
Dawson watched her, a frown furrowing his brow. Duke sighed, and Zona linked her arm through his. “She’s a good girl,” she murmured.
“The best,” Dawson confirmed, turning his attention to them. “She came out to see me this morning.”
They both looked at him with extreme interest in their eyes, but they didn’t ask any questions. At least not verbally. Dawson shifted his feet and started toward the house. “She’s gonna be okay,” he said. “How’d the meeting go at the school?”
“Fine,” Duke said. “The teacher is going to put Morgan in another group, and April…well, she wasn’t wrong.”
“She’s just like….” Zona didn’t finish, and Caroline certainly wasn’t going to fill in any adjectives.
“Abrasive?” Dawson suggested. “Fiery, like you? Grumpy, like you?” He looked from Zona to Duke, clear challenge in his lifted eyebrows. Then everything about him softened, and one corner of his mouth kicked up. “Seems to me, y’all created this problem yourselves.”
Duke looked like he’d just had ice water thrown in his face. Zona blinked a couple of times and looked at her husband. “He’s not wrong. We’re like vinegar and baking soda combined. No wonder she’s this way.”
“She’s noway,” Dawson said. “She’s your daughter. Your smart, free-thinking, beautiful, talented, a-little-on-the-brusque-side, daughter.”
