Page 52 of My Secret Santa Dallas

I stopped at the Riverbend Café to get a pick-me-up before I headed to the ranch, only to find Isaac waiting for me in the stable.

“Hey, Dallas,” he said. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Yep, whatcha got?” I asked.

He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket, “I picked Miss Blair, and I think it is only best to give it to you. I have no idea what she likes, much less what to buy her.”

I was stunned. “Fucking A, Isaac, thank you. I have Nurse Alice, and I don’t know what to get her either.”

His face brightened. “But I do. Can we switch?”

“Hell yes,” I took his note and gave him mine. “Thanks for doing me a solid, man.”

“No problem,” he replied. “I hope she loves what you get her.”

Me too— the problem was, what did I get her?

Chapter Fifteen

Blair

When I exited the Atlanta airport, I got into my rental and headed to Tuxedo Park. This place was the crème-de-la-crème of rich folk in the old South, where the average home was worth $2.54 Million. The estate Papa and Mama owned was worth five times that, with a gated drive, a jeweled ballroom, and seven-bedroom suites.

I knew dropping in on Wentworth would shake him off his game, hopefully enough that I could figure out what he was plotting. It was Black Friday, so there was no way Wentworth was at the office. I’d probably catch him in the home gym slicing through the ten-by-thirty-foot pool.

When I got to the gate and the willow slowly swaying overhead, I punched in the code and drove up to the manor. Initially, it had been on an old governor’s home back in the 1800s, but now it was retrofitted and upgraded with all the modern conveniences a man like my Dad could afford—and that wasa lot.

I parked in the five-car garage and took the elevator to the third floor, not interested in seeing Daddy or Mama before I got to Wentworth. I got to the pool room and barged in, not caring if he was star-fishing in the nude.

As expected, he was swimming like a snake through the water. I came to stand at the edge of the pool before he surfaced and jolted back at seeing me. Peeling his goggles off, Wentworth crossed the edge and folded his arms on the tile.

“Oh, dear sister, so common sense has prevailed, then,” he said. “Glad to see you.”

“Why did you want me back?” I asked.

He tried to pull the innocent look, like a cobra rearing to strike, instead of the cherub he thought he looked like. “Can’t I just want to see my sister for the holidays?”

“And pigs will fly,” I told him. “Why are you wasting my time?”

He heaved himself out of the water, went for his towel, and took his sweet time toweling off. “You missed it last night, but I wanted you to meet someone.”

Oh God. “No.”

“Come on, Blair, you have to start meeting good men,” Wentworth said. “And I know the best ones.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What did you tell this guy?”

“That you’d be his date for the Christmas ball and perhaps even more,” he said while flopping on the seat. “I’m only looking out for you, Blair. When was the last time you had a good relationship?”

“When was the last time you had one that didn’t involve you staring into a mirror and your right hand?” I asked pointedly.

He bellow-laughed. “I am not that shallow.”

“You are, but I won't debate with you on that,” I said. Ihad every right to go and tell him to fuck himself, but the same voice that told me to come and see what was happening told me to play his game a little longer until I found out why he truly wanted me there.

“Who is the mysterious guy?” I asked.

“Dr. Alexander Ricola,” he said. “He is a biotech genius and quite good-looking, if I do say so myself. He’s exactly the type of man who is best for you.”

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