Page 3 of My Secret Santa Dallas

Stepping out of the shower, I dried off and dressed, leaving any shirt off, and returned to the bedroom to find that Warrick had left a plate with a heaped sandwich— and as I lifted the top bun, I saw the sprinkles of relish over the tomato— and a beer resting on a coaster.

He’d remembered…

When I was a kid, between 11 and 15, I’d gotten this obsession with relish and had to have it on every sandwich. Taking the roast beef to the window, I cocked an elbow on the sill and began to eat while looking out.

As I stared into the night, a flash streaked through the sky, and I sucked in a breath, following the train of the shooting star hurtling across the inky space. And as much as I wanted to embrace the concept of the shooting star and its symbolism, a shooting star was also a falling star.

“I got the message, Big Man.” I sighed, dusting my fingers off.

While I finished the rest of my meal and nursed my beer, I spotted a notepad on my bedside drawer and lifted it to read Warrick’s messy scrawl.

Dallas. You don’t need to come down until tomorrow. I know you think there is bad blood here, but there isn’t. I understand you; I know how you felt. You don’t have to apologize to me, D. You don’t have to apologize to anyone.

Yes, I know you might have wished to say your goodbyes to Mom and Pop, but they went knowing you were in a better place and that you’d have slowly died if you were forced to stay here. You’re not a rancher, Dallas; you’re a businessman,and while I hope that staying around these parts might turn you into one, I want you to forgive yourself first.

Then we can talk business.

W.

Dropping the note, I rubbed my face.

As kind as my brother was, he didn’t get it; he didn’t get the weight on my heart. Maybe he could lighten it by paying penance.

“I still don’t know what I am going to do now,” I slipped into bed, slid my hands under my head, and stared at the ceiling. “Maybe shucking out stalls will do it.”

The question was, do I go back to Cali, or do I find somewhere else to go?

Where do I go?

What do I do?

I had no idea. Probably wouldn’t for days.

All I knew is I was more tired than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. Turning on my side, I felt myself fall asleep, and for once, it was deep. I didn’t remember turning in my sleep— and I woke up with half of my right side numb.

It was about noon, too, and God, I couldn’t believe that I’d slept this long.

I needed coffee like a parched man needed water.

After another shower and getting dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, I came downstairs but didn’t go to the first floor where the kitchen was. Instead, I heard Warrick’s voice from down the hall. He didn’t sound happy.

Coming closer, I heard him say, “I know Portman said he would send an envoy to see us, but I didn’t think it would be this early. The plant is not even built or operational yet.”

The lady he was speaking to was tall and fair, slim but damn, had curves in the right places and long legs teeteringon a five-inch heels. Was that proper business wear? Her platinum blond hair was pulled into a tight bun at the base of her neck, and from what peeked behind her ears, I suspected she was wearing glasses.

Her Dover gray suit looked rich and tailored, stinking rich, like what I’d earn in a year at my old job.

Who was she?

“That’s precisely why I am here, Mr. Donovan,” she said, and her tone had my hackles up instantly. She sounded like a hardass, like a corporate machine that didn’t have any interest in anything other than a million-dollar proposal with billion-dollar zeros behind it.

“Mr. Portman would like a preliminary assessment to see if this venture is worth his investment,” the lady said. “You are a businessman yourself, so you should know that capital like this is not something to throw around.”

“His proposal said seven hundred thousand as the initial investment,” Warrick said.

“And this—” she slid a folder to him. “—is his new numbers. Two point five million, in exchange for majority shares and a six percent return. The plant will cost up to five million, and this is basically half of that sum.”

“Meaning you’d take half of the profits from this town?” I stepped in, my tone harsh. “No.”

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