Page 34 of Protected Hearts

“I don’t speak to them. They kind of…disowned me when I started seeing William.” Should she explain further? She felt he deserved to know after all he’d done to help and met his gaze. “They told me I was getting above my station in life and if that was my choice, then I shouldn’t come home.”

His jaw firmed. A dark glint came into his eyes. “Sounds like my old man.”

“Where is he?”

“Dead, thank god. He was an alcoholic and a total bastard to all of us kids. We sort of formed a tighter family unit because of it.”

Unable to find the words, she reached out and touched the back of his hand where it lay clenched beside his plate. At once, he unfurled his fingers and twisted his hand upward to intertwine their fingers.

The warm, rough touch soothed her more than she could ever begin to explain. Marveling at the strange feelings kindling inside her, she studied him. “And your siblings?”

“I have six brothers.”

“Six!”

“Yup. This ranch was a second home, a place to vacation and stay for the summers. Layne’s family lived a short distance from here—she and Carson were sweethearts. They lost touch with each other and recently found each other again.”

“Wow. That’s wonderful.”

He looked at her and her plate. “Let’s finish breakfast and head outside. I’ve got chores to do, and the fresh air will do you good.”

She smiled at him. The movement of facial muscles that had gone unused in months of hiding, felt foreign to her. But it felt good too. As he stared back at her, his eyes warmed.

After their meal, they cleaned up the kitchen together and went outside. Shiloh blinked at the bright sun peaking over the majestic mountains. Not far off, a couple guys were walking out to the barn. As they went, they tossed Oaks and her a wave.

Oaks lifted a hand in return. “That’s Veccio and Harkness. They’re both with the program.”

She watched the men. One had a noticeable limp, and the other walked slowly to keep pace with him. “I think it’s wonderful what you’ve built here. It gives the ranch so much meaning.”

He compressed his lips. “I had to do something after…”

They strolled along in silence as he seemed to struggle with whether or not to tell her more.

Just then, a tall, beautiful woman with dark hair flowing down her back whipped around the corner of the garage. She spotted Oaks and jogged over, throwing her arms around his neck.

“Hey, cowboy!”

Shiloh eyed the woman draped all over Oaks.Herhusband—at least on paper.

Green jealousy sprouted inside Shiloh as Oaks patted the woman on the back and gently set her back on her cute little cowgirl boots.

The woman couldn’t be more than twenty-five. Much too young for him.

She turned to Shiloh. “Who’s this?”

From some dark place she didn’t know she possessed, Shiloh stepped up to the model-esque woman and looked her dead in the eyes. “His wife. Shiloh. Who are you?”

“His little sister.”

Ohgawd. She’d just acted like a total fool. Heat exploded in her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes, but not before she caught Oaks’s knowing smile. Her emotions had gotten the better of her, and he’d seen it.

The woman grinned, and Shiloh almost let out a groan. Now that she knew the connection between them, she saw the resemblance easily. The same gray eyes in a similar shape. Their hair was the same shade of dark brown too.

“I’m Willow.”

“Nice to meet you.” She tried to force her voice into some semblance of evenness.

Willow tipped her head toward her. “I like this one. She didn’t punch me.”

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