Page 46 of More Than a Blind Date

As I walk out of the room, Dallas explains that I need to call my brother. Sage and Cara posted pictures on the beach yesterday, so I assumed they went on the family vacation. Why is he calling?

Concern has morphed into panic by the third ring.

Then Sage answers. “Rose, hey. You aren’t sitting at home alone, are you? Dallas better make sure you get turkey and all the fixin’s.” It’s unusual for my brother to call me out of the blue. We just aren’t close like that.

“We just finished eating. We’re visiting with his aunt’s soon-to-be husband’s family. So much food. And all delicious. How are y’all? Having a good time?”

“It’s been a trip for sure. Mostly good. But you’ve been on my mind. And I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. I understand why you didn’t come, and I think it’s crummy that Mom refuses to acknowledge your relationship with Dallas.” He pauses, and the several beats of silence are heavy. “I might need tips for how to reinforce my spine, Rose. The moms are trying to railroad the wedding planning, and it's hard seeing Cara in tears.”

“I’m sorry they’re being that way.” I’m not sure what advice to give my brother about facing down my mom. “But it’s been a great help to have Dallas right beside me, backing me up, when I put my foot down. I’m learning that everything comes with strings. You need to decide if the strings are worth it.”

Sage chuckles. “You are a regular advice columnist, Rosie.”

“I don’t mean to sound that way. And I imagine that it’s even harder now since I’ve pulled away.”

“A bit, but you made the right decision. If you decided to date Richard, I’d take you to the hospital myself to get a brain scan.He showed up at the airport with a leggy blonde. She only talks to him, ignores the rest of us. But maybe she’s nervous being around his family. Who knows? But he’s not good for you.”

“True. I wish Mom and Dad would realize that.”

“Listen, I should go. The moms have Cara cornered, and I just got the rescue-me look.”

“Go be her knight. Good luck.”

Confusion etches on Dallas’s face. “Be her knight? And I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I wanted to check on you and overheard the last thing you said.”

I wrap my arms around Dallas and bury my face in the curve of his neck. I’m not upset. Just thankful.

He rubs my back. “Hey. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I hug him a moment longer. “Sage called to wish me a happy Thanksgiving, and he mentioned how the moms are trying to take over wedding planning. He hung up to rescue Cara who was being cornered. And I told him to go be her knight. Like you’ve been mine.”

“This is a first. I’ve never been called that before. And honestly, I’m more like an empty suit of armor. You’re the one doing all the work.”

I give him a quick peck on the cheek. “I need pie.”

He scoops me into his arms. “As you wish.”

I’m desperately trying not to read too much into that phrase, but we did watch the Princess Bride recently. My whole heart wants his answer to drip with that meaning.

After a second amazing feast,Beau points toward the door. “We’re doing dessert in the living room. The game is on.”

Dallas takes my hand and leads me through the game room into the main house. The living room is spacious, and dotted throughout the room, there are extra chairs set up.

He leads me to an armchair, drops into it, then pulls me into his lap. “This okay? I figured it’ll free up space for someone else.”

“This is great.”

Nestled in the chair, Dallas quietly feeds me information about the folks on the ranch. He tells me that Beau and Lilith met later in life and have only been married a few years, which is a little surprising. But as Dallas shares more, I realize that all the middle-aged couples around here found love after forty.

Dallas works his way around the room telling me about the ranch hands and how they got tagged by cupid. Poor Daphne was so disappointed when they showed up and she learned they were all married. She wants to find love just like I do. Maybe I should convince Daphne to give Tandy’s ranch a try once it opens.

“And you’ve met Bailey. She’s cute as a button and sharp as a cactus.” He chuckles. “The first time she met me, she was afraid of me. Can you believe it?”

“Really? She didn’t seem the least afraid of you at the rehearsal dinner or at the wedding.”

“I convinced her that I wasn’t scary. And she told me to smile more.” He winks. “And over there is Mason. He’s always full of relationship advice. And it’s normally spot on. It makes me wonder if his dad, Kent, is secretly a romance columnist. That would be a hoot.”

Mason trudges across the room, pie in hand, and drops down onto the floor near our chair.

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