Page 19 of Dallas
I nod. That part is good. I know people are relieved that the Wildes are hiring more and more people from the town.
When he pulls up behind the mansion and turns off the engine, he twists to face me and takes my hand. “There’s no reason to be so stressed, baby. The only people here right now are Claire and Ryder. You know Claire.”
“And Gretchen,” I point out. She’s the estate manager. I know she’s one of the few people Old Man Wilde kept on for decades, even after he became a recluse and let the mansion fall into disrepair.
“And Gretchen.” He frowns. “Do you not like Gretchen?”
I gasp. “Of course I like Gretchen. There’s nothing not to like about her. She’s a gem. A total sweetheart.” She comes into the library to read or check out books occasionally. I know she’s kind. I also know she works for the Wildes and that Claire and Reagan are uncomfortable being waited on by the older woman. I won’t feel right about it either. Dallas has told me she cooks for them, which includes dinner tonight.
Dallas kisses my fingers before climbing out of the car and rounding to help me climb out.
I smooth my dress down and take a deep breath. This is it. If I get sucked into this mansion and never escape, will it be so bad?
I grip Dallas’s hand tightly as we step into a warm, inviting kitchen through the back of the house. Everyone I expect to be there is in the room, and they all look up at me with smiles.
Gretchen is at the stove, stirring something in a pot. “Hello, Arianna.”
“Hi,” I say weakly. I think my knees are going to give out.
Claire is sitting on a stool at the island, but she jumps down and comes toward me. Before I know it, I’m embraced in a huge hug even though I only have one arm to return it with because Dallas does not let go of my other hand.
Ryder follows his wife at a slower pace and pulls her back against his chest when she releases me. “Welcome to the estate, Arianna. Make yourself at home. If you need anything, ask. If you get lost, shout.”
My eyes widen. “Lost?”
Dallas chuckles. “The place is large, and apparently, our great-grandfather, who drew up the original plans and had it built in the early nineteen hundreds, was a crazy, eccentric man. There are rooms none of us have explored yet. It’s easy to get turned around and confused. Maybe keep your cell phone on you for a while,” he teases.
Surely he’s exaggerating.
We follow Claire and Ryder toward the island, where Ryder lifts his wife by the hips and sets her back on the stool. When he bends to brush an errant lock of hair out of the way and kisses her neck, I bite my lip. It’s so sweet and endearing. I wonder if he’s just as bossy and controlling as Dallas. I suspect he is.
“Lemon-lime soda, baby?” he asks gently as he heads for the fridge. He shifts his gaze to me next. “What can I get you to drink, Arianna?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
Dallas releases my hand to set his palm on the small of my back and guide me to the stool next to Claire.
I gasp and turn ten shades of red when he lifts me to sit me on the stool the same way Ryder did to Claire. As soon as my sore ass hits the cool surface of the stool, I rush to tug my dress under my butt. Hopefully, no one got a view of my pink skin.
My mortification increases to astronomical levels when Ryder chuckles on his way back from the fridge, saying, “I guess you two are closer than I realized if you’ve already spanked her hard enough to make her wince.”
Claire swats at his arm as soon as he places her soda down. “Stop that. Arianna just got here, and you’re already teasing her. She’s going to run from the house and never come back. Plus, then Dallas will be grouchy and mad at you.”
Ryder chuckles, his eyes dancing with mirth as he glances at me. “My apologies, Arianna. We’re a bit open around here. You’ll get used to us quickly.”
Claire groans. “That was a terrible apology, Ryder.”
He tugs his wife’s braid, forcing her to tip her head back, and kisses her. “Just telling it like it is.”
A wave of emotions wash through me. Shock to horror to what I’m embarrassed to recognize is arousal. This might be caused by the fact that Dallas has set a hand on my back and slid it up to cup my neck. When I look at him, I see a very heated gaze reflecting back at me.
I shudder.
Dallas grins. “How about if I give you a little tour before dinner?”
Ryder nods. “Better let her choose some rooms upstairs. Brody is going to be here this weekend. Even though he insists he won’t be staying in town long, I suspect he’s lying to himself. He’ll end up needing a few rooms soon, too.”
Pick some rooms? What the heck is he talking about?
