Page 39 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

Skylar stifled a frown as she helped her grandmother get up. She should’ve gone to the police after she’d started college.

But what did she have to report? Fuzzy memories that resurfaced too late? A phone call in the middle of the night when a distorted voice told her something would happen to her grandmother if Skylar went to the police? If she as much as returned to visit her hometown?

It didn’t matter that she still didn’t remember much. It was her fault. It was all her fault.

After they visited the police station, Grandma insisted on going to the ranch. “We should continue the preparations. The weddingwillhappen.”

Didn’t they need a groom for that? Thankfully, Skylar didn’t blurtthatout.

Soon, she was pulling up to the spacious white Cape-Cod-style ranch house, its familiar trio of dormers rising from the roof, and stone chimneys flanking its sides. The moment she saw Dallas walking down the porch, her heart started beating faster. Why did she still have this reaction to him? She’d let him go years ago. Or so she’d thought.

She turned off the engine, and Breeze gave out a joyful bark as if to greet Dallas. He waved but didn’t move closer.

“Wait a sec, Grandma, please. I need to let Breeze out before she tears up everything in the car.” Skylar hurried to open the door for the energetic dog.

Breeze shot up the steps to Dallas as if the man was someone dear. Skylar knew the feeling. Her entire being longed to run to him, fly into his arms.

Earth to Skylar.

“Please lean on me,” she suggested as she opened the passenger door for her grandmother and helped her to climb out. She had a sting of guilt for stealing a glance at Dallas.

“Well, hello, Breeze.” Dallas chuckled and petted the dog who was jumping at him and preventing him from moving forward. “I’m glad to see you, too.”

The smile slid off his handsome face as his gaze moved to Skylar. He obviously wasn’t glad to seeher. Her stomach dipped, but she couldn’t blame him. The goofy dog was joy itself and had never harmed him the way Skylar had.

“Hello, Mrs. Rafferty. Hello, Skylar.” Dallas made it down the steps even with such an obstacle as an excited golden retriever. “Did you come to see my mother?”

“Where are you off to? Are you avoiding us, stranger?” Despite her words, Grandma’s voice was soft and kind.

“No! Not at all. I was just leaving.” He frowned. “I wanted to checkthatcottage. Well, not really wanted to. I thought I should, well, look around.”

Skylar pulled her shoulders back. She wasn’t a scared, shivering child any longer. She didn’t need to flinch just at the words. But his words surprised her. His experience withthatcottage was much more traumatic than hers had been. His entire family had a good reason to avoid the place. “May I ask why?”

“Kai and I heard a suspicious sound from the area yesterday. Like a gunshot.”

Skylar’s eyes widened while her grandmother paled and staggered. “A... a gunshot?”

Skylar wrapped her arm around her grandmother tighter, steadying her. It was only fair that now Skylar could be the rock for her grandmother. Especially considering she hadn’t been a good granddaughter for years, making guilt eat her up inside like acid. “It might’ve just been a tire blowout.”

“Kai said the same thing. But there’s word in town about a new renter there.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and avoided looking at her. “I, well, I wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

That was Dallas for you. Always doing the right thing. All the Lawrence brothers were born protectors. But how far would the protective streak go?

Dallas shifted from one foot to the other. “I mean, what kind of person would rent that place?”

Grandma’s lips pursed. “My fiancé.”

“Oh.”

In other times, Skylar would’ve enjoyed seeing Dallas’s jaw agape.

“It’s okay.” Grandma patted his hand, then turned to Skylar. “Would you mind terribly if we went there, as well? Considering this fine man can accompany us? I know it brings back bad memories, but—”

Something inside Skylar trembled, but she nodded. “It’s fine.” Neither one of them wanted to go tothatcottage, but apparently, they had to.

Well, except for the golden retriever, who was overly excited. Breeze barked and ran in circles, chasing her tail.

Dallas’s eyes narrowed before he walked Grandma back to their vehicle. “You want to meet your fiancé there?”

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