Page 93 of Dallas Rivals

My soul returns to my body.

Oliver gets up calmly and picks up his clothes one by one, getting dressed as if nothing has happened.

“Is it just me, or are you a bit nervous?”

I shove him, feeling annoyed. “Why are you so calm?”

In the middle of my failed attempt to push him away, he grabs my hand and brings it to his chest, pulling me toward him until I’m inches from his mouth.

“Last night was the best night of my life,” he says, dropping a kiss on my nose. “And that’s because of you.”

“Yeah, well, my mother can’t find out.” I march toward the bathroom, turn on the shower and feel panic starting to crawl up my throat. “You know my father will absolutely lose it.”

I take a step inside, but Oliver’s hands stop me. He spins me around and presses me against the wall.

“The only person you should be worried about is your boss, sweetheart,” he murmurs in my ear. “This ranch runs on my orders. If your father’s got a problem with that, he can come and talk to me.”

I poke his chest with my finger, ignoring how sexy he looks right now.

“He might not say anything to you, but it’s different with me. And I’m not going to disappoint him.”

“And what do you expect us to do? Hide forever?” His eyes darken and his whole energy shifts.

“Yes.”

“No.” His answer is sharp and immediate. “That’s not enough for me.”

He crosses his arms, the lines between his brows deepening.

“Well,” I snap, pointing at the door, “maybe one day you’ll understand that what I want doesn’t matter right now. I have parents to take care of.”

I point again, harder this time. “Out of my bathroom.”

My family walks through the ranch door carrying suitcases, baby bags, toys, sleeping kids in their arms and smiles.

And still, I can’t enjoy a damn thing.

It’s been three nights—three exact damn nights—since I last spoke to Cala.

Haven’t touched her, kissed her, or fucked her and it’s driving me insane.

“We’re here!” Killian, of course, is all charm and sunshine, always the damn showman, craving the spotlight like he was born under it.

Luca smacks him on the shoulder for waking Mila, who’d been sleeping in his arms.

Silas walks in holding Julian’s hand, Lauren right beside him, her sister Emma trying to calm Mila down.

One by one, I hug them. The last time we were all together was last Christmas, almost a year ago now.

“Welcome to Walker Ranch!” Eliza calls out behind me, voice bright and full of life.

Everyone greets her like she’s part of the family.

Killian knows her best—he rushes over and lifts her clean off the ground.

“Eli! You look twenty years younger! What’s your secret?”

Eliza laughs but swats him away. “Flirting with an old lady now, are you?”