Page 66 of Dallas Rivals

“At least once a year I have to pull that one,” he says, voice echoing slightly—he’s on speaker, of course. “It’s tradition.”

“At my expense.”

“Well, brother, the day you learn to laugh at yourself, you’ll be a new man.”

Yeah, sure.

“Did you need something?”

“Yeah, an explanation for what the hell happened in Texas. I’ve been calling for days and you’ve been ghosting me.”

I stop the treadmill and let out a breath.

“A tornado hit Lucien’s place. Wiped it clean off the ground. Everything else is fine.”

I grab a towel, wipe the sweat off my face, and glance at my reflection in the full-length mirror.

The gym isn’t big, but it’s got everything I need and for a guy like me, that’s plenty.

“Jesus Christ, Oli! Where the hell did this streak of bad luck come from?”

“I don’t know, and at this point, I don’t even want to.” I grab my water bottle, taking a long drink. “The Saint-Clairs are staying at my place for now. Just until we rebuild theirs.”

“Oh, so she’s under your roof now. Interesting.” Killian drags out the last word, then suddenly yells, “WHAT THE—?! Are you insane?! Who gave you a driver’s license, you moron?!”

He’s definitely driving through San Francisco traffic. I can practically picture the chaos.

“Don’t start, Kill.”

“Oh, come on! You didn’t see what that idiot just did, he almost hit me!”

“I meant your comments about Cala.”

“Ohhh, so it’s Cala now…” He laughs, low and smug. “You’ve gone thirty-two years without mentioning a woman by name, and suddenly she works at your ranch and bam, you can’t stop saying it. That’s gotta mean something.”

“It means that… that…” I try to spin a lie, but something lodges in my throat instead. My jaw tightens. “God damn it, Killian!” I shout.

He goes dead silent.

“I slept with her.”

“I knew it!” Tires screech through the phone, followed by a chorus of honking horns. “Tell me everything. Right. Now.”

I sit on the bench and drag both hands down my face. “We got stuck in the barn. The tornado almost swallowed us whole, and when it was over...everything went to hell.”

“I once saw a porn that started like that,” Killian says. “Did you screw her on the hay?”

“Yes.”

“What?! I was joking! That girl’s wild!”

“You have no idea.”

“Damn. Was it good?”

“The best sex I’ve ever had.” My voice sounds more worried than proud.

“Shit. I’m actually speechless and that never happens. So, what now?”