Read Online Taking Heart by T. J. Kline - Free Book Online

but it was still swiftly coursing over the rocks and brush, enough to make a quaint picture. “Yep, until I went to college and built the house at the other end of the property.”
    She moved back from the edge of the cliff and sat on one of the logs near the fire pit. Her parents had set them up for campers when the ranch had taken in guests. These days, the only time it saw any use was when her sister held retreats for troubled teens.
    Dylan turned his back to the view and walked toward her, scanning the trees around them. Roscoe nudged his arm and he rubbed a hand over the dog’s head, but remained focused on her. Pride swelled in her a bit more than she wanted to admit. She was pleased with the way the two of them were bonding so far. Roscoe was hard not to love, but she was surprised Dylan had opened himself up to the dog so quickly after denying he wanted or needed one yesterday.
    â€œHow’d your sister end up with the property?” He moved closer to her but remained standing, his hands in his pockets again.
    â€œMy brother, Justin, and I both went to college, but Jessie stayed at home with Mom and Dad to help run the dude ranch. When we finished, our parents gave Justin and me part of the property to build our businesses. After they were killed in a car accident last year, it made sense for her to stay.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
    â€œI appreciate that. It’s been tough the last two years between the trial and then losing Mom and Dad.” Tango looked up, ready to comfort her.
    She could see the curiosity in Dylan’s eyes. He wanted to know what had happened but wasn’t sure whether he should ask. It wasn’t something she liked to talk about, but she knew that sharing some of it with Dylan would make it more likely for him to do the same. And he needed to talk about what happened. If for no other reason than to see how Roscoe could ground him during an episode.
    â€œYou don’t have to talk about it, Julia.” He stopped her as she opened her mouth to speak. “Some things don’t have to be spoken to be shared.”
    Dylan sat down beside her on the log, opposite the dog, and reached for her hand. His large palm engulfed hers as he wound his fingers through hers. It was sweet and comforting. She knew it wasn’t meant to send a bolt of longing to her heart, but it did. It had been so long since she’d had anyone other than her family care about her welfare.
    After Evan, she’d hidden away with her dogs, letting others see only the cheerful window dressing she put on to hide the fear. She couldn’t let herself go again, couldn’t let herself get close to anyone, because falling meant getting hurt. Jessie knew the truth, as did her brother and cousin, Bailey. They had seen the physical scars she bore from Evan’s brutal attack, but no one realized what Evan had truly done to her. They didn’t see the scars inside, the wounds that still festered because she hadn’t seen the truth before Misty had been killed. Now she second-guessed herself, always doubting her instinct to believe in others. She’d fallen for a client, and he’d forever tarnished her ability to trust, to love.
    They sat for what felt like an eternity in silence, holding hands. His thumb caressed the pad of hers. Roscoe had lain down at his feet and gone to sleep as they watched the trees rustling in the breeze. Only the occasional twitter of birds and chatter of squirrels could be heard. Dylan sighed and she turned to look at him.
    â€œThis place is amazing. Normally, I’d be worried about the trees, but right now I’m not.” He sounded awed but relaxed.
    â€œHow long has it been since you got home?”
    â€œA little over a year.” He touched the side of his temple, and she could see the scar, just above where his tattoo began. “This is what actually sent me home. I took a bullet to the head while trying