14. Silas
Seconds.
That’s how long I was from telling Storm that her little crush on me was nothing compared to the longing I had to have my best friend back all those years ago.
That I’d have given up all the friends I had in high school for one more summer with her. Even if we were too old to jump fences and steal fireworks.
Tell her about the anger I had to bite back because Dad asked me to respect Mr. Dalton’s wishes and stay away from his daughter.
You’ll have more friends and girls lining up for you than anyone in town. It’s not worth the fight.
I was living a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.
Bringing Tom into this now wouldn’t do anyone any good. I know better than to force things, especially with spite. I have something most people don’t, patience . . . and charm.
Except when it comes to my brothers.
I step into the Saddle Room, my mood suddenly shifting when I find Rose leaning over Wilder’s chair in a deep kiss.
I grin and clear my throat but they don’t stop right away.
Okay, I can respect that. Still pretty awkward though. “Should I come back?”
Rose wipes at her bottom lip. “No, I’m done. Just reminding your brother here how good coffee can taste if you just have an open mind.”
He gives her a look and pushes the iced coffee aside. “Still not convinced.”
She glances back. “Don’t make me come back there.” Then sighs, turning back to me. “I need to go prep the cottage for the afternoon class. See you both later.”
I nod and pick up Wilder’s abandoned beverage. “I need to talk to you about Storm,” I say as soon as the door closes.
Wilder points to the chair across his desk. “Have a seat.”
I eye it suspiciously. “You and Rose don’t do any funny business on this chair do you?”
“What do you think we are, bunch of teenagers?” Then winks. “We use the desk.”
My eyes drop to it briefly before I sit down. “When’s her day off?”
“Rose?”
“Storm.”
“Oh. She’s off Sundays.”
“Then what the hell was she doing here all day yesterday?”
“Right,” he exhales. “Dallas asked her to come in to prep the ponies for the ceremony. It was supposed to be two, three hours max, but I guess it took a little longer.”
“Then she’s owed another day,” I snap.
“Silas, what do you want from me? We’re paying her double for coming in on her day off. Dallas ran it by me and we’re good.”
“Great. But that doesn’t change the fact that she still needs a day off—maybe two. Time to rest, to spend with her kid, or whatever.”
He narrows his eyes at me, a hint of a grin playing on his face. Then he sits up, licking his lips as he scans the schedule on his desk. “Friday, maybe?” He looks up, finding me glaring at him. “Tomorrow?”
I lean back crossing my arms in front of me. “I think that’s fair.”
“Look I don’t have to do this, but you’re right. We don’t have staff on seven days in a row. Just with this wedding, it’s been all hands on deck.”
“Fine,” I say, moving on to my next thing with some caution since I haven’t exactly prepared for it. And know I’m about to open myself up to a war. I rub my hands together. “What about a cottage for her and Max?”
His head snaps up from the schedule he’s attacking with an eraser. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. And don’t act surprised because we spoke about it an hour ago on the phone. I don’t like where she lives. It’s practically outside of town, too far from school and the ranch. And building code compliance is questionable at best.”
Wilder stretches his arms. “Maybe I should promote her too? Double her salary? Give her my office? Look I get you two are re-connecting or whatever, but that doesn’t give you the right to march in here and make demands.”
I push off my seat, irritable. “I’ve got every right. I may not be a partner, but I’m still a member of the family and I didn’t have to willingly give up my share to you both.”
Wilder watches me, his thumb brushing his bottom lip in that way he does when he’d prefer to avoid confrontation than face it head on. He straightens in his seat, refocusing on the schedule. “Well then, take it up with Dallas, because he’s in charge of guest cottages.”
“Really? Did you check with him when you put Rose in Millie’s old cottage last summer?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.”
“Bullshit. You told him you’re setting her up there. He didn’t have a choice.”
“First off, Dallas and I own every inch of the land equally, so if I did, I was within my right. Second, Rose is different. She was here for six weeks. You’re asking me to permanently move an employee onto the property.”
“Not permanently, those cottages aren’t meant to be homes. Just for a few months. Or until she can afford something . . . else. For Christ’s sake, anything else.”
After a beat, he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Look, scheduling is my thing. I’ll give Storm time off any day she needs. But the guest cottages—that’s Dallas.”
“I’m not asking Dallas, I’m asking you,” I shout, just as the door opens and my oldest brother walks in. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Dad is behind him.
“Hey, the whole family’s here,” Dallas cheers tiredly, a coffee tumbler in hand. I know sleepless nights are a given with a newborn, but he looks like it’s been days since he slept.
Dad steps in quietly behind him and closes the door.
“Hey, Silas. How’s the arm?” Dallas asks like he didn’t just walk in on me shouting about him. He takes his hat off, hanging it on the hook.
“I’m fine.” I step away from Wilder’s desk and go sit on top of Dallas’s like I’m staking some claim to the place. “I’m here because I want one of the guest cottages. I’ll pay for it.”
Dallas frowns. “They’re not for sale. They’re guest cottages. And in a month, we’re closing them for the winter.”
“It’s for Storm. I’d like to move her into one. Temporarily, but I can’t tell you how long. Maybe a year.”
“For Storm?” he asks, jerking like he’s confused. Then his brows shoot up like he’s intrigued. “For Storm,” he repeats, this time with a tell me more about this tone, as he moves toward his desk.
Dad drops onto the worn sofa, posture relaxed, like he’s settling in to watch his favorite show.
I roll my eyes and hop off the desk. “I don’t see what the big deal is. You gave Millie the small cottage over near the main house when she started working here.” I look at Wilder. “And we just covered Rose.”
My brothers glance guiltily at each other.
“He’s not wrong,” Dad croaks, picking up a newspaper from the coffee table like he’s prepared to read it.
Dallas fixes his desk after I rearranged it with my weight. “I don’t suppose you ran this request by Storm?”
I don’t answer.
He exhales. “Look, it’s not that simple. They’re not meant for long-term living. Millie’s cottage technically wasn’t either, but I . . . well, I maintained it for her,” he trails off.
I fold my arms over my chest. “Now why would you do that?”
He looks off to the side like I’ve made my point.
“Look, I know they’re not meant for long term. But the guest cottages are two bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, and I don’t know if you’ve seen the building she’s in now, but it’s not exactly maintained either.”
“Not to mention it’s on the other side of the planet,” Wilder mutters, repeating my words.
Dad adjusts in his seat and clears this throat. “For what it’s worth, Storm wouldn’t exactly be a guest. She knows how to hold her own in one of those cottages year-round. Probably shovel better than any one of you boys.”
Dallas flicks his gaze back to me. “Look, even if I do say yes to this—which I don’t know if I will, Storm won’t agree to it.”
“Leave her to me.”
He perks an amused brow, then glances at the other men in the room who watch him carefully. Finally, he sets down his coffee mug and steps over to me. “Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll let you run this by Storm. If she agrees, I might be able to find her a cottage, but I’ve got one condition.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
“That’s without question, and we all know you’re good for it. But after the wedding, you and I hit the local bar and toss back a few beers.”
“What the hell for?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Catch up. Hash shit out. Maybe talk about why you been hostile toward me?”
Dad shifts irritably then stands, moving toward the window. Wilder scratches his head like he’s hoping we don’t bring him into this.
“Can you not make this about you?” I snap.
Dallas holds up his hands defensively. “Take it or leave it. That’s my condition.”
“Well it’s a bullshit one,” I huff. “I can babysit for you. You look like hell and I imagine Willow’s not lookin’ any better.”
He scowls.
“Cover year-end bonuses for the staff? Throw in season tickets maybe?”
Dallas cocks his head. “Come on, Silas,” he whispers and my gut twists because he sounds desperate.
I swallow. “One beer.”
“Four.”
“Two.”
He smirks and stretches his hand. “Deal.”
I nod and shake on it. “Great. Thanks.”
Dallas chuckles tiredly and returns to his desk. “Don’t thank me yet. Storm’s pretty stubborn when it comes to accepting help.” He points a finger at me. “But I still agreed, so after she tosses you and your proposal into the mud, you owe me those beers.”
“Care to wager on that?” Wilder offers with a cocky grin.
Dallas jerks like it’s the easiest bet he’ll ever make. “I would, since she’s never gonna go for it.”
“I say she will.” Wilder stands. “Loser hosts Sunday dinners for a year.”
“It’s always been at the main house, and you took the main house.”
Wilder narrows his eyes, striding over. “’Fraid she’ll say yes?”
Dallas shakes his head and stretches an arm. “Fine. If Storm agrees, Willow and I will host Sunday dinners till next fall.”
“Are you two done? Can we be serious now?” I bark.
Dallas looks past me like I’m not here. “Hey, Dad, you want in on this?”
“No thanks.” He turns, scratching his beard. “Seems unfair since I’ve got a good guess how this will turn out.”
Wilder looks at Dallas. “Hear that? Thinks he knows women better than we do.”
“I’m glad this is just a big joke to you all.” I head for the door. “I’m going to go tell Storm she’s moving.”
I hear laughter behind me. Including Dad’s.
I grip the handle and turn back. “With a little more tact than that.”
Dallas holds up his hand, still laughing. “No, no. That’ll work just fine.”
I growl and step out of the Saddle Room. It’s going to be a while before I go back in there.