Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“Nice to meet all of you,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment at the unexpected visitors. At least their presence had made my decision easier. There was no way I’d get Silas alone to have such an important conversation now. “Welcome to Majestic.”
Landry flicked his hair over his shoulder. “So… you’re the husband, huh? Mm. And this place is yours?”
From the look on his face, he was less than impressed.
“It is.”
Silas frowned. “The ranch has been in Waylon’s family for generations. He built this house himself.”
Landry sniffed and looked around. “Where’d you put poor Dev? Is there an outhouse, or…?”
His rudeness surprised me, but more than that, it tweaked every insecurity I’d always had about our money troubles. Heat flooded my face, and I felt my heart pound in humiliation.
Silas stepped forward as if he was going to get in his friend’s personal space. “What the fuck are you—”
Dev lightly shoved Landry’s shoulder. “I’m staying in an apartment over the main barn. Stop being an ass.”
Landry shrugged. “I just think it’s awfully convenient that this guy happened to marry our strong, well-connected friend right when he needed free labor and a few good sponsorships, that’s all.”
Silas’s annoyance ratcheted mine up by a factor of ten. “What exactly are you implying?” I snapped as Bash moved Silas away from Landry.
Kenji barely looked up from his phone. “Ignore him. He’s trying to bait you.”
Landry’s lips widened in a lazy grin. “Doesn’t take much with these country boys, does it? Gotta hand it to you, though. This whole Vegas marriage sham sure was an elegant way of using someone without making it seem like you’re—”
Silas strained against the arm Bash was using to hold him back. “What the fuck, Landry?”
“I’m not using anyone,” I barked, balling my hands into fists to keep from shoving him in the chest. How dare he show up here and upset Silas? I didn’t care what he said about me, but I sure as shit didn’t want him insulting Silas or causing him to doubt me. “I would never use someone like that. I didn’t set out to do anything other than have a drink at a fucking bar. We started talking, and then… and then… things happened. I didn’t plan it, and I’m not using him! I could never do that.”
“Anyone could do it if they were desperate enough,” he said.
“Not me.” My back teeth hurt from where they clenched tightly against the words I truly wanted to hurl at him. My patience was a wash-worn hole in ancient denim. One little flick of a fingernail and the entire thing would unravel.
“Why not?” Landry asked, cool as the river water snaking through the distance.
I threw my hands up in the air. “Because I fucking love him, okay? Jesus fucking Christ. You don’t know me. You don’t know shit about me at all. I love him. He’s hardworking and generous. Kind and loving. Funny as hell. And even if I didn’t love him, I would never use—”
“You love me?”
I turned to see Silas’s shocked face. His friends stood around him, witnessing my humiliation. Landry looked smug, like my admission was exactly the prize he’d hoped to win.
I’d come home to tell Silas about my feelings, but it had spiraled out of my control. I’d never meant to blurt it out like this to a manipulative jackass who’d provoked me rather than to the man who deserved to hear it directly from me first.
Foster had been right. I should have waited until after the exhibition. This stress was too much on top of all the shit I had to do for the event this weekend.
“I’m sorry,” I croaked. “I… I need to go.”
I didn’t wait for Silas’s reaction. I jumped back in my truck and drove off, leaving him standing there with his jaw open and his friends staring.
TWENTY-SIX
SILAS
Because I fucking love him, okay?
Way’s words echoed in my head like the steady beat of a bass drum. As soon as my brain caught up with my mouth, I called out for him, but he was already driving around the curve and out of sight.
“Knew it,” Landry said triumphantly.
“Fuck you!” I wanted to punch him in the face, but I shoved him instead. “What the fuck was that?”
Landry’s eyebrows lifted as he caught his balance by grabbing Dev’s outstretched hand. “You’re welcome? At least someone got one of you to admit the truth. Jesus. We haven’t even been in this time zone, and we could feel the tension between the two of you.”
Bash sighed. “You should go after him. Tell him you love him, too.”
“Who says I love him?” I snapped. “And who asked any of you for your help here?”
Kenji shook his head but knew better than to say anything. Landry did not know better. “You asked us to come help, if you’ll recall.”