Page 51 of Marrying Mr. Majestic

“Sorry,” I murmured against his warm, salty skin.

His arms came around me and pulled me in tight. “Me too.” Strong hands moved up and down my back. He took a deep breath and let it out, the warm exhale brushing against my ear. “I’m a fixer. It’s what I do.”

“That sounds ominous,” I said, closing my eyes and sinking into his touch. “Organized-crime-level shit.”

“Not quite. But I’ve been told I can occasionally be a bit… officious.” He cleared his throat and added wryly, “It’s a real struggle, knowing what’s best for everyone and how they should achieve it.”

I snorted, eyes still closed. “I bet.” I didn’t want this to end. So I held on tighter.

“You going to let me take you to bed, cowboy?” Silas murmured into my hair.

I would’ve given my eyeteeth to say yes. To accept what he was offering. To go home and lose myself in his body and the pursuit of pleasure again.

But I couldn’t.

I stood back and straightened my shoulders. “Can’t. I’ve got chores to do. Afternoon feed. A few vaccines. The farrier’s coming to replace some shoes, and I’ve gotta grab the right horses from the paddock for her.” The list seemed to unfurl on an endless scroll in my head.

Silas opened his mouth to say something but snapped it shut instead. He nodded once. “I’ll let you get to it, then.”

Instead of offering to help with any of it the way a decent fucking friend would have—and yes, I recognized my hypocrisy—he turned on his heel and walked away. Even Bunny remained half-brushed, staring after him in surprise.

As I listened to the sound of his rental car crunching its way out of the graveled parking area, I couldn’t help but curse myself as our heated words from earlier came back to me.

I tried to be the kind of guy you really would have married.

And then I’ll stop fucking helping if that’s what you really want.

Of course that was what I wanted! That was exactly what I wanted.

Wasn’t it?

I was still staring at the open doorway Silas had walked through when Natana poked her head in. I wondered if she’d heard our argument. Instead of humiliating myself by asking, I turned back to Bunny with quick, efficient strokes of the brush.

Natana moved inside with Letty and began untacking her a few feet away. We worked side by side in silence for a while before she finally spoke.

“He’s not very nice.”

It took me a minute to make sure I’d heard right. “I beg your pardon?”

“Your husband. He’s kind of an ass, isn’t he?”

I blinked at her, feeling the heat of anger simmer in my gut. “Are you serious? That man?” I asked, pointing in the direction Silas had gone. “That man is one of the most generous people I know, and that’s saying a lot since I also know your brother and… and… Kicky Winshaw.”

She shrugged. “Not sure you can compare a city guy like that to the woman who runs a food bank program and collects old coats for kids in need. And don’t get me started on my brother. My mother thinks he’s a saint.”

“Do you know that Silas gave Kandi Jenks a ride to her dance recital when her car tire picked up a nail on the highway? Or that when he got there and saw the dance moms selling T-shirts to help fund their field trip to the ballet in Cheyenne, he bought ten of them, one for everyone in my family and each of his good friends back home. Those T-shirts are ballet pink and say Dance Majestically on them, Natana. In Papyrus font, for god’s sake.”

Before she could say anything, I continued. “And apparently, he found someone to take your place for roundup, even though it’s only been a few hours since you told me you can’t be there. And when Cara and Hank Pickering threw a barbecue to welcome him to town, Silas rescheduled a conference call with Google—Google!—so he could be there to sample her potato salad. Also? He thinks I don’t know this, but he hung a birdseed ball in a tree behind my house because I mentioned once… once… that I liked watching the birds in the morning when I take my shower. I just happened to come across it when I was…” I noticed she was grinning at me. “What?”

“It’s true. You really are in love with him. ZuZu thought maybe it wasn’t real. I told her no one looks at another person the way that man looks at you when it isn’t real. And now you’re defending him like he’s god’s gift to the people.” She shrugged and stepped closer to pat me on the shoulder. “Sorry for provoking you, but damn, that was kind of amazing.”

I stared at her, ignoring for the moment that my baby sister was onto us. “You baited me on purpose? Why?”

“I heard you fighting and wondered for a split second if ZuZu was right.”

I finally remembered Natana’s words from earlier in the day, talking about how gorgeous Silas was. And how lucky I was. Of course she didn’t think he was an ass. I was so fucking stupid.

“I fell for it.”

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