Page 44 of Inheriting Miss Fortune

I shrugged. “It’s definitely not making things easy,” I admitted.

“Ah,” Silas said knowingly. “You have feelings for him.”

I looked out again, this time glancing west toward the triple peaks of Three Daughters. This land was so beautiful, so peaceful, it still stole my breath sometimes. “Big feelings,” I finally said.

His eyebrows lifted. “Wow. I can’t believe you just admitted that out loud.”

I glanced at him and let a smile tug at my lips. “Me neither.”

“You must really need advice,” he teased.

I simply nodded.

Silas took a breath. “Dev, last year, when I came here after Way… I thought I had it all figured out. I had my career, my friends, my home back in New York. Above all, I had my pride. I was in control.”

I let out a soft snort.

Silas grinned and pointed at me. “Exactly. That’s exactly right. I didn’t have anything under control because the minute I met that sexy cowboy at a bar in Vegas, my future was suddenly and irrevocably out of my hands. And everyone knows I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

“My situation is hardly the same. It’s not like Tully is my… Waylon.”

“Who says he’s not?”

“For one, he lives in Dallas.”

Silas flapped his hand dismissively. “I lived in New York. Apparently, there’s such a thing as a cross-country move.”

I shook my head. “Not for this guy. His identity is all wrapped up in making partner at a big-city firm. He does trusts and estate law. It’s not like there’s work for him in Majestic. And you know I won’t go back to Texas.”

He shrugged. “I never thought I’d move to rural Wyoming, but never say never, right?”

“He’s also angry with me about the custody thing. He thinks I should keep Lellie.”

Silas’s gaze sometimes felt like a boat anchor. “We all think that.”

I opened my mouth to argue with him, but he held up a hand to stop me.

“Don’t,” he said. “It’s a load of bullshit, and we both know it. I get that you’re still mourning Matt’s death. It was awful. But it was an accident. And the idea that you might let an accident keep you from giving Lellie the most loving future possible pisses me the fuck off. You want to know why? It’s not even because I care about her, though I do. It’s because I care aboutyou. And I know you need that girl of yours. You need her to teach you how to be a family again, how real families are supposed to be. How true parental love is unconditional.”

“I already have a family, and it’s you assholes,” I said, speaking of him and the rest of the brotherhood. Even I noticed how petulant I sounded.

Silas nodded. “Definitely. And we’ll always be your family. Which means we’ll always be here for you and Lellie. You won’t be doing this alone.”

“Doesn’t she deserve a mother?”

“Absolutely. And she had one. You’ll make sure she knows all about Katie as she grows up. That’s something you can do because you knew her. It’s not something a random couple from Atlanta can do for her. Besides, you implied you might be okay with Way and me taking her, and we certainly can’t provide her with a mother. So that’s clearly not a true concern.” He bumped his arm into mine. “Now, get your head out of your ass and commit to your daughter so we can let Jo Blake loose on decorating Lellie’s room in your new house.”

I had to admit that sounded fun. And thinking about being there for Lellie’s milestones was even more exciting. But I also knew from some of the things Tully had said about Katie thatbeing a single parent could be exhausting, nerve-racking, and isolating, even if you had plenty of money.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, standing up and stretching. “Thank you for being here. For helping me feel like I could do it.”

Silas stood up and yanked me in for a hug. He wasn’t usually demonstrative, so the gesture took me by surprise. Thankfully, my travel mug was empty, or I would have sloshed coffee all over both of us.

“You have a lot of love to give, Dev. Anyone would be lucky to have you as their dad.” His voice was gritty with emotion and hit me right in the solar plexus.

“Thanks,” I managed before pulling away, nodding awkwardly, and heading for the utility vehicle.

“Hold up,” Way called, jogging down the porch steps. “Mind giving me a ride? I told Indigo I’d help with the morning feed so you can get back to Lellie.”

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