Page 52 of All Our Secrets

Devin huffed, and my nerves climbed in my throat when he called for Silas. I made my way over to the sink and stuck my hand in the water. The relief was instant, but only until I turned off the faucet.

“I already know there isn’t any,” Devin muttered as he moved in behind Sarah and wrapped his arms around her middle.

“Watch the baby,” she warned.

“See how useful I am?”

Sarah rolled her eyes, but her smile stretched wide.

The air changed in the room. A sudden awareness pressed against my back—my very soul, warming and terrifying me all at once. Without looking toward the door, I sensed the second Silas entered the cabin. My skin prickled. I was so aware of the grump I loathed myself more for it.

“Oh good.” Sarah pulled out of her husband’s arms and turned. So did I.

Silas arched a brow at her before finally glancing my way. My pulse quickened as our gazes met and lingered. Why did he stare so attentively? Could he hear the frenzied pound of my heart from where he stood?

“Peyton burned her hand. Is there any burn cream in the cabin?”

His chest expanded. It was like watching him inhale a big bunch of rage and plaster it on his moody face. I tensed as he strode over. He was mad, and I had no idea why his angry eyes were directed at me. Without asking, he took my wrist and inspected my palm.

There was a grunt, then his brows furrowed as he pinned me with his glower. “There isn’t any cream, but I’ll run to the store. Still got an hour before everyone gets here.”

“There’s no need. It’s not bad. Some mustard will do the trick,” I rambled.

“Not for you.”

Once again, Silas King left me speechless. He should have dropped my hand already, but his touch lingered, much like his dark stare. His thumb slid across mine, and I inhaled, lowering my face in fear I’d give something away. Something that shouldn’t be in my expression to begin with.

Silas did too much. But he wasn’t treating me like I was his best friend’s widow right now. Maybe he never had. It felt dangerous. Wrong. That he might feel the same way about his actions terrified me. That he might not was worse.

Theodore’s goofy smile flashed through my head. The icky sensation of guilt crawled up my throat, burning there, threatening to turn to tears.

“Peyton…?” There was a question in Silas’s tone.

Did he see my guilt? Could he feel it burning me from the inside out every time he neared? Would he take pity and keep his distance? When his thumb moved again, gently, as if to soothe me, I knew better. Silas King did what Silas King wanted. Nothing would keep him away if he didn’t want to be.

“Is everything okay?” I recognized that soft voice.

Leaning to the left to see behind Silas, I spotted Becky. Her attention was fixed on where Silas’s hand held mine.

He never once looked her way. Instead, his pesky thumb ran down mine one last time before he let go. “I’ll be back,” he said before leaving the cabin. He never uttered a word to his ex. In fact, he completely dismissed her.

A pleasurable rush zinged down my spine. I ran a shaky palm across my lips in fear of showing my delight.Sweet Jesus.What was wrong with me? Bile rose in my throat, and I spun around. I couldn’t have him. I couldn’t… So why did I feel so much satisfaction in seeing Silas dismiss another woman in front of me?

He was Theodore’s best friend.

It’s wrong.

No matter how many times I repeated those things to myself, it never changed anything. Warmth—a desperate ache I didn’t wish for—still spread through me any time I thought of or saw him. Guilt came soon after, reminding me of how horrible andwrongit was to feel this way.

Being near Silas was hypnotic and painful. I was drawn to him but hurt by that feeling.

These emotions couldn’t be real. I was projecting my thoughts onto him. No matter what I felt, Silas loved Theodore like I did. Of course he’d take care of his widow.

I saw nothing in Silas’s stare. My feelings weren’t real. I was simply alone and confused, and Silas happened to be nearby. It would pass.

Sarah’s voice jarred me from my inner torture. “Around you, it’s like he’s a completely different man.”

I frowned. “What? Who?”

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