Page 25 of Perilous Healing

He grunts and starts collecting his tools, placing them in an orange box. He pauses a moment, gaze locked on the Bible sitting open on my counter. “Still reading it?”

“I am.”

“Have you found whatever it is you’re looking for?” His tone is casual, but I get the sneaking suspicion that he’s prying for more. That he’s genuinely curious. It makes my heart leap with joy.

“Getting there,” I tell him. “I’ve found a lot more than I ever did on my own.”

Silas grunts again and lifts the toolbox as he heads for the door.

“Oh, listen, now that it’s done, I was thinking I could make dinner for you and Eloise? As a thank you.”

Silas turns to me. “I don’t need a thank you.”

“I know you don’t, but I would still like to do it. I was even going to invite the others over, too. Lance, Eliza, Michael, Reyna, Andie, and Felix. Elijah’s on duty tonight, but I was planning to take a plate over to him later.”

“A dinner party.”

“Basically.” Nerves twist in my gut. “I’ve never hosted one before, so it could be a total failure. But listen, if you don’t want to, I get it.”

The corners of his full lips quirk up. “I didn’t know you could cook.” It’s the first break in the ice separating us, and it’s so uplifting I can’t fight my own smile.

“Listen, Williamson, I’m actually a great cook.”

He’s silent a moment, and the air around us snaps with something I don’t dare call attraction. “What time?”

“Seven?”

“Sure. We’ll be there.”

I smile again, though I do my best to hide the pure joy I’m feeling since he accepted my invitation. “Great. See you both then. Eloise doesn’t have any food allergies, right?”

“Nope.” He takes his tools and leaves the duplex without another word, and I stand staring at the door with a wide smile for far longer than I should. I’ve spent nearly every day over the last week beside him, and this is the most he’s spoken.

Is it possible that I’m finally starting to break through the walls between us?

My cell rings, and I’m so focused on Silas that I actually jump. “Hello?” I answer, after checking the screen and seeing Reyna’s name on the screen.

“Hey! What are you up to?” Michael’s wife questions.

“Silas just finished up the final touches on my roof, and I’m getting ready to start doing some cleanup. I was actually going to call you, though.”

“Yeah? What about?”

“Well, I know Michael ended up staying in town and turning down that protective detail so he could be here to help with the storm damage, so I wanted to invite you both over to dinner. I’m inviting the others, too. You just called me first.”

She’s quiet a moment. “Is Silas going to be there?”

“He helped, so yeah. I invited him.”

“Good.” I can hear her smile through the phone. “What can I bring?”

“Just yourself.”

“You said you had cleaning to do?”

“I did,” I reply, nervous at the inquisitive nature of her questions.

“Good. I’ll come help. I’m going to pick up Eliza and Andie, too. I’ll let Margot know, and she can head over as soon as she’s done at the B&B.”

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