Page 50 of Tiago

I nod.“Not surprising.I don’t know the librarian well.Arianna.She only moved here a few years ago to take the job.”I shudder.“I’m not sure why anyone would move to Wilde on purpose, but she did,” I joke.

Dallas shrugs and takes another bite of his sandwich without meeting my gaze.

“She seems nice, though.I’m sure she doesn’t know everything that’s happened for decades at the library.The previous librarian died before Arianna came to Wilde.But I’m sure she’ll be willing to help in any way she can.”

Dallas nods.“Yep.She was helpful.I’m sure I’ll find everything we need.She wasn’t proprietary about the storage room or anything.She was perfectly willing to let me search in there.”

“Is she cute?”Tiago asks, chuckling.

Dallas finally lifts his head to meet his cousin’s gaze.He cocks his head to one side and glares at him.

I glance back and forth between the men, noticing Ryder fighting a grin.

Ryder finally gives up and chuckles.“You better claim some rooms upstairs before Brody gets here.”

Claire swats at Ryder again.“Stop it.”

Dallas smirks.It’s a family trait.“Let’s not get carried away, but I do wonder if something’s in the water.”

Interesting.I’m pretty sure Arianna is close to my age, and Dallas is in his forties.How are all these Wilde men single and interested in much younger women?

“Who’s Brody?”I ask.

Dallas looks relieved at the change in subject as he answers me, “My older brother.He’s forty-five and the oldest grandson.He’s joining us soon.”

Tiago finishes the food on his plate and leans back in his seat, resting a hand on the back of my chair.“Does anyone have an aversion to me claiming one of the large rooms on the third floor for an art studio?”

“Nope,” Ryder says.“First come, first serve.”

“I’ll probably take the one with the most natural light, and if no one has a problem with it, I’m going to haul that maroon velvet chaise from the weird sitting room to the third floor,” Tiago explains.

I shoot him a glare.“You do not need a chaise lounge in the art studio.”

Dallas starts laughing.“Wait… Are you planning to paint nude pics of your woman?”

“Yep.”

My face heats.“No, he isnot.”

Dallas rubs his hands together.“I’ll help you carry it up.”

I glare at him next.“Don’t encourage him.No one is doing any nude paintings.”

Tiago’s body shakes as he chuckles.

It’s time to change the subject yet again.I’m sure these three men have exchanged information about Silvia throughout the day, but no one has told me anything.“Does anyone know if Silvia left town?”I ask, glancing around at everyone.

“Presumably,” Ryder answers.

Dallas nods.“I drove to the motel myself to make sure she’d checked out, and she had.The question is, did she really leave town, and is she planning to stay gone?”

Tiago squeezes the back of my neck.“Don’t worry, baby.Nothing is going to happen to you.We never should have left the gate open in the first place.We started closing it when we were worried about Claire’s crazy ex, Smith, getting to her.Once he was arrested, we grew complacent.It was a mistake.It will remain shut from now on, and we’re looking into getting someone to monitor it.”

I turn to look at him.“Monitor the gate?You mean like full-time?”

Tiago nods.“Yes.Three shifts.We’ll post the job openings on the new website along with several other openings as they come up.Ryder has been updating the town website.”

I glance at Ryder.“Oh, that’s great.And I’m sure there are a lot of people in town who would be chomping at the bit at the prospect of new jobs.”

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