Page 174 of Ironwood Ranch Cowboys

“Honey, I live here. That doesn’t mean I trust any of it.”

That lands harder than he probably means it to. Because that’s the thing about the Harlans. For all their money and power and intimidating cowboy competence, none of the brothers actually seem comfortable inside the machine Ironwood became around them.

Especially Silas.

The thought arrives and settles deeper than it should.

Duke notices my expression immediately because apparently privacy is dead. “There he is,” he says knowingly.

“What?”

“That look.”

I narrow my eyes. “What look?”

“The one where you pretend you aren’t thinking about my brother while actively thinking about my brother.”

“I hate how observant you are.”

“I’m emotionally intelligent. It’s exhausting.”

I roll my eyes, but heat creeps up my neck anyway. Which is ridiculous because apparently I’m incapable of thinking about any of the Harlan brothers normally now.

Love that for me.

Duke grins and steals one of my fries from the diner bag beside the keyboard. “You should go see him. Go outside.”

“What?”

“You’ve been in this office for hours. Go breathe some real air,” Duke says. “The paperwork’ll still be evil tomorrow.”

“I don’t think paperwork can technically be evil.”

Duke gives me a look.

I sigh. “Fair.”

I shove my hands into the pockets of my cardigan and head down the porch steps slowly, letting the cool air clear some of the static from my head.

Ahead, the ranch stretches dark and silver under moonlight.

And there…

Movement near the fence line. Tall, broad shoulders, slow pacing.

Silas.

Silas walks the fences when he’s carrying too much. And lately he looks like a man carrying entire continents.

I should leave him alone. Probably.

Instead I start walking toward him before I consciously decide to.

The grass crunches softly beneath my boots as I cross the yard. Silas doesn’t turn immediately, but I know he hears me coming because nothing gets near that man unnoticed.

Especially not me anymore.

When I get close enough, he finally glances over.