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Their dad’s cell started to ring so he left while he answered it.
His dad had been worried about Aiden, but Eric thought that perhaps he’d been worrying about the wrong brother. Aiden had always had his head screwed on right, but Dante. Well he was a whole new problem. Part of Eric wished he didn’t know what he did about how torn Dante was and the reason behind it.
There were real feelings between Dante and Emelia, and as much as it made his stomach hurt, he couldn’t disregard them. He actually wished that he could forget he ever so much as thought that way about them. It was ten times worse when it was confirmed.
He needed to help Dante keep Emelia away from him. Instead of encouraging her to stay with Dante, he needed to suggest one of the others and make it convincing. Emelia was no pushover, so it wasn’t going to be easy, but he guessed he could run interference. He just hoped she wouldn’t hate him afterwards. Apart from Diego, Eric had always been her favorite.
“Hey,” Sylvia slipped her fingers over the nape of his neck.
He looked up and smiled. “Hey.” Her hand on him caused an ache he’d rather not have in front of his brothers or, heaven forbid, Lucia. He didn’t remove her hand though.
She sat next to him and took a sip of her steaming mug of coffee while she let her hand drop and entwine with his.
He caught sight of Lucia as she headed out toward his father.
He’d never been so content until he’d met Sylvia.
“I’m Aiden,” his brother said and offered his hand when she sat down. Sylvia took the offered hand with a smile and shook it. “You were half asleep last night, so I wasn’t sure if you’d remember.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry. With the flight being delayed, it was so late when we finally arrived that I could hardly keep my eyes open.”
“You made it, which is the good thing,” Dante added.
“It is, and I’m so glad we did. It’s beautiful here. So peaceful.”
Aiden snickered. “It’s only peaceful because not everyone is here.”
“Don’t spoil it for her,” Eric chuckled. “It’s not that bad. It’s family.”
“Nothing can spoil my time here, and I can’t wait to see you all together. But first, I hope I’m going to get to play in the snow.”
“I thought we’d try some horse riding,” Eric suggested, and hoped she wouldn’t panic too much. “There are a couple of horses that are so damn gentle, you’ll forget that you’re sitting astride one.”
He watched as she gulped, her smile slipping. “I’m not sure…”
“I won’t let anything happen to you. Trust me, Sylvia.”
“I do trust you. It’s the horse I’m not too sure about.”
“You’ll be fine. Snow White will look after you,” Aiden promised.
Sylvia smiled. “Snow White? I like that name.” She sighed. “Okay, I can do this, right?”
“You can do anything, babe.”
“Enjoy,” Dante added as he got to his feet and left the room.
Eric frowned and looked at Aiden who wore a similar expression of worry. Their brother still looked troubled, but Eric was glad that Dante had asked someone to stand in for him with the Thanksgiving service so that he could join the family.
“I thought I had a lot on my mind,” Aiden mumbled before his attention went back to Sylvia. “Enjoy yourself out there. Snow White will make you a horse lover.”
“Thanks, Aiden.” Sylvia smiled, and looked excited as her gaze met Eric’s. “I’m ready.”
Eric chuckled with how eager she now looked.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Snow White had been so fragile with her that she’d fallen in love with the gypsy vanner. They hadn’t stayed outside too long because the temperature rapidly dropped with the weather turning fierce.
