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His sister beamed as she passed out dessert plates. “Silas, do you mind getting the coffee pot?”
Silas went to the kitchen, bringing the coffee pot and holding a cell phone in his other hand. “I’ll set up the cell phone for you.”
Matthew watched as Silas took his seat again while Ginny scooped out a generous serving of the truffle onto Alanna’s plate.
“Can I have a little more?” she asked, not taking her plate back. “Strawberry truffle is my favorite dessert.”
Ginny gave her another generous scoop.
“Thank you.” Blushing, Alanna set her dessert plate down then immediately speared a fork into a huge strawberry with a dollop of whipped cream. She licked the whipped cream off before eating the fruit.
Imagining her licking something else, he didn’t pay attention to Ginny filling his plate.
Nudging his shoulder with her hip, Ginny forced him back to awareness at the hungry way he was watching Alanna.
Everyone at the table started making exaggerated efforts to eat their strawberries in a way that made fun of him staring at her. After giving each of his brothers threatening glares, he kept his gaze downcast on his own plate.
“Here you go, Ginny,” Silas said, giving the cell phone to Ginny. “You can put yours and Gavin’s cell phone number in then pass it down.”
Silas turned his attention to Alanna. “Tomorrow morning, Ginny will walk you around the rest of the property, show you the jobs you’ll be taking over for her. You can start work on Monday.”
“But … that’s three days away. I can work this weekend,” Alanna protested.
“Monday is soon enough. Your salary is for Monday through Friday. Tomorrow isn’t a day off. By the time she gets done showing you around, you’ll need Friday off. You can also use Friday to make a list of what you want from your home so Ginny can pack for you.”
He turned his attention to his sister. “Matthew and Isaac volunteered to drive you. They know you’ve been wanting to go shopping.”
“You don’t have to.” Alanna glanced at Ginny worriedly. “I don’t want to put any of you out. I can make do—”
“You’ll be doing her a favor.” It was Gavin who put an end to her protests. “She’s been asking me to take her. It will give me and Freddy a boys’ day.”
Unlike with Silas, Alanna didn’t argue with Gavin. The quick darts of fear she kept casting in Gavin’s direction showed she was afraid of him.
“I’ll do the dishes.” Getting up from the table, Alanna started picking up the dirty dishes.
“Leave them. It’s Fynn and Jody’s turn.” Matthew stood up from the table to take the dishes away from her. “Isaac, key in my number for her,” he said from over his shoulder as he carried the dishes to the sink.
When he walked out of the kitchen, he saw Alanna heading out the front door with Moses, Gavin, and Ginny carrying Freddy. Rushing forward, he was following Ginny when Silas pulled him back, shutting the door.
“Gavin and Ginny are going to walk her back to the trailer.”
Matthew shook Silas’ hand off his arm. “I’m walking her—”
“No, you’re not.” Silas maneuvered in front of the door, blocking him from leaving.
“Move, Silas.”
“No. You’ll scare her off if you come on too strong. After she saw you, I was afraid she would go for the truck instead of coming in the front door. Don’t lose your shit when you’re so close to having it all.”
His jaw jutted out stubbornly. “Move … I just want to talk to her a little longer.”
Isaac, Jody, Ezra, and Fynn moved in front of Silas.
Isaac raised a brow at him. “We both know you’re wanting more than talking. If Silas can act normal in front of his woman for years, then you can, too, for a few weeks until she gets to know you better.”
“She knows me.”
“She thinks you’re a figment of her imagination. She thinks we both are,” Silas said from behind his brothers. “You didn’t see her face when she realized you were in jail with her. You missed how she wouldn’t take Freddy from Ginny until she moved away from Gavin.” Silas gave a deep sigh. “Once she gets comfortable with you and the rest of us, it will be easier to tell her.”
