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Not only was he a jerk, he was a total misogynist.
“Paying her bills?” Silas made a scoffing sound. “Please, she married me for my dick.”
I laughed, then swallowed it down based of the murderous look on Cheney’s face.
“You’re really married?” Cheney glanced at my hand. “I don’t see a ring.”
“I work in a coffee shop. Not the best place for the huge one he gave me.”
With Silas beside me now, his arm still slung about my shoulders, I saw him shrug. “Five carats may not have been the best choice. Sorry, kitten,” he added, kissing the top of my head.
Silas stopped his caresses on my shoulder, which was a shame, and looked to Cheney. “Your name is Douglas? Is it your family that owns that strip mine in the next county?”
“Yes,” he replied, practically preening that Silas knew about their success.
“That’s the one that’s up for environmental review due to ecological impacts, right?”
Cheney’s face turned a mottled red, no longer proud, but angry. “What the hell are you–”
“I wonder who the county commissioner is,” Silas continued, cutting Cheney off. “I mean, if Eve’s father can sway the local banks against his own daughter, then a guy like me might be able to sway some podunk, backwater politicians to shut your mine down.”
My mouth fell open. How did he know all this? Did I care? Not really. The look on Cheney’s face, a mixture of surprise and the possibility of a stroke was… awesome.
“You’re back,” June said, coming up and interrupting us and snarling at Cheney. “Here’s another coffee for you. I made it just like last time.To go.”
She shoved the small carry-out cup into his hand, and I imagined it to be laced with more powdered laxative.
“This isn’t over,” Cheney snapped. He gave his snooty glare to all three of us before grabbing the coffee and leaving. For being so rich, he didn’t turn down something free.
Silas turned me, set his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye. “I’m staying to make sure that asshole doesn’t come back.”
June waved off his words. “He’s not coming back today. Trust me,” she said before heading back behind the counter. “Oh, and Eve, the sink’s still dripping.”
“Do I want to know how she’s confident in that?” he asked. “About Douglas not coming back, not the sink.”
I shook my head, tried not to smile. “Probably not. Just don’t get on her bad side.”
“What’s up with the sink?”
I waved it off. “Nothing really. Just a little leak.”
“Get me a list of anything that needs fixing.”
“Not necessary. How did you know that stuff about Cheney and his family’s mine?” I wondered, trying to stay on the important stuff.
“When Mav was looking for parcels of land to buy for the inn, the mine came up as a problem for us. Views, environmental impact, zoning, the whole deal. I read a report on it.”
“Well, thanks for being there for me, husband,” I replied. Was it okay that I pulled that out?
He leaned in close, met my eyes. “No one messes with you, Eve. Including an ex. Hell, especially one. He needs to know it’s over.”
“I’ve been telling him for almost a year.”
He grunted, as if he didn’t like that and had thoughts in his head about changing that.
“I want that fix-it list. I’m putting your ex on it. I’ll make sure that was the last time he comes around.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat. I liked having someone on my side for once. “Um… about that wedding. It needs to be the real deal.” I couldn’t get control of my trust otherwise. But more importantly, I added, “Cheney’s going to look into the paperwork for it first thing.”
