Page 28 of Love in Montana (De La Fuente Family 1)
âI am.â Smiling, Sylvia joined Eric on the sofa and curled into his side. She might have woken from her nap, but she still felt tired.
âI was just telling Eric,â Dante started, and snagged Sylviaâs attention, âthat tomorrow Iâll take you into the back country. The lakes and mountains are wonderful to visit. Itâs beautiful, albeit cold and thicker snow up there, but itâs breathtaking. A storm is due in a few days so itâs best to get it over with as soon as possible so you donât miss out.â
He wasnât lying about the cold. Winter seemed to have already started in Colorado, which was why Eric had made her pack her thermal clothes and winter gear. To which she was grateful. She actually couldnât wait to get outside and up into the mountains. The solitude would bother others, but not Sylvia. She loved the peace and quiet, which was why she had set her heart on the cottage outside of Lexington. It was surrounded by fields. Her nearest neighbor would be a couple of miles down the road. A total escape for her when she wasnât at work.
âYou game?â Eric whispered into her ear while he caressed her hip with his wandering hand.
âYes. I canât wait to explore.â She tried not to sound too eager or act like a child because she was excited. It was her first time in Colorado and she didnât want to spend it resting indoors.
âWeâll have to get Emelia to come with us.â Eric met his brotherâs gaze and returned Danteâs frown.
Perhaps they did know something was going on with their sister and didnât know how to help her. Or perhaps theyâd tried and been knocked back for interfering, especially if it was a female problem.
âIâm not sure thatâs a good idea,â Dante finally announced. âSheâll be more of a hindrance than anything.â
âThanks, brother.â Emelia stood in the doorway looking as though she fought back tears. âItâs nice to know what you really think of me.â
She turned and her feet were heavy as she ran up the stairs.
âFuck! Dante, why canât you keep your mouth shut,â Eric steamed. âItâs obvious to anyone that something is wrong with her, and youâre not helping.â
âI didnât know she was there,â Dante mumbled, but his eyes said more than that. They said he was hurting. âAnd watch your mouth.â Dante glared at his brother.
âWeâre not in your church, brother.â Eric looked away, his anger noticeable.
Sylvia took his hand and kissed his palm before sliding hers inside.
âThank you,â he whispered before glancing back to his brother. âYou need to apologize to her. She looked too upset to just let it go.â
Dante sighed, and looked tired as he moved to follow his sister. âIâll try, but Iâm not sure she likes me anymore.â
His words and the way he said them was as though he had just lost the woman he loved.â
When she heard Danteâs feet on the stairs, Sylvia turned and faced Eric, confused.
That was no brother and sister fall out, it appeared to be a lot more. âWhatâs going on with them?â
âI mentioned before that theyâd never lived under the same roof.â
Sylvia nodded.
âThe truth is what I think is going on is probably so far from the truth, at least I hope it is, consideringâ¦â He didnât finish his sentence, which left Sylvia more puzzled than before. What was he trying to say?
âDonât think about it. I try not to.â Eric settled her back against the sofa, and swung her legs up over his lap. âHow are you really feeling?â
âIâm really okay. Stop worrying about me.â The idea of him worrying about her made her feel loved, and a soft look crossed her face as she gazed at him. âIâm happy, Eric. Happier than Iâve been in a long time, and I owe that to you.â
âIâm not sure how I feel about that.â He frowned. âThis whole thing is new to me, and Iâm worried Iâm going to screw it all up.â
âDonât worry about that because youâre doing well so far.â She smiled, and was seconds away from climbing onto his lap, when Dante reappeared.
Dante sighed and poured himself a whiskey before he turned to face them. When he did, though, his face looked strained. As though he was holding himself in check.
; Sylvia glanced at Eric, who frowned at his brother before she settled her gaze back on Dante. He placed the untouched glass down and started for the door. âIâm going next door for a while.â He disappeared.
A five minute walk away, which was next door, was the church that Dante presided over. Eric had told her on their trip to Denver that Dante had been there for a few years and that he loved the solitude and his congregation.