“Of course you don’t.” Sylvia slipped free of his grip and moved closer to her friend before she pulled Talya into her arms. “You know he cares for you even though he can be a dick at times. All men are on occasion.”
Eric cleared his throat, and amusement shone in his green eyes when Sylvia met his gaze. “Dick’s huh?”
She rolled her eyes. “Present company excluded…for now.”
Holding his hand out, Eric stood and pulled her into his arms. He rested his chin on the top of her head and met her friend’s gaze. “I’ll look after her.”
“I know you will,” Talya said.
With a slight nod, he caressed up Sylvia’s arms and looked into her eyes. She was beautiful and the way she looked at him was humbling. It was as though he was her whole world, and even though he’d realized that she was going to be his woman and that he cared deeply for her, he was afraid of letting her down.
“We need to get you checked out again with the doc to make sure you’re okay to fly after having a concussion. All being well, we’ll leave tomorrow.” He kissed her brow.
“Okay. Come and help me pack.” She took his hand and led him to her bedroom.
Eric sat on her bed and before he could have much of a look around, the door was closed and she was straddling his thighs. His arms wrapped around her as he snuggled her close. “I thought we were packing.”
“We will. I just need you close for a few minutes before you leave.”
Leave?
“Leave? Babe, when I leave, you’ll be with me.” Did she not know that he had no intention of letting her get away from him?
“I am?”
“Sylvia,” he cupped her face in his hands and after planting a quick kiss to her lips, he continued, “Where I go, you go. Where you go, I go. Is that clear about what is going to happen between us? I’m not obsessive or any of that shit, but I like having you next to me during the night. I don’t want to miss you.”
“Wow. Okay then. I’d like that, and in truth, that’s what I wanted. I just didn’t want to push you into something you weren’t sure about.”
Eric gave her a megawatt grin, which soon turned lustful when Sylvia’s eyes darkened with arousal. “The only thing I’m sure about right now is my want of you.” He sealed his mouth over hers.
Their mouths blended together, and when their tongues tangled together, he knew that he intended to keep this woman as his.
Chapter Fourteen
After her nap on arrival at Dante’s house in Frederick, Colorado, Sylvia made her way downstairs by following the masculine voices she could hear. She hadn’t napped for too long, although her stomach told her that she’d probably missed dinner.
Dante’s home was a log cabin, and fit well into the scenery. From anywhere in the house, she could see the beautiful vistas, but the mountains were breathtaking when you stepped onto the wraparound porch. It didn’t matter on which side of the cabin you stood, the view was amazing. It was no wonder that Dante hadn’t moved since he’d arrived in Frederick.
Eric hadn’t told her the full story of his brother, but she’d caught Dante deep in thought several times since they’d arrived, which told her more than anyone could. He was troubled.
Their sister, Emelia, seemed really nice, although a tad bit quiet, which surprised Sylvia considering how much Emelia had talked and teased at Ramon’s wedding. She did nothing but make digs at Caprice, her brother Mateo’s fiancée. So the quiet girl, who was only two years older than Sylvia, had to be troubled, too.
Neither of the men seemed to want to deal with whatever was going on, and Sylvia wasn’t all that sure if her concern would be received well by Emelia.
“Hey, you’re awake.” She’d been spotted by Eric, and felt all eyes on her as he made his observation.
“I am.” Smiling, Sylvia joined Eric on the sofa and curled into his side. She might have woken from her nap, but she still felt tired.
“I was just telling Eric,” Dante started, and snagged Sylvia’s attention, “that tomorrow I’ll take you into the back country. The lakes and mountains are wonderful to visit. It’s beautiful, albeit cold and thicker snow up there, but it’s breathtaking. A storm is due in a few days so it’s best to get it over with as soon as possible so you don’t miss out.”
He wasn’t 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 couldn’t 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 wasn’t at work.
“You game?” Eric whispered into her ear while he caressed her hip with his wandering hand.
“Yes. I can’t wait to explore.” 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 didn’t want to spend it resting indoors.
“We’ll have to get Emelia to come with us.” Eric met his brother’s gaze and returned Dante’s frown.
Perhaps they did know something was going on with their sister and didn’t know how to help her. Or perhaps they’d tried and been knocked back for interfering, especially if it was a female problem.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Dante finally announced. “She’ll be more of a hindrance than anything.”
“Thanks, brother.” Emelia stood in the doorway looking as though she fought back tears. “It’s nice to know what you really think of me.”
She turned and her feet were heavy as she ran up the stairs.
“Fuck! Dante, why can’t you keep your mouth shut,” Eric steamed. “It’s obvious to anyone that something is wrong with her, and you’re not helping.”
“I didn’t know she was there,” Dante mumbled, but his eyes said more than that. They said he was hurting. “And watch your mouth.” Dante glared at his brother.
“We’re not in your church, brother.” Eric looked away, his anger noticeable.
Sylvia took his hand and kissed his palm before sliding hers inside.
“Thank you,” he whispered before glancing back to his brother. “You need to apologize to her. She looked too upset to just let it go.”
Dante sighed, and looked tired as he moved to follow his sister. “I’ll try, but I’m not sure she likes me anymore.”
His words and the way he said them was as though he had just lost the woman he loved.”
When she heard Dante’s 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. “What’s going on with them?”
“I mentioned before that they’d never lived under the same roof.”
Sylvia nodded.
“The truth is what I think is going on is probably so far from the truth, at least I hope it is, considering…” He didn’t finish his sentence, which left Sylvia more puzzled than before. What was he trying to say?
“Don’t think about it. I try not to.” Eric settled her back against the sofa, and swung her legs up over his lap. “How are you really feeling?”
“I’m really okay. Stop worrying about me.” The idea of him worrying about her made her feel loved, and a soft look crossed her face as she gazed at him. “I’m happy, Eric. Happier than I’ve been in a long time, and I owe that to you.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about that.” He frowned. “This whole thing is new to me, and I’m worried I’m going to screw it all up.”
“Don’t worry about that because you’re doing well so far.” 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. “I’m going next door for a while.” 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.
Dante was a handsome man, and Sylvia couldn’t understand what would leave such a man with a yearning for priesthood. She always associated priests with older guys. She wouldn’t be surprised if his congregation sat at mass on a Sunday and drooled over him.
Why would a priest be so troubled though?
“Have I lost you?” Sylvia jumped at Eric’s words.
“What?” Sylvia blinked, and focused her attention on him. “Sorry. I was thinking about something.”
“Hmm. My brother no doubt.” Eric smiled. “He gives me a lot to think about on most occasions…You know what? You need to see the sky from outside.” Eric jumped up and pulled her up with him.
At the door, he helped Sylvia into a thermal fleece, and pulled on his own before he held the door open for her to step outside.
“It’s a clear night, and just look at the stars.”
“It’s breathtaking,” Sylvia commented as she leaned against the porch railing to gaze up at the night sky.
“Yes she is,” Eric whispered.
Sylvia turned and realized Eric was talking about her. The look in his eyes said more than anything ever could, and as he came and stood behind her, his arms curved around her stomach in a loving caress. With a slight tug, he had her wrapped up in his strong arms, and she felt like he never intended to let her go. So, as they watched the stars together, she prayed he never would.
Chapter Fifteen
The morning walk had turned into something more and Eric didn’t know whether to be disgruntled or not. Since they’d started walking, both Sylvia and Emelia had been chatting away, which left him to talk to his brother. Eric had wanted to talk to Dante for a while now to try and get to the bottom of what bothered him. He just didn’t expect Sylvia to pass him over for his sister. He knew he was being too damn childish but he just couldn’t help himself.
When they’d set off from Dante’s cabin that morning, everyone had been quiet, and probably still sleepy, because God knew he had been after having a naked Sylvia in his arms all night. They’d made love twice—a frantic coupling in the shower and then a slow seduction in bed. Sylvia had been worried about making too much noise with Dante and Emelia being under the same roof, but they’d managed it. He would have had to use his hand if she’d refused because he’d been so fucking hard for her.
With a quick rearrange in his jeans, Eric stopped to admire the view of the mountains he could see peeping through the trees up ahead. He’d done this trek with Dante before, but the view and the approach never got old.
“You have it bad.” Dante laughed, stopping beside him.
Eric frowned.
“It’s written all over your face,” Dante continued, “plus, this is the first time you’ve ever introduced anyone to the family.”
He expected that to come up and it didn’t bother him like he thought it would. So he admitted, “I’m not letting her get away. For one, I’m not going to run unless it’s toward, Sylvia.” He sighed and gazed at his woman. “She’s one in a million and we’ve been dancing around each other for over twelve months now.”
“Twelve months?” Dante commented, and whistled. “That’s a hell of a long time for you. What took you so long?”
“She was dating Ramon.”
“What?”
“He took her out, and to family functions, but it turns out that when Ramon admitted to his feelings for Noah that Sylvia wasn’t as disappointed as she could have been. She’s mine now, so that’s all that really matters.”
Dante chuckled. “I’m happy for you, brother. I’ll wait to be asked to marry you both.”
Eric whipped his head around and faced Dante. “I never said that.” His heart beat frantically in his chest at the thought of a permanent commitment. He’d only just come to the realization that he couldn’t walk away from her, but marriage? Hell, that really did give him a fright.
The grin on Dante’s face when it finally registered told him he’d been successfully teased.
The ass!
“So, what’s going on with you?” Eric turned the tables on his brother. It was a question he’d wanted to ask and had waited for the right moment, so he figured the heart-to-heart was finally the right time.
At first he sensed his brother was going to lie, but then he admitted, “I’m tired, Eric.” He moved forward, away from the rock that Sylvia and Emelia were sitting on, and looked out to the valley below. “I don’t know what I want anymore. At one time, I knew exactly what I wanted and I went for it, but that ended and I became a priest.” Sighing, he sat on a large boulder and leaned forward, his arms rested against his thighs as he met Eric’s gaze. “I jumped at religion to hide.”
“Hide? From what?” Eric was puzzled.
“Life.” Dante glanced over to the women before the view in front of them held his focus. “Something happened that I’m not going to get into, and it sent me running scared, straight to the church. It was a split-second decision and one I’ve had to live with since then, as well as the consequences of what happened.”
“I’m confused. So you regret becoming a priest? Is that what you’re saying?” Eric needed him to clarify what he meant because it was the first time he’d ever heard that his brother regretted his decision.
“I don’t know anything anymore.” Again, Dante glanced at the women and Eric realized it wasn’t ‘the women’ his brother watched, it was their sister, Emelia.
“Let me ask you something else then. What’s going on with you and Emelia?” he whispered the question, and his tone held a note of dread. The last thing he needed was her to overhear them talking about her. Their sister had a temper and half. He sure as hell didn’t want it unleashed in front of Sylvia. “And don’t lie to me,” he added before Dante could reply.
“I wasn’t about to,” Dante hissed.
Eric didn’t really believe him, but let it go when it was obvious his brother was struggling with something.
“Emelia,” he said softly, “is nearly fourteen years my junior. We were never brought up together because I’d already left for school when she was born, and we’ve never lived in the same house. I know I spent a few nights here and there during school holidays, but they were so far between, and only a day or two, that they don’t even count. At first, I never looked at her as my sister out of spite for how quickly father remarried, and as time went by, I never saw her as my sister because I could only see her as…a beautiful, young woman.”
His head started to spin at Dante’s confession. Eric’s thoughts had drifted close to that outcome on more than one occasion, and he’d even hinted at such to Sylvia. He had no idea how he was supposed to react because Eric did consider Emelia his sister. She’d gotten under his skin as a baby when she used to cling to him and refuse to let go.
“It’s wrong on so many levels, and now she’s moved in with me and refuses to leave. She says she has nowhere else to go. Apparently, Diego’s a manwhore and lives with a revolving door, and Dad and Lucia constantly throw single guys at her.” Dante frowned. “I don’t want her around any of that.” Dante looked tormented when he finally met Eric’s gaze. “I’m a priest, Eric, and she’s my fucking sister,” he hissed, his voice breaking.
“You need to tell her to go home…Wait, how does she feel about you? Is this one-sided or does she…shit.” Eric stood beside his brother. “All the shit she’s done has been to get your attention. I heard about the night she went to Poles and you took her out of there. That’s it isn’t it?”
“I think so,” he admitted, resigned.
“Has anything ever happened between you
? Something that made it clear about this…this…attraction you both have going on.” He could hardly get the words out.
His brother and his sister! It was wrong because, while Emelia had a different mother, she was still their half-sister.
“It doesn’t matter.” Dante stood beside him and the silence washed over them until Dante admitted, “She kissed me on her twenty-first birthday.”
That surprised Eric because, back then, Emelia had been shy, but beautiful. Eric and his brothers had been fighting prospective boyfriends away from her since she’d turned sixteen. They were guys so they knew that boys that age only wanted inside a girl’s panties, and no way was anyone touching their sister. She hadn’t been interested though. And now he knew why.
“Are you telling me something else happened?”
Dante shook his head. “Not really.” He sighed. “You might as well know it all. She kissed me and turned me on like no one else ever had, so I ran to the church.” He laughed, but not in a happy way. “I was thirty-four and never had a reaction like that with anyone else. I prayed for answers and then followed those answers to the priesthood.”
Eric didn’t know how he felt about his brother’s confession, but, “They say confession is good for the soul,” he said out loud. “So maybe you’ll get some peace now.”
“Not as long as she’s living under the same roof as me.” He glanced at Emelia again, and cleared his throat. “This is between us, right?”
“You know it is.” Eric felt like he held the world on his shoulders with Dante’s heartfelt words. No wonder he’d been tormented all these years. No wonder he ran to the church.
Dante had always been deeply religious, so what happened back then would have been more difficult than it would have been for Eric or his brothers to deal with. Eric felt for his brother, no matter how wrong he thought what happened between Dante and Emelia was.
“You two have been in deep discussion,” Sylvia commented, and slipped her arm around his back. Emelia stayed sitting on the rock and, after a quick glance over to them, turned back to the view in front of her.
Love in Montana Page 9
