Page 67 of Don't Burn Bridges
“About time,” Shane called from the dining room, though the grin on his face took any sting out of the words.
“Ignore him,” Paige said as she carried a bowl of mashed potatoes to the table. “He was ready to eat twenty minutes ago.”
“I was not.”
Tucker snorted. “You absolutely were.”
Seth pulled out a chair for Shylo before taking the one beside her. “Where are the girls?”
“Arianna's at a friend's house,” Paige said. “And Mya took Ashley to dinner with one of her daughters—Lisa, the one who's pregnant. She figured it was a good chance to show Lisa what life with a toddler is really like.”
“That just means more dessert for us,” Shane said.
Paige swatted him on the shoulder before taking her seat. “Your priorities never cease to amaze me.”
“Hey, my priorities are fine. Dessert comes after you, Tuck, and the kids every time.”
Everyone else laughed, while Paige rolled her eyes.
Seth settled back in his chair, listening to the easy banter around the table. It felt right—like Shylo had belonged there all along.
Chapter 25
Dinner should have tasted better than it did.
The brisket practically fell apart beneath Shylo's fork. The mashed potatoes were every bit as good as Seth had promised. And the fresh rolls disappeared almost as fast as Paige set the basket on the table. Conversation flowed easily around her, jumping from ranch work to the upcoming Rodeo Bonanza, then to Ashley's first ride on one of the ranch's oldest, gentlest ponies. From Shane’s point of view, she'd been fearless from the moment Tucker took hold of the lead rope. But according to Paige, the only one showing any nerves was Shane, who'd kept one arm around Ashley's waist the entire time. Seth agreed, earning himself a playful glare from Shane.
Shylo joined in when it felt expected.
She smiled.
She laughed.
She answered questions.
Every bit felt rehearsed.
All the while, Troy hovered at the edge of her thoughts like a storm cloud refusing to move on.
Five days.
That was the deadline he'd given her to march into Shane's life and demand half of an inheritance she wasn't even sure she wanted anymore.
Four days had already slipped away.
She had to tell Shane who she was, but it could wait until tomorrow morning because she wanted one more pleasant evening with his family. But after that, she was out of excuses. Once he learned the truth, he'd probably boot her off the ranch. Seth would stand beside him—hating her.
She wouldn't be able to blame him. While so much of their time together had been real, it had all started with a lie of omission.
Taking another bite of brisket, she forced herself to chew and swallow.
How had everything become so complicated so quickly?
Less than three weeks ago, Hazard Falls had simply been the place she'd come to confront the man who didn’t know she existed. Now, she looked forward to Sunday dinners and laughing with people who'd welcomed her without hesitation. Somewhere along the way, she'd stopped seeing the Wilsons as strangers and started imagining what it would be like to belong.
If Shane truly were her loving brother.
If Paige became family.
