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Okay, he must have chatted with Devon on one of the days that I wasn’t here. “Silas, we’re friends. You know Devon doesn’t do committed relationships, and I respect that decision.”

“Nah,” Silas responded. “That’s a big bunch of horse manure. That was his choice for years, but the right woman can change everything for a man. It’s not like he’s not capable of doing it. He’s just chosen not to because he’s never met the right one. I don’t know what happened to that boy, and it really doesn’t matter. But he doesn’t trust easily. Behind his jokes and his cynicism, he’s just a regular guy. He really doesn’t want to end up alone. He’s just chosen not to trust anyone, so he’s convinced himself that he can’t or doesn’t want to commit.”

I winced a little when he’d mentioned the fact that Devon didn’t trust easily.

I knew that was true, and I was the last woman that he should trust.

I’d been living a lie since the moment I’d driven into town months ago.

Guilt gnawed at me relentlessly every single day.

The closer I got to people in this town, the guiltier I felt.

The closer I got to Devon the more I’d realized that something probably had happened to bring on the distrusting, cynical side of his personality. It definitely wasn’t part of his nature. He’d been raised by the same parents as Tanner and Kaleb. By all accounts, he’d had an incredible childhood.

However, I couldn’t expect him to share his secrets when I couldn’t share mine.

He had a right to hold back whatever he wanted from me.

And he had absolutely no reason to trust me.

“He trusts you,” Silas said like he’d just read my mind.

I lifted a brow. “How do you know that?”

“What man gives a woman he doesn’t trust a key to his mansion?” he asked.

My eyes widened even more. “How do you know I have a key to his place?”

Devonhadgiven me the key to his home so I could go there after work to use the gym and the pool while he was gone.

He actually locked his doors when he was away.

Silas grinned. “Someone saw you heading out toward his place yesterday after work. Word gets around here pretty quickly.”

“Then you already knew he was out of town,” I said suspiciously.

He nodded. “I knew. I was just giving you a hard time about Devon because I know that you two are sweet on each other. Everyone knows everything that happens here. People have been talking about you two for weeks now.”

“We’re not—”

“You are,” Silas said, cutting off my protest. “You’re both just too hardheaded to realize it yet. And please don’t give me the excuse that you’re just friends. You’re both romantically interested. I just can’t figure out why you’re not dating. Do you want to fill me in?”

No. No, I really didn’t want to explain that. “It’s complicated, Silas,” I muttered.

“Life is complicated, Reese,” he said wryly. “Look, I know you didn’t come here because you were longing to live in Crystal Fork, Montana. My guess is you’re running away from something. But whatever that is, don’t let it ruin something that could be good for you.”

God, I really wished that I could just tell him why Devon and I couldn’t be together, even if Devon decided he wanted some kind of relationship, but that wasn’t possible.

I knew Silas was trying to help me, and I was grateful that he cared enough to try, but there was no help for my situation right now.

I shot him a small smile. “Thanks for the advice.”

What else could I say?

“Just tell me this,” Silas requested. “Do you ever plan on telling Devon that you’re interested?”

I stopped trying to pretend that Devon was just a friend. Silas obviously knew that there was some kind of chemistry between the two of us. “I care about him” I said honestly. “But I’m not sure what the future holds for me.”