Silas looked up at her. “Did you just tell me you loved me?” “Yes. I did. And now I’m going to get really romantic. Bend over so I can stick you in the butt.” There was a pause. And then Silas threw his head back and laughed that wonderful laugh of his, the deep, rolling sound bringing tears to her eyes, which she refused to entertain. Cutting them off, she put her hand on his shoulder. “This is more like it,” she said with a smile. But the levity didn’t last.

