“Are we being stupid here?” Michael asked. “Isn’t this just like all those summer flings in high school and college? All hot and heavy for the season, and then everyone goes back to real life?”

“Not if we convince them to stay,” Silas said grimly.

“What if we can’t?”

“Maybe I’ve been feeling a little overconfident in my ability to make her want to stay,” he admitted. Maybe that was the root of it. He’d been certain she was meant to be his and hadn’t actually considered the idea that Maggie didn’t know it. Or worse, would decide to ignore it.

“You’re expecting her to give up everything to stay here with you. She’s built her entire career around wanderlust. New adventures. Your life, your career—they’re both built on roots. Literally.” Michael took a breath and glanced at him. “Sy, maybe you don’t want to hear this. But you already had one woman hang around town for you for five years, and that didn’t pan out. If you’re serious about this one, maybe you should be thinking more about what she wants and a little less about what you want.”

Silas opened his mouth to argue but then closed it again. Kinship was his home. He’d never thought about living anywhere else. Never thought there’d be anything or anyone who could tempt him to dig out his roots and transplant himself.

He’d taken Maggie showing up in Kinship as a sign, especially after learning about her history. But he’d assumed it was a sign for her to stay. Not a sign for him to go.

They returned to their seats, and Silas accepted a sleepy Keaton from Wallace, who had been lecturing the kid on the finer points of the shortstop position. Silas settled the toddler against his chest and gazed at the men around him.

What would his life be like without them down the block or across the hall or waiting for him at Decked Out?

What would his life be like without the roots he’d planted in Kinship?

Darealmvpeen: My female would never be allowed to work outside the home. Especially not with power tools.

BiyatchPleeeeez: @Darealmvpeen. The 1800s are calling. They want your dumb ass back.

36

36

“Are you sure they can be trusted with a toddler?” Dayana asked again.

“Day, I think between all of them, including the two who raised children into adulthood, they’ll be able to keep up with Keaton,” Maggie pointed out as she stuck white tapers into the wooden candelabra she’d found in a shop window downtown when she went hunting for another bed and matching chairs for the dining table that afternoon. At this rate, there would be nothing left to stage when the house was complete.