Chapter 29
BEAU
“Thanks for letting us crash at your place last night,” Maverick says as he pours some iced tea.
“Anytime.” My family has congregated at Rhett’s place as requested. “Is your power back on?”
“Yup. That sort of thing has never been a big deal, but with Leo, we need access to water.”
“Of course. Happy I could help.”
He steals a cookie off a tray. “Were you working? Did you stay at the firehouse?”
“Um. I stayed with a friend.”
He pauses with the cookie halfway to his mouth. “A friend or a friend?”
“Something like that.”
Everyone moves to the living room and crams onto Rhett’s L-shaped couch. They’re smiling and eating.
I wipe my palms on my jeans as I sit across from them. This shit’s nerve-wracking. I can’t imagine what Honey’s going through. My brothers support me, and I’m still nervous.
Jace shoves a sopapilla in his mouth. “This is about that thing.” He gives me a knowing look.
“What thing?” Mav asks as he reaches for the honey.
“The thing I walked in on the other day.”
Fucker. But I can’t curse because my niece and nephews are within earshot, playing at the kitchen table.
I clear my throat. “I need to give y’all a heads-up. I’m dating Honey McAllister, and I wanted you to know in case Trig finds out.” There. Done.
Everyone freezes. Rhett has a drink halfway to his mouth. Mav pauses mid-chew. Baylee’s eyes bulge.
Suddenly, Paige claps her hands. “I knew it!”
Baylee nods and holds out her hand. “Pay up.”
Rhett and Mav reach for their wallets while Jace frowns. “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this bet? I would’ve cleaned up.”
Baylee laughs. “You were out of town or doing a show or something.”
Paige points at me. “That’s why you were in the dressing room with Honey. You weren’t looking for an earring. You were smooching.”
“Guilty as charged. Sorry I fibbed. Wasn’t ready to share it.”
Rhett leans forward, his eyes squinty. “Is this why you were chopping wood that day like a pissed off Paul Bunyan?”
That was right after Honey and I had fucked in her SUV. “Yup.”
He nods slowly. “Makes sense.” Then he turns to Jace. “How did you find out about this?”
“’Cause I nearly walked in on them doing it.”
I growl, annoyed that he’s talking about Honey this way. “We weren’t doing it. And maybe if you understood something called privacy and knocked on my damn door—”
“Uncle Beau said ‘damn!’” Gabe shouts from the kitchen. He runs over and holds out the curse jar. I shove a dollar in it, and he trots off.
“That kid has great hearing.” I survey the expressions on everyone’s faces. “Sorry I didn’t tell y’all. This is new. Sorta.”
Paige gets a dreamy look on her face. “Is this why she used to hate you? Because she was secretly in love with you all this time?”
I stare back at her, not knowing what to say. “Um, well… we had a weird interaction several years ago, and—”
“What did you do?” Jace asks as he shoves food in his mouth.
“That’s none of your business. I’m not here to dissect my relationship with Honey. I just want everyone to be on guard in case Trig finds out. Cash wasn’t thrilled.”
Rhett’s brows lift. “Cash knows?”
I reluctantly explain what happened this morning. Out of everyone, I’m most concerned about Rhett’s reaction. As the oldest of us, he’s had to deal with Trig and Cash’s shit more than anyone else. Plus, Cash slept with Rhett’s ex, Amber. “I’m sorry he found out before I had a chance to tell you.”
Rhett stares at the floor a moment, then nods again. “I understand.”
“Are you okay with this? With me and Honey?”
“Yeah. I mean, there’s gonna be fallout for sure. But you deserve a great girl. I’ve never had a beef with her. You’ll always have my support. You know that.”
I let out a relieved breath. “Thanks, bro. That means a lot to me.”
“But I can’t imagine Trig or her father are gonna take this news well.” He rubs his chin. “I’ll make sure to post a few more ranch hands near our house and the cabin. Just in case there’s trouble. So we can have some backup if we need it.”
“That’s a good plan.” I should’ve known I could count on Rhett.
Baylee points to herself. “I feel the need to take a little credit for this relationship since I paired Beau and Honey for my wedding. Go me.”
Mav chuckles and kisses her. “You’re so smart.”
“I am, aren’t I?” She grins at him. “Frankly, I think I could have a future in matchmaking.” Baylee turns to Jace. “How do you feel about Rory?”
“Who?” he asks around a bite of food.
Baylee rolls her eyes. “The bridesmaid I paired you with for my wedding. She started working at my salon last year until she got certified to be a librarian. Remember?”
He shrugs. “She’s cool.” Ten bucks says he doesn’t remember.
Now that I’ve gotten all this off my chest, I’m ready to eat.
I slide two sopapillas onto my plate. “Listen, Honey’s talking to her dad this week about being in the wedding.
She plans to tell him about us after he’s had a minute to digest that.
She doesn’t want to overwhelm him, but I’m guessing that’s gonna happen regardless.
” I explain his plan to marry her off to some rich guy named Ian.
“Like a dang mail-order bride.” Baylee motions over her shoulder. “Tell Honey that Mav and I will hide her on our farm before we let that happen to her.”
“Thanks, but if anyone’s gonna protect Honey, it’s me.” The thought of Vernon trying to force Honey to do something she doesn’t want makes me downright livid.
Baylee makes a circle at me with her finger. “You got a little growly there.”
Paige nods. “Very caveman. I approve.”
I mean, yeah, I’m protective of Honey. “Thanks, I think.”
“Bay and I love Honey, so anything you need to make this happen, we’re on board. Because it’s never too early to plan another wedding.”
I choke on my iced tea. “I don’t think we’re at that point yet.”
She smirks. “The key word in that sentence is yet.” She and Baylee high-five each other. Those two are trouble. I’m pretty sure if we add Honey to that mix, my brothers and I are in some deep shit. The thought makes me chuckle to myself.
Before he leaves, Mav pats me on the back. “Happy for you, bro. Kinda shocked, but happy.” Jace and Rhett both share similar sentiments.
As I walk home to my cabin, I start to wonder if maybe this won’t be so hard after all. Perhaps Honey and I have blown this whole thing out of proportion and our families won’t have some huge showdown. Cash eventually took it in stride. Perhaps the rest of her family won’t freak out either.
Or maybe that’s wishful thinking.