Chapter 6
chapter six
Beau
I wait until what I think is a reasonable time of the morning to head over to Daisy’s. I never sleep well, so I’ve been up since before the sun rose. But by the time I park my truck by the cabins, it’s nearly a quarter after ten. Daisy had mentioned that pregnancy affects sleep, so hopefully I won’t be waking her up.
As it turns out, I don’t have to worry about it because Daisy is outside with Mouse on his leash. There is an older woman standing near them frowning and talking wildly with her hands.
I do not like the look of whatever is going on. My stride eats up the space between my truck and the women. When I reach Daisy, I instinctively reach out and put my hand at the small of her back.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“No!” the older woman snaps. “Everything is not okay. It came to my attention that not only was this young lady staying in one of the cabins without her name being on the lease, but she was doing so with a dog that exceeds the weight limit for pets in these facilities.” Somehow the short older lady manages to look down on me.
Considering I’m at least a head taller than her, that seems impressive, if not annoying.
“It’s her brother’s cabin. She’s only staying there temporarily,” I explain.
“Mr. Harrington should have sought permission before hand in writing with at least a thirty-day notice.”
I stare at the grey-haired tyrant. “Thirty days ago she didn’t know she’d be coming back to Texas.”
“A policy is a policy, Mr.,” she pauses waiting for me to fill in the blank, but I turn away from her to face Daisy.
Her eyes swim in tears and her cheeks are streaked. What kind of geriatric monster can make a beautiful pregnant woman cry.
“She says that not only can Mouse not stay, but I can’t either,” Daisy says.
“Do you want me to call your brother?”
Daisy shakes her head. “No, I don’t want to involve him in my mess. He’s already got his hands full with the estate stuff.” Her eyes meet mine and it’s like a kick to my solar plexus. “Beau? What am I going to do?”
“I’ve got you.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and squeeze her close to me. “Let’s go get your stuff packed up.”
“But where will I go?”
“You’re coming home with me. I’ve got an extra bedroom, and I’m at the sanctuary most of the time, so you’ll have the house to yourself. Well, you and Mouse.”
“I can’t put you out that way. We barely know each other.”
“It’s not putting me out. Remember, you’re helping me with Mouse. Also, your brother would kick my ass if I let you end up homeless.”
I have a feeling that ass kicking is coming to me for one reason or another.
Daisy sniffs and nods. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.” I turn my focus on the grey-haired woman. “We’ll be out of your hair in twenty minutes. But I want to go on the record as to saying this policy is ridiculous. Also, you made a pregnant woman cry. Did you want to kick her dog too while you’re at it?”
I don’t give the indignant woman a chance to respond, I turn Daisy and Mouse towards the cabin and we disappear inside.
Nearly two hours later I have both of them settled at my rental house that’s nestled on a quiet tree-lined street not too far from downtown. It hasn’t been updated in years, but it has great space, and the backyard is perfect for dogs.
By the time I make it out to the sanctuary I’m in a foul mood, still pissed about Daisy effectively being evicted. I storm into Dane’s office; the door slams against the opposite wall.
He just raises an eyebrow in response.
“Do you know who owns those rental cabins?”
“Well, a local family owned them for years but sold them about nine months ago, I guess. To some rental management company. Why? You look madder than a wet cat.”
“They evicted Daisy,” I say. “Some bullshit about needing a thirty-day notice from the leasee for someone else to sublet.”
Dane's office isn't big enough to pace but I'm still prowling around the small space.
“So we need to find somewhere for her to stay?” Dane asks.
“No. I solved that already. I was just hoping there was someone in town I could yell at.”
“What do you mean you solved it. Where is she?”
“At my house,” I say.
“Because you're clearly a moron or you have a death wish.”
I shrug. “It was a problem. I solved it. That's what I do.”
“And in true Grenadier form, you’re being about as subtle as a wrecking ball.”
“It’s not a big deal, Dane. I'm out here most of the time. Pretty much just go home to sleep.”
“Uh-huh,” Dane says, clearly unconvinced. He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Look, Beau, I know you were displaced all the time as a kid, so you can't really appreciate the protectiveness a brother feels over his sister. But surely you realize that you are playing with fire with this girl.”
“I’m not going to touch her. I know she's off limits.”
“You sure about that?” he asks.
“Yeah. Also, maybe what I'm feeling is that brotherly protectiveness over her.”
Dane nods slowly. “Sure. So I guess that means you didn't notice her tits?”
I turn on my buddy, lean forward and brace my hands on his desk. Anger, hot and thick surges through my body and I may or not be breathing fire at this moment.
“Don't you fucking talk about her like that. And keep your fucking eyes to yourself.”
He watches me for a moment, then points behind me. “Sit down, Ranger.”
I glare at him.
“NOW!”
I reluctantly lower myself into the chair behind me. I cross my arms over my chest. I know my legs are shaking. It’s one of the main reasons I was pacing. This much adrenaline needs some kind of outlet. But sitting here, it’s just gonna rattle through my legs.
“You gonna talk or just stare at me?” I ask.
“I’m trying to decide how fucked you actually are.”
“I don't know what you’re talking about.”
He spins his wedding band around his finger. “A brother’s warning means something,” he begins.
I'm about to say something but he holds his hand up to silence me.
“But it doesn't mean everything.”
I open my mouth, then close it.
“I’ve known you a long damn time, Beau. I've seen you with women and they've never meant more than a good time to you. Correct me if I'm wrong.”
“You're not,” I admit.
He nods. “I was the exact same. Until I wasn't. Until Shelby. Oh, I tried to one and done her—made my pretty girl cry. But I came to my senses, thankfully before I'd fucked everything up beyond repair.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“In case you need someone in your corner.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“If you find that the protectiveness you feel for Daisy isn't so brotherly, then I can help.”
“Help with what, exactly?”
He steeples his hands under his chin, and he looks like he's either going to ask me to help with world domination or he's about to drop some wisdom on my ass.
“I know you just met her. And I know she's carrying another man's baby. And she's one of OUR unit member’s younger sister. That's a whole hell of a lot of uncertainty. I wouldn't have wanted any of you fuckers near my sister, Daphne. Well, except maybe Evan, he’s a sweet kid. But I know you, brother, and there's a different look in your eyes when it comes to Daisy Harrington. I'm not saying something is happening between y’all. What I am saying is if things move in that direction. If you’re ready for something real, something long term. And if she'll have you. I'll help.”
I stare at my friend that I've known for years. I wait for some smart-ass remark to bubble out of my mouth, but nothing comes. So I just nod, and say, “Thank you.”
“I think for the time being, we should keep Daisy's whereabouts just between us. That's not the kind of thing Flynn needs to hear about when he's up to his eyeballs with legal nonsense.”
“Agreed.”
Dane stands and holds his hand out to me.
I shake it, then turn to go. But I pause.
“Is it worth it?” I ask, without turning around.
“Is what worth it?”
This time I do glance over my shoulder. “Marriage. The wife, family, cohabitation, all of that?”
“With the right person?” Dane nods. “Absolutely.”