13. Beckett #2
“Dad,” I began, my tone pleading. I hadn’t called him that since I was a boy.
“Think about this for a second. The Harts and the Bennetts are universally loved around here. I’ve seen that after only a handful of days.
” I asked around when I stopped by town.
There wasn’t a single person who didn’t have something nice to say about them.
“Making them your enemy won’t do you any favors.
What’s the point of selling if you alienate yourself from the town? ”
“What do I care about that place or the people there? They can pack up and leave if they don’t fucking like how much traffic I bring to their shitty economy. Anyone who doesn’t want to play nice will be replaced.” He snapped his fingers. “Just like that.”
I closed my eyes and counted to five. Any hope I had of negotiating had just been thrown out the window. This battle was one of ego and nothing more. Unfortunately for all of us, my father’s had a tendency to come out on top.
“Take care of this, Beckett. Keep your foot on their throats, and answer the phone when I call.” The man laughed. “And don’t get distracted by small town pussy while you’re there. The last thing this family needs is an illegitimate brat running around.”
“One’s enough for you, huh?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Even though he had no idea Sawyer even existed, the idea of him referring to her in such a crude way made my blood boil.
And who was he to talk about illegitimate children and affairs?
How easily he seemed to have forgotten his own scandals when his accountant sent Tatum’s monthly allowance.
“Watch your fucking mouth, son,” he snarled. “Don’t forget who controls your future.”
Keep calm, Beckett. Don’t lose your fucking head now. “Got it,” I exhaled, running my tongue along my teeth. My jaw ached from clenching it so hard.
“We’ll talk soon. Remember… Pick up the goddamn phone next time.”
The line went dead before I could say anything else, leaving me in silence. I sat there for a minute, trying to get a hold of my anger. My father had the ability to get under my skin like no one else. He knew exactly what to do, what to say, to make me lose my goddamn mind.
If I were at home, I’d hit the gym or go for a run.
Exercise helped me more than a psychiatrist ever could.
My anger had scared me from the time I was old enough to realize how closely it tied me to my father.
Thankfully, Tatum liked to remind me that while we both might’ve shared the tendency to lose our tempers, he’d never tried to get a handle on it like I did. That was what set us apart.
I wanted to believe that, but sometimes all I saw was his face staring back at me when I looked in the mirror.
So full of envy and fueled by rage. Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in a cold sweat, from nightmares in which I found myself in a boardroom, morphing into him like the Hulk.
While it was almost comical to say out loud, it was my worst nightmare in reality.
Even if I didn’t have access to a gym, or time to go for a run to purge it from my system, I had Sawyer. My eyes glanced toward the front of the building. She was just through that door, so close that my body couldn’t resist her.
Before stepping out of my car, I sucked in a deep breath through my nose and exhaled through my mouth.
Then I repeated it three more times for good measure, taking care to hold each one for at least five seconds.
She shouldn’t have to see this side of me.
The last thing I wanted was to walk inside and have my fears written all over my face.
When I felt calm enough, I got out of my vehicle and headed straight for my girl. Yes, I was being presumptuous, and no, I may not have known exactly what I wanted when it came to us, but I was determined to toss the word “friend” out of her vocabulary as it applied to me.
Frank’s was crowded for a Thursday. Hell, it was crowded every day, it seemed like. Clearly, it was a popular hangout for people who needed to take the edge off a long day at work.
I spotted Sawyer immediately. She was standing behind the bar, still wearing her oversized Frank’s T-Shirt and leggings, talking with an old man I recognized from the last time I was here.
He looked up at her like she was the best part of his day.
His weathered hands clutched a shot of amber colored liquid before knocking it back.
She watched him closely, laughing when he started coughing and slid a glass of water his way.
“You know, at some point you’ll need to face that your whiskey days are behind you, Gerald,” she said with a coy smile.
“Bah,” he huffed, graciously taking a sip of water. “Them days’ll be over when I’m dead and buried. Maybe not even then.” He turned to another gentleman sitting beside him. “You think they’ll bury me with a bottle?”
“Don’t know, and don’t care. I’ll be sure to die before you do, though, so I don’t have to figure it out,” the other man said.
Sawyer’s eyes lit up as she watched the old men bicker back and forth.
Goddamn, she was beautiful. Her copper hair fell in thick waves down her back.
It shone beneath the neon lights every time she moved.
It drew me in. Made me want to run my fingers through her strands or wrap them tightly around my fist.
I had just started to walk over when Duke popped up in my direct line of sight.
He narrowed his eyes and tipped his head toward his side of the bar.
A clear command. Normally, I wouldn’t care about stepping on his toes and telling him no, but at present I needed him as badly as he needed me.
There was no room in this little partnership for a dick measuring contest.
Duke Bennett was an imposing man. We may have been damn near the same height, but he had a good fifty pounds on me and perpetual scowl on his face unless he was staring at his wife. I bet the man could snap me like a twig if he wanted to.
I mean, I wasn’t a betting man, but if I were, I’d say he probably did.
“What’re you doing here?” he asked, placing his hands on the bartop.
“Hello, Duke. It’s nice to see you, too,” I said brightly. He didn’t laugh, so I blew out a breath and nodded behind him. “I’m here to pick Sawyer up for dinner.”
Duke followed my gaze before swinging his mean mug back to me. “Why?”
I didn’t understand the question. “Why what?”
“Why are you picking her up for dinner?”
“Why not? She was kind to me when I was here last. Figured it’d be nice to see a familiar face,” I said, sticking my hands in my pockets. “Is that okay?”
He didn’t respond right away, taking the time to study me like we had all the time in the world. “I was kind to you, and I didn’t get a dinner invitation.”
At that, I laughed. “Aw, did you want one? I didn’t think you were too keen on me.”
“I’m not,” he said matter-of-factly. “Just pointing out that your explanation of seeing a familiar face is bullshit.”
Well, damn. He got me there.
Sawyer popped up behind Duke before I could respond, offering a shy smile. She looked up at her boss expectantly, waiting for him to say something or leave. Instead, he settled in and leaned against the counter behind him with his arms crossed.
It was clear he didn’t trust me. I didn’t even entirely blame him, but couldn’t he have perched somewhere else to cut the awkward tension?
Sawyer cleared her throat and swung that piercing green gaze back to me. “I’m running a few minutes behind. Are you okay to wait while I get changed?”
I nodded, returning her smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’m easily entertained. Besides, your boss is excellent company.”
Duke snorted and shook his head, walking away. Apparently, he didn’t like the idea of keeping me company after all.
Sawyer leaned forward conspiratorially. “I don’t think anyone believes Duke makes excellent company. Even Olivia knows what a grump he can be.”
“Fine by me. It wasn’t his company I wanted anyway,” I said with a wink.
Apparently, that was the right thing to say because Sawyer’s cheeks grew pink at my words, a sight I’d never tire of. Then she rolled her eyes. “Give me five,” she said, turning to leave before I could respond.