Beard Necessities (Winston Brothers, #7)(52)

“Well, think of it this way, Billy. Your luggage should be much lighter now your burdens are spread among so many folks.”

Frustration beat like a drum between my ears and I stepped away from him. “If you or anyone else tells her, that’s not something I’ll be able to forgive.”

My brother grew very still. “Holding grudges, Billy? Because that’s worked so well for you.”

“As the reigning king of grudge holding in East Tennessee, I’d expect you to understand.”

“No, I don’t. And if anyone’s judgment can’t be trusted in this, it’s yours. You’re the most honorable, steadfast person I know. I admire you, I always have. We all do. You’re fearless, brave, selfless. You’re the best of us, except . . .” He paused, and it was one of those rare moments where his gaze was steady, open, and clear of all pretense. “Except when it comes to Scarlet. You forget yourself, you lose yourself.”

He didn’t understand what it was like. He couldn’t. He hadn’t been the one bandaging up her cuts after her father got to her. He hadn’t been the one listening to her sing. He hadn’t been the one lying in that hospital room. He hadn’t been the one forced to watch the woman he loved marry someone else, someone who treated her like trash. And then, she’d mourned the bastard.

Still, even now, the thought was torture, seeing her in pain, her spirit crushed, hating herself when she was everything good and kind and deserving. I’d been helpless to do anything for so long; I wasn’t gambling this chance now.

“I get it, I do, I get the desperation, the sense of powerlessness. What if she doesn’t forgive you? You’ve just reconnected, you don’t want to lose that. But, I’m telling you, she will. She’ll forgive you.”

“It’s not about that.” He wasn’t listening. He doesn’t understand.

“As a concession for your excellent progress today, I’ll give you the gift of time. Kiss the hell outta her on the train in front of God and witnesses, and I’ll give you a whole week. I promise. But you need to tell her the truth before she leaves for Nashville or for Rome.”

“I mean it, Cletus. I am not fucking around.” I spoke between gritted teeth. “I swear, you breathe a word and I will never forgive you.”

Something flashed behind his gaze, something unpleasant, angry, and he lowered his voice. “You know who you sound like, Billy? You sound like Darrell.”

The blow landed and my stomach sunk, a slow descent to my feet even as I lifted my chin, fighting to ignore his jab and issuing my final warning. “Don’t.”

Cletus examined me like he was picking through my brain. A hint of sympathy fractured the severity of his scowl and his voice turned beseeching, “Listen. I’ve been where you are. And I’m telling you, if you don’t have trust, you have nothing.” His gaze darted over my shoulder and then back to me. Stepping closer, he said quickly, “Trust her. And, in doing so, give her a chance to trust herself.”

“Is everything all right?” Jenn’s gentle voice cut in. “Billy, you hurting? Is it your hip? Do you need help?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“It’s his hip. He needs help,” Cletus said.

Cletus and I had spoken at the same time and my words earned me a flat smile from my brother. I turned, preparing to thank Jenn for her concern and assure her that I was perfectly fine when I caught sight of Scarlet hovering close by, a wrinkle of concern between her eyebrows.

The next thing I knew, she’d stepped around Jenn and walked to me, slid her arm around my back and guided my arm around her shoulders.

“Here, honey. Lean on me. We’ll walk together.”

Well.

My blood pumped thick through my veins at her unexpected touch, the heaviness in my chest dropping lower and becoming something else entirely.

“Okay,” I agreed automatically. Ignoring my brother’s wry smile, I focused instead on the implausible and heady sight of Scarlet with my arm around her shoulders. In public. In front of my family. On purpose. Like we belonged to each other.

“We’ll go on and get your tickets. Take all the time you need.” Jenn grinned at both of us, her hands clasped under her neck.

“Yeah, take all the time in the world.” Cletus placed Jenn’s fingers in the crook of his elbow. “And if y’all need a topic of discussion, I’ll be happy to provide several.” With one more meaningful look, he turned toward the station and they walked on ahead.

Not even Cletus’s veiled threat could puncture my mood in this moment.

“Shall we?” Scarlet smiled up at me, lacing our fingers together at her shoulder.

I nodded, unwilling to speak. Now that she was at my side, I didn’t want to say or do anything that might send her running. I wanted her to stay. So I said nothing at all.





I watched for morning like a kid watching for Christmas, if that kid had a grumpy disposition, hadn’t been able to sleep for days, and knew their presents slumbered right down the hall wrapped in skimpy pink pajamas.

Issue was, even after tossing and turning all night every night for five nights in a row, I wasn’t certain I deserved any presents this year. Cletus’s words in Florence weighed on me. I couldn’t decide if he was right or wrong. Furthermore, I couldn’t decide if it mattered.