Beard Necessities (Winston Brothers, #7)(81)

A light, self-deprecating laugh tumbled out of me when I realized what I’d admitted, and I lifted my eyes to the wall behind her. “It’s fine. I don’t know why I told you that. Still waking up, I guess.”

Scarlet placed her hands on my biceps, shifting closer. “Let’s wash up and then you tell me about it, okay?”

As though pulled, my gaze dropped to hers again and I studied her lovely upturned face, wondering what Scarlet’s real thoughts were about the condom issue. Was she worried about pregnancy? I didn’t even know if she was on birth control. We hadn’t talked about it. We’d been completely reckless.

“Scarlet . . .”

She angled her head to the side, peering up at me, her gaze soft and open. “What’s wrong?”

“We didn’t use protection.”

“Oh.” She blinked several times. “You’re right, we didn’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

Now she laughed lightly, her cheeks warming in a way that had nothing to do with the hot water. “I could’ve stopped us. I could’ve said something too, but I didn’t.”

This reasoning went against my sense of justice. “I should’ve stopped us.”

Her eyebrows pulled together like my statement pained her, her fingers digging into my arms, her lips pressing together in an unhappy line. “Please don’t say that.”

“I should’ve—”

“Please don’t be sorry about what happened.” Now she closed her eyes, her voice just above a whisper, like she was saying a prayer. “Please don’t regret it, not even a little, not any part of it or what it might mean. Because I don’t.”

I stared at her and her momentous words, at the moisture beading in her lashes, the pink of her cheeks, the downward curve of her lips, and I memorized this moment. All traces of my earlier dread faded to nothing, a consuming sense of rightness and exhilaration taking its place.

Setting my hands on her waist just to slide them around her back, I brought her soft body flush to mine, holding her, and praying to God she would never want me to let her go.





Chapter Nineteen





Billy





“Mistrust all enterprises that require new clothes.”

E.M. Forster, A Room with a View





Venice was—is—beautiful. It’s one of those places that make you believe fairy tales are possible and is exactly how you imagine it to be. Except the presence of all the other tourists, and I blended in with the tourists.

“You look like a peasant.” Cletus looked me up and down. “Or a personal trainer named Stefano from New Jersey.”

I said nothing, refusing to show my irritation. Nevertheless, Cletus was correct. I looked like a peasant. Typically, I wore a suit to work every day. I enjoyed wearing a suit to work every day. I was not accustomed to dressing like a personal trainer named Stefano in public.

This morning, at the very last minute, I’d let my twin brothers talk me into wearing workout shorts and a T-shirt to Venice. They’d shown up to my room, Beau wearing shorts and T-shirt, warning me that it would be hot and I’d be miserable dressed in fine clothes. Likewise, the rest of my family had been similarly attired as we left the villa for the station.

Then, when the train pulled into the Venice stop, everyone changed in the bathrooms.

“Oh. You thought I meant in Venice? No, no. I meant on the train,” Beau had clarified, wide-eyed and innocent.

Liar. I could see through his deceptive statements just fine now.

That had been some hours ago. Presently, we’d already been to the Palazzo Ducale, the Doge's Palace, and now were on our way to a midafternoon gondola ride. Beau seemed particularly anxious about making our reservation on time.

“What you need to do is wear Italian shoes, black ones.” Cletus lifted up the pant leg (of his dress pants), showing me a pair of very nice Italian leather shoes. “Then you blend in with the locals. But you look like you’re from Jersey Shore or something, Stefano.”

Someone bumped my shoulder on my other side, and I glanced over, expecting Jethro’s teasing remarks. He’d also dressed like a gentleman today. Everyone had. Except for me.

But it wasn’t Jethro, it was Scarlet.

My grin was immediate. “Hey.”

After taking a mostly chaste shower together in the middle of the night, we’d gone back to bed tangled together. I didn’t tell her about the nightmares, no reason she should have to bear that burden too.

In the morning, Scarlet woke me up with kisses but evaded my attempts to pull her back to bed, rushing off to get ready for the trip. However, she did leave me a cinnamon roll, a big cup of black coffee, and a haiku,



I loved you last night.

I’d like to love you now, but

There’s a train to catch.

-Forest Fairy



Presently, she grinned up at me, affection and commiseration in her eyes. “I look like a peasant too.” She gestured to her yoga pants, sneakers, and T-shirt. “Jessica told me it would be hot and I shouldn’t dress nicely.”

Irritation flared anew and I glared at Beau’s back. This was obviously my family’s idea of a joke.

Scarlet curled her fingers around my wrist, sliding her palm against mine, sending a warm shock up my arm. “Don’t be cranky. You always look handsome. Today we can be frumpy together.”