Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(77)

“I think he’s been working a lot, and he’s too busy to be Cottonwood Cove’s biggest playboy these days.” He chuckled. “Brax has been going out solo without his wingman, and it’s not going so well. Will he hire someone in your place after you leave, seeing as you’ve helped him so much?”

The thought of leaving and not seeing Hugh every day made a lump form in my throat.

“I’m sure Brax will survive. I don’t know what Hugh will do when I leave. He’s hired more staff these last few weeks, and that has taken a lot of pressure off him. So, if we get things set up right, I don’t think he’ll need someone like me anymore, unless he continues to expand to the city. Then he’d definitely need more help.”

He nodded. “You’ve been good for him. Exactly what he needed.”

And he’d been exactly what I needed.





twenty-three





Hugh





The weeks had never moved as fast as they were now. Probably because, for the first time in my life, I wanted time to stand still. But here we were, the first of August, which meant I had one month left with Lila. I’d never spent this much time with a woman before, hell, with anyone—including my siblings.

We worked together.

We lived together.

We played together.

And goddamn, did we play well together.

I couldn’t get enough. What are the fucking chances that the one time I don’t tire of someone, the one time I’m not feeling itchy and running for the hills because it’s too much togetherness, it’s with the one woman I can’t have.

I mean, I have her, but not really. She’s not staying, and we both know it. Not to mention the hurdle of her brother, which would be a big one, and could cost me the best friend I’ve ever had. But I’d risk it all for her. That was the sick, twisted thing—she was worth the risk, and that was why I was where I was now.

I wondered if there’d been some truth to her words when she’d called me a coward when I’d tried like hell to keep my distance. I wasn’t a man who gave a shit what others thought normally. Yes, Travis was different, but I’d take whatever wrath he wanted to throw at me when it came to Lila. He wasn’t the reason I was holding back.

Not anymore.

There was a lot more to consider, like her happiness. She had a huge job waiting for her, and she was excited about it. If I wasn’t tethered to this town with three restaurants, I’d talk about making the move with her. That was how all-in I was. But that wasn’t a possibility, and I’d never hold her back from pursuing her dreams.

And they weren’t here.

So, I’d just enjoy the time I had with her, and I’d get over it when she left, because that was the deal.

Who the hell knew if I was even capable of being the kind of man she deserved. I’d never done it before, so why the hell would I think I could do it now?

I’d gone with Lila to visit her father this morning, and I’d been surprised when she asked me to come inside. He’d made it for thirty days and was one month into the program, which Lila was very proud of. I’d gone with her to support her. I hadn’t planned on being part of the family therapy session. I’d been raised by a therapist, so I wasn’t completely clueless as to what all took place in a session. But holy shit—it had been really heavy, and I was fucking glad that I’d gone with her. And now we were sitting in my bathtub, soaking in hot water, because this was what I did now. I took baths with Lila almost daily, and I fucking liked it. She’d been quiet since we’d gotten home.

“You all right?”

“Yeah. That was a lot, huh? I’m sorry I dragged you into that. I didn’t know he was going to open up so much,” she said, her voice soft and sleepy.

“I didn’t mind. But I’m sure it was a lot to process.” My arms were wrapped around her, my hands resting on her stomach. She traced along my forearm with her fingers.

“I didn’t know he blamed himself for my mother’s death, Bear. That’s a heavy weight for someone to carry, you know?” she whispered.

Tate James had opened up that he and his wife had fought the night of her accident because he’d gotten drunk, and they’d needed some groceries so she could make dinner for the kids. So, she’d gone to the store after shouting at him about being too drunk to help her. And she’d been at the wrong place at the wrong time. A teenager had run a red light and hit her while making a left turn into the grocery store.

Tate had broken down and sobbed as he relived that night, and I held Lila’s hand and sat beside her. He’d talked about how he’d gone into a dark place after that, more drinking, which led to him falling off a ladder at work and hurting his back. That started the cycle of his addiction with painkillers and alcohol and the destruction that followed.

“He’d never told you that before?” I asked, her head tipping back and settling in the crook of my neck like it always did. Like she was made for me the way her curves fit along all my hard edges so easily.

“No. We’ve never talked about my mama’s accident. And I know it doesn’t fix all the mistakes that he’s made, but at least it explains how and why he lost himself.”

“It does. And maybe talking about it will help him to heal.”