The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2)(45)

My heart broke a little more and I forced the pain away. I would not do this. Sawyer Vincent would not break me. I was stronger than this. “Well, looks can be deceiving. I don’t want to talk about this, Ethan. Please, just take the money so I don’t have to feel guilty about asking you to drive me all the way out here after how things went down with you and me. I hate I was so blinded by Sawyer that I didn’t give you a chance. I learned a lesson.”

Ethan took the money I was thrusting at him. “I’ll accept it if that’s what is going to make you feel better but I don’t want to take the money.”

I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone. You have no idea how rare that is for me.”

I reached for the door handle and jumped down out of his Jeep. Reaching into the back, I started to grab my luggage when Ethan reached over me and picked up both suitcases. “I got it,” he said before turning and heading for the condos.

“Which floor?” he asked as he stopped beside the elevators.

I followed behind him carrying my cosmetics and toiletries bag. “Bottom, that one right there,” I pointed to unit 103 just as the door swung open and Jewel stepped outside squealing. “You’re here, you’re here! Oh, and you brought one of the cuties from Wings with you.”

“Good to see you again, Jewel,” Ethan said politely setting my luggage down outside the door and stepping back to let me pass.

“You too, uh—”

“Ethan. His name is Ethan.”

“That’s right,” she snapped her fingers like it had been on the tip of her tongue.

“Well, Ethan, you want to come inside? We’re having a party tonight. You’re welcome to stay and crash.”

Ethan glanced from Jewel to me and then shook his head, “Nah, I need to head out. I have plans tonight but thanks.”

“Awww, phooey,” Jewel pouted. It was so obviously fake; I wasn’t sure why she attempted it. Unless of course she thought it looked believable.

“Take care of yourself, Lana,” Ethan said with a concerned expression.

“You too, Ethan. Thanks again.” He nodded and headed back toward his Jeep.

Once he was in his Jeep and pulled out of the parking lot, Jewel grabbed my arm and tugged on it, “Come inside. Tell me all about Grove while I fix myself a sandwich.”

I picked up my luggage and carried it inside. “Which room do you want me in?”

“Down the hall, it’s the third door on the left. You have the best view of the ocean from that room. Don’t lie on the bed yet. We need to strip that bed and wash the quilt and sheets. God only knows who’s used that room during one of our parties.”

Cringing, I made a mental note to go buy some Clorox spray and wipe the place down.

Chapter Twenty

Sawyer

Banging on the door to Beau’s trailer I mentally cursed him. He’d had to have Ashton so damn bad he snatched her away from me and for what? He’d lost her within seven months. How stupid could one man be?

“What the hell Sawyer?” Beau demanded as he opened the door glaring at me as if he had reason to be mad.

I shoved past him and slammed his phone down on the beat-up coffee table where I’d once sat and played Go Fish at two o’clock in the morning with Beau while waiting on his mom to get home from work.

“You better have a real good reason for this Saw,” he growled, slamming the door behind him.

“Ash had your phone,” I replied.

Beau looked down at his cell phone on the table and back to me. “So?”

The lack of concern was my first hint that we had a big misunderstanding on our hands.

“You got a text... from a girl,” I continued and waited for him to look worried or guilty or something.

He continued to look confused. The innocence of his lost expression told me all I needed to know. Beau hadn’t cheated on Ash. Thank God. Maybe it wasn’t too late for Lana and me to get to New Orleans today after all.

I picked up the phone and handed it to him, “Read the text from Sugar.”

Then as if a light went off Beau’s eyes widened and my moment of relief was replaced by disbelief.

“Sugar texted me? And Ash read it?”

“Yes, you stupid asswipe. Haven’t you learned by now that when you CHEAT you get CAUGHT! Dammit, Beau, how could you do this? She loves you. She’s a complete mess. I found her on my carport bawling her eyes out this morning.”

Beau’s face went pale and he grabbed a pair of discarded jeans, jerked them on and turned to run out the door.

I followed him, “What the hell are you doing?”

“Where is she Saw? Where’s Ash?” he yelled as he ran to his truck.

“I’m not telling you where she is. You’ve destroyed her Beau.”

Beau stopped and stalked back toward me with an angry snarl on his face. “Sugar is my f**king AUNT. My mother’s baby sister. Now tell me where my girl is before I beat the shit out of you.” His voice had gone from a cold menace to a roar.

“Since when do you have an aunt named Sugar? Aunt Honey’s younger sister’s name is Janet,” I yelled back. Not sure what he was trying to do here. I was his brother for crying-out-loud. I knew his family tree.

“Yeah, well my mama’s name is Paula, but that ain’t the name she goes by, now is it?”