“I’m in the public eye, Trey. This kind of thing goes along with the territory.”
Sighing, Trey tossed his beer bottle into the bag with Beau’s and folded his arms over his chest. “So when were you going to tell me about all this? I mean I’m assuming that’s why you didn’t come to the wedding. You didn’t think I warranted knowing the truth then?”
“I didn’t want screw things up for Kylie. I know she’s had it rough. I wanted you guys to have a nice wedding.” Beau figured telling the truth was his best course of action at this point. There wasn’t much of anything left to hide. “Besides,” he added. “I haven’t been going home much since all this started going on. I don’t want Dusty and Faye to freak out. They’ve got Lucas to worry about. And I didn’t want to worry Mama and Mamaw.”
“We take care of our own, Beau. You know how this works, freak out or not.” Trey frowned. “What are the chances that this guy tailed you here?”
Beau had thought about that repeatedly since he’d shown up at their house. He answered Trey honestly. “Slim, but possible. I was pretty careful. I took off in the middle of the night from a friend’s house in Texas where my truck was. I can’t be absolutely sure though, you should know that. If you want me to leave, I’ll understand. I didn’t know Kylie was pregnant when I decided to come here.”
“I don’t want you to leave,” Trey answered, thoughtfully. “I’m probably the best person you can be with at this point. Be careful about keeping that gun out though. Kylie’s gonna start asking questions if you don’t. I don’t want to upset her right now.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking real clearly last night.”
“You should know that Kylie was pregnant once before.” Trey met his brother’s gaze solemnly. “She was on the pill but missed one or two I guess. Anyway, she had a miscarriage shortly before the wedding.”
Beau leaned back against the truck and grimaced. “Damn, I’m sorry, man.” a breakfast fit for a king.aldi
“It was definitely harder on her than it was on me. I mean I was upset, don’t get me wrong. She was crushed though.” Trey used the toe of his boot to push some rocks around on the driveway. “She found out she was pregnant again two months ago. Two long months, if you get my drift.”
“And she’s been scared ever since,” Beau figured out.
“Yeah. The doctor told her that once she got through the first trimester, the chances of miscarriage would greatly decrease. That’s why we waited until now to tell people.”
“I can understand that. She looks healthy though. I think things will be fine now. Don’t you?” Beau could tell his brother wasn’t so sure. His answer confirmed that.
“I hope so. But you can see why I don’t want her to get all worked up about anything. Just keep the gun under wraps and you and I will deal with this together, huh?”
Beau nodded, turning his head as Kylie’s newer model, dark red Wrangler pulled into the driveway.
“We got some great stuff,” she said, hopping out of the driver’s seat.
Trey walked over and gave his wife a kiss on the tip of her nose before he took some bags from her arms. “I don’t suppose you bought more beer.”
“It’s in the back,” she said, gathering up her purse. “Kate’s staying for dinner.” She looked over at Beau. “I got some fresh meat from the market. Do you think you’d have any inclination to do something spectacular with it?”
“What’d you get?” he asked, eyeing her bags curiously.
“A little of this and a little of that,” Kylie said. “Grab a bag or two and then come on in and we’ll go through stuff.” She disappeared toward the house and Beau went to the back of the jeep where Trey and Kate were unloading bags.
“Here,” she snapped, slapping Trey in the chest with a wrapped up box.
He looked at her, surprised. “You shouldn’t have. It’s not my birthday, is it?” He looked at Beau, who shook his head.
“It’s not for you, moron. It’s for you to give to your wife,” Kate snapped, keeping her voice down. “You’re stressing her out with all of your wait until the baby’s here crap. She thinks you’re really worried she’s going to lose the baby again and that’s why you won’t let her buy anything.”
Trey stared at the wrapped package, with interest. “I am.”
“Don’t be so obtuse. I obviously know that you are. However, I am now thinking for you, Trey. I am a woman and you are a man. You cannot think like a man around a pregnant woman. Do you understand what I’m saying here?”
Trey looked over at Beau, his brow raised.
“She’s got a point, bro,” was all Beau could say. Hell, he’d never learned to understand women, pregnant or not. That was why he’d been single for so long.
Relenting, Trey reached into his back pocket for his wallet. “So how much do I owe you?”
“Nothing—except that I expect you to name the baby after me.” Kate grinned, winking at him.
“Fat freaking chance,” Trey scoffed and carried the gift into the house.
Beau reached for some groceries. He eyed Kate curiously, a little surprised at this softer side of her.
“For God’s sake, what?” she demanded, glaring up at him.
“Nothing.” He grinned at her halfway. “What you did there was nice, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting that from you.”
Her scowl deepened. “He’s clueless. I’m here to prevent him from screwing things up. Is that clear enough for you?”
He shrugged and nodded, figuring she was probably right. Men tended to be a little dense when it came to female emotions.
“You fixed my door,” she said, noticing for the first time that the door of her vehicle wasn’t bashed in anymore. “It’s like new!”
He shrugged again, balancing the groceries in one arm. “I told you I would, didn’t I?”
“I hear a lot of things every day but that doesn’t mean they actually happen. I didn’t think you would get it done that fast. How did you find a replacement?”
“Junkyard.”
“How much?” she asked, digging into her purse.
“Forget it. I’m not entirely sure the accident last night wasn’t partly my fault.”
“Oh really?” She stared at him evenly.
“Don’t get your dander up again,” he replied, remembering how lit up she got when she was angry earlier. “I like tinkering with cars. It was a way for me to pass the day while Trey slept.”
She studied him, her expression blank. She was trying to read him, he could tell that. Unfortunately for her he was an expert at keeping people from reading him. It was something he’d perfected over the years he’d spent in the public eye.
4
It turned out Kylie bought some good stuff. She had steaks and chicken and even some seafood. She made the salad and Beau went to work on the meats.
Trey—bas believe yous ” K0ically illiterate in the kitchen—sat with Richard and Kate at the breakfast bar and drank a beer. The other two sipped the bottle of wine Richard had brought over with him.
“Do you swear this didn’t come from Wick’s cellar?” Kate asked, swirling the liquid in her glass. “Because Kylie bought some of my favorite Pinot Noir and I’d rather drink that if Wick’s touched this one.”
“Oh for crying out loud,” Richard said, rolling his eyes. “He’s not going to poison you. He doesn’t care enough about you for that.”
Beau looked up, amused. Kate was frowning—just as he figured she would be.
“I thought we weren’t supposed to say Wick in front of you ever again,” Trey reminded her and received a middle finger in response.
“What is Wick short for anyway?” Kylie asked. “I mean it is a nickname, isn’t it?”
“It’s his real name,” Richard insisted. “Wick Alexander Meyers.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Maybe his mother was drunk when he was born and meant to say Dick. That would be more fitting.”
“Just because you didn’t like him, doesn�
��t mean he’s the devil’s spawn,” Richard pointed out. “You have been known to be wrong, Kate.”
“Not about men. I’m always right about men. I can read them like books. My first impression is almost always right.”
Beau looked up, interested. “Is that so?”
“Yes, Mr. Callahan, it is. Would you like me to tell you what my first impression of you was?”
“I think we all know that,” Trey said, grinning.
“I was angry earlier. I’m not mad anymore,” Kate replied, looking at Beau seriously. “Let’s pretend I just met you and none of that other stuff happened last night or this morning.”
He rested his hands against the counter and waited. “Go ahead.”
“Well, for starters, you’re cocky. You very likely have women throwing themselves at your feet—probably far more of them than you know what to do with. Only once in a while, do you give one much more than the time of day. Maybe an occasional roll in the hay, but nothing serious.” She paused, whether for effect or because she was thinking, he didn’t know. She eventually continued. “You like to control things. When something falls out of line, it drives you crazy. You’re also a perfectionist. How am I doing?” She looked up at him, smiling widely.
She actually had hit him pretty dead on. He wasn’t about to tell her that though. “Any of those things could be said about any sports personality. Tell me something no one else would think of by seeing me on television.”
“Okay. I think you probably have a commitment phobia. Otherwise why would a good looking guy like you be single?”
Beau frowned as he thought that over. “I am not scared of commitment. I just don’t want a commitment.”
“Same difference,” she said, grinning. “I told you I was good.”
He didn’t dignify her gloating with a response.
“You two really have a bad impression of each other,” Kll be able to see the family a lot more.”
“She’s having a bad year,” Richard said, recognizably still miffed about the Wick conversation.
“If I’d quit letting you two set me up I’d be dindy dandy,” Kate argued, chewing on a carrot stick.
“Hey, the guys I set you up with were good guys,” Trey defended. “They were good friends of mine too, until you got through with them. Now they won’t even come around here anymore.”
Kate smiled at that. “They were expecting an awful lot on the first date—both of them. Took me a few minutes to set them straight but I think I got the point across.”
“You did,” Trey assured her dryly.
Beau listened to their exchange as he prepared the steaks for cooking. He wasn’t sure what to think of Kate Nyland. She was a firecracker, Trey was right. But she was also caring and intuitive. She had been dead on with Kylie and Trey. When Kylie had opened the package containing the pink and blue baby clothes, she had started bawling her head off. She’d thrown her arms around Trey and told him they were happy tears. Only someone who had a good heart would be able to pull off something like that so easily. Of course, it was obvious that Kate cared about Kylie a great deal.
“I don’t understand why you feel you have to be such a ball buster,” Richard said, catching Beau’s attention. He was talking to Kate, of course. Beau waited for her answer.
“I have always had to take care of myself, Richard. I’m not the biggest girl in the world. Sometimes that means I have to bust a few balls.” She held her glass out to him. “Refill, please.”
Richard filled her glass and then his own. “Kylie got herself a great guy without ball busting. She’s no bigger than you are.”
“It’s different,” was all Kate said.
“It is, Richard,” Kylie agreed. “I have a lot of family to watch out for me. Kate only has us.”
Beau slid the steaks into the oven, before grabbing himself a beer and leaning back against the counter. “Sometimes you have to take care of yourself any way you know how,” he said, avoiding Trey’s gaze. He knew what his brother would be thinking about that.
“Exactly,” Kate said, sounding surprised that they finally agreed on something.
“Well if that’s how you feel, I suppose I can see why you’re so....harsh,” Richard finished. “A man’s perspective sees you as a ball buster though. Plain and simple.”
“So what. If that’s what it takes to preserve my virtue, that’s what it takes.”
Trey nearly choked on his beer and Kylie started laughing.
Beau even had to grin at that one. She had a comeback for everything.
“If your virtue’s still intact, so is mine,” Trey managed to sputter.
“Richard, you seem to have a knack for putting me on the spot so how about we turn the tables so to speak.” Beau had a bad feeling he knew what was coming. He waited for Kate to finish. She did so with a bang.
“I would like to know if you’re gay.” had the decency to wince. She he was
Trey choked again and Kylie let out a gasp.
Richard stared at her. “And what if I am?”
“Thank you!” Kate exclaimed, as if the best thing in the world had just happened. “Why in the heck haven’t you admitted it before now? Do you realize that Kylie has been trying to set us up for two years?”
Richard looked at Kylie, appalled. “You have? Even if I wasn’t gay I wouldn’t date her.”
Kate threw a kick at him under the table and he winced.
Kylie looked absolutely shocked.
“Baby, I tried to tell you,” Trey said, setting an arm around her shoulders.
“But you never said anything. You talk about women all the time. I just thought…..” Kylie frowned as her voice broke off.
“Nobody ever asked. Why should I have supplied the information?” Richard sipped his wine. “If you must know, I’ve had a boyfriend off and on for a while. I just don’t bring him around.”
Now Kate looked shocked. “Is it Wick?”
“No, it’s not Wick!” Richard glared at her. “His name is Peter. He’s a professor.”
Kate appeared to be thinking that over. “A professor of what?”
“Liberal Arts,” Richard said, re-filling his wineglass a third time.
“So he’s artsy fartsy then,” Kate said. “And I mean that in the nicest way.”
“Sure you do.” Richard turned away from her. “This is why I don’t want to bring him around.”
“You can bring him around, Richard,” Kylie said, clearly embarrassed that she hadn’t believed them all when they’d warned her about Richard. “I’d like to meet him.”
“Me too,” Trey said, after Kylie kicked him under the table.
“We all want to meet him,” Kate said. “And I’m glad you’re out of the closet now.”
“I was never in the closet. You’ve never asked me if I like to date men or women. I haven’t lied to you.”
“Semantics,” Kate said and looked at Beau. “What about you? Do you swing both ways or just one?”
“You’re crass, you know that?” he said, chewing carefully on a celery stick.
“Is that your answer?”
Trey snickered.
Beau frowned. “In your assessment of my first impression personality you insisted I sleep around with women. Clearly your gaydar did not go off around me, did it?”
She gave him a knowing look.
“I am not gay,” he answered emphatically. “I like women. Trust me, I only swing one way.”
Satisfied, Kate grinned at him. She was infuriating, but at the same time, there was something endearing about her. He couldn’t put his finger on what. He guessed he’d just have to keep working at it to figure it out.
After dinner they sat around and had another glass or two of wine. Well rather, Kate did. Kylie wasn’t drinkll be able to see the family a lot more.”
Eventually they ended up watching some television in the living room. Kylie was asleep, her head in Trey’s lap within an hour. Trey was nodding off himself, not long after.
Kate let her head fall back against the couch. She was tired and knew she should go home but somehow facing her empty house didn’t sound very appealing to her. She looked over at Beau. He was in a chair across the room, a bottle of water in one hand. He was staring at the television but she couldn’t tell if he was actually watching it or not.
“You never told me your first impression of me,” she said evenly. “One good turn deserves another.”
He grinned at that. “I don’t think you want to know.”
“Probably not, but like I said, one good turn deserves another.”
“What do you think I’m going to say?”
“Probably pretty much what Richard said—and I suppose you’d be right.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t usually get so outspoken with people I don’t know. You and I met under stressful circumstances.”
“Fair enough,” he agreed. “And I don’t necessarily think you’re a ball buster. I do think you’re tougher than you have to be. Some guy probably burned you good one time and now you feel like you have to wear the pants in the relationship.” He gave her knowing look. “How’d I do?”
She wanted to argue with him but she couldn’t. She had been burned before. For some reason, she took rejection worse than most people. “I’m sure you’ve been burned before too.”
“Maybe once or twice,” he admitted. “I don’t take a whole lot of time to think about things though. I’ve never been in love enough to let someone hurt me. That’s the key to keeping your heart intact.”
She thought that over and supposed he was right. “And what is your theory on how you keep yourself from falling too hard for someone?”
“Keep it physical,” he said simply.
She should have expected him to say something like that. He was a man, after all. “Typical. Men only think with one head.” She heard him laugh. Of course, he thought she was funny. Most men had sick senses of humor too.
“Look, what do you say we try to start over here? I’m not sure how long I’ll be around but I know Kylie loves you so it will be better for all of us if you and I can get along.”
He looked sincere enough. “I don’t have anything against you,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. She knew it was a lame response but it was the best she could come up with. She was used to being flip with people and this guy wasn’t as easy to mess with as most people were. He had an aloof quality, as well as a quality that told her he was very good at reading people, most likely when they didn’t even know he was reading them. Well he wasn’t going to pull that crap with her. “I’ve got to tell you, you’re nothing like your brother.”
In the Eye of the Storm Page 4