Page 79 of Burning Skies
Cash laughs like I’ve just told the funniest joke. “You really are a dumbass. My father will shoot you dead on our porch without thinking twice when he hears you’ve debauched my sister.”
“Listen to yourself. I didn’t debauch anyone. Honey and I are dating. You make it sound like this was a dirty one-night stand.” Guilt twinges in my gut for the one-night stand we did have. But I’m doing right by her now. “Besides, you’re the one who slept with Rhett’s ex when they were still married. At least I’ve never fucked a married woman before.”
Honey gasps. “Cash, you didn’t!”
He squints at me. “Rhett’s ex said they were splitting up.”
As I button my shirt, I turn to him. “I’m just saying you’re not innocent. Maybe you should pause your accusations for a moment.”
He runs his hands up and down his face. “At the end of the day, y’all are fucked.”
Honey jumps off the couch and tightens her robe. “Cash, please don’t tell anyone about this. We need some time.”
He turns to me. “If you were smart, you’d get some life insurance, ’cause I have a feeling you’re gonna need it when Trig and my father get wind of this.”
Honey smacks his shoulder. “Stop talking that way. This feud is stupid. Someone is going to get hurt. Isn’t my relationship with Beau a chance to put all of this animosity behind us?”
Cash shakes his head. “Little sister, you need to wake up. Ian Fairchild has plans for you. Dad’s on board. When have you ever known our father to change his mind once it’s set?”
My temple pulses at the mention of that douchebag Ian. Would Honey’s father really sell her out like this?
Reaching out, she grabs her brother’s wrist. “Please, Cash. Please help me figure out what to do. I don’t want Beau to get hurt. I care about him so much.”
I stare at the beautiful woman pleading on my behalf. It makes my heart swell.
But I also see the cynicism in her brother’s eyes. He thinks I’m full of shit. I stand to tuck in my shirt. “How can I prove I’m serious about your sister? That I don’t want her inheritance? That I’m not trying to use her?”
Cash laughs coldly. “You’ll never convince Trig there isn’t something sinister behind what you’re doing. There’s too much bad blood.”
“Don’t be so negative.” Honey takes a paper bag out of his hand. “Did you say you brought me tacos? I’m starving.” She glances at me, and I smile, knowing that we worked up an appetite last night.
Her brother motions back and forth between us. “Don’t do that.”
She frowns. “Do what?”
“Make those lovey-dovey faces. It makes me wanna hurl.”
She leans up on her tiptoes to kiss me. “Can’t help it.” I grin like a damn fool. Then she grabs my hand and tugs me down to the couch again and hands me a foil-wrapped taco before sheunwraps one for herself. She takes a huge bite. “Mm. These are good. Want one, bro?”
“I’m gonna go.”
She points to the chair. “Sit and eat. I can hear your stomach rumbling from here.”
His head tilts. “Have you always been this pushy and I never realized it?”
Honey laughs. “No. I’m just using my teacher voice on you. Pretty good, right?”
He sits. Shrugs. Holds out a hand. “Give me a taco.”
Smiling, she tosses him a foil package, and he digs in. Every minute or so, he glances at us and shakes his head. She whispers to me, “He’s just hangry.”
As I finish my food, I crush the foil in my hand. “I know this seems crazy,” I tell Cash. “I can’t believe it myself sometimes. And I get that Honey’s out of my league. I one hundred percent agree with you on that. But here’s the thing—if I ever hurt your sister, I will let you kick my ass. Can you say the same about this Ian guy? He’s gonna marry her and, what, move her to East Texas? You’ll never see her. You’ll never know if she’s doing well. If she stays here in Wild Heart with me, you’ll know. ’Cause I’m not gonna let anything happen to her.”
I glance at Honey, and she gives me another sweet smile. “I’m not out of your league.” She hooks her arm in mine and rests her head against my shoulder.
Cash sighs. “Look, Beau, I’m not thrilled about this development, but I’m not gonna lose my shit. Anymore, at least. I can’t say the same about my brother or father.”
Honey tosses him another taco. “Eat one more.”
