“You took on odd jobs at a very young age to make sure your mom had food, Beau.That’s not the sign of a bad person.It’s just the opposite.So, maybe you should stop being so hard on yourself.”
He gave a slight nod.
“I haven’t met one person in this house I’d consider bad,” she continued.“Look at how everyone is rallying around to help me, and I’m a complete stranger.”
Beau moved his hand on top of hers.“No, you’re not.Not anymore.”
Hudson walked over, balancing two plates and a pair of water glasses.His gaze landed hard on Beau’s hand.“Mind if I join you?”
Beau withdrew his hand.“Be my guest.”
Cassie helped with the plates.
“I’ll be right back with utensils,” Hudson said before shooting what looked like a warning glance in Beau’s direction.“And a plate for you.”
“I can get my own.”Beau stood up, picked up his cell, and walked away.
When Hudson returned, Cassie whispered, “Why are you upset with your brother?”
“Half-brother,” Hudson corrected.It was the first time she’d heard contempt in his voice.Or was it jealousy?
Cassie bristled as memories crashed down around her of another jealous man.Jarek had done a number on her.Would she ever be able to trust another man?
Hudson wasn’tproud of his initial reaction when he’d first seen Beau’s hand on Cassie’s.He’d been a jerk about it.Jealousy wasn’t his usual M.O., and he was embarrassed, as he should be.
“Sorry,” he whispered to Cassie.“I need to apologize to Beau.Be right back.”
He walked over to his brother, who stood next to the sink with a plate of food in his hand and a fork in the other.
“Hey, man.I’m sorry about what just happened.That wasn’t like me.I was a jerk, and I’m hoping you’ll accept my apology.”
“You were a jerk.”
“Like I said.”Hudson probably deserved some hostility.
“Why should I expect anything different?”Beau asked.“I’m only half related to you.”
Shit.He heard that.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Hudson said.
“No,” Beau countered.“What you really mean is that you didn’t intend for me to hear you say it.”
“You’re right.I’m a dick.I’m also trying to apologize.”
Beau’s face twisted in disgust.“No, thanks.”He set the plate down, shouldered his backpack, and then walked away, out the back door, and away from the house.
Dammit.Hudson had royally screwed that up.If he expected to see empathy when he glanced over at Cassie, he’d be dead wrong.It dawned on him just how much he’d messed up there.She was coming off an abusive relationship, and he’d just acted like a jealous asshole.
Great.
First, he needed to fix things with Beau, so he headed out the back door to follow his brother.“Hey, wait up.”
Beau kept walking toward the barn where his pickup was parked, and didn’t turn around.
Hudson picked up the pace, jogging until he was beside Beau.
“You know the messed-up part about all this is that you were the only one who believed in me in the beginning,” Beau finally said.“You had my back when no one else would even stand in the same room with me.”