“But—”
“Chill, bro! I’m just yanking your chain. I spent just as much time with Craig today, but you didn’t notice it, because you were so busy glaring at me if Caitlin so much as laughed at one of my jokes. I was actually thinking Dave would like her a lot. What did you think I was going to do, run away with her?”
“I may be over thirty, but I know flirting when I see it, and she was flirting with you.”
“She’s a teenage girl; of course she was flirting with me. It’s what they do, but she didn’t mean anything by it. Man! When did you turn into such an old fart?”
“I’m not, but for one thing, she’s younger than you. And for another, there’s not much point in starting something when she’s going to college in the fall.”
“She told me she’s going to UVA. I told you once there was nothing going on between us, but even if there was, Charlottesville’s not that far away.”
UVA—Caitlin was just as smart as her aunt! But his brother had gone a completely different route; Billy started working in the mine right after high school. “Maybe not geographically…”
His brother’s casual position tensed. His fists clenched, and he narrowed his eyes as he turned his head to look at Mick. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“College is a whole different world. Caitlin will be surrounded by boys her age, who share the same interests…”
Billy held up his hands. “Whoa! Are you trying to say you think she’s too good for me?”
Mick’s mouth went dry. He was so not good at this big brother thing. “I would never say that.”
“But you’re thinking it, implying it. Jesus, Mick, I can’t lie, it stings like a bastard you think I’m such a piece of shit.”
“Piece of shit? Who the hell said anything about a piece of shit? I think you’re a great guy; I just didn’t want you to get hurt.”
Billy shook his head and stared straight ahead. “You’re worried she’s too young, I get it, respect it even. It’s why I told you I think Dave and Caitlin would hit it off, so you’d stop worrying about it. But if you think I shouldn’t go for it because you think she is out of my league, on account of who I am and where we come from, well I’m sorry, but that’s just fucked up. What about Dave? Is he good enough for her on account of his going to college, or is he always doomed to be a piece of shit in your eyes because of where we’re from?” He gave a short, humorless snort of laughter. “Where you’re from, may I remind you.”
Mick felt as if the truth of Billy’s words punched him in the gut. He had been thinking all of those things, in part because of his own past with Heather, but mostly because of all the old insecurities stirred up by Gloria’s derisive words about him yesterday.
He didn’t want Gloria, and he never did, not really, but what she said made him realize his background would always keep him separate from folks like Gloria, or a lot of the people he met in the upper echelon of business in which he worked.
He could wear the right clothes, speak with the right accent, mix with the right people, but to them he’d always be Mickey Evans from East Bumfuck West Virginia. Did any of it still matter to him? At this point, he really didn’t know. Magda made a lot of sense yesterday, but he wasn’t sure Rivers Bend would fix his problems, the way it had fixed hers. He still felt like an outsider, and was afraid the darkness he inherited from his father would always keep him one.
“You okay, Mick? You’ve gotten really pale. Look, I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said all of that shit to you.”
Jesus, Billy’s rapid-fire, nervous apology made Mick realize the kid was afraid he was going to blow up like their old man would. He rolled his neck, and realized he wasn’t going to erupt like their dad. He was confused, frustrated, and angry, but all with his own damn self, not with Billy. He wouldn’t take it out on his brother. He couldn’t.
He loosened his fingers on the wheel, and forced a smile to his lips, to set Billy at ease, to make him see he wasn’t a hotheaded loose cannon like their father. “No, you were right to say it to me, and I think maybe what you said is true; that’s why it threw me for such a loop. I’m sorry if you thought I was mad at you. I’m not. I’m mad at myself.”
They’d pulled up in front of his cabin, so he cut the engine and clasped his brother on the shoulder. “And one more thing needs to be cleared up right now. No one is too good for you, Bill, I mean it. You may have decided to pass on college, but you’re a helluva lot smarter than me about a lot of stuff. I’m sorry I made you feel like I thought you weren’t good enough for Caitlin. I guess sometimes I can be as small-minded as our old man.”
Billy threw the car door open and furrowed his brow. “Were there drugs at the Bradens that I missed?”
“What?”
“Because you must be high if you think you’re as small-minded as the old man.” He got out of the car and slammed the door behind him.
Mick cut the engine and followed slowly, as he pondered Billy’s words. Hope flickered in his chest; maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t as bad as his father after all.
Billy knocked on the porch rail to get his attention. “Are you gonna unlock the door, or just stand gaping in the driveway all night? I’ve got to get some rest before my interview tomorrow.”
A grin spread across Mick’s face. “God knows you do need your beauty rest, if you ever hope to be as pretty as me.”
“Oh please! You’re going to be crying yourself to sleep tonight, because you’ve noticed I’m way prettier than you ever were.”
Mick punched his brother in the arm as he passed by to unlock the cabin door. He liked this brotherly thing they had going on. He’d missed it, spending all these years on the other side of the country.
Billy rubbed his arm. “You’re still pretty strong for an old dude.”
“Old! Who you callin’ old, Junior?”
Billy brushed past him to get inside. “The mental faculties are going already? I’m sorry!”
He shot his older brother a sly smile, as he went straight to the fridge and pulled out a soda. He popped the top on the red can, and took a slug. “You want one?”
“You’re offering me my own soda? How generous of you, thanks, I will take one.”
Billy took another can out of the fridge and gave it to Mick, as he opened the front door again. “It’s a nice night, I’m gonna sit on the porch for a while. Coming?”
“Sounds good. I’ll be right there.” Mick stood for a moment and stared at the door with a goofy grin on his face. Yeah. He had missed being with his brothers, and it felt damn good having Billy here with him. Stuff with Heather might still be all fucked up, but this felt good… right.
“C’mon, Gramps! What’s taking you so long? The joints not what they used to be? Must be hard. Or not. I hear that goes too when you get old.”
“Oh don’t even go there, you young whippersnapper!” With a grin, Mick threw open the rattly screen door.
“Nothing to worry about, they got pills for that now, old man.”
“I’ll give you pills, you sorry young son of a bitch!”
Billy laughed in response, as Mick plopped in the seat next to him and they stared out at the glow of the moon reflected in the river as it rushed by the cabin.
“It’s good to have you here, Bill.”
Chapter 21
Mick knew he was stalling, as he stopped in Jeff’s kitchen to pour a cup of coffee before he went into the office, where he knew he’d see Heather. His morning meeting outside of D.C. had been successful. The sales manager of a large corporation had signed up for multiple team-building sessions at the Retreat for her staff, but now he was back and it was time to face the music. He knew from the schedule she’d emailed him Heather would be hard at work at her desk right about now, and there was no choice left, but to see her.
Aside from their conversation about Billy and the awkward conversation in the barn at her mother’s Derby Day party, they hadn’t spoken to each other alone since their trip to West Virgin
ia. There had been no opportunity to talk to Heather with her whole family around last night, and he was afraid if they didn’t clear the air soon, things would always be awkward and stilted between them, and that would be like a punch to his gut. Heather was one of the only people he ever knew with whom he felt comfortable enough to be himself and loosen his tight control. He couldn’t hold back a smile as he remembered how he’d even relinquished control to Heather in the bedroom for a while, and it had been amazing!
With the clusterfuck his personal life had become, he knew those times with Heather were history. He could still see the hurt, but also remarkably pissed off, expression on her face when she saw him at dinner with Gloria that night at the country club. Sure, she’d extended an olive branch at her mom’s Derby party, but he knew it would be a cold day before Heather would trust him again. He couldn’t really blame her—he didn’t trust himself not to hurt her again. In fact, given his gene pool, it was inevitable.
Mick Evans was no coward; he had to face Heather sooner or later, and he’d always been of the mind if something scared you, it was best to face it head on, so he squared his shoulders, took a fortifying sip of his hot coffee, and opened the door to the Retreat offices.
He heard Heather squeal, and frowned as he turned the corner and saw Heather being lifted off the ground in the hearty embrace of some guy in a suit.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—another guy? How many of them was Heather seeing? Okay, that wasn’t fair, he knew now Ty was gay, so that only left Chase and him, but who was this mystery man? He was too big and burly to be Chase.
As the man lowered Heather, his face was revealed, and it was none other than his brother Billy. Mick left at the crack of dawn to beat the D.C. traffic to get to his appointment on time, so he hadn’t seen his brother all dressed up in his suit for his interview. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized him.
“Mick, I’m so glad you’re back! I was just telling Heather Mr. Miller offered me the job at the garage! Isn’t it awesome?”
His brother’s excitement was contagious, and Mick grinned and high-fived him. “Hell yeah, it’s awesome! But I had no doubt you’d get the job.”
“Me either,” Heather agreed staunchly.
“You two were more confident than me, I was a nervous wreck! I know I’m a good mechanic, but I don’t have a lot of experience working in a garage.”
“I knew as soon as he saw the amazing job you did on your own truck, he’d offer you the job on the spot.”
Billy’s face grew ruddy. “Thanks, Mick. And thank you Heather, for recommending me.”
Heather patted his back. “I was happy to do it. Heck, it’s good for both you and Ed Miller. When do you start?”
“As soon as possible. I need to head home, and give my notice at the mine. I don’t have much stuff, so packing will be easy, and then I’ll come back here.”
“I know it’s pretty tight quarters, but you’re welcome to stay with me in the cabin,” Mick offered.
“Thanks, bro, but there’s an apartment over the garage Mr. Miller says I can have, if I’m on call at night in case there’s an emergency. It’s even furnished. Nothing fancy, but it’s got everything I need.”
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the time. “I’d better get a move on; I need to get on the road. I have to be at work in the morning, and I want to give my notice as soon as possible, so I can get back here and get started at the garage.”
Mick looked intently into Billy’s eyes. “Do you want me to go with you? Help you deal with the old man?”
Billy shook his head. “No offense, man, but you being there would just make things worse. I can handle it.”
“It’s not going to be pretty,” Mick warned, as he remembered the ugly scene when he announced his scholarship to Stanford.
Billy grimaced. “Trust me, I know, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Hell, I’ll get to do what I love for a living, how many people can say that? I’ll just remind myself of all the good stuff to come, while I take his guff.”
Heather beamed and gave Billy another quick squeeze. “I’m so happy for you! It’s going to be great having you here in the Bend.”
“Thanks for everything, Heather.” He squeezed her back, and then gave Mick the one-armed man hug. “I’ll text you when I get home, Mick, and thanks for letting me crash at your place.”
Billy hastened away to pack up and head home.
Heather pursed her lips and furrowed her brow. “How much notice do you think he’ll give, two weeks?”
Mick shrugged. “I don’t know, probably. Two weeks is pretty standard. Why do you ask?”
“I was just trying to figure out how much time we had.”
“Time for what?”
“To get his apartment ready for him.”
“What do you mean? Billy said it was furnished.”
Heather flashed him a cheeky grin. “It has been a long time since you lived in a small town, hasn’t it? You’ve forgotten how things work. I’m sure the apartment’s a dusty wreck with the bare minimum of stuff in it. I’ve got to mobilize everyone to get things clean and nice for Billy by the time he gets back to town.”
Mick watched Heather bustle back into her office to start working the phones to organize the population of Rivers Bend to make his brother’s transition to the town as smooth as possible.
Huh. Things with Heather didn’t seem awkward at all. He walked into his own office and set his coffee mug down on a coaster. He leaned back in his chair, as he mulled over what it meant. He knew he should just be happy Heather seemed cool with him, but he couldn’t help but feel she was too cool, and damned if that fact didn’t sting.
He rubbed his jawline. Heather had seemed friendly and normal at her mom’s house yesterday, as had he, but he knew it had taken some effort for him to act as though everything was okay between them in front of her family, and he’d assumed Heather was doing the same thing, but today she seemed like it was taking no effort at all.
“Hey, Mick?”
Heather’s cheery voice at the door tore him out of his reverie; what was he doing mooning at his desk thinking about feelings, anyway? They’d make him turn in his man card if he kept it up, but Heather always could turn him inside out.
He forced a smile to his lips, if she could be chill with him, then he could be chiller. “What’s up, Heather?”
“I wondered if it would be all right with you if I skipped out for a bit? I just spoke to Ed Miller, and he said he could let me into the apartment over the garage now, so I can scope out what needs to be done, and what Billy might need to get started. You know like sheets, dishes, that kind of stuff.”
“That’s real nice of you to do Heather. You go on ahead, and take your time.”
He heard the southern accent he’d worked so hard to lose creep out, when he spoke to Heather.
She offered him a mock salute. “Thanks, boss! Everything is quiet here, but I’ll be back as soon as possible, and you can always text me if something comes up.”
Boss? Is that all he was to her now? That was a little too chill for Mick’s liking.
He gave himself a mental smack upside the head. He was her boss, and if it was the only way she saw him now, then it would be the best all around. For him, for their work together at the Retreat, and most of all it was best for Heather to put some distance between them.
****
“Okay, Mrs. Wilson, I’ll be sure to check and see what’s needed in the kitchen,” Heather called out with a cheery wave at the Retreat’s motherly housekeeper, as she tossed her purse onto the passenger seat of her car.
She watched Mrs. W. walk back inside, and then slid behind the wheel of the car. The smile faded as she exhaled with a whoosh.
Her cheeks felt sore from all the phony smiling she’d been doing lately. It hadn’t been easy for her, but she couldn’t keep going with this back-and-forth, hot-and-cold stuff Mick and she were doing.
That being the case, the only thing sh
e could see to do was to plant herself firmly in the friendly employee role. Okay, considering she’d seen her boss in all his naked glory it was a bit of a stretch, but treating him like a close, family friend was doable. She could fake it until she started to believe it was all she shared with Mick. Even if it killed her, and as memories of glorious, naked Mick now filled her thoughts and knowing she’d never be able to go there again, she feared it just might.
****
Heather returned to the Retreat a couple of hours later, in significantly better spirits. She had been right. The apartment had the bare minimum of furnishings and fixings, and it was in dire need of a thorough scouring. Undertaking a project like this would keep her hands busy and her mind off Mick, both the real-life boss Mick, as well as the naked lover Mick who still danced around her brain.
Great.
Now imaginary, naked Mick was dancing like a Chippendale.
She took a deep breath, and opened the back door to Jeff’s kitchen. She needed one of Mrs. Wilson’s homemade cookies to fortify her, and to drive sexy Mick out of her mind, to be replaced by boss-man Mick. However, she’d been beaten to this afternoon’s batch of cookies.
“Hiya, Aunt Heather.”
Her niece Sam sat at the kitchen table with her best friend, Hadley. The girls had two tall glasses of milk and were munching peanut butter cookies. Neither girl looked as cheerful as they normally did, and Sam’s greeting was decidedly glum.
The table was tucked in the corner of the sunny kitchen, surrounded by windows on two sides. Sam sat on the window seat, and Hadley sat across from her, slumped in a chair. Heather pulled out the ladderback chair at the head of the table, and grabbed a cookie from the platter.
“Hi ladies, what’s got you both looking so blue? Hoping for the cherry-chocolate chip cookies today instead of the peanut butter?”
Sam mustered a weak smile at her little joke, but it quavered a bit at the edges. “The cookies are fine; it’s personal stuff.”
Heather took a bite of her cookie, and decided this conversation might call for a glass of milk too. She stood and pulled a glass out of the cupboard, which she filled with milk from the carton in the refrigerator door. “This sounds serious, can I help?”
Love is Lovelier Page 19
