Haught & Bothered: Haught Brothers Book 3

by Leela Lou Dahlin

  “Hello Mr. Haught.” True sounded like they were at a formal event and Alec couldn’t even think about how to respond. There were so many questions going through his mind, but he was thrown off by her bed head hair and the scent of her skin. He opened his mouth to ask a few questions, but he couldn’t think of anything but how much he wanted to touch and taste her.

  “Is everything alright?” True asked after she cleared her throat.

  “Can I come in?” His voice sounded like he’d not spoken for a long time and maybe he hadn’t. This whole night was kind of a blur.

  “It’s—” she stopped and looked at her watch, “really late or really early o’clock right now. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

  Alec stood in the doorway and for once in his life actually didn’t know what to say. I was clear that things had changed between them, but this made it official. He wasn’t even invited in anymore? He nodded and walked back to his car. It was like he was living in a different dimension, and things were all topsy turvy. Had True ever been mad at him before? Of course she had but this didn’t feel like she was mad it felt more final than that.

  He’d gotten all the way over to his car before he heard her voice.

  “Come back, Alec.”

  “I’ll just talk to you tomorrow. I’m sorry to have come over so late.” He opened the door and planned to get in.

  “I want to explain.”

  There was a heavy thud to those words and Alec didn’t know if he was ready to hear what she had to say. He’d already known that the fuck-fest they’d been having for the last seven months was over and he told himself that is what he was going to miss the most but it wasn’t true. The plan was to wave and get into the car. Possibly see her tomorrow or just let it all go, but somehow his feet didn’t get the memo and he was walking into True’s home as she held the door open.

  What the actual fuck?

  Chapter 4

  True had thought about this moment since she’d left Alec at the resort. How would it be when she saw him again? She thought she’d prepared herself well for this moment, but she’d had it wrong. She was thinking about him coming in the way he usually did. Loud and demanding. That would make the dominant person she was wake up with anger and fire but this quiet, subtle requesting…this side of him was harder to resist. She’d basically told him to leave and without another peep he turned and walked away.

  It was like her mouth worked without speaking to the rest of her body. Calling the large man back into her home in the wee hours of the morning. He walked in and sat on her loveseat. It was her favorite spot to sit and the few times he had been there, that’s where he sat, with her on his lap.

  She closed the door and walked past him, determined to sit on the comfy chair next to the one he was sitting on, but he caught her arm.

  “Sit here.”

  “Alec.” She said his name as a plea that wanted understanding and he let her go after a few seconds.

  When she sat she wondered how her heart could be broken when she was the one who wanted this separation. She didn’t know, but that’s what was happening.

  “I’m assuming you were going to explain why you left me a few days ago?”

  “Right.” True clapped her hands together once trying to get ready to handle this difficult conversation. “You don’t know me.”

  He sat there and looked at her like he was waiting for the rest of the explanation, but that was really the long and the short of what she’d come up with.

  “What do you mean?” Alec said slowly like he was trying to look for clues to what she was really saying.

  “What do you mean…what do I mean?” True sat up a little taller in her seat. This wasn’t the time to play games. It was late and although she didn’t have anything planned that didn’t mean she was going to sit here and listen to him act like he was unaware of what was going on.

  Alec chuckled and shook his head, looking at the floor like it was going to help him in this situation.

  “The truth is we’ve been doing the horizontal greased weasel tango for the last 7 months. I thought it would be enough, but it’s not.” She couldn’t help but throw that colorful description in since they’d been together Alec had used so many terms for sex but never just the three letter word everyone else used.

  “I know you, True.” He looked over at her appearing tired.

  “In the biblical sense? Yes, you do, but you don’t really know me like I know you and it’s really starting to bother me. I give my all to the people in my circle, but for you I give even more than that.”

  “Is this because of what happened the last day at the resort? Because I have to tell you I felt like shit when I came out of the shower to find you gone.”

  “That wasn’t my finest hour.” True stood up and tried to gather herself to apologize. She paced to the window and then back across the room until she felt a hand catch hers and pull her down. She landed in his lap.

  “You don’t have to talk about it now. I see it gets you all worked up.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and placed small kisses on the back.

  She watched his lips touch her hand and pulled it away from his mouth.

  “I’m just trying to soothe you,” he said as he stopped kissing her hand but was now caressing it.

  “I know where this leads.”

  “Bam, bam in the ham?”

  True looked into the face she loved so much and had to smile. “Bam, bam in the ham?”

  “I heard that one somewhere and was saving it. I didn’t have a chance to hit you with it.” He put his hand on her chin and turned her face toward him. “You know I—”

  “Don’t!” True stood up and walked to the wall before facing him. “Look my love isn’t contingent on you loving me back. If that were the case it would have died when you were in high school and dated Chloe Mills or in college when you got engaged. This love will, unfortunately, continue on. The difference now is that I love someone else and I have to consider the feelings of that person too.”

  There was no noise where Alec was sitting so she looked up to see his reaction but he was gone. She looked to the left and he was right by her and she almost jumped at the fierceness on his face.

  “Who is it?”

  “Oh, that has you all messed up? It’s me, Alec Haught. I’m talking about me. I’ve given up a lot of time, opportunities and experiences waiting for you to want me. I though having any piece of you would be enough, but it’s not. I want more. I deserve more. I can’t make you love me, but I can damn well love myself.”

  “Who said I don’t love you?”

  “I’ve known you almost as long as I’ve known myself and I know you love and care for all your family. I think I’m a part of that for you, but on that trip I was imagining where we would be in the next one, three or ten years and I saw the future. Us hiding our secret relationship and screwing whenever we have the chance…it was enough to make me think about what I really want.” She walked toward the door and waited for Alec to follow her before she opened it. “I need to move on.”

  Chapter 5

  Alec had a horrible night's sleep. It could be blamed on too much excitement. His life had been filled with work related items, work and True for as long as he could remember. It was usually him trying to stay away from the woman who could be a death sentence to him. His father had died because he loved too hard and it wasn’t difficult for him to believe it. The pain Zachary Haught had faced when his wife and mother of his children died during childbirth had to have been unbelievably unbearable. So much that his heart went bad and he died seven months after she did, leaving 3 small boys. This family had enough loss to last a lifetime.

  The Haught Spot opened at noon during the weekdays and with Camden being out of town at the bar expo his brother had secretly charged the family with watching over his pregnant with twins wife, Gemmi. It wasn’t his turn, but he wished it was. Beau was in charge of her care so of course when he walked to his spot behind the bar, he was watchi
ng the waddling woman move menus and small items here and there throughout the place. Alec shook his head, but tried to stay out of people’s business.

  “Hey Alec.” Gemmi huffed a bit like she was getting out of breath. Nothing better happen to this woman while he was around.

  “Hey Gemmi. What are you doing?”

  “Beau said to just fill in so that’s what I’m doing. I probably shouldn’t even be here, but I’m so bored and Camden said he was going to stop by here before he came home so I wanted to be here.”

  Alec punched in the numbers to sign himself in on the register before turning around and looking at the dark haired woman who’d stolen his brother's heart.

  “Hold on a minute.” He moved to the cabinet and took out papers and a stack of menus before walking to the end of the bar. “Come on down here and put these together for the night crowd.”

  Gemmi stood still for a minute before walking slowly down to where the items to work on were placed. “I feel like you just want me down here so you can keep an eye on me.”

  “You’re a Haught now Gemmi. I know you grew up an only child, but now you have two older brothers. We are going to watch out for you and we only want what’s best for you. I know you want to be helpful and you know I want you to be careful. Here is a way that we both get what we want.” He wasn’t sure he’d ever said those many words to her at one time and she looked like she was stunned that he could say that much, but she nodded and sat down.

  “Well then I think that was a good bargain,” she said as she hopped up a bit awkwardly on the bar stool. It took her a few minutes, but she had an expression on her face like she’d climbed Mt. Rushmore.

  “I think so too.” Alec turned to leave, but he was stopped by a slightly squeaky voice. “Alec?”

  He didn’t say anything but he turned around and raised his eyebrows at her in response.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask?” He moved back toward her and leaned against the counter.

  Now she looked at him like she shouldn’t have asked. He’d just stand there until she felt more comfortable.

  “Well True is back from vacation and she’s just making all these plans that aren’t really like her. She seems borderline miserable and I wondered if you were too.” She looked like she was honestly asking something that was on her mind.

  “I’m thinking some things through, little sis, don’t you worry.”

  “If you say so, but know what I’m always here if you want to talk. My mouth is like a steel trap so anything you tell me stays with me.”

  “I appreciate it. Honestly, I do.”

  Walking away from Gemmi to the people who started to trickle in. He worked the whole bar in the afternoons so there were times it got busy. On a day like today, where he wanted to be busy, he hoped for lots of customers.

  It was a few hours into the shift when he looked over and found a large red headed man sitting next to Gemmi. Somehow he missed the man’s entrance, but at least he wasn’t looking like he was in a rush.

  “Hello there,” Alec said as he approached the end of the bar. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Welcome to The Haught Spot. What can I get you?”

  The man looked over at Alec with a smile. “Thanks for the welcome. I am new in town and new to The Haught Spot. I was asking Gemmi here what was good.”

  The man didn’t seem to be flirting with Gemmi and there was a sense of déjà vu that came over Alec when the man spoke, although he knew he’d never seen him before. “We’ll I’m glad you stopped in. What did Gemmi suggest?”

  “Chicken fingers, fries and a glass of water.” The man closed his menu and put it in the holder on the counter.

  “Good choice.” Alec put in the order, filled a glass with ice water and went back to find out a little more about the friendly out of towner. “So where you from?”

  “I’m from a little town a few counties over. Clearview. Ever hear of it?” He picked up his glass and drained it while Alec took the man in.

  “I think I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never been there.” Alec filled the man’s glass again from the fountain gun. “I’m Alec Haught.”

  “You own this place?”

  “My two brothers and I own and run it.” Alec watched the man look around while he nodded.

  “Nice place you’ve got here. I’m one of the new ER docs at the hospital and most people call me Red.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Red.” Alec extended his hand to the man and they did a quick introductory shake.

  “Likewise.”

  Alec went to tend to the other customers until Red’s order was up. After picking it up and placing it before him, he saw his brother walk in.

  “Here’s my baby brother Camden.” Alec said to Red and the man looked over.

  “Cam.” Gemmi squealed as she stood up on the rungs of the stool.

  “Hey baby.” Camden walked over to meet his wife, but she wavered and started to fall back.

  Red stood up kicking his chair so that it fell back and gave him room to catch her. He laid her on the ground and pulled a stethoscope out of his pocket. There was a crowd forming around them as Camden tried to get to them.

  “Everyone back up and give us some space.” Red yelled to the people.

  Alec was looking at the pair over the counter and could see that her eyes were now open and she just looked startled.

  “What happened?” Camden looked like he was going to be the next one to black out.

  “It looks like she fainted,” he said to Camden. “Do you mind if I check you out real quick?” he asked Gemmi.

  She nodded and grabbed Camden’s hand.

  Alec watched as Red checked her heart and lungs before moving down to check her ankles.

  “Have you eaten today?”

  Gemmi’s face pinkened a little. “I ate earlier this morning, but I was so excited Camden was coming home I didn’t eat.”

  “When are you due?” Red said while he and Camden got her off the floor.

  “I’ve got 13 weeks left.”

  “Great. You’re in your third trimester.” Red got a chair from one of the tables pulled it closer to the bar. “You’re going to need to keep yourself hydrated and fed. I’d also call your doctor and get checked out after that scare. I know I got you before you hit the floor, but I’d feel better if your obstetrician took a look at you.”

  Gemmi nodded.

  “I’m Camden,” he said, holding his hand out, “and you are… Superman?”

  Red laughed a little and accepted the handshake. “I wish I were Superman, but most people just call me Red. I’m just a lowly ER doctor swooping in to listen to lungs and hearts.”

  “Is she okay, really?” Camden said with a little of the false bravado gone.

  “I think it was her lack of food and drink coupled by her excitement to see you that sent her reeling. I don’t think she has a problem, but like I said I’d call and let the doctor know what happened.” Red looked at his watch and turned back toward Alec. “Hey, I’ve got to be going can I have the check please?”

  “Hell no. That was on the house and feel free to stop by again real soon.” Camden said patting Red on the back.

  “I probably will be back as I’m trying to get my house in livable shape and it’s so quiet eating alone.”

  “Well, come on back here at The Haught Spot you’re never alone.” Camden laughed as Red left.

  “Welcome back, Cam.” Alec said as he put in an order of chicken strips for Gemmi and then poured her a glass of water. “When Gemmi is done eating take her to the doctor’s office.”

  “She’s calling now.” Camden said.

  “It's a good thing Red was here. I don't know what we would have done if she hit the floor.” Alec said, but knew he shouldn’t have by the way Camden’s face went from deep red to stark white.

  “I don't even wanna think about that. I'm just glad he was here. How did you end up with the doctor sitting at the bar just at the right ti
me?” Camden picked up the water and drank it down so Alec poured another for Gemmi.

  “Just good timing.”

  Gemmi put down her cell phone. “The doctor says they can see us as soon as we get there.”

  Alec went to the back and put the chicken and fries in a to go container along with a bottle of water. He headed back out and set all of it in front of Gemmi. “Eat it on the way.”

  Camden smiled. “You always know just what to do. Thanks, bro.”

  Alec watched the two of them leave and was reminded of his problem with True. He couldn’t believe she didn't think that he knew her. He knew her better than anyone. He knew what each of her expressions meant, he knew family was at the top of things she wanted for herself and he knew she’d loved him for a very long time. He didn’t know what was going to come of all this, but what he did know is that he wanted True to know he knew her.

  Alec walked over to the phone and dialed the number he’d been thinking of dialing for a long time.

  Chapter 6

  True regretted the timing of which she’d done all of the evaluation of her life. She was trying to stay away from The Haught Spot until she could look at Alec without wanting to jump his bones, trying to be there for Gemmi as she was now on modified bed rest without seeing Camden and avoiding the heck out of her best friends Karessa and Beau. All of this together caused her to be alone on the one day of the year she hated to be alone.

  The doorbell ringing made her bury her head deeper in the pillow, but that didn’t stop whoever was at the door from ringing it like they were crazy.

  “What the fuck? Can’t I just be miserable in fucking peace?” She stood up and threw on her robe. The ringing didn’t stop and True almost tripped trying to get to the door. Throwing open the door the scathing words died in her throat. It was Alec carrying a large bouquet of pink, white and magenta Gerbera Daisies in one hand and a bag in the other.