Haught & Bothered: Haught Brothers Book 3

by Leela Lou Dahlin

  “I finally met True,” Joni said with excitement in her voice as she slid into the seat at the all night coffee house. She was beaming from ear to ear like she’d met a celebrity. Well True really was one even if she’d never gotten out of their small town.

  “How did that come about?” Alec was the most senior Haught and was known for staying ice cold under pressure but he could feel the steam building in his soul. Why did she go and meet True? He knew he wasn’t going to like the story she was about to tell. Alec wasn’t the best at staying cool when his current lover was the subject, but when it was about an interaction from his former lover with True he hoped he wouldn’t blow his top.

  “I don’t know if you follow her newsletter but she sent out an invitation to her subscribers for 80 pieces of art that she marked down. I mean these were crazy prices.” Joni acted like they were dishing on gossip and he wasn’t sure just what to say to that.

  “Did you speak with her?” Alec didn’t know how hard he could pray to himself until this very moment. Say no…say no…he willed with his mind.

  “Of course, and when I walked up to her she knew who I was. She even asked me if we had lunch today.” Joni made a squeal like this was truly a life changing moment and for him it may have been. “She gave me a signature piece that she has never sold. Just gave it to me. Ha.”

  Alec had no words. He wasn’t sure if he should run to True and find out what happened, make sure she was okay or if he should just act like this wasn’t a problem and ignore it.

  “I know you told me earlier why you broke up with me but I think True is with someone else. She was with a well dressed man who had a French accent and I overheard him saying he flew in from France when he heard she was having a massive sale. I was trying to listen, but they were sitting close and talking low. I believe he’s trying to get her to do a tour with her art.”

  Thinking of Joni speaking with True had upset him a little but knowing that pretty boy from France was here and was flirting it up with her had him ready to roar. He’d ordered a coffee for her before she got there and now he was hoping she’d pick it up and drink the damn thing because it was getting worse and worse. Maybe it was another Frenchman who’d shown up for Trues sale…one could hope. “Luc’s here?”

  “Yes. I think that was his name.”

  He would approach this topic with True since there was no need to talk to Joni about something she had less than second hand information about. “I’m sure you didn’t bring me out here to talk about what you said to True. I don’t want to know what happened with that. I just want to know if you have more information for me.” Alec looked at Joni’s face and tried to scale back his attitude. This was one of the reasons he’d broken up with her. She was afraid of him. Not that she would say that she was but deep down where it counted she was. It was the comparison against True that made him re-evaluate all that was their relationship. When there was a problem True would confront him. If he said in a loud voice that now wasn’t the time she’d scrunch her beautiful face, put her fists on her hips, get in his face and tell him off – and that’s the kind of honesty he wanted. If he got off on scaring the crap out of someone when they did or said something he didn’t like, then Joni would have been perfect.

  “I do have some information. Excuse me if I got excited about meeting your friend. I always said I wanted to meet her and you never introduced me to her. I thought since you had connections it wouldn’t have been that hard and I hinted about meeting her constantly.” She stirred her coffee and he wanted to get her to focus on the issue at hand. He had a date with his bed tonight and a baby shower he had to attend for tomorrow.

  “I know you wanted to meet her. I’m very good with hints and yours were far from subtle, but True and I had a history that didn’t make me comfortable making introductions between you.” Little did Joni know but he did bring it up to True and the look she gave him made him want to wither up and crawl away. He’d felt so guilty about the whole situation. From wanting to marry someone who wouldn’t command his whole heart to treating the person who owned his whole heart like she didn’t matter…he was glad he’d ended it when he did but he knew he’d damaged both Joni and True.

  Joni cowered a bit and nodded her head that she understood before getting out the papers from her bag. “It’s not a done deal but I should have some of this verified in a few days.” She sipped her coffee and stared into the cup.

  “Look I didn’t mean to be so rash with you. It’s just been a long day.” This is what we were back to…apologies…guilt…feeling like a monster. He just didn’t like the way she made him feel about himself or her.

  “I get it. I was so excited about meeting True and getting one of her signature pieces I wanted to share it with someone who would understand how amazing she is. I hope I didn’t get you into any trouble.”

  “Don’t even worry about it.” Alec confirmed as he placed his hand over hers on the table.

  “Would you like to see it?” Joni sounded shy when she asked her question and although he really didn’t want to see it he nodded. She moved her hand out from under his and picked up her phone. She must have taken a picture of it since she didn’t have to scroll far. Joni’s huge smile when she showed him the picture made him uneasy somehow but that was probably because he didn’t want to talk about True with Joni…even if this was the reason for their meeting.

  “Very nice.” He looked closer and could make out what it was. “It’s a man’s neck…right?”

  “Yes it is.” She turned the phone back her way to beam again at the picture before putting her phone back on the table.

  Joni had that odd look in her eye again even though he told her the whole situation earlier today. He looked around and prepared to get up. “Let me know when you get the full story as soon as it happens.”

  Joni nodded and looked up to him with her heart in her eyes. Alec stood up and put a few bills on the counter before leaving. He wasn’t sure about Joni and he wondered if he should have gotten another private detective to find what he wanted. The thing is she was good at what she did and he needed someone of her caliber to find out what he wanted to know.

  Chapter 13

  For True, this was a first. She didn’t want to go to a Haught event. She’d had a shitty sleep and woke up feeling grumpy. It could have been because she hadn’t heard from Alec or it could have been just her own anxiety that had come from seeing Joni close up. She was beautiful and engaging, with a bubbly laugh and smiling eyes. She could see how this woman would make a man like Alec forget he was a cynical grump. True had been thinking of scenarios with them together like she did when they dated and were engaged. If anything, it pissed her off more than it did back then, because she was even more vested than she was then. Using how she normally felt about people with her like, dislike and neutral categories she would say that in a normal world she would have liked Joni on site but just knowing that she was almost married to Alec and is possibly still in the picture – she wanted to not like her.

  She dragged herself out of bed and got herself together. Looking into the mirror she appeared somewhat presentable but inside she felt like she was worn down to the nubs. It took everything she had not to call something in for the reason why she couldn’t attend but she couldn’t do it to Gemmi and Camden. They were so stinking happy about their upcoming babies and so was she but this Alec thing was draining her.

  Stopping for a coffee drink before she drove to the place of the party she hoped a bit of the caffeine would give her more pep but when she pulled up to the house her drug of choice wasn’t taking effect. With a deep sigh she opened the car door and prayed she could make it through the baby shower without being the wet blanket that she felt like she was impersonating and be a part of the happiness of the day. She got out of the car and walked to her trunk to get the baby gift and was startled to see a man standing so close to her.

  “Can I help you with that?” Luc asked in his gentle voice. It was like he knew she was falli
ng apart. He pointed to the gifts for the upcoming bundles of joys.

  “Of course, I’ve never turned down the gift of physical labor.” She watched him get the two items out and lug them over to the door as she followed. The door opened before she ever got a chance to knock.

  Karessa opened up the door and beamed at the both of them. “I’m so glad you’re here. Both of you, but Luc I can’t believe you made it here on such short notice.”

  “Thank you and it does seem I’m having myself an adventure. Who knows how it will end? Oui?” Luc answered and looked between both Karessa and True.

  True just shook her head. In a way she loved that he was so obviously into her and didn’t care who knew it but on the other hand she really didn’t want any drama his arrival would cause between her and Alec. The man from France didn’t seem to have high regard status with the Haught Boys, except with Camden, but that really didn’t count since the youngest Haught liked everyone.

  “Well you are the first here beside the brothers. Somehow they all are here early.”

  True’s heart stuttered a bit and she took in a deep cleansing breath. This is the reason she almost skipped this baby shower. She could handle Beau and Camden but she wasn’t ready to see Alec. It was a long shot but she figured that he could possibly miss this. It was a baby shower and although it was probably going to be more like a barbeque there was a possibility in her mind Alec would bow out of it. Maybe not a possibility because he was all in for anything family related but she was hoping for her state of mind that he wouldn’t show up.

  Karessa lead the way to the baby gift table. It was huge and already filled with gifts.

  “I thought we were the first ones here.” True looked for a space to direct Luc to place her gifts.

  “You are but there were some people who couldn’t come to the shower, people from the bar brought things in and Alec and Beau practically cleared her registry at two stores.” Karessa shook her head. “We will not be having her opening all these gifts with people sitting around. That would be too damn long. I’ll ask her what she wants to do, but really she wanted to see everyone, have cake and relax.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Where’s the food?” True knew that question was as good as asking where Beau was.

  Karessa looked at True with a smirk. “Beau is outside grilling.”

  True squeezed Karessa’s arm in her form of a hug and went out to find Beau. He was right where his fiancé said he was. Outside by the pool, at the grill with his Haught Eats apron on.

  “Hey there, True.”

  The words were right, but his demeanor was off. What the hell was going on with him?

  “Hey there, Beau. What’s on the menu?” She surveyed the grill and saw everything but steaks on there, but she still liked to see his pride when he talked about what he had on there.

  Beau looked at the grill and rattled off what he was cooking before looking back at her.

  “What?” She put her hands on her hips. True didn’t know why but the way he was acting had her irritated and spoiling to tell him off.

  “Good to see you, buddy. Would you mind asking Karessa to give you the steaks from the fridge?”

  True turned to see that Luc had followed her outside. The man nodded and walked back into the house.

  “Is that what your attitude is about?” True shook her head. “You know you don’t have to worry about him since you’ve put a ring on Karessa for one and they weren’t ever an item in the first place.”

  “That’s not my issue. I’ve got a problem with him jetting into town, coming to some sale at your gallery that I wasn’t even aware of and then planning to take you away on some world tour.” Beau stabbed at whatever he had on the grill.

  True cocked her head to the side seriously confused at how Beau would know any of this information. “Did you hear that from Rosy?”

  “Rosy? The one who’s running around silently begging everyone for forgiveness? No.” Beau looked like a sullen little boy who was told he wasn’t getting what he wanted for Christmas.

  “Then I don’t know who could have told you all that.” True was absolutely puzzled.

  “The point is that you didn’t tell me and then you show up here all la de da with Luc after telling me about you and Alec…what is going on?”

  True didn’t bother telling him this wasn’t his business when she was the one who opened that gate, but she thought about the people who’d been in attendance at the sale and a lightbulb lit. “Did Alec tell you about this?”

  Beau cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand. He always did that when he was uncomfortable or didn’t want to answer a question. He was either going to deflect or wiggle out another way. True wasn’t going to give him the chance.

  “So the answer is yes?”

  “I don’t want to answer that question because it really doesn’t matter.” Beau sighed. “I know getting into this has pissed you off. It’s written all over your stance but I’m going to ask you not to confront anyone about it until later.”

  “Oh so you get me all riled up and then I’m supposed to keep quiet?” True knew Beau was right. Arguing in front of everyone wasn’t going to be good for keeping Gemmi calm, but damn it Alec had a lot of fucking nerve getting information from his ex…if that’s still her title and she hasn’t moved to refill her old position, then sharing the intel with his brothers. He didn’t even talk to her about it. She took a deep breath. “Fine. I won’t say a word about it.”

  “Until when?”

  “None of your business. It will be handled when it gets handled but it won’t be at this little shindig today.”

  Beau smiled at her but she wasn’t amused. It looked like she’d only be talking to Camden today because her shit list was full of Haughts and both of them were in the running for winning the top spot.

  “I like my steak rare, Beau. Don’t forget to save one for me.” She turned away to find someone who wasn’t pissing her off.

  “I know what you like and I’ve never forgotten to make sure you had what you needed.” Beau said to her back because that was all she was giving him.

  She passed Luc coming out with the steaks but he quickly caught up with her as she made her way to find Gemmi. “You’re awfully quiet.” True didn’t look at him as she asked the question while walking toward the sound of her friends voice.

  “Just taking it all in.” Luc answered.

  True turned to him as they reached the doorway just to see what kind of expression came with his answer. It was hard to read and she wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t know him well enough or he was good at schooling his features to be mildly blank.

  He reached around her and opened the door and then waited until she finished studying him. “After you.”

  She turned to look at the room to find it full of people and all of them watching the scene in the doorway. Gemmi, Karessa, Rosy, Camden and of course included in the group…the one and only Alec. He was also a man who was good at hiding his expression. If he’d had one on his face, good or bad when the door opened, it was gone now. He sat looking at the two of them like he was bored but she could see the way he was gripping his beer bottle. Good let him be mad…jerk.

  “What are you all doing in here and how can I help?” True walked into the room with her head high and her chest out. It probably looked to everyone like the way she always did it but it felt forced to her. So Mr. all work and no play took the time to talk to Joni at lunch and then again after she came to the gallery hours later? They must be closer than she thought. The two of them had never talked about exclusivity, it could be possible the woman was still in the picture. Not like a full girlfriend but more like a fuck buddy. It came to her that was her title in Alec’s life and that stung, but it shouldn’t. It was what she told herself she wanted and it was why she’d ended it in the first place.

  “We are all done. We’re just sitting here grilling Red until the other guests get here.” Gemmi said and pointed t
o a large man with red hair who was sitting in a spot True couldn’t see from the door. She’d heard about the doctor who’d been there when Gemmi had fainted in the bar, but she didn’t know the man had been upped from bar status to family gathering status. She walked over and offered her hand.

  The man stood up and was even larger than he looked sitting there. “Pleased to meet you, True. I’ve heard so much about you I feel like I know you already.” Red was a charmer alright but there was something about his face that made her wonder if she’d met him before.

  “I’ve heard a bit about you too. You’re not from around here?” True wanted to figure out why she felt like she knew him.

  “No. I grew up a couple of towns over in a place not many people have heard of. I’m new to the hospital and this area so I don’t know many people here.”

  True continued to pump the mans hand up and down while she concentrated on his face. It just wouldn’t come to her why he looked so familiar.

  “Are you going to shake his hand all day, True?”

  She stopped and looked over to where the smart ass remark came from. Alec had the nerve to sit there acting jealous while he’d been shooting the shit with his ex maybe all night long for all she knew. “I might.” She threw the words over her shoulder and turned back to Red.

  “Well I’m glad you’re here. This family picked me up when I didn’t have anyone to call my own so I can tell you that you’re in good hands. Welcome to the party, Red.” True let go of his hand, walked to the bar to pick something out to drink and listened to Luc introduce himself. The conversation moved from there to what Luc was doing in town. He told them all about how he was trying convince True to share her art with the world on a tour and maybe get her to live in France for a bit.

  True had found the red Moscato that she hoped was there for her and drank deep. All the Haughts were going to be on her ass for this one. When he talked about it last night she’d thought it was a ridiculous idea but as she stood here fighting back the sorrow she continually had to push down in terms of Alec it may not be a bad idea at all.