Haught & Bothered: Haught Brothers Book 3

by Leela Lou Dahlin

  She’d gotten to work early and decided to have a drink and check her social media pages in the back nook they all liked to retreat too. It was small and cozy with just enough room for a chair, ottoman and tiny table. They liked to call it the time out room.

  True heard a bit of rustling before a familiar voice filled the room.

  “True’s going to be here any minute and I don’t want her to see you. Tell me everything is going as planned.” Alec sounded a little frantic and that made her sit up in her seat.

  “Everything is great. I’ve verified one but I’m looking into one more thing before I can get back with you.”

  True knew that was Joni’s voice and wanted to cry. All this trust shit was just that…bullshit. He was seeing Joni a lot more than he said and now they were getting back together. She could feel something brewing between them in her bones. True should know better than to blow off her intuition. That chick had been her ride or die forever but she’d believed a man’s words before her own feelings.

  “Well thanks for all your help. Have you spoken with the baker or did you want me to do that with you?” Alec practically whispered the questions but they were too close to the room she was in for it to be effective.

  “I’d like to do it together if you don’t mind. Then we can make a plan to tell True.” Joni said excitedly.

  “No. This is something I want to tell her by myself. I don’t think it will come out the same if we do it together. I just want this to go as smoothly as possible.” It sounded like he was walking away from where she was sitting.

  “I know I just wanted to see the look on her face when you tell her what we’ve been up to.” Joni sounded like she was trying to be cute and True could almost picture her siding up to him with her big brown eyes and slim, trim body.

  “I know you do but I think it will be hard to hide her emotions and I’m not going to embarrass her like that. You don’t know her like I do.” Alec said and then opened a door. True couldn’t hear anything after that. It sounded like he’d moved on to the next phase of his cycle the pushing away phase but she wasn’t going to hear his sorry excuses of why they’re back together. She knew when he couldn’t answer what he felt about her but she could make out his thickening cock this wasn’t going to end well.

  True stood up and took a deep breath. This was going to take more acting skills than she’d ever had but but she was going to finish her shift then take a little time off. All by herself. She had to figure out what the next steps were going to be because she’d lived her life with the goal of love and family in mind only to find she really didn’t have either. She had great friends but maybe she’d have to break out of her box and look for more.

  Putting her cell phone away in her purse and then leaving it on a shelf in the little room she was ready to take orders, smile and act like nothing was wrong. She blew out a quick breath and walked onto the serving floor of the bar.

  “Hey, True. Looking amazing as ever.” Beau called out from his place on the bar. He knew she was upset the last time he’d seen her and was trying to make her feel better.

  “Thanks Beau, so do you.” She picked up her pad, signed into the computer and tried not to flinch when Alec came to her side.

  “Good to see you, True.” He sounded like he was hiding something. She wasn’t sure if that was honestly how he sounded or if her knowing he was planning to tell her about his reunion had colored her thoughts.

  “Good to be seen.” True smiled at him and watched as his expression turned a bit confused. She walked off and attempted to act normal but she was shaking with rage.

  The night went by in a flash of drinks, tips and conversations with happy people on a Friday night trying not to be lonely. Or was that what she was doing?

  “Hey Beau. I’m going to be cutting out a little early tonight. The place is thinning out so you should be alright.”

  Beau looked around the room and nodded. “That should be alright. You going to tell Alec and Cam you’re leaving?”

  “Nah. I’ve spoken with both of them today and no one should need me.”

  “You know how you’re always talking about intuition and feeling stuff?” Beau stared at her face like he was going to be able to find whatever answers he was looking for in her face.

  “Yes.”

  “I have a feeling something is wrong. You’re not acting like something is wrong but I can feel it. Tell me I’m being crazy.” Beau leaned back and folded his arms.

  “You’re being crazy.” True stood on her tip toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Share that with Karessa.”

  He rubbed his cheek. “That wasn’t a lot to share.”

  She rolled her eyes because they both said the same thing when she did that. “Make it work.”

  “Will do.”

  True looked around the bar and wasn’t sure when she was going to see it again. There was no way she’d not see her friends, but she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to watch Alec and Joni living their best lives. It stands to reason that since Alec’s life was the bar, this place may be off limits too.

  “Goodbye Alec.” There was no way that he could have heard that whisper from across the loud crowded room but he glanced up at her anyway. She put up her hand and gave him a little wave, but she didn’t stick around to see what he did after that. It was time to figure out what was best for her.

  Chapter 16

  To hell with it he was going to tell her what was going on right now. If things weren’t as shiny and clean as he wanted them to be to present what he wanted to…so be it. Watching True put on her I have no cares face was killing him but he didn’t want to start anything at the bar, but the little wave she gave him looked final for some reason, but that wasn’t possible. Was it?

  He walked briskly down to Camden and told him to watch his side for a minute before heading for the front door, but she must have been moving quickly because she was gone. He called her phone but it went straight to voicemail. Frowning at his phone he took a few minutes to think things through. Something he’d not been able to do when True jumped on his cock like a porn star and left all brain cells unable to function.

  “What are you doing out here?” Beau came out of the bar.

  “I wanted to talk to True before she left but she moved so quickly I couldn’t get to her.” He looked back at his brother to see if there was any expression on his face that would lead him to the answer of why his gut was churning, but he didn’t see anything.

  “You know she’s given up a lot to be here with us. There have been so many people who have tried to lure her out of our grasp because of her art.”

  Alec studied his brother again, “Are you trying to tell me something, because if you are I’m going to need you to be a bit plainer.”

  Beau shrugged. “I’m not trying to tell you anything but the truth. That woman is in demand and has been for a long time but she’s been tethered here by her love for you and her love for this family.”

  “I know Beau.”

  “I’m just not going to stand by and let this happen if and when she gives up on us I’m going to be all over your ass.”

  “She’d never do that.” Alec was sure that even if she gave up on him she wouldn’t to the whole family.

  “Stranger things have happened. She was in top form today but she’s at the end of her rope. True is usually laid back but she seemed strung tight tonight and I tried to figure out why but she casually brushed me off like she was too busy.”

  “It was a busy night.” Alec nodded and turned back to the bar.

  “It always is but True never blows me off when I’m trying to talk to her. That’s new.”

  “This is all new.”

  *****

  It had been four days since he’d seen True at the bar. Not because he’d been ignoring her or trying not to see her, on the contrary he’d called a few times after he thought she’d have gotten home. At first he left messages and then he just called and hung up. He’d gone to bed and wok
e up early to take True a cup of her favorite coffee from Coffee Smoffee, a Danish and the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. With his hands and heart full he found True’s house was empty. Alec got back in his car and closed his eyes to calm himself down.

  Not knowing what else to do he found the two people who might be able to help him. He drove to the bar and went to find his brothers. They were supposed to be doing inventory but he’d bowed out because he’d thought he’d have been pouring his heart out this morning.

  “Where has True been?” Alec asked without preliminary conversation. His brothers both stopped what they were doing and looked his way.

  Both men looked at each other and then back at Alec, but they didn’t say anything.

  “I’m really not in the mood to play with you guys today. If you have some information I want it.” Alec was trying not to bark at Camden or Beau but knowing they could take it.

  “Well True knows all of us very well so you have to know that she wouldn’t have told us shit.” Beau turned his office chair toward Alec. “Sounds like you’re losing the ever cool demeanor that always seems to cling to you. Don’t tell me True finally got to you.”

  “I’ve already been told that you know we’ve been together so don’t act like you’re surprised.”

  Camden did look shocked. “I told you to follow your heart but I didn’t know you’d been together for a while. Why am I always the last to know everything?”

  “Well you are busy being freaked out about your wife and your family growing by four feet so you should give yourself a break if you’re missing some signals.” Beau clapped his hand on the back of Camden’s back. “It’s alright buddy.”

  “Fuck you,” Camden said to Beau with a smile as he shook his brother’s hand on his shoulder before turning back to face Alec. “So you’ve been with True, the woman who’s loved you forever. Since we know she hasn’t changed it must be you.”

  The two men sat there looking at Alec like he was a one man show and he wasn’t sure he liked being on display like that, but he was willing to talk to get help from the two men who could possibly help him.

  “I’m a lot like dad.” Alec started to talk but then stopped. Did he really want to share what he’s always thought deep down inside? “He loved hard and died because of it. Of all the women I’ve ever known I’ve never felt as strongly as I have with True.”

  The two of them looked at each other and then back at him. Alec waited for the laugh to fall on him. He expected it almost as much as he dreaded it. He turned his back to his brothers for a few seconds hoping whatever was going to happen would happen soon. The anticipation was winding his stomach into a ball. When he finally turned to see what they were doing they’d both gotten up and stood in front of him.

  “Fuck dude,” Beau said in a broken whisper. “Here we thought we were the ones all screwed up and you’re thinking what? That if you let yourself love True and lost her you’d die too?”

  “It sounds ridiculous when I hear it out loud but for so long I was terrified of leaving you guys alone and I wanted to do anything I could to stay around.” Alec couldn’t believe how good that felt to put out there. Beau pulled him into a hug and Camden hugged them both so it was a huge group hug.

  The guys broke apart clearing their throats like they were all embarrassed about how much emotion they were showing. It wasn’t normal for them, but it was real. Camden and Beau sat back down and returned to stare at Alec.

  “True made you want to change that?” Camden asked.

  “Well she made me see that I want to be with her. If I love her too hard and I die when she leaves me then I couldn’t feel any worse than I feel right now.” Alec watched his brothers nod like they knew what he was talking about.

  “You shouldn’t have a problem, Alec. We all know how True feels about you. How she’s always felt about you.” Camden put his hands up like he didn’t see the problem.

  “The problem is I spent so much time straddling the fence and harping about trust I haven’t been very trustworthy.”

  “Did you fucking cheat on True?” Beau was up and grabbed onto the front of Alec’s shirt. “She doesn’t have anyone looking out for her. It’s always just been us and if you are hurting her I’m going to—”

  Camden tore Beau away. “Come on now guys. We all love True but a group fight isn’t going to help anything.”

  Beau backed away from the both of them and went to lean on the doorway.

  “I haven’t cheated on True. Technically we aren’t a couple but I’ve not been with anyone since I’ve been with her but she said I didn’t know her so I called a private detective to help me with something I hoped would wow her and let her know that I know her…really know her deep down.”

  “You fucking didn’t call Joni. Did you?” Beau said shaking his head. The man didn’t say it but he had ‘Dumbass’ written all over his face.

  “She’s the best and she’s fast. I realized my mistake but I talked to her about why we broke up and I was going to tell True everything but she left. That’s not why I screwed up though.”

  “That was enough I’m sure.” Beau rolled his eyes as he spoke.

  “Maybe it was but all I was doing was stressing her having trust in me but I should have been telling her what I was doing. Hell I don’t know if I would be able to just go on blind faith like that. I’ve been an ass.”

  Beau came over and stood next to Alec. “Don’t be too hard on yourself…she should be be used to that by now.” He smiled after he said it and Alec just shook his head.

  “I know who might know where she is.” Camden stood up and squinted his eyes. “The girls.”

  “The girls?” Alec and Beau both said together.

  “Yes. Gemmi, Karessa…hell even Rosy may know. They’ve gotten pretty close.” Camden looked at them like they’d lost their minds.

  “Let’s work on them.” Beau stood up and walked toward the door. “Wait.”

  “What?” Alec was biting at the bit for them to get started so he could find his True.

  “I think this means there are no more secrets between us. We’ve come through a lot but now we have everything out in the open.” Camden smiled and pulled both of his brothers in for a hug.

  “I guess you’re right.” Alec said looking between both of his brothers. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long, but at least it’s all out there.”

  Alec patted them on the back as he led them to the door.

  “I’m guessing you want us to get started.” Beau was on the other side of the door when he said it.

  “Yes. Keep me posted.” Alec watched his brothers leave and waited a full 10 minutes before he picked up the phone.

  “I know I said I wouldn’t call you for your help but I’d appreciate it just one more time. I’ll pay you whatever you ask.” He hung up and took a deep breath. If he got one more chance with True he’d make sure she knew how he really felt about her.

  Chapter 17

  True was again sitting in paradise and it should have been lovely. The sound of the ocean was one of her favorites and she’d even booked one of the little cabanas so she could enjoy the beach in the cool shade. She’d tried to read, she’d tried to meditate and she’d tried to listen to music but everything made her think of the one person she wasn’t supposed to be thinking of. Alec Haught.

  She decided to get the waiter who’d been offering her drinks all morning to bring one…his choice and boy did he like to make them strong. It was the reason she was now slightly buzzed and watching a woman who looked like her number one nemesis Joni walking along the beach. That wasn’t right. She wasn’t her enemy it was Alec that she had a beef with. That didn’t mean she wanted to talk to Joni though. The woman got closer and a few things became clearer. The first one was this woman could rock a iridescent bikini like nobody’s damn business and the second was the bikini clad woman didn’t just look like Joni…it was Joni.

  True sat up and that pleasant buzz she’d had was insta
ntly gone. “What the hell are you doing here? How did you find me?” She could do nothing but blink up at the woman.

  Joni smiled a little sheepishly. “Can I sit down?”

  True raised her eyebrow and could feel the attitude of a lifetime springing from her toes. Joni had picked the wrong day and the wrong woman to fuck with. “Answer my questions first.”

  “I’m a private detective.”

  The woman said that like that was the end all be all. “Annnd?”

  “You have a lot of people looking for you. One of them asked me to find you.”

  “Was that someone Alec?”

  “I don’t like to reveal who sent me normally but because it’s you I’ll fold. Yes it was Alec that sent me to find you.” She looked around the large cabana before looking back to True. “Can I sit down now?”

  “Sure. Since you came all this way.” True shook her head. This felt like a freaking dream…more like a nightmare but she’d settle with a dream. “I’ll pay you double what he did not to tell him where I am.”

  “You don’t have to pay me for that. If you don’t want me to tell him I won’t.” Joni settled back in the lounge chair like it was the most comfortable thing she’d sat on in a while.

  True looked over at her. “So you won’t tell him where I am? What will you tell him?”

  “The truth. That I found you and you appear to be fine, but she doesn’t want her location disclosed.” Joni flipped her sunglasses to the top of her head giving her a casually elegant look.

  “You’d do that for me? Why so I’ll not bother you and Alec? I know about you two.”

  Joni looked at True for a few seconds. “He said he hadn’t been able to talk to you about anything before you left.”

  “I was in the little room behind the bar before my shift and I heard that you two got back together and were planning to tell me all about it. You wanted to be there to see the look on my face but he didn’t want you to see my embarrassment.”