I heard Eden introduce herself to someone, and when I twisted around, I realized it was Jason Reed.
He swallowed her petite hand with his big one, shaking it before Beau appeared to break up their introduction with one of his own.
I should have known he’d hang around for their arrival so they could talk.
“I have to head out soon. Don’t want to rush the welcome party here.” Beau tipped his cowboy hat. “But mind if we chat first?”
Trevor motioned toward the side hall. “In my office, away from the ears of the guests, would be preferable.”
“I’ll have your bags brought to your rooms for you,” Eden offered. “And Chase and I will start whipping up eggs and bacon for everyone.”
“Oh, I’d be happy to help.” Seraphina took Chase’s hand, and I nodded my thanks to her.
Trevor blocked my path to the office. “How about you join them?” He tipped his chin toward the kitchen as if I didn’t know my way around.
I shook my head. “Nope, no boy talk. No excluding me.” I kept my voice down so guests couldn’t overhear. “You promised you’d tell me everything tomorrow, and that day has come.”
Trevor raised his brows and glanced at Ryder hovering at the entrance of the hallway, the only one still present since everyone else had dispersed from the foyer.
“Audrey.” Was my brother joining forces with my ex in an attempt to ask me not to argue?
I shook my head as my response.
“Fine. I take it you’re as stubborn as I am?” The side of Ryder’s mouth quirked, then he waved me over to join him.
But first, I had to get around the Trevor roadblock.
“You really don’t want me to know the truth for some reason.” And now I knew it had everything to do with that call Eden had overheard yesterday with his cousin. “Please, just get it over with. What is it you’re keeping from me?”
Ryder strode over to us, forcing Trevor to shift to the side and make eye contact with him. “Well, hell, now you have me worried, too,” my brother remarked.
“You’re going to be pissed at me.” Not the best thing to hear from my ex.
“Why will I be?” I swallowed, and my heart thwacked harder as memories from our marriage pushed to the front of my mind at how many secrets he’d kept from me. Some because he had no choice. Others for his own reasons.
Trevor closed his eyes, letting his arms drop. “I haven’t been honest with you. I lied to you about why I didn’t re-up. I lied about why I retired at twenty instead of thirty years like I’d originally planned.”
I reached for his forearm to give him a squeeze, a request to look at me.
“I wanted to be more present in Chase’s life, don’t get me wrong.” Trevor finally opened his eyes.
“But ...?” I whispered, thankful my brother was at my side, offering his quiet support to help me through whatever I was about to hear next.
Trevor stretched out his neck, eyes on the cedar beams. “I was hoping I was just paranoid and wrong about him.”
What in the world are you talking about?“Wrong about who? What had you giving up being a SEAL, giving up the thing you loved more than anything?”
His gaze instantly hit mine. “I didn’t love being a team guy more than being Chase’s father.”
I deserved that look and tone. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I meant leaving the navy to run a lodge. You were already a great father while serving. Chase understood what you did. You were always his hero. Still are, uniform or not.”
Trevor’s shoulders collapsed. “No, I’m talking about Mitch. I left because of him.”
“Because he died? You felt you needed to help out? I, um, don’t understand.” But then Eden’s words from yesterday hit me, and the realwhyTrevor left struck me even harder.
“I didn’t want to ruin his memory for you unless I had to,” he shared in a low, haunted voice. “I’m so damn sorry, Audrey, but I believe Mitch was a traitor. A possible enemy of the state. And I highly doubt it was a mechanical issue that took down his plane, but the terrorists I think he was double-crossing our country with that killed him.”
Chapter Nine
