Her brows winged up in surprise.
“Yeah. Role reversal, right? I was the one always straightening out his sorry butt.” He snorted. “She and I … there was no lack of passion between us. We were in bed when my phone started ringing. It was Canyon’s ring tone.”
“You set a ringtone for your brother?”
With a snort, Stone adjusted his hat. “No, he did. Some TV show theme song. He thought it was hilarious.” He welcomed Grief ambling over for a belly rub. “If he hadn’t called …” He closed off the memories, powerful and present. “The people she was working with to take me down had more than enough evidence to make it the sex scandal of the year—recordings of our talks, photos of us kissing, of us in the bed …”
“Oh, Stone. I am so sorry.”
He wasn’t sure if he appreciated or resented her sympathy.
“But you said you didn’t have sex with her, so why didn’t you fight it? Instead, you walked away from your career, your—”
“Is that what you care about? A career?” He gritted his teeth. Stood.
It felt like a demon was trying to crawl out of his chest.
“I care about you, Stone. We haven’t talked in months, and that’s not like you. And this story, what you went through …” She rose as well, then let out a long sigh. “I am sorry. I never meant to push, but I care. You’re my son and—”
“Just better if we bury it.”
“I want to understand.”
“Understand what, Mom?” Strain ached through his chest. “I did it—I was in bed with an escort. Walked straight into their trap. Ruined my life, my career. Lost my ever-loving mind thinking this pretty, vibrant girl really had a thing for me.” He snatched off his hat. “Instead, I found out I’m just a dirty old man.”
“Stone—”
“Don’t!” He held up a hand. “Don’t say it.” It hurt to breathe. “Please.”
“Sorry, but I have too much Irish in me to stop now.” She covered his hand with hers. “You’re a good, decent man. And you’re certainly not the first man to have his head turned by a pretty woman.”
The similarities to his father never ended, did they? Still … “You can’t make this into something positive, Mom.”
She glanced down, and it killed him to see her so desperate to make things right, to help him find his way back.
“I screwed up, and nothing will change what I did.” He drew in a long breath, then exhaled with a huff. “I know that. Paid the price.” After another sniff, he couldn’t help but recall Scripture. “If I’d just respected and honored her, the way you raised me to, the way the Bible guides, none of this would’ve happened.” He scratched his beard and grunted. “Anyway. Yeah. Now I’m starting over. With a painful serving of humble pie and this lodge.” He nodded, scanning the hills, the building with its garden lighting that provided a dull glow along the path. “C’mon. I’ll walk you back to the condo and tell you the plans I have for some upgrades around here.”
Though she gave him a hurt look, his mom stood.
Inside the lodge, he removed his Cattle Baron.
“Speaking of children??—”
“Who was?”
“—have you seen Jack? How is he?”
“Not since I came here, but I’ve talked to him. He’s doing well.”
“Why on earth haven’t you see him?”
He couldn’t believe she asked that. “Marie??—rightly??—felt I wasn’t a good influence for him right now in light of the scandal.”
She shook her head. “I do miss that young man. Hard to believe he’s a teenager already.”
“Just barely.” Stone hated that his son was entering manhood without him. “I’m sorry I cut you out. I just had to remember how to live … breathe.”
His mom stopped at the juncture to her condo and tugged his sleeve. “Thank you, for the meal and for being honest with me. I’m still proud of you.”
