ChapterSeven
Beau sunk deeperinto the sectional cushion, the book clutched between his hands as he continued to read through the first half of the novel. Ever since he had gotten home from picking Dixie up, he’d become engrossed in this story about Tracy and Ben. It didn’t take him long to realize it was really about Beau and Tara. He didn’t know how this book could exist, but for the moment, he didn’t care. He neededanswers.
With Daniel still wrapped up in his work and Dixie outside playing with the dogs, Beau had a couple of hours to learn exactly where Tara wascomingfrom.
Since the very beginning, she had been clueless about it all. Against everything he had tried to imply, she really believed that they were going to end up together. He read about the joy she felt when he paid her any bit of kindness and the tears that streamed down her face as she drove home from the bar. He even read about the arousing moments when she was in the shower and when he held her tight on the dance floor. Whoever this preternatural author was, they were immensely talented in making him feel for the twisted plight of thecharacters.
When he came to the chapter where he and Tara had their final meeting in the café, Beau turned the page to find it blank. He flipped back and forth, ahead a few pages, and then thumbed through the last quarter of the book.Nothing.
He made a sound of disbelief which gained the notice of his brother downthehall.
“You all right?” hehollered.
Beau hardly knew. He thought the kiss at the bar was instigated under the influence of alcohol, but to learn that Tara was completely in her right mind and eager to kiss him since the moment they met, it changedeverything.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he called back, then snapped the book closed to stare at the cover inamazement.
All this time, she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. He saw the furtive looks and returned the witty banter, because he needed to at least be friendly. But it turned out that Tara didn’t want Daniel in the least and she chided herself so harshly for never noticing Beaubefore.
It made him understand her reaction at the bar, why she distanced herself from the Bremors over the last week or so. He had been so blind and overly gallant that he had never stopped to really think how she felt through this wholeordeal.
Now he knew. And now had to make thingsright.
He tossed the book on the adjacent cushion and went to Daniel’s office. Even if Tara couldn’t be his wife, the man still needed a bookkeeper. Stacks of papers, receipts, and manifests covered his desk to the point that he couldn’t see a bit of clear spacewhatsoever.
Daniel looked up from his keyboard and his fingers went still. “What’s up?” he asked, probably seeing his brother’s bemusedexpression.
“Tell me something straight,” he began, hoping that without the book’s guidance, he could somehow begin to wrap up this mystery. “Tara… Do you evenlikeher?”
He eased back in his office chair and laced his fingers over his stomach. “You know, I thought I did… She’s cute and you may not like her long legs, but that’s definitely one of her more redeemingfeatures.”
Beau leaned his shoulder against the doorframe and crossed his arms. “I hear a ‘but’ somewhere inthere.”
Daniel made a face as if he were wrestling with the words. “Like I said, she’s great. But her friend…” He whistled. “Rebecca’sprettyhot.”
There was no way he would agree. Tara could probably roll out of bed, no makeup, her hair a mess, and she’d still outshine every girl in Texas. “So you likeRebecca?”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you so interested in who I like all of thesudden?”
That’s when Beau knew he had to come clean. He told Daniel all about his master plan to get him and Tara together, how that had been his goal from the start and how it had back fired the other night atthebar.
His older brother listened. The flames of despair and rage that had shined so bright in his eyes last week were gone now. Apparently he'd had time to think overthingstoo.
When Beau was finished pouring out his confession, Daniel didn’t say a thing at first. They just stared, brother regarding brother and the only noise came from the barking dogs and giggling girl outside nearthebarn.
“And you like Tara, don’t you?” he asked, a faint smile gracing his stonecoldface.
Beau nodded. “I think Iloveher.”
It was a bold proclamation. Beau had never claimed to love any woman in his life. But he knew that if this fire he felt for Tara hadn’t fully died away after spending so many years apart, it must have been love thathefelt.
It wasn’t just a fleeting notion or a passing fancy. It wasn’t just a high school crush. This was pure, true, undying, unconditional love. Why else would he forgive her for ignoring him in school and going MIA on them after she left the bar? Why else would he feel this unending ache for her touch, to hear her voice, and see her pretty face? Why else would his heart still be holding on after all they had been through – after all he had put themthrough.
Daniel smiled. “Then you can have her with myblessing.”
Beau rolled his eyes and turned away. As if he even needed Daniel’s blessing. Knowing that he wasn’t even interested in Tara was blessingenough.
Before he left the office, Daniel said, “And one more thing. Don’t try and play match-maker again. You suck at it and I don’t need my little brother to hook up dates for me. When I’m ready, I’ll take careofit.”
