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“For everything.”
Beau narrowed his eyes. “Well, now, that covers a lot of ground. Doesn’t narrow things down. Doesn’t really tell me what you’re sorry f—”
“I’m sorry for interrupting your presentation last night.” She lifted her head and met his eyes. “I’m sorry for putting you on the spot, embarrassing you in front of a bunch of people, and maybe even throwing a wrench in your business plan.” Her voice shook. She lowered her head again and picked at her nails. “Especially after you were so kind to me.”
She’d left her hair loose today. It spilled over her shoulders, brushed her flushed cheeks, and one long strand had caught on the pink curve of her lower lip, drawing his eyes. With her downcast gaze, trembling voice, and nervous movements. . . she looked more gentle, soft, and vulnerable than ever. Reminiscent of her manner when she’d arrived over a week ago, dark eyes full of tears and hesitant voice tinged with pain as she’d asked for his help.
He jerked his head back and closed his mouth. Really? Was she serious? The woman had no right coming here after what she’d done last night. She’d humiliated him in front of an audience. Questioned his professional knowledge, preparation, and capabilities. Had as good as stabbed him in the back after he’d—as she’d so elegantly put it—beenkindto her. Not to mention the mailbox. He hadn’t had to do that. Most people wouldn’t have bothered, but he’d done it. For her—no, for Viv. And despite all of that, here she was, actually thinking she could just apologize and he’d—
“Would you open the gate so I can apologize properly?” She moved closer, those big eyes gazing up at him through a gap in the iron bars. “Please?”
He flexed his jaw. Stared down at her a moment more, then opened the gate.
She hesitated on the open threshold of his property, studying his expression, then touched his bare forearm. “Iamsorry, Beau.” Her hand left him, and he missed the slight pressure and warmth of her touch. “You’re a good man,” she whispered. “A good man with a good heart. I shouldn’t have set out to hurt you the way I did.”
Pleasure whispered through him. He rolled his shoulders and looked away. Focused on the spill of golden sunlight through the low oaks lining the dirt road. “Then why did you?”
“Because you hold my father’s business—and my sister—in your hands,” she said quietly. “And my family is important to me. More than anything—or anyone—else.”
Then why did you leave?Beau stifled the question as Viv’s words returned.Kit’s a coward. She has no soul.
He refocused on Kit’s face, and the sincerity in her expression relaxed him slightly. “And I should believe what you’re saying because . . . ?”
“Because I owe you the truth.” She rubbed her forehead. “Because I wasn’t really after you last night. I was after Viv. And I should’ve handled it better. I just . . . I feel like she’s forgotten where she came from. Maybe even who she is, and I wanted to . . .” She spread her hands, searching for the right words.
“You wanted to remind her?” he prompted.
Kit nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I wanted.” She grimaced, her gaze straying beyond him toward the house at his back, resentment in her eyes. “Though I don’t think it worked.”
Beau blew out a heavy breath and leaned against the open gate. “Are we so different, Kit?”
She frowned up at him. “What do you mean?”
“Suttons and Teagues. I mean, forget the houses we live in. Forget the paths we’ve taken over the years. Forget the baggage we both carry.” He motioned over his shoulder. “Years ago, I sat on my dock and you sat on yours, and we both admired the same creek. We both lost something here years ago, and we’re both still trying to get it back. Is what we want so different?”
She contemplated this for a few moments, then said, “Yes. In a lot of ways.”
He glanced back at the house, recalling the disappointment in Cal’s expression as he’d carried buckets to the storage building. Thought of the hours he’d spent away from Cal more often than not lately, sorting singles, crunching numbers, and planning the next day’s work. Remembered the bright smiles on Kit’s and Royal’s faces as they’d hauled buckets up their dock all those years ago.
He tipped his chin at Kit. “Then show me.”
She blinked up at him, her brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”
“Take me out on that water and show me how different we are.”
CHAPTER6
Saturday morning Beau stood in front of Teague Cottage with a pair of gloves in one hand and an empty bucket in the other.
“Are we going in?” Cal asked. He stood by Beau’s side, holding his own pair of gloves and an empty bucket, but rather than the disgruntled expression he’d sported earlier in the week, a smile lifted his cheeks and excitement gleamed in his eyes.
“Nah.”
As pleased as he was with Cal’s eagerness for the day’s outing, Beau still cringed at the potential consequences of entering Royal’s home. The older man might glare him down, snap a string of curses, or heave Beau through the nearest unopened window.
“No,” Beau repeated firmly. “We’ll wait for Kit here.”
Hopefully, she’d be out soon. The idea of Royal catching him loitering on his property, with or without Kit’s invitation, wasn’t very appealing.
