Page 75 of Best Laid Plans

Tears started to roll down my face. He wasn't angry with me. He was accepting me as his sister, just as Trev had. This was on me.

"I was afraid you'd reject me," I sobbed.

"Fuck." Beau pulled me into his arms and kissed my hair.

"We didn't want to hurt Donna, and—"

"Mama is a grown-up, and she'll deal. Trust me, she's gonna be happy to have a daughter." Beau set me away.

I was her husband's illegitimate child, I doubted she'd think of me as a daughter. But before I could say something, his eyes went bright with glee. "You know what this means?"

I shook my head.

"You're family, Nova. Don't get me wrong, I'd be there for you because you're Trev's friend, but you're my sister. Damn it, Nova. How could you not tell me? I deserved to know."

"I'm sorry," I sniffled. "It's been a real shitty couple of days. Can you not yell at me?"

He sighed. "I'm going to tell Mama…so fair warnin', she's gonna be up your ass about everythin'. And the family lawyer will be in touch. One of Lemon's colleagues who does estate law."

I raised both my eyebrows. "Why?"

"'Cause according to Daddy's will, he split his inheritance amongst his children. And you're one of them.

I moved away from Beau. "I don't want your money.

He chuckled. "Yeah, Trev told me that, but tough titties, Nova. The money is fuckin' yours."

"But—"

"And it ain't my money, it's our money. It's not a lot. A few million."

My eyes went saucer wide. "Million?"

"Three or four, I think. Trev has a trust fund set up, so that's separate. You don't have that…but you know, if you want more we can—"

"Are you nuts?" I blurted out. "How rich are you that you think three or four million dollars is not a lot…it's dollars, right?"

Beau grinned. "Yeah, Sis."

I liked it that he called me Sis. I liked it a lot, way too much.

"I don't want—"

"Don't care. Got to follow the law."

"But you have no proof that I'm your sister." Trev had refused a DNA test; he said he didn't need it.

"Daddy helped you, that's all the proof we need. He was a good father and a half-decent husband, even if he was having extracurricular relations—but he was a selfish sumbitch, and he'd only extend himself for blood," Beau explained.

"He didn't want me to reach out to him ever again."

"That's ‘cause he was a selfish sumbitch. He was probably afraid Mama would find out and rip him a new one, which she would—but his mistakes are not on you, darlin'."

I took a deep breath. "This is all very confusing."

"I know." He smiled at me. "Now, tell me about Anson Larue and why he has such a hard-on for you."

I gaped at him.

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