Page 79 of Man of Honor

His grin softened, and for a moment, he looked almost shy. “Hell, I don’t know what I’m doing. You know that. But it’s been a rough few weeks for all of us. I thought…I don’t know. It felt like we needed a project to bring everyone together.”

Not everyone. Dominic’s absence hung over the house like a shadow. Gage hadn’t spoken his brother’s name even once since the incident, and whenever anyone else mentioned him, the sorrow clouding his eyes was almost too much for me to take. The pain was so deep, I couldn’t kiss it away, no matter how hard I tried.

For a man with a criminal empire to run, Dominic had donated a surprising amount of time and resources to Eden. The hole he’d left in the program was hard to ignore. Even Mason, who was practically allergic to domestic sentiment, had offered to pitch into keep things running smoothly. Gage kept himself busy, fixing things for Loretta, driving kids all over town for therapy and tutoring, and now the garden. Anything to keep his hands busy and his mind off the loss of his brother.

I hadn’t pressed him on it, but it gnawed at me, especially when I caught him standing too long in one place, staring into nothing. So, I decided to go to the one man who knew them both best. I’d found Gideon in his office, golden head bent over a guardianship form. He didn’t seem surprised when I asked about Dominic, but then, I’d never seen him surprised over anything.

“You want a truce between them?” he’d asked pointedly. “After what he did to you?”

I’d had the sense of being tested, but I wasn’t sure what the answer was. All I could give was honesty. “Dominic’s never going to be my favorite person,” I admitted, “but this isn’t about me. We both want what’s best for Gage. The only thing we can do is start there.”

Gideon had leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, studying me with that same piercing gaze he used at the pulpit. “Dominic’s road is going to be a hard one. Lonely, too. But his heart…” Gideon hesitated, his eyes drifting toward the window where a magnolia tree was blooming. “His heart will always belong here at Eden. He’s not lost. Not yet. But he has a hell of a long way to travel first.”

The fortune cookie answer annoyed me, but I wasn’t sure what I’d expected. One thing was certain: I wasn’t eager to deal with that bastard any time soon, especially not while the hairline fracture in my orbital bone still shot blinding pain behind my eye every time I leaned forward. But I believed in Gage’s ability to forgive. After all, he’d forgiven me when I rejected him socruelly. He loved fiercely, even when it hurt, and the Beaufort brothers didn’t give up easily. Especially not on each other.

“How’re you holding up?” Gage asked, pulling me back to the present. He crouched in front of me and rested his hand lightly on my knee, a small, casual touch that I felt deep in my heart.

“Fine,” I said, brushing off his concern, even though we both knew it was a lie. “Ben looks like he’s enjoying himself.”

Gage glanced toward his brother and snorted. “Guy’s got the energy of a caged tiger. He’ll be tearing Langford’s fancy furniture apart before long.”

“I don’t think Langford cares much about that sort of thing,” I said with a rusty chuckle.

Gage’s expression turned thoughtful. “I can’t make up my mind about him. He seems…good for Ben. Or at least he’s trying to be. Better than I expected, anyway.”

“High praise,” I said, raising my eyebrows.

“Don’t start with me, Brooks,” he warned. “I’ve been up to my elbows in dirt all day.”

“Dirt looks good on you,” I said, unable to resist hooking a finger into his belt loop and tugging him in for a kiss.

Gage shot me a look simmering with heat, one that was filled with all the things we’d been forced to put on hold while I healed. He leaned down, brushing our lips with the barest whisper of touch, and spoke in a warm breath against my mouth. “Should I take this as a sign you’re feeling better?”

“Getting there,” I said roughly, letting my hand slide down the small of his back. “When I’m all the way there, you’ll be the first to know.”

“You let me know when you’re ready,” he whispered, resting his forehead against mine and cupping my neck in both hands, “and I’ll make damn sure it’s worth the wait.”

By the time he pulled away, I was shaking with lust.

“Okay, you little monsters!” he shouted, turning back toward the garden. “Let’s get this last section cleared before we lose the light! JJ! Get Ivy out of that wheelbarrow before it tips over on her!”

Ivy’s laughter was like the peal of bells, the first time I’d ever hard it, and I let myself soak it in. It was the kind of moment I wanted to freeze in time, bottle up, and carry with me for when things got dark again.

“Mind if I sit?”

Langford didn’t wait for an answer. Before I could even open my mouth, he was already seating himself beside me on the bench. He had the ease of a man who didn’t ask permission often.

“You’re not exactly dressed for yard work,” I said, eyeing his spotless dress shirt. Not a speck of dirt anywhere.

“I’m a lawyer, not a landscaper,” he said, leaning back and crossing one ankle over his knee, revealing the diamond pattern of an argyle sock. “Ben’s got enough energy for both of us.”

“Tough to keep him cooped up, huh?” I asked sympathetically.

“You have no idea,” Langford replied dryly. His sharp blue eyes stayed on Ben the whole time, lit with a faint spark ofamusement. “He’s been…eager to get his hands dirty. In more ways than one.”

My ribs ached when I chuckled, but I couldn’t resist. “Beauforts aren’t for the faint of heart. Babysitting one will never be easy. But they’re worth it.”

Langford didn’t reply. He wasn’t exactly a small talk kind of guy. Every word out of his mouth was measured and precise, weighed for impact before it ever saw the light of day. Sure enough, he tore his attention from Ben and turned to study me. “How are you feeling?” he asked abruptly.

---