Page 49 of Backed By You
I scowl in his direction. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
He grins. “Nope.”
I huff my frustration.
“Listen, I don’t know how to broach this subject with you, so I’ll just come right out and say it,” she says, grabbing my attention as she takes a deep breath.
My pulse jumps.
“I need you to come to California with me for two weeks, and you have to say yes because I already told my dad you’re coming, and Ireallydon’t want to have to go with Justin. I’ll pay for everything. All you have to do is never leave my side. No orgasms required.”
Rhett coughs, seeming to choke on nothing but air.
Something claws at my chest, demanding I go to her. I fight to shut it down and stand firm.
“I leave for the premiere in less than three weeks,” she says, her lower lip wobbling. “Hulk might be walking fine by then, but he won’t be well enough to fly or handle the long days. I need backup. I need…you.”
“Callie.” I don’t know what she wants me to say here. To tell her that every word out of her mouth is making it harder to stay away—to protect myself.
“I’ll pay you,” she offers. “You’d be acting as my personal bodyguard and lead any security details attending my events. Name your price.”
You. You’re my price. I want you, lodges in my throat. I swallow them down. “I don’t want your money.”
Tears are welling in her eyes now. “Please, Beau.”
I run a hand over my face. The urge to say yes is overwhelming. Two weeks beside her, away from prying eyes and open ears. Just her and me. It could be exactly what I need to figure out what this is between us.
Or she’ll hate me by the end of it all.
“I’ll think about it.”
She sniffles, nodding quickly.
I watch her turn away and walk to her cabin. I take a half-step toward her before I force myself to stay put. The war between what I want and what I think I should do tears at my gut as her door closes behind her.
The moment it does, Rhett throws a hammer at my head.
I duck. “The fuck, Rhett!”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he growls. His usual cool demeanor—gone. Replaced by a kind of frustration I’ve never seen from him before. “You’ve been working yourself to the goddamn bone since you got back—not once taking a break to take care of yourself. You’re fucking miserable.Go. Levi and I will work on the build while you’re away if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I sneer at him. “Mind your fucking—”
“Youare my fucking business,” he barks. “You think I keep showing up here for shits and giggles? No. You’re my brother and I love you, butfuck, man. Everyone is worried about you andyou couldn’t care less. I’ve got Duke, Butch, Ma, Pop calling me every damn day asking howyouare. You want to push everyone away? Fine. You want to tell me to go fuck myself? Wouldn’t be the first time.” His face reddens in anger. “But don’t you fucking dare turn that woman away because you’re too goddamn proud to feel something for someone.”
My jaw tightens as the truth of his words rains over me. He’s right, and I hate him for it. The armor I’ve built around myself to keep from getting too close to anyone isn’t protection any longer—it’s destruction. I’m pushing away the one person who makes me want to tear it all down.
Rhett shakes his head at me, and without another word, walks to his truck and leaves.
I know what I have to do. I’ve been so busy protecting my heart that I’ve forgotten what it feels like to actually use it.
It’s time I changed that.
Eighteen.
Callie
Hulk’sheadtrailsmeas I pace the short span of my living room, biting my nails and fighting back tears. Beau and Rhett are arguing outside, but I can’t make out what they’re saying.
