Page 3 of Rex's Honor
Timothy smacked his forehead.
The rest of the guys hooted. A few whistled.
Rex gave his best shout. Of course, he was happy for his friend. Timothy wanted a big family. It’s all he talked about. “Congratulations, man.”
“We’re going to the Waterway for dinner. Would you both like to join us? The whole crew is welcome.” Maren always had a sweet smile and a kind voice. She never left anyone out and always made him feel welcome, even when he was the odd man out.
Rex could understand how any man would be mesmerized by Maren’s unique look with her tanned complexion, dark, inviting eyes, warm smile, and gentle personality. Deep down, Rex knew not all women were like his mother.
Or his ex.
Candice leaned into her husband. “I think we’ll pass tonight.”
“What about you, Rex? Will you join us?” Maren asked.
“Thanks, but I will cook up the fish we caught today. You've got to eat it while it’s fresh,” Rex said. “Everyone except Hawke, who has a hot date, was planning on hanging on the boat with me.”
Maren pursed her lips, looking sad and disappointed. She didn’t feel sorry for him, but she’d once told him she sensedan emptiness in him that could only have been created by heartache. He’d laughed it off, even though he knew Maren was perceptive and dead-on right.
She was always right.
Rex glanced toward the shore and his breath hitched, catching the beauty he’d never forgotten. He lowered his sunglasses, peering over the rim. “No fucking way.”
A tall, slender woman with long blond hair bouncing over her shoulders like in a shampoo commercial strolled across the parking lot wearing what could only be described as pink fuck-me pumps and a floral dress that hugged her body like a second skin. She sported big white sunglasses, and her plump, glossy lips attracted a ray of sunshine, lighting up her sultry face. She looked like an actress or model promenading across the red carpet.
And reminded him of everything in his past.
And everything he thought his future would hold.
“Whoa. Who is that?” Maren asked.
“Tilly Bettencourt.” The name rolled off his tongue, triggering a kaleidoscope of memories swirling in his mind, sending heat to all the wrong places.
“You know her?” Arthur asked.
“Yeah,” he said with a dry, scratchy throat.
“And? Who is she to you?” Timothy asked.
“My ex-girlfriend or my stepsister, depending on how you want to spin it.” Rex ranked his hand through his hair. His heart dropped to his toes. “Unfuckingbelievable,” he muttered. This was about the lowest of all the low-down dirty things his mother could do to get him to come home.
“That requires some explaining,” Kent said.
“It will have to wait.” Rex rubbed the back of his neck. “I know I promised all of you some grilled fish, but I need to talk with her alone and knowing her, she’s not going away quietly.”
“Is that your way of telling us to fuck off?” Duncan asked.
“Something like that,” Rex said. “I’ll text you all later.”
“If you need backup, you know how to reach us.” Buddy jumped onto the dock. The rest of the men followed, and the entire crew eased on toward the marina. To their credit, they didn’t eye the approaching storm coming his way and just kept walking.
He sucked in his breath and mentally prepared himself for the wrath he knew was coming.
When Tilly Bettencourt had been given Rex’s address, she expected a top-notch yacht club, not your average joe marina, where she had to assume he had the most excellent, most expensive boat in all the marina. She paused at the end of the dock for a second, staring at a bare-chested Rex on the back of what she guessed to be at least a fifty-foot Absolute. Nice boat, but a little small and not quite right for a man worth close to forty-two million dollars.
Of course, Rex wanted to pretend he didn’t come from money. He’d always had a hard time accepting the idea that he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, which is why she totally understood his career choice.
Her body shivered, remembering how his fingers dug into her ass and how his lips sizzled against her skin. How he’d whispered sweet, loving words into her ear every chance he got. He’d been an attentive boyfriend. If they went out on a date, he paid attention to her and nothing else mattered. He was never on his phone. He never wanted to be out with his buddies instead. He was kind and considerate, and she hated to admit it, but she missed him each and every day.
