The Vincent Boys Collection Read online

  Sawyer: Tell him to bring you to my house. Everyone’s in bed, and I’m in the pool house. Come see me. I’ll take you home.

  That wasn’t something I could ask Beau to do. He’d been wonderful after our fight tonight. Asking him to drop me off at Sawyer’s was too much.

  Once we were in the truck, I fiddled with my phone, trying to decide what to tell Sawyer.

  “What is it, Ash? What did he say to make you start chewing your bottom lip?”

  I sighed and kept my eyes on the phone in my lap. “He wants you to bring me to his pool house. I don’t want you to do that.”

  Beau pulled the truck off the side of the road and then turned to look at me. “Why?”

  I glanced up at him. “Because,” I replied.

  Beau let out a growl and slammed his palms against the steering wheel, causing me to jump.

  “I can’t do this, Ash. It’s killing me. Having you this close and not touching you is driving me insane. You’re his, Ash. You’re his. You made your choice, and I understand why you chose him. I don’t hold it against you, but dammit, Ash, it hurts.”

  My chest felt as if it had been ripped open again.

  “I’m so sorry, Beau. I’m sorry I did this to you. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry I can’t make it better. I’m sorry.”

  “Stop it, Ash. You got nothing to be sorry for. I started this, and I’m the one who needs to end it. I just can’t seem to bring myself to stay away from you.”

  I slid over and straddled the stick shift and laid my head on his shoulder.

  He slipped his arm around me and pulled me tight up against him. I closed my eyes as he kissed the top of my head. Neither of us knew what to say. We sat in silence, holding each other until my phone alerted us of another text message. I started to pull away, but Beau held me against his side and cranked the truck.

  “Just let me hold you a little longer,” he whispered hoarsely as he pulled back onto the road.

  When we pulled onto Sawyer’s street, Beau kissed my head one more time. “You better move over now.”

  Chapter 16

  ASHTON

  Lana was perched on the edge of my bed, flipping through my photo album from last summer when I finally made it home. I closed the door to my room a little harder than needed, unable to hide my frustration that she’d been going through my things again. Her head snapped up in surprise. Good, I hope I scared her. Serves her right for going through my stuff.

  “Oh. Hey, Ash, you’re finally home,” she replied, smiling politely.

  This girl was not real. She was always soft-spoken, and she never showed any emotion. It was as if my aunt Caroline had given birth to a freaking robot. My mood was crummy, and seeing her infiltrating my personal space didn’t make it better.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I pulled out your photo albums. Our mothers have been talking in hushed whispers, and I got bored. I’m really glad you’re here now.”

  There was a genuine smile on her face and it made me feel a tad bit guilty for being so aggravated with her. I mean, her dad was a douche bag and her mother wasn’t exactly trying to comfort her. Instead she was making everyone in the house relive the experience over and over. Sympathy for what she must be going through won out over my aggravation, and I walked over and sat down next to her.

  “Sorry I left you here with them so long. I ended up hanging out at Sawyer’s later than I intended.” This wasn’t exactly true, but that was all she needed to know. A dreamy smile lit her face and she dropped her gaze back to the album in her lap. I glanced down and saw she had opened it to a picture of Sawyer on the beach. His suntanned chest was glistening with water, and he had the silly grin on his face that always reminded me of when we were kids.

  “You’re so lucky, Ash. Sawyer has to be the most beautiful guy in the world. I remember wishing I could switch places with you when we were kids because you got to play with him and his cousin all the time. Even back then he was so chivalrous and handsome.”

  Chivalrous and handsome? Who uses those words to describe boys? My mom maybe. I shook my head and flopped down on the bed.

  “He’s not perfect,” I replied, shocking myself. For the first time in my life, I’d admitted Sawyer Vincent had flaws. Lana turned her head to look back at me. Both of her auburn eyebrows were raised up in question.

  “No one is perfect, Lana.”

  She seemed to think about it for a moment then turned to study my album some more.

  “I guess that’s true. Once I use to think my daddy was perfect. . . .” She trailed off. My heart twisted a little at the hurt sound in her voice. I didn’t know if she wanted to talk about it or forget it. Since her mother yapped about it all the time, I would think she’d want to forget.

  “The other cousin. What was his name? Bill or Ben?”

  “Beau,” I replied, curious as to what she was going to say.

  “That’s right. Ugh, I remember the time Beau handcuffed me to the chain-link fence where Sawyer’s daddy kept his hunting dogs. I was terrified of being so close to the gate. I remember thinking that those snarling dogs were going to somehow gnaw my hand off through the fence.”

  I chuckled at the memory, and Lana twirled around on the bed and frowned at me.

  “It isn’t funny. You know I’m scared silly of dogs. And that awful boy made me sing ‘I’m a Little Teapot’ at the top of my lungs, over and over. Each time, he told me to sing it louder if I wanted to get free. And the louder I got, the angrier the dogs got. It was horrible.” She stopped, and a soft smile touched her lips, erasing the previous frown. “Then Sawyer showed up, scolded Beau, and unhandcuffed me. You finally popped up out of nowhere about that time and made up some lame excuse about needing Beau’s help with something. The two of you took off running with your giggles trailing behind y’all. Sawyer just shook his head as he watched y’all take off and apologized for his cousin. He was so sweet.”

  I’d forgotten that escapade. We had had so many that I couldn’t remember them all. But hearing Lana retell it, I laughed out loud. I’d been hiding behind the big ole oak tree just a few feet away. Beau had told me to stay out of sight in case Sawyer showed up. I’d had to shove my fist in my mouth to keep from laughing out loud at the sound of Lana singing so loudly and off-key.

  “I was so sure the two of you would end up together. You’re still laughing about my torment seven years later. You two were evil.”

  I leaned on my elbows and smiled at Lana. “If I remember correctly, you had told me I was as smelly and stinky as an old fish and no boy would ever want to marry me ’cause I stunk and my hair was always as stringy as a mangy dog’s.”

  Lana blushed and covered her mouth. She’d obviously forgotten that part.

  “I did, didn’t I?” she replied, looking mortified.

  I nodded and bit back another laugh at the expression on her face.

  “Yep, you did. Beau didn’t like it too much, so he decided he’d make you pay for saying something so mean to me. That’s the reason he handcuffed you and made you sing.”

  Lana gave me a knowing smile, “You were hiding behind the tree you came running from when Sawyer showed up, weren’t you? The whole time I was being tortured, you were listening.”

  I lay back down, slipping my hands behind my head.

  “Yep, I heard it all.”

  A pillow hit my head, startling me, and I reached for the one beside me to take a swing at my giggling cousin. Who knew Lana could be silly?

  “Girls?” My mother’s voice interrupted us, and we froze, pillows held high in the air and ready to pummel each other. Mom hesitated before stepping inside the doorway. She’d pulled her blond hair back in a ponytail, and her face was washed clean of makeup. I could see the stress and worry in her eyes. This mess with my aunt was emotionally draining her.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lana replied, immediately dropping her pillow like she had been caught doing something horribly wrong. Mom shifted her gaze between the two of us. A smile tou
ched her lips when it became apparent we were having fun not actually fighting.

  “Sorry to interrupt the pillow fight,” she said, “but I need to speak with Ashton alone for a few minutes if it’s okay, Lana.” Lana immediately nodded and scurried toward the door. “Thank you,” Mom said as she passed, and Lana mumbled something as she kept her head down. It occurred to me that Lana thought I was getting in trouble, and I wanted to laugh. The girl was paranoid.

  I threw the pillow back at my bed and sank down onto the large, soft, purple chair beside me.

  “What’s up?” I asked. Mom took a seat on the edge of my bed, sitting almost exactly like Lana had been. Her back was straight and her hands were folded in her lap. I never realized how different from my mom I really was.

  “I need you to do me a favor. Actually, it’s a favor for Lana. Tomorrow night your uncle Nolan will be here to talk things out with your aunt Caroline while your father and I referee. We all believe it will be better if Lana isn’t here to witness what is said. I am sure at times it’s going to be loud and emotional. She’s already been through so much. I see no reason to force her to be exposed to this drama. Your father and I want to protect her, and if you could take her out with you tomorrow night, it would be wonderful. I’ve not forced her upon you since school just started back and you were away from Sawyer most of the summer, but I need your help now.”

  I agreed that there was no way Lana could be around for the screaming that was bound to come out of the gathering the following night, but I’d already planned on going to the field party with Sawyer. Maybe taking Lana wouldn’t be so bad. I’d have more chances to sneak glances at Beau with Lana around. I could distance myself some from Sawyer, using my need to make her comfortable as an excuse.

  “Sure. No problem. I’ll keep her out late.”

  * * *

  It was at least an hour later before Lana returned to my room. The solitude had been nice. I’d checked my e-mails. Responded to one from Leann. Then I’d curled up on my bed and listened to my favorite playlist. When Lana quietly stepped into my room, she was already in her pajamas and her hair hung in thick wet locks framing her pale face. I’d always envied her pretty red hair. Her pale skin and freckles I could do without, but her hair I envied. Reaching up, I pulled the earbuds from my ears.

  “Hey,” she said, walking over to the twin mattress on the floor beside my bed.

  “Hey,” I replied, wondering what had put the sad expression on her face. Knowing my aunt, she had told Lana about her dad coming tomorrow night. The woman was as dumb as a box of rocks. How she was blood-related to my mother was beyond me.

  “You okay?” I asked as she pulled back the quilt on her mattress and slipped under the covers. She shrugged her shoulders, then turned her head to peer up at me.

  “I know he’s coming.”

  I nodded.

  “Thanks for taking me out. I don’t think I’m ready to see him.”

  In a way, I could understand. He’d not only betrayed her mother; he’d betrayed her, too. I’d be furious with my dad for doing something like that. But then, it wouldn’t make me stop loving him and missing him. Lana hadn’t seen her dad in more than a week. Surely she missed him. Even a little.

  “Will you ever be ready to see him?” I asked, wondering if I should just keep my mouth shut. She didn’t respond right away, and I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to.

  “Someday. Just not yet,” she whispered against the quilt touching her chin.

  I lay down on my pillow and stared up at the ceiling. My parents might drive me crazy with their need for me to be perfect, but at least they’d never put me through the pain I knew Lana must be experiencing.

  Chapter 17

  BEAU

  I decided to completely end things with Nicole. She wasn’t taking it well, but Nicole wasn’t used to rejection. I stepped into the clearing, and the familiar smell of burning pecan wood and loud music greeted me. I heard my name shouted a few times in greeting, but I didn’t pay attention to who it was. I wasn’t here tonight to socialize. I’d come for one reason. There were other things I could have done tonight. But other things didn’t include getting a glimpse of Ashton. My world revolved around seeing her. If I knew she was going to be somewhere, I went. It had gotten to the point where I was considering going to church on Sunday. I knew from hearing Sawyer talk about it, Ash sang solos most Sundays for the choir. I hadn’t heard her sweet voice in years.

  “Is it true? Did you really break things off with Nicole?” I turned to see Kyle Jacobson walking up beside me, grinning. He’d always had a thing for Nicole. I was about to make his night.

  “Yep,” I replied, reaching for a Solo cup and filling it up with cold beer from the keg.

  “So is she fair game, or are you going to bust a guy up if he goes after her?”

  I took a swig of the beer and chuckled. I’d actually pay someone to get her off my back. The moment she realized I’d ditched her because I was in love with Ashton, her claws were going to come out. I couldn’t let her hurt Ash.

  “Man, she’s a free bird. Please be my guest.”

  Kyle slapped me on the back. “Hot damn.”

  If he only knew. The girl had issues a mile long. I nodded and continued to drink my beer, scanning the crowd for any sign of Ash.

  The moment she stepped into the clearing holding Sawyer’s hand my heart sped up. Just seeing her made me a little crazy. I hated seeing her hand tucked in Sawyer’s, but she wasn’t paying any attention to Sawyer. She was searching the crowd, for me. I threw my cup in the trash can and made my way over to them. Once I stepped out of the shadows, her eyes found mine and a pleased smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Desire curled in my gut, making it hard not to go jerk her away from Sawyer and claim her as mine. He shouldn’t be touching her.

  “Sawyer,” I said, nodding to my cousin before allowing myself to stare at Ashton some more. The tight jeans she wore clung to her hips, while her flat, tanned stomach played peekaboo with the hem of her pale blue tank top. I knew exactly how soft that little strip of skin felt against my fingers. I lifted my eyes from her stomach to meet her gaze. “Ash.” I watched her blush prettily, then duck her head and glance over through her lowered lashes at the person standing beside her. I followed her gaze and saw who could only be a grown-up version of Lana. She smiled at me, but I could see it was forced. It took all my restraint to hold back a chuckle. I’d tormented the girl when we were kids, but she had always been so mean to Ash.

  “Beau, you remember Lana. I believe you once handcuffed her to the dog fence and forced her to sing loudly for her release.”

  Ashton’s introduction made me laugh. I couldn’t stop myself this time. I remember seeing Ashton’s head full of blond curls peeking at me from around the tree trunk, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook from laughter. I’d been so proud of myself for avenging her honor and making her laugh all at the same time. I met Ashton’s amused gaze, wishing for the millionth time that things had gone differently and she was mine.

  “I remember that. You tormented Lana so much, it’s a wonder she didn’t run screaming when she saw you tonight.” Sawyer’s voice startled me. I’d forgotten he was standing there. I couldn’t think of much else with Ashton smiling up at me so sweetly.

  I cleared my throat and turned my attention to Lana. “Ah, yes, but I believe you asked for it. You use to say some pretty harsh things to Ash, and I never let anyone talk to her that way.”

  Lana gave me a smile that said she knew more than she should. Had Ashton told her cousin about us? The idea she’d told someone about our summer together made me happier than it should. I wanted her to think about it. I wanted her to need to tell someone. Hell, I just wanted her.

  “Where’s Nicole?” Sawyer asked, glancing over my shoulder as if expecting Nicole to latch on to me at any moment.

  It took all my willpower not to look at Ashton when I replied, “I broke it off with Nic. Don’t care where she is.” I wan
ted to see Ashton’s expression.

  “Huh, really? I wasn’t expecting that. She isn’t pregnant, is she?” Sawyer’s accusation that I’d broken up with Nicole because I’d knocked her up grated on my nerves. Had he always assumed the worst of me?

  “No. It’s just over,” I replied in a harder tone than I usually used with him.

  “Is there someone else?” Sawyer asked.

  I wondered how he would react if I told him his girlfriend was the someone else. No doubt I’d lose him forever. His arm snaked around Ashton’s waist. Right then it was hard to remember he was my cousin. All I could focus on was the intense desire to rip the arm he was touching Ashton with off his body.

  “Why don’t we go join the group over there and stop giving Beau the third degree?” This time I couldn’t help but look at Ashton. A smile touched her lips before she turned away from me and gazed up at Sawyer.

  “You’re right, baby. I can grill him some other time,” Sawyer replied, and winked at me before leading Ashton toward the group.

  I stood there, unable to follow them. Seeing her cuddled up against his side was painful. Breaking up with Nic had been the fair thing to do since I was using her only to cope, but now there was no distraction to keep me from watching Sawyer with Ash.

  “This may not be my business, but the way you and Ashton keep staring at each other like you want to take a bite is going to eventually tip your cousin off. He’s a trusting person, but I don’t think he’s stupid.”

  I jerked my gaze off of Ashton and Sawyer’s retreating forms, and turned to see Lana still standing there, frowning at me with her hands on her hips. What did she know?

  “You’re right—it isn’t your business,” I snapped, and started toward the keg. I needed another drink.

  ASHTON

  Sawyer was going out of his way to make sure Lana felt comfortable with everyone. He had introduced her to the core of his friends and had even gone to get her a soda. It didn’t bother me. In fact, it gave me time to watch Beau without distraction. Not having Nicole wrapped around him was a relief, but it also made it almost impossible to take my eyes off him. Beau caught me staring and winked. I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. A sharp elbow nudged me in the ribs, causing me to gasp and spin around to find the person who belonged to the boney arm. Lana was smiling innocently at me.