Red Haught: Haught Brother's Book 4 Page 5

  “I think we should just go over there and talk to him. The men aren’t going to bend and Red is a Haught so we know what that means.” True looked at the other two women. “That means he’s trouble and hard headed.”

  “You’re thinking of trying to get them all together?” Rosy thought about it and knew that it was the right thing to do, but she almost wished they wouldn’t. If they were going to be all chummy there was no way she was going to let anyone know they’d had a very casual fling. Twice. She’d tried so hard to prove that she was not the sum total of her past deeds but hooking up with a Haught would put a spotlight of where she’d come from the wild and crazy, Haught hungry chick she’d been. There was no way she was going to let that happen, but just hearing about them plotting to bring him back to the brothers made her get anxious and she just wanted to leave. “Well, if you don’t need me I’ll be on my way.”

  True stopped what she was going to say and put her hand on Rosy’s arm. “You okay?”

  Rosy nodded and hoped she’d put on a facial expression that was normal but she could tell by the way True’s eyebrow cocked up she wasn’t going to be able to just get up and go.

  “I feel like you aren’t. Here we are talking all about Red and ignoring you. I’ve been hearing about you going over to help Gemmi and Camden with the babies. That’s such a good idea. I wish I’d have thought of it.” True sounded like she was placating a small child.

  “It’s no big deal. I just wanted to give Gemmi and Camden a bit of time to spend together but they usually snuggle up and then they go to sleep on the couch or in the bed. I’ve not slept in my bed in about a week.” Rosy realized her mistake almost as soon as it exited out of her mouth.

  “And why is that?” When True found a nugget of information that she didn’t think quite fit and she’d hone into it with laser focus. “I’d heard you’d been going over but I didn’t think it was that often.”

  There was no way she was going to tell her how hard it was for her to sleep lately. She’d not been home to her bed because she’d either been up figuring out how to make her business work and then last night she’d slept with Red.

  Rosy shrugged. “I’m just not sleeping well.” That was the honest truth. Ever since Red had come to town she’d worried he would tell everyone where they’d met or at least that they’d met, but he didn’t. Even thought he’d not said anything she still had anxiety about when the other shoe would drop. She stood up and tried to get the happy thoughts she’d been having about her week of sales to continue, but they were long gone.

  “We’ll see you at the Gemmi’s tomorrow?” Karessa put her hand on Rosy’s arm before she could get away. Looking into Karessa’s eyes she could sense the sincerity but she wasn’t sure she was going to be coming around as much as she had after what had happened with her and Red. Damn it I should have kept ignoring him.

  “I’ll try to be there.” Rosy pulled away from Karessa and then smiled at True before she walked out the door. So they were trying to get Red back with his brothers. While that was a noble thought and gesture it made Rosy even more anxious and more willing to leave every one in that circle alone.

  *****

  Walking into the Haught’s nursery and watching Gemmi with Grace and Gavin she could barely believe how much they’d grown and changed in the last four weeks. Rosy had come in the party said hello to everyone and then made her way back to the nursery knowing that Gemmi would be there.

  “Hello there, Mama.” Rosy closed the door and walked over to her cousin.

  “Hey, Rosy.” Gemmi had a big smile on her face as she sat watching her two babies in swings, but she turned to stand with her arms outstretched when she heard Rosy. They hugged and Rosy was so happy that she had been able to salvage this relationship. Sleeping with her cousins date was meant to hurt the woman for her perceived wrongs against her but that’s what living a life full of jealousy and sadness did to you. Camden had talked her into going to see her cousin and it was like the clouds of her life had opened up and she was able to see Gemmi…really see her. That led to Rosy taking a deep overhaul of her baggage and what she wanted to change about herself. Gemmi sat back down in the cushioned rocking chair and continued to smile up at Rosy.

  “It looks like all your guests are arriving downstairs. I can take care of the cuties for a while.”

  The smile on Gemmi’s face dimmed a little. “Rosy I know we’ve had some issues in the past. You’ve apologized, I’ve accepted and I thought we both moved on.”

  “Yes. We have.” Rosy didn’t know where this was going but there was a seriousness in Gemmi’s tone that she didn’t normally hear and her anxiety level was creeping up.

  “It’s been a whirlwind of activity since then. Planning a wedding, having a wedding, getting pregnant with twins, having and now raising them.” Gemmi got up and held on to both of Rosy’s hands. “I’ve been so busy I’ve not really noticed how much you do for me. I think I’ve gotten more rest as a new mom than before I had the babies and you’re always here to help.”

  “I don’t mind it, Gemmi. I have never been a godmother for one and I just love being with the babies.”

  “I know, but…”

  “No buts. You go on down stairs and join your guests. I’ll stay up here.” Rosy tried to move Gemmi to the door, but she moved closer to the swings.

  “They aren’t guests. It’s just friends and family…which you are a part of. Let’s get Grace and Gavin ready and head down.”

  “They look so comfortable in their swings. We can do that later.”

  Gemmi looked like she wanted to say something else, but even she couldn’t deny that the twins looked comfortable. She nodded and walked toward the door. “Call me when they wake up. I don’t want you to sit up here all the time like you normally do.”

  Rosy waved as a response because she didn’t want to think about answering her cousin. She didn’t want to go down there. No one really talked about it but she didn’t think she was Alec and Beau’s favorite person. They were fierce protectors of their family and friends but she knew she was counted in the group that they needed to protect their people from. It was okay since she was really there for her cousin and the women in the family.

  It didn’t take long before the little ones had enough of the swing and were ready to get up and get fed. She really wanted to do it for herself but she figured that Gemmi would be in to check soon and she did request to be called when the babies woke up. Rosy texted to Gemmi and told her the babies were up and ready to eat and it had taken no time for her cousin to return.

  She walked in with a smile and excited pep in her step. “Great. I’ve got them now. Go downstairs and enjoy yourself.”

  Rosy was reluctant to go down to the festivities but she couldn’t think of another reason why she should stay up here and it seemed Gemmi was adamant about her going downstairs to be social. She stopped to watch Gemmi get in position to feed both babies. It was a feat that looked like it took some doing but she’d gotten it.

  “I mean it, Rosy. Go down there, have a drink and loosen up. I’m good here.” Gemmi shooed her with her eye movements that would have been funny if she wasn’t dreading heading downstairs.

  When she got to the large living room area the tension in the room was almost palpable. Everyone was together and talking but Beau and Alec seemed to be doing more brooding than speaking.

  “Hey, Rosy.” It wasn’t as co ordinated as when a kindergarten class did it in synchronized cadence but it was close. Her gaze caught the big, sexy redhead taking up as much space in this room as he did in her mind. She nodded at everyone and went to the bar to get a glass of the cherry wine True and Gemmi had been raving about. How she was going to act in her normal aloof way with Red here she didn’t know but she was going to try. He was back in, or so it appeared, so she was out.

  The vibe tonight was so different than any other time there had ever been. She knew it was from Alec and Beau.

  She’d just fixed her plate an
d sat down when Beau cleared his throat. “Draven. One of the things that makes this so hard is that you didn’t think to tell us who you were. It seems underhanded and sneaky.”

  Rosy knew the man was intelligent and could explain himself but for some reason she just felt her stomach clinch. This is why she didn’t want to see Red stuck in the middle of these two and she definitely didn’t want to see him on the hot seat.”

  “I understand you both…hell, you all feeling skeptical about my designs on this family and you all individually, but I wanted nothing more than to fulfill a child hood wish to meet you all. If you didn’t know exactly who I was that was something I was going to deal with.”

  “Can’t we just eat and let our meals settle?” Rosy spoke up but didn’t know if that was a good idea.

  “We know you’re probably all excited since there is a brand new Haught in the vicinity but we’re going to need you to simmer down on this one.” Alec said in his most sarcastic voice and Rosy wished the ground would open up and take her down.

  Rosy looked at everyone and knew she was right in her decision to not tell the guys she and Red had some kind of something going.

  “You’re probably right. Have a good night.” Rosy was up out of there before the ice settled in her glass.

  Chapter 6 - Draven

  It probably wasn’t the best idea to come to her house but after that little display at the house he now understood her need to comfort him after he exposed his past at the bar the other night. Since she’d blatantly ignored him he didn’t think she’d appreciate him running after her in front of everyone, so he’d waited for a bit. It was a different feel all around for the Haught boys and it seemed as if Rosy had gotten the brunt of the older brothers bad mood.

  Red knocked again on the door of Rosy’s apartment. 2A. That’s what he’d over heard her say before and he knew which building it was but maybe she was asleep, or maybe she didn’t feel like talking to anyone with the last name of Haught. He wouldn’t blame her.

  Just as he was about to walk away he heard the locks on the door turn and then the door opened.

  “What are you doing here?” Rosy whispered before looking left and right down the hallway to see who was a witness to him knocking on her door.

  “I came to make sure you were alright. Since you reverted back to snubbing me I didn’t think you’d like it too much if I gave you a hug in front of your family.”

  Rosy stepped back and actually looked puzzled. “Number one only Gemmi is my family. Well, maybe Camden too. The rest are acquaintances, and number two what do you mean you came to make sure I was alright.”

  Red didn’t know what to say about her number two statement, because there wasn’t anything more to it than what she had just said. “Can I come in?”

  “As you can see I’m fine. I’ve been called a lot worse than they’ve called me. Hell I’ve been a lot worse so there is no need for a pity party. I’m fine.” Rosy stood her ground at the door like it was a VIP event going on in there and he didn’t have a ticket.

  There was a stare off for a few seconds before she took a deep breath and then stepped back into her apartment. She didn’t actually invite him in with her words but he took that she’d left a space for him to get by as an act of acceptance. He stepped over the threshold and into her charming apartment. It looked clean, comfortable and homey. Almost like he’d stepped into his grandmother’s house but the furnishings were more modern. The whole apartment made him think of kiss boo-boo’s and chocolate chip cookies. That was quite a feat to pull off a look like this.

  “Nice place you’ve got here.” Red walked around looking at her things because now that he was in her space he wasn’t sure how to start this conversation.

  “Did they tell you all about me when I left?” Rosy had her arms crossed so tight it was a wonder she could move air into her lungs. He moved his gaze back to her belongings to give her a second to get her normal bravado up to speed.

  “Not really. I think Beau was getting ready to spill the beans but Karessa and Gemmi put and end to that.” He looked back over to see what she thought of that but he couldn’t see anything but relief on her face and in the loosening of her arms.

  “Did you want to tell me what’s going on?”

  “What’s going on with what?” Rosy dropped her arms and sat down on the couch.

  Red understood being stuck in a place where people judged for prior acts and he wanted to be that clean sheet for Rosy. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. Whatever happened before now is old news. Give me a chance to meet the Rosy you are today.”

  She hopped up from the couch and walked to the window before putting her arms around her self like a hug. That is what he’d come over to do in the first place and was reminded by her gesture. He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her loosely. Red didn’t want to scare her or make her feel unsafe, but he wanted to give her a little of the comfort she’d given to him. If someone would have asked him if a hug or a cuddle is what he wanted he would have given an emphatic NO but she hadn’t asked him she’d known what he’d wanted and gave it so he’d return the favor.

  Rosy seemed to wilt a little in his embrace and he made the squeeze a bit firmer as he pulled her in further. He could feel that she wanted to shrug out of his touch but ended up turning so she was facing him.

  “You don’t have to do this.” She could barely be heard because she was talking into his chest.

  “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t want to.” He rubbed his hands up and down her back and got into the whole cuddling thing. It seemed like a long time had passed as they stood there and hugged. What Red knew was that she was far better than he with the words of encouragement but he had bigger arms. He hoped she felt protected and cared for in his arms. “Who are you, Rosy?”

  She broke away from him with a little gasp. It was if she’d been sleeping all that time and had just woken up. Her big green eyes were wide and a touch watery like she was thinking about crying but holding off by sheer will. For a while Red didn’t think Rosy was going to say anything else. He watched the expressions roll over her face like flash cards. It went from disbelief to hopeful and then settled on despair.

  “Is that too hard of a question?”

  She nodded. “Apparently it is.” Rosy followed that with a laugh but it wasn’t a happy sound.

  “Then let’s try for something easier.”

  Her brow scrunched up and her expression changed to incredulous. “Why do you want to know? I’m a person who has done some horrible things.” She pushed out of his arms and walked to the other side of the couch.

  “Haven’t we all?” Red didn’t know the story but he wanted to ask someone so bad. “Look I know that whatever you’ve done keeps you chained to this family doing their bidding like some kind of new age Cinderella and I know that you do this because you are making atonement for something.”

  He could almost feel the chill in the room and simultaneously she seemed to turn off the expression app on her face. It was cool, beautiful and aloof.

  “Why don’t you ask them what happened? They already said some of it.”

  “Alec can be very protective of people he holds dear. I think we all know that, but like I said I want to know who you are now.”

  Rosy looked away from him to the floor and he hoped she was considering what he was saying. He couldn’t even say why he was trying so hard with a woman who was so hot and cold but she was an interesting woman that had captured his attention from the moment he saw her at that bar. She’d not fit in with the crowd at all. Too elegantly beautiful and it didn’t match the wild hunger he sensed from her. Not really the guy for one and dones he took a chance with the woman who knew what she wanted and took it. He respected that she had needs and wanted to fill them it was his fault for thinking he could work on having that position for a good while. When he woke up she was gone and it was only then that he realized he didn’t have enough information to find her.

  The bitter chu
ckle broke the silence in the room and drew him out of his thoughts about the past.

  “I don’t think I even know who I am now. I barely recognize myself.”

  “Well then give me a chance to get to know you.” Red wasn’t normally this pushy. If a woman didn’t like him that was fine, but this didn’t feel like she didn’t like him. This felt like she was having some issues liking herself.

  She sat down on the arm of the couch and sighed. He took that as a good sign, until she looked at him and he saw the resolve sparkling within the depths of her eyes.

  “You have a lot on your plate Mr. Haught.”

  “Such is life.” He gave her his signature smile and hoped she was affected, but she took all of it in and shook her head.

  “You really stepped in it when you told the guys that you were there brother and it doesn’t matter how shitty they are treating you now, they are going to come around. Draven Haught is a part of the family and I’m a person who could keep you from them. I’m not trusted. Hell, from Alec and Beau, two of your three brothers I’m not even liked.”

  “So because of them I don’t get to know you?” He took a step closer but stopped when she tensed up. “Regardless of who they are to me and what they mean to my life I am a man who up until this point made my own choices. That includes who I get to know, who I take to bed and who I share time with. They don’t get to change that.”

  Rosy stood up and walked over to him but something about her had changed. It was like she was putting on a performance for him. Her saunter was slow and enticing as she put her hand on his arm when she approached and then dragged her fingers softly up his arm and around to his back. He was going to ask what the change in her was but figured he’d find out what she was up to as this unfolded.

  She stood behind him and all he could do was wait to see what was going to happen next. Rosy stood so close to him he could make out the hills and valleys of her body against his back as her hands glided around his sides and met on his stomach.