37. Wyatt

Chapter Thirty-Seven

WYATT

Late afternoon sunlight poured through the overgrown trees, streaking the garden with patches of gold and shadow. It smelled like fresh-turned earth and the pungent scent of jasmine and magnolia. The garden was in full chaos, the good kind, humming with life and hope. The garden had been dead for decades, a patch of forgotten history overrun with weeds and rot, but now, it felt like it was waking up again.

Just like the rest of us.

Summer break had just started, and the kids were going stir crazy, so Gage had concocted a plan to put them to work. He was good at instinctively understanding what they needed. I relaxed on a smooth, sun-warmed stone bench, letting the heat ease the knots in my unused muscles.

Gage was pacing the garden like a drill sergeant, churning up damp earth as he cleared dead foliage from a flower bed. His jeans were streaked with mud, and his shirt clung damply to his chest from heat and exertion. His hair was a wild mess form where he kept pushing it back with his dirt-smudged hands. Every so often, he’d pause to direct the kids in that calm, commanding tone that somehow never frightened them.

“Worm! Be gentler, man. Those roots are still alive. If you rip them out, they’re not gonna grow back.”

“I know, I know,” Worm shot back, jamming his tongue against the corner of his mouth as he worked to free an azalea border from weeds. He was covered in nearly as much dirt as the plants and loving every minute of it.

Across the garden, Loretta supervised Ivy and the older boys as they pried up the rotten wood framing one of the paths. Gideon worked with Ben at the far end of the garden, clearing the remnants of an old trellis that had caved under the weight of wild vines. Ben was sweating like a pig but grinning ear to ear, clearly happy to be doing something productive after weeks of being cooped up in Colton Langford’s apartment. Langford himself was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, watching Ben with a possessive expression that made me uneasy.

I let out a slow breath and stretched. I hated being sidelined like this, sitting on the bench like some kind of invalid while everyone else worked. My body wasn’t healing nearly as fast as Gage’s had, but I supposed that was to be expected for any man past thirty. I’d been sidelined too long, but Gage had stepped up in ways I’d never expected.

It was little things, mostly: the way he made sure there was always water at my bedside, or how he’d fluff my pillow when he thought I was sleeping. When my vision was too blurry for screens, he’d sit at my bedside and read to me from random mystery novels he’d found lying around the house. I’d never felt so cared for, at least not since I was a kid. Part of me enjoyed it more than I’d ever admit, but my pride had still taken a hit. It rankled every time I was forced to sit on my hands and let someone baby me.

“You look like you’re about to pop,” Gage said, strolling over wearing a lopsided grin. His hands were on his hips and his shirt was riding up just enough to give me a glimpse of golden muscle. “I see that look in your eyes.”

“I never lose my cool,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, sure,” he teased, swiping a hand across his brow and smearing a streak of dirt across his forehead. “You’re practically a Zen master, babe.”

I bit back a smile and tilted my head, snapping one arm out to catch him around the waist. I hauled him close and buried my face against his stomach. “You’re working them pretty hard,” I murmured into the scented cotton of his t-shirt. “You sure this is just about keeping their hands busy?”

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 in to 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 so cruelly. 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 of amusement. “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.

“Like I went ten rounds with a baseball bat and lost,” I said, deadpan. “But I’ll live.”

“Good.” Langford’s lips twitched like he was suppressing a smile. “You’re going to need your strength. Things are about to get interesting.”

That gave me pause. I arched an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly, ignoring the twinge in my side. “Care to elaborate, Counselor?”

Langford didn’t answer right away. He turned his face to the sky as if basking in the sun, but I knew he was turning over exactly how much he could say. Weighing it. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be light.

“You’ve seen firsthand what corruption can do in this parish,” he said solemnly. “Vanderhoff kept his word and forwarded charges on Paulie Tibbs to the DA, but whether they decide to prosecute isn’t up to him. He’s playing ball with us for now, but we both know it’s not out of the goodness of his heart. Someone with access to the evidence lockup planted your print on Ben’s murder weapon. The crime lab’s inconsistencies cleared you, but that just means we’re back at square one.”

Langford wasn’t telling me anything new, but hearing it put so plainly unsettled me. Devil’s Garden was broken, and fixing it would take more than a handful of arrests and good intentions.

“That’s fine,” I replied calmly. “Ivy’s safe. Even if Paulie gets back on the street, Gage and I won’t let anything happen to her.”

Langford’s expression didn’t waver, but a flicker of approval crossed his face. “I figured you’d say that. You’re a good man, Brooks. Your role as a confidential informant might be over, but we still need you on the task force. This time, you’ll be a visible part of the effort to clean up this parish. That’ll earn you enemies. A lot of them. That’s dangerous in a place like this, where everyone knows everyone.”

If he thought that would shake me, he didn’t know me. “For a long time, Boone Beaufort fought for Devil’s Garden alone. His boys won’t stop until they make good on the promise they made him. They don’t know how to give up.”

Langford’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t interrupt.

“The way I see it,” I continued, “the least I can do is stand beside them. I may not have a badge anymore, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten why I put it on in the first place. If there’s a fight worth having, this is it.”

He examined me with narrow eyes, weighing my resolve and judging for himself how serious I was. Then he nodded and stood, brushing an invisible speck of dirt from his sleeve. “Glad to hear it. I’ll let you get back to resting, but don’t get too comfortable. The hard part’s just beginning.”

“Isn’t it always?” I asked wryly.

His chuckle lingered as he strode down the gravel path in his polished Italian loafers, following Ben toward the front of the house until they both disappeared from view.

I settled on my bench, inhaling deeply, filling my lungs with flowers and greenery. Slowly, my knotted shoulders eased, and for the first time in weeks, I felt perfectly content. It wasn’t the peace of a problem-free life. God knew we had plenty of problems. But I’d discovered that when a man stops carrying the world on his own shoulders, a strange relief follows.

Across the garden, Gage straightened, dusting his hands on the seat of his jeans. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the rest of the world melted away. His lips curved in a crooked, knowing smile, and I saw that old, devilish glint in his eyes. That look had always undone me. It always would.

“You good over there, or do you need me to carry you back to bed again?” he called, masking his concern with a teasing lilt.

“Don’t push your luck, Beaufort,” I retorted, huffing a laugh.

He winked and turned back to his task, all lanky, unhurried grace. He looked…happy. Exhausted, sure, but unmistakably happy. The kind of happiness that washed over me, brighter than sunlight.

I wanted to stay in that light forever.