Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

B rodie watched as Beth hurried away into the room that they had designated for her. When they realized that she would have to stay with them for a little bit longer, he took the couch so that she could have the bedroom with an actual bed.

“Well, damn!” Brodie mumbled as he rubbed his face with his hands before turning back around to his friends.

“Well, at least know you know where he went.” Angus stated as he stood up.

“Aye, I do. But I’m not the only one who lost him. She’s still mourning his passing. I had years to live without him. Now she’s giving me the last piece she had of him, his ashes. I feel like a horse’s arse taking that from her.” Brodie admitted, moving to sit back on the couch.

“She was here to give that to you guys anyways. She’s got a good heart. She’s not LeeAnn or the other chick that you were engaged to for your family name and money.” Jack pointed out, his voice a little harsh.

“Unless the old man willed the bar to Brodie’s family, she still has that. Not like she’d be without something to remember him by.” Angus pointed out, trying to sound like an ass but falling short.

All three men stopped their debate when they heard a sob coming from the room. When they heard it get muffled, they all shook their heads and muttered fuck at the same time.

“I’ve got her. Breakfast is on the table.” Jack advised Brodie and Angus as he walked out of the room.

“Shite. Now I feel like a major arse.” Brodie grumbled, leaning back against the couch.

“Why didn’t you go in there and comfort her? Angus asked Brodie, studying his friend closely.

“Because I am attracted to her. If I go in there, I’ll be fucking her into that mattress. I don’t think my uncle would appreciate that with his ashes so close to the bed.”

“Aye, I don’t think he would either. At least if you fucked her, then maybe it would get that stick out of your arse you have lately.”

“You are one to talk. Since she’s been here you’ve done nothing but glare at the lass. Questioned every move or comment she’s made since. You’re the one placing her in the same category as LeeAnn. In fact, now that you’ve mentioned it, you haven’t been with a lass since that coo Delancia got her hooks into you several years ago.” Brodie reminded him, looking at him closely.

“Aye, that’s because that coo decided to share herself with six other men that wasn’t us.” Angus fired back, glaring at Brodie.

“Aye. That is true. She did lead you on a bit. Maybe a good shag is what we all need to get us out of our snit. Don’t lie to me, you’re attracted to Beth, too.” Brodie smirked over at Angus, wagging his eyebrows.

“No. She’s too plump for my taste.” Angus said too quickly, not looking at Brodie as he answered.

“Liar. You answered way too fast, and you wouldn’t look at me with that answer. You want to sink your hard cock into her too. You know as well as I do that woman has an ass that would overflow in our hands and bounce just right as you fucked her from behind or sunk your cock into her arse.”

“Not going to happen. You know as well as I do, she won’t let me anywhere near her. She has steered clear of me since she’s been here.”

“I would too since you’ve been a surly bastard since we’ve arrived. You’ve been a downright arse even before she got here.” Brodie told him, not giving an inch.

“Fuck you! I’m going back out and seeing what we can do about her car. I’m getting the rest of her bags out of the back and bringing it in for her since she’s going to be stuck with us during this storm. Go chop some wood sine we will need more of it for the next couple of days.” Angus ordered Brodie.

“Aye. Maybe the cold will chill out some of that anger you are carrying around. Sure, you don’t want to chop the wood so that you can work it out of your system and let me go get her bags?” Brodie offered, smirking at his childhood best friend.

“Matter of fact, that will be better. I’ll chop the wood, and you go get her things. Arsehole.” Angus muttered as he stormed back out of the front door.

“Fine. Jackarse.”

Brodie sighed heavily. While he needed to get out of the house, he was feeling the need to go and soothe things over with Beth.

He hated that she cried over the fact of having to turn his uncle’s ashes over. He headed towards the room that she was in and saw Jack trying to talk to her, but she wasn’t having it.

He got his attention and nodded for him to leave the room so that he could have a private conversation with her. Brodie gave him a weak smile to let him know he was ok and that he wasn’t going to make things worse.

At least he hoped he wasn’t. Once Jack had left the room, he silently approached the bed and sat down beside her.

She was facing away from him, so he reached out and started rubbing her arm. When she stiffened, he stilled his movements, but didn’t move his hand.

“I didn’t mean to upset you. I know my uncle meant a lot to you. I’m glad he had you with him when he died.” Brodie admitted to her softly.

“Y-you didn’t upset me. I was upset because you missed out on what a good man he really was. I was upset because he felt that he deserved to be isolated instead of knowing his family missed him. Then I saw the letter he had received from your mom, one that got to him through a friend, telling him all of your accomplishments and I lost it. I realized he actually named the bar after you so that he felt close to you.”