Page 80 of Confessions

Hayden nodded. “Let me buy you a beer.”

Ben’s mouth twisted into a mirthless grin. He reached into his pocket and threw a couple of bucks onto the polished counter. “I don’t want any of your money, Monroe.” To the bartender, “Give me a draft—anything you’ve got on tap.” Leaning closer to Hayden, Ben said, “Well, I’m back, too. For good. So just stay out of my way.”

“Might be hard.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed.

“Why’s that?”

“Because I’m going to ask your sister to marry me.”

“You’re what?” Ben asked, paling a little.

“You heard me.”

Ben’s reactions were quick. With skill learned in the army, he hauled back and landed a right cross to Hayden’s face. Hayden’s head snapped back, but he heard the rip of cartilage and felt blood gush from his nostrils as he stumbled against the bar.

A woman screamed as all eyes in the bar turned toward the two men squaring off.

Quickly he was on the balls of his feet, spoiling for the fight. It would do him good to hit something, and Ben’s angular face seemed a ready target. “Come on,” he taunted, “brother.”

“You bloody son of a bitch!” Ben came at him again, and Hayden sidestepped the blow.

The bartender vaulted over the bar. “Enough. You’re outta here, mister,” he said to Ben, but Hayden waved and found a cocktail napkin to staunch the flow of his blood. “Don’t you two know anything about the Christmas spirit?”

“Outside!” Ben demanded, but Hayden only laughed.

“It’s over,” he said to the bartender. “Let me buy this man a drink. Hell, I’ll buy a round for everyone.”

The bartender hesitated, but the small crowd in the bar cheered, and Hayden felt that for the first time since he’d returned to Gold Creek, he was beginning to belong. Still eyeing Ben, the bartender started pouring drinks.

Ben’s expression was thunderous; his eyes narrowed in fury. He grabbed his glass of beer and poured it slowly onto the floor. Without bothering to pick up his change, he turned on his heel and left.

“Who was that guy?” the bartender asked.

“Someone with a grudge,” Hayden said. “And it’s only going to get worse.” Just wait until Ben found out that he and Nadine had been sleeping together. All hell was bound to break loose. Hayden grinned. Ben wouldn’t make such a bad brother-in-law.

* * *

“YOU DID WHAT?” Ben roared, his face florid, his hands balled into tight fists of rage.

Standing at the dining room table, Nadine smoothed the foil wrap around a game that she’d bought for John. Christmas cookies were baking in the oven, and the exterior lights glowed in the falling snow. If not for Ben’s bad mood and her heartache over Hayden, this Christmas could be the best one in a long, long while. “I said I went out with Hayden last night,” she repeated, unnerved by the fire in Ben’s eye. She’d been happy to find him in the house, waiting for her, his duffel bag stuffed in a corner of the living room. But he’d come at her like a tiger.

“You’ve been seeing him again? Damn, what do you think you’re doing?” Ben strode in front of the fireplace, his back stiff, his eyes flashing with anger. “Does Dad know?”

“Yes,” she replied sweetly. “And he’s given me his blessing, just like you.”

“But Monroe—”

“Stop it, Ben! You can’t walk back into my life and start big-brothering me all over again. I’m a grown woman, for God’s sake. I take care of myself and my children, and you have no right, no right whatsoever, to tell me what to do or start second-guessing my judgment. Besides—” she taped the package and worked on the bow, avoiding his eyes “—I think it’s over. I left his place and it was pretty much understood that we wouldn’t see each other again.”

He opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it and leaned a shoulder against the mantel. “Good—just remember what that bastard and his father did to this family.”

Her head snapped up and she pinned him with a glare meant to cut steel. “I haven’t forgotten, Ben, but it’s time to bury the past, don’t you think?”

“Never.”

“It’s Christmas.”