Southern Seducer (North Carolina Highlands 1)

Another sniffle, this time from the other end of the table. I look to see Hank dabbing his eyes with his napkin.

“I’m in love with Annabel. I always have been. Still, when she came up here to heal after Maisie’s birth, I had no idea things would get so serious so quickly.”

“So hot and heavy,” Milly says.

Rhett nods. “So naked.”

“So happy,” Mama says. “You had no idea you’d make each other so happy.”

“Exactly. She was going through a lot of shit, and as you guys know, my symptoms have been getting worse. I thought if anything, being the hot mess that I am would turn her off.”

“But in fact”—Samuel wiggles his brows—“your hot-mess express turned her on.”

Hank nods. “In a big way.”

“Can y’all, like, not comment on my sex life? It’s weird.”

“It is,” Hank agrees.

“Sorry not sorry,” Samuel says.

I sigh. “Of course you’re not sorry. So, yeah, here I was, all worried that if I let Annabel in, if I committed to her, I’d be condemning her and her daughter to a very bleak future. But now I see that’s not the case.”

“Good,” Milly says.

“I’m still worried. My diagnosis, it’s not great. But it’s not a death sentence, either. I’m gonna try my damnedest to stay healthy and keep happy. But I’m gonna need your help.”

Samuel slaps his hands on the table. “Thank fuck—”

“Language,” Mom says.

“Thank God you finally saw reason. It’s only what we’ve been telling you for what, Milly, a couple of years now?”

Milly nods. “Yup.”

“You have it. Our help,” Rhett says.

“Anything,” Samuel says. “Ask for anything, Beau, and you’ll have it. No questions asked.”

“I’m glad you said that. Because I need a favor. Several favors, in fact. But before we get into it…I just want to thank you. For standing by me, even when I’m an ass.”

There’s not a dry eye in the room.

My chest feels heavy and light at the same time, like I’ve just finished a hard workout.

“I’m not gonna be a coward anymore,” I say. “I promise you that.”

Rhett raises a brow. “That mean you’re going after Annabel?”

“Damn straight I am.”

Milly rubs her hands together. “There’s my brother. What’s the plan?”

“You have a plan, right?” Hank asks.

I put my hand on my chest in mock consternation. “It pains me, your lack of faith in my groveling capabilities. Of course I have a plan.”

“Private jet?” Samuel asks.

“Yup.”

“A diamond?” Milly says.

“Of course.”

“Doves?”

“What? Why would I have doves?”

Hank lifts a shoulder. “I don’t know. Because you can?”

“No doves.”

Milly leans forward. “Where is this little shindig gonna go down?”

“That’s where y’all come in.”

To: Annabel Rhodes ()

From: John Beauregard ()

April 6, 2020 3:01 AM EST

Subject: I’m a jerk, pls forgive me

Hi Annabel,

This is Beau, the guy who’s been a cowardly ass and would now like to beg your forgiveness. I’ll call you later today. But I wanted to get down in words how sorry I am. So I’m emailing you at 3 AM because 1) that’s the time I sent you my very first email back in college (down to the minute… If you’re like me and you’ve kept them all, you can check), 2) I miss you so fucking much I can’t breathe, and 3) I have a plan, and I want to run it by you so you have time to make the appropriate arrangements if you’re a better person than I am and find it in yourself to give me a chance to explain everything.

I won’t do that here. But I need you to know that I understand if you never want to see me again. It’s only what I deserve after the way I treated you. I have no excuse. It was a chickenshit move, letting you go. Much less letting you go without having the balls to say goodbye. I regret everything. I am sorry. So, so fucking sorry. I adore you, and knowing how much I hurt you is killing me.

There are things I want to say to you in person, so I’ll stop now until we can talk. But would you, Maisie, and Lizzie be available next weekend to come up to the farm? You tell me what works, and I’ll make it happen. Yes, it involves a private jet, and no, I will not let you fight me on this one.

Asking for your time probably makes me a dickhead. I get that. But I’m struggling without you, and I want to make this right.

I miss you. Please answer my call.

Love,

Beau

PS: Shameless ploy, but there will be gnocchi and cookies galore if you come.

PPS: Don’t tell your mama, but Larry wants to be on the plane to surprise her.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Annabel

Beau calls just as I’m leaving the house on my way to work.

Makes me smile and want to cry all at once, the fact that he so clearly planned this out.

So does seeing the picture of us light up my screen.