Page 97 of Screwed
“That’s covered.”
“Right. Okay. So. We got our bid in to Sutherland Industries. I mentioned it to Joshua on the weekend.”
Cash’s gut tightened, remembering Beau’s veiled threat. “I expect them to evaluate the bids fairly and make the best business decision.”
Beau laughed. “Come on. You know as well as I do that who you know in this business is just as important as what you know.”
Cash nodded reluctantly. Yeah, he’d learned the truth of that, one more reason to be grateful to Beau for the extensive family connections that had helped their consulting business take off rapidly.
It was a battle inside him, the gratitude and the shared history he had with Beau versus the way he felt about Beau now. The ways he thought his friend had changed, or perhaps revealed his true nature—his obsession with success and making money to the point of using people. And a battle with the revulsion he felt at how Beau had treated Callie; the dismay that Beau wanted to get back with her versus the belief that she was better off without him.
She would never do that, would she? Get back together with Beau?
Then another thought struck him like a hammer blow. If she’d been using Cash for revenge…was she going to tell Beau about them?
He rubbed the sharp ache in his chest.
Christ. If that happened…
He studied his friend and business partner, not even listening as he talked about conductor and fiber optic shield wire installation. No. He couldn’t let Callie be the one. He had to sack up and come clean.
“I slept with Callie.”
Jesus Christ. Did he really say that out loud? He waited, hoping Beau would keep talking about the RFP.
But Beau gaped at him. “What?”
Cash rubbed his forehead. “I slept with Callie.”
“What? When?MyCallie?”
“Your ex-wife. Heavy on the ‘ex.’”
Beau shook his head. “I don’t understand. What are you saying? You two have been having an affair?”
“Yeah, basically that’s it, I guess.”
“Wait,” Beau said slowly. “You went to her divorce party. You took her home that night. You went to fund-raisers with her.”
“Just one.”
Beau jerked his hand. “You were there, helping her paint. Her mom said you were at her place one Sunday morning, fixing a leaky tap. You were there because you slept with her.” He made a low noise that sounded like a growl. “What the fuck, man?”
Cash swallowed.
“Why’d you do that?”
The tight look of anger on Beau’s face had Cash’s palms sweating. But he couldn’t keep up the pretense any longer. He exhaled heavily. “The truth is, I’ve been crazy about Callie forever.” He held up a hand. “But you were the one dating her, so I shut that down. I’d never, ever go there. But I got to know her, hanging out with you, and I got to like her as a friend.”
“And moved in on her as soon as we were divorced!”
“No.” Cash’s word was emphatic. “No, I did not. She went away to Europe. When she came home, she needed help with some things at the house. I do that for my mom all the time, it seemed normal to me. She was a friend, and you weren’t there to help her. But I wasn’t moving in on her.”
Beau’s lips flattened as he listened. “What are you saying? She was the one who put the moves onyou?”
Cash gave a dry chuckle. “Funnily enough, thatiswhat happened.” He rubbed his eyes. “Long story. I’m sure you don’t want details.”
“Fuck no. Spare me the details. Jesus Christ. You fucking asshole.” Beau lunged out of his chair, grabbed Cash by the shirt, and jerked him up out of his chair. Cash didn’t even try to defend himself when Beau punched him in the face. Stars exploded in front of his eyes, and burning pain rocketed through him.
