Suited (St. Martin Family Saga) by Gina Watson Read Free Book Online Page A

just that everything he did was done with love and integrity. The core that made him up, the love, couldn’t be stripped away from his actions. If all the parts of him that were interwoven with good and compassion and honor were cut away, then no, there wouldn’t be much left. And thank God for that. Cash was good through and through.
    He’d made mistakes when he was younger, but he was honest and upright, compassionate and loving. And Isa would take that over other qualities any day.
    Clifton pushed himself back in his chair. “You would think the boy would at least cover his arms with a long-sleeved shirt, but he has never considered anyone but himself.”
    Isa had heard enough. And she’d had enough of this Southern shit. She knew instead of pressing their father, the boys just chose to retreat, respect the elders and all. Fuck that. She was going to speak up. “He doesn’t normally dress that way. He’s been wearing dress trousers and Oxford shirts with long sleeves every day. But that’s not the real issue here, is it?”
    Clifton met her gaze with intense, burning eyes. “It’s true that in business tattoos don’t conjure up thoughts of a responsible and respectable individual.”
    “Fair enough. As I said, they’re usually covered. He’s heading out on a long weekend. He hasn’t taken a day off since he started eight weeks ago, has even been coming in on weekends.” She rapped her knuckles against the table. “And without being paid, as Camp already pointed out to you.”
    “That’s all well and good, but I still don’t trust him. I built this company from the sweat of my brow all those years ago—”
    Isa held up her hand and spoke over him. “I’m aware of how your company got its start, and that is admirable. Your company thrives, yet there are aspects of your family and your personal life that do not. Cashel is your son. He needs your acceptance. It’s all he longs for, the one thing he doesn’t have. He’s changed, changed a long time ago, but you’re so caught up in finding his faults you can’t see how far he’s come. We’ve all messed up at one time or another. If we can’t count on the people we love and who love us to accept those mistakes and forgive them, well, sir, life wouldn’t be worth living, would it? Why would a man strive for acceptance when acceptance could never be won? Cash came home alive and healthy; that’s all many fathers can hope for. But he also came back an honorable and loving man. But you didn’t change. And you should have. Because you are no more perfect now than he was eight years ago.”
    She shook her head. Looked at him. Turned to Camp and then looked back at Clifton. She leaned in close.
    “ You need to make positive contact with Cash. Before it’s too late.” She turned toward the door and imagined the world outside the office. Imagined Cash wondering alone in it. “Before his heart is too hard to hear you. Before it’s too hard to hear yours.”
    Isa stood and gathered her things before quietly slipping out. She knew the Cash of the past eight weeks was gone. She’d seen it in his haunted eyes just as she had eight years ago. There would be no jazz fest, no forever for them. He was gone and he’d let her go again.

6

     
     
    C ash drove and drove, his head stewing in a sea of red. The only thing that focused him was the hum of the tires and the endless miles he was clocking between Baton Rouge and Las Vegas.
    It was finally clear to him that his father would never accept him. And Cash would never give him another chance. Why he even thought going back to that godforsaken town was a good idea was a mystery to him now.
    He drove for seven hours without stopping. Unfortunately he couldn’t stop thinking. He’d gone back home to reunite with his family. Camp had needed help, and Cash had done a damned good job with that help, but he wasn’t going to stick around and not be appreciated. It would be a cold day in hell the next time he got