Sliding a hand around the side of my neck, he grips me gently. He lowers his face just a tad, his eyes boring into me. “I didn’t think it could ever be topped until I met you, and then you became the most beautiful place in the world to me. Whether I’m looking in your eyes, or you’re holding me in your arms, that is now my favorite place in the world to be. So why didn’t I tell you the truth? Because I was afraid you might not be able to look past my family’s wealth and remember the real me that you came to know. I got sidetracked by the beauty of you, both inside and out, but I didn’t give your fortitude and common sense enough credit to do right by me.”
I get a little dizzy, and I’m not sure if it’s the power of his words or the fact I’ve been holding my breath, but I let it out in a rush. “Now that may be the most honest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I do love you, Casey,” he says earnestly. “Don’t ever doubt that, regardless of some of the idiotic things I may do.”
My heart thumps in pleasure over his words… over the intensity and the honesty… the utter conviction. And despite the fact he withheld from me, I understand that fear can be a powerful deterrent. I understand it better than most, and just as Tenn was patient with me… allowing me the time and space to move past my fears, I’m going to extend the same courtesy to him.
Bringing my arms up to wrap around his neck, I step up and lift myself up on tiptoes to give him a kiss. He has to bend to oblige me, but he does so with no hesitation. Just a brief meeting of our lips, enough of a touch to convey to him that I understand everything.
“We’re good, Tenn,” I tell him softly.
It’s then that I notice that the anxiety hasn’t been alleviated. I can see the strain around his eyes and feel the tension in his shoulders. I release my hold and step back from him, angling my head in patient curiosity.
Releasing a tiny breath of unease, Tenn lets go his hold on my neck and takes my hand. He leads me several paces away from the ATV over to a large rock that rests on the bank and protrudes outward into the swift-moving river where the water froths around the edge. He motions me forward and I take a seat on the edge, balancing myself with my legs stretched out and feet planted on the pebbled bank.
Tenn’s eyes are worried when he says, “I’m not sure we are good, Casey.”
My heart lurches, not from the words themselves, but with the despondency with which he uttered them. “What do you mean?”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Tenn cuts a quick gaze out toward the mountain range, seemingly trying to draw some peace from the lovely scenery. “I need to tell you everything about my family.”
Absolute dread starts welling inside of me, causing my chest to constrict and my lungs to deflate. The tone of his voice… the ominous vibe I’m getting… it’s starting to scare the shit out of me.
“I’m sure you have some idea about the Jennings’ wealth based on what you’ve seen so far,” he says… his words coming out a bit choppy and unsure. “But what you may not see… the amount of land we own, cattle and oil, the political connections… the way I hid this from you… we’re a bit more than just rich.”
“What does that mean?” I ask hesitantly.
“It means my dad sat next to Zuckerberg on the Forbes list this past year. It means our business holdings are so vast they impact the economy. It means we not only have political connections but political obligations.”
“It sounds overwhelming.”
“It is,” Tenn says with a sigh, taking a seat next to me on the rock. He reaches out and takes my hand in his, resting it on his thigh. Lifting his gaze toward his family home, he says, “It means that it’s now my obligation. Even though it’s the last thing in the world that I want, it’s a responsibility that I just can’t turn my back on.”
My head snaps toward him, and my eyes widen with immediate understanding. “It means you’re not relocating to the Outer Banks.”
His eyes are tired, his voice fatigued. “Maybe. It depends on what Woolf wants to do, but I never wanted this life. I’m the first Jennings who has wanted to break free of the dynasty.”
“And why is that?”
“I have a trust fund,” he says offhandedly, but I’ve realized that sometimes Tenn needs to get to the answer to my question in a more roundabout way. “Got control of it when I was twenty-five. Every Jennings progeny has one and the money in it is insane. It’s enough that I would never have to work another day in my life and could probably support a third-world country at the same time.”
“Oh,” I breathe out, finally starting to get a true understanding of what’s going on. Tenn probably has more money than all the men I’ve ever dated combined.
“I’ve only touched the money twice,” he says, and it’s such a shock to hear him say that, I literally gasp. “Once when I got out of the Marine Corps… I pulled some cash out to buy a house for Bri, Zoey, and me. The second time was to take out money to put as a down payment on the garage in Nags Head. Both times, I struggled and fought with myself whether or not to use the money.”
“Why?” I blurt out. “It’s yours… why would it bother you?”
“I didn’t really need it. I made good money as a mechanic and was able to pay my bills… support Zoey. I lived simply… modestly. But mostly I didn’t use it because I don’t want to manage this empire,” he says with quiet determination. “While I love this ranch, and I very much loved working it, I don’t want to be responsible for it. It’s not my dream. And because it’s not my dream… because I’m not willing to commit the effort to take my place at the head of the table, I shouldn’t really be entitled to any of it. I don’t feel I earned it.”
“What was your dream then?” I ask with interest. Because it seems odd to me that someone wouldn’t want to aspire to this type of life.
Tenn shrugs his shoulder. “I didn’t have a clear-cut idea at first. I just knew that I wanted to make my own way. I wanted to do something I loved, and I wanted a comfortable life. That was the general idea. After meeting you… it’s become a little more specific.”
My head spins, trying to fathom the implications of everything I’m learning. Most glaringly is that despite the immeasurable amount of money available to Tenn, he doesn’t really want or need it. It’s also obvious to me that Tenn may be the most incorruptible person that I’ve ever met. I also have a sneaking suspicion that despite all that, he’s not going to shirk his responsibility.
“What are you going to do?” I ask while attempting to keep my voice light and curious, when I really want to vomit over the fact that a future with Tenn may not be possible.
“I need to talk to Woolf. Both of us will equally inherit the estate and while, as the oldest son, it would traditionally fall to me to take over, I’ve always been clear with my dad that I didn’t want it. I’ve pushed at Woolf to step into that role while my dad was still alive, so he could learn everything and be ready to take the helm, but up until now, Woolf has been happy just playing at being a ranch hand and partying his way through life. I’m not sure he has the maturity to do this.”
“So it will probably need your attention,” I add on. “At least until you can be sure Woolf could handle this.”
“Even if he were ready to grow up and take it all on, I’m not sure he could do it alone. Actually, I’m not sure of anything at this point.”
I’m silent for a moment, digesting his words. Taking in the sadness associated with his revelations and the immense pressure that he seems to be under at this point, not to mention dealing with the grief over losing his father. It’s more than one man’s shoulders should have to bear, and I hope that Woolf can help share these burdens with his brother. The selfish part of me… the one that realizes that Tenn may have to lead his life in Wyoming, wants Woolf to more than step up. That woman wants Woolf to free his brother from the obligation and release him to the life he wants to lead.