He groans and shifts again. “Jesus, Bailey. You always just blurt shit like that out?”
I shake my head, trying to push my embarrassment back down. “Nope. I only seem to blurt stuff out to people I’m comfortable around. So, you. And maybe Gary.”
Beau drops his head into his hands, heels of his palms pressing into his eye sockets. “Please tell me you haven’t told Gary about your vibrator collection.”
I take a swig of my beer. “Don’t worry. He was hammered. I doubt he’d remember it.”
Beau’s head shoots up, an expression of shock painting his face. “Are you joking right now?”
I bite hard on the inside of my cheek. “No. I told him about the one that has all these different vibration settings and the one that has this little suction cup that attaches to the wall. Oh, and the one that straight up looks like a real dick but way, way bigger—” He leans across the table and covers my mouth to silence me.
In response, I hold my hands out, gesturing a good twelve inches as I widen my eyes. I’ll never admit it, but his palm against my lips has me fighting the urge to let my tongue trail over his skin. The pressure. The smell of him. My lips move ever so slightly against him, and his hand flies away. Then both come up to cover his eyes again.
Beau’s expression has morphed from shock to interest, to … whatever he’s doing hiding behind his palms.
I finally close my slack jaw and let my smile peek out, taking another drink.
The beer doesn’t even taste that bad anymore.
“You can’t just run around telling creepy old men about this stuff,” he says in a strangled voice.
“Give yourself some credit, Beau. You’re only thirty-five.” His shoulders jump on a chuckle, and I let a laugh slip now. “And for a tier one operator, you sure are gullible.”
His head snaps up to me, tips of his ears just a little pink. “Gary doesn’t know about your vibrator collection?”
“No, sir.” I salute him. “You’re the only one.”
He scrubs at his face as though he’s considering what to say next. “I guess it’s fine that I know about your collection. Seeing as how we’re engaged now. And I’m not even threatened by the twelve-inch one.”
I swallow and parry the joke away like I didn’t hear it as I drop my tone. “You sure you’re okay with lying to your family just to help me get a job?”
“There’s lots I could never tell them. Lots I never will. This is just another one of those things. And I really need … ” He trails off, glancing around the pristine kitchen. It’s truly so clean I could eat my meal off of almost any surface. It almost looks like it hasn’t been lived in. It’s sterile.
“ … I really need to feel something.”
I start in my seat, eyes snapping up to his.
“And honestly?” He scrubs at the back of his neck, lips twisting in a wry grin. “This already feels like the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
I decide in this moment that if he’s not going to bug me about my virginity, I’m not going to bug him about whatever haunts him.
We’re both getting something out of this arrangement, and I see the practicality in that. And the practicality soothes me.
It makes sense.
“Okay. How did we meet?”
His jaw works, and I can hear his teeth tapping together. “At the bar. That’s the simplest explanation, and also true.”
I nod my agreement. “And what’s the end date on this deal?”
“Until you’re ready to leave. Free and clear. New town, new job. Whatever you want.”
“Or until you meet someone real,” I add solemnly.
My heart twists because I already know this is going to hurt when it ends. But I also want that for him.
Someone real.
His throat works. “Same for you.”
I slide my hand across the table, and he envelops it in his large palm.
We shake. We exchange numbers.
And just like that …
I’m engaged.
8
Beau
Beau: Should we make our debut tonight?
Bailey: While I’m at work?
Beau: Yeah. I haven’t seen you in a few days. We still on? Don’t you need to start applying for jobs? The bar would be a simple place to start. Then we can do dinner at the ranch one night.
Bailey: Yeah.
Beau: So, tonight?
Bailey: Sure. Yeah. That’s fine.
Beau: Don’t be nervous. Gary won’t even know what’s going on. Just get my tea ready, babe.