“Do what?” His brow furrows.
I tug again, pulling him closer. “Don’t play stupid. And don’t be ashamed.”
I try to step back, to give myself space, because the way he’s staring at me right now is disarming. But his big hands move fast, shaping my waist and gripping me.
Immobilizing me.
The low morning sun is blinding white over the tops of the trees, and I swear it gives him an otherworldly effect as he glares down at me.
He drops his head and brushes his nose against my cheek. My head tilts, and my fingers grip the tags tighter, tongue darting out over my lips.
Is he going to kiss me?
Our lips are almost touching, but I’m too stunned to move.
“Shame?” He hums the word but doesn’t press closer. I feel the warmth of his breath against my damp lips, the rumble of his deep baritone over my throat. “Rich coming from the girl who just refused to answer my question about her—”
I push away from him, chest heaving like I’ve just been on a run. My nostrils flare as I try to pull myself together. Again.
Composing myself, I brush at my dress and steer the conversation in a different direction. “Okay, well, I’m going home. I’ll see you around.” I give him a drive-by smile, one that feels forced and is only turned on him for a beat as I look around myself, settling on the ground like it’s super interesting.
“What about your brothers?”
He snaps my attention back up to him with the question and I wave him off. “Nah. They’ll be sleeping off last night. Without Dad around, they don’t even pretend to stay in line.”
He assesses me a little too closely. His jaw pops, which suggests he doesn’t believe me or doesn’t like the answer. The edge of anger emanating from him makes me nervous.
“Okay, well—”
“We need to tell my family soon. Would be weird for them to find out from someone else.”
“I’m off tonight. We could … ”
“Okay. I’ll see what I can pull together and let you know.”
He’s all business now. Except for the leaf stuck in his hair. My cheeks tug up at the sight.
I expected to feel uncomfortable around Beau, uncomfortable with this deal. But I don’t. I practically showed him my nipples, and now we’re standing here chatting like normal grown-ups who can easily talk about sex and bodies.
“Great. Well … ” I rock on my feet, searching for a way to end this conversation, not sure where we go from here. “Thanks for the … practice.” The word comes out on an awkward laugh, and I shake my head at myself, dropping my gaze again.
Only to see that the swelling in his shorts is still there.
This is fake, fake, fake.
Suddenly, I feel a lot less grown-up. I feel giddy and uncertain, and like I need to get away so I can squeal into a pillow and overanalyze every single thing that has happened in my life for the past few days.
So, I dart to the barely there path I’ve created up this side of the bank because I need to put a little space between Beau and his big dick and me.
A low chuckle caresses the back of my neck.
“Bailey, we’re going to need a lot more practice if we’re going to pull this off.”
“Why’s that?” I call over my shoulder, refusing to turn back to him.
“Because if you act all jittery around me, no one is going to believe we’re madly in love. And I need them off my ass.”
I bark out a laugh. This entire thing is ridiculous. “Well, just don’t ask me if my pussy is wet in front of them.” I hit the top of the embankment and feel more in control now that I’ve got room to breathe. Hands on my hips, I stare down at him, huffing lightly, sucking in the fresh morning air. “Then we should be fine.”
That mischievous smile pops up on his face again, but it’s not all play—there’s an edge of danger to it too. “But it will be, right?”
“No. Because this is fake, remember?”
He stretches now, hands behind his head, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “You faked those hard nipples real well, sugar tits.”
I have most certainly bitten off way more than I can chew.
And all I can think as I stare down at this beautiful, broken, confusing man is …
What the fuck have I done?
10
Beau
Beau: Dinner tonight at six. All set with the fam.
Bailey: Okay. I’ll have to walk over.
Beau: Why?
Bailey: I have a flat tire.
Bailey: Actually, four flat tires.
Beau: I’m coming over. Right now.