“Well,” she slaps her thighs and pushes to stand, taking a few steps across the deck toward us. “Let me be the first to say congratulations to you both.” She holds her arms out for … a hug? “Welcome to the family, Bailey.” She shifts to peer around me at Beau. “Let her go. You’ve already peed on her. No one is gonna take her from you.”
Her brown eyes gleam, and her lips are upturned in a knowing smile. I can’t figure out why she’d be smiling like that at me. Can’t she tell this is fake?
12
Beau
Bailey goes rigid when Summer cracks her joke and stands for a hug.
She was right. I should have prepped them. I should have prepped her.
When we’re alone together, things feel easy. Natural.
I didn’t feel the need to prepare. But I’ve spent a lifetime going undercover, playing a part, diving headfirst into danger.
Bailey has spent a lifetime flying under the radar and hoping no one notices her. So when she makes the move toward Summer, I know it’s time to let her go. If she’d stayed frozen to the spot, I’d have kept her right where she is. Summer has that effect on people, though. Sweet and warm and welcoming.
She wraps Bailey in her arms and grins at me over her shoulder. Then Bailey gets lost in a swarm of hugs and back pats, handshakes, and congratulations.
I swear everyone is happier for her than they are for me.
Jasper, my best friend, my brother from another mother, stares at me with furrowed brows while everyone else swarms us.
Deep down, I knew he’d be the hardest sell; he knows me too well. But I also know if he can’t be sold, he’ll be a vault. He and I have been too close for too long. If anything, he’ll understand what I’m doing here and why I’m doing it.
I don’t know a single person who guards his peace quite like Jasper.
Cade steps up, tugging me into a rough hug. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s a little choked up. “Was gonna give you shit for no-showing on me today when we had fences down and broken waterers. But if you were celebrating this, I’ll let it slide. Back to reality tomorrow, though.”
I grunt, slap his back, and roll my eyes. Only Cade, the grumpy workaholic, could turn congratulations into both a scolding and a reality check. “Fucking buzzkill,” I grumble back at him, laughing when I see his lips twitch.
“Beau-Beau!” Rhett moves in front of me, a shit-eating grin on his scruffy face, long brown hair dusting his shoulders. “Is this why you keep taking off on us? To hide away with the missus?”
I scrub at my beard. I knew my brothers would razz me, and I knew Rhett would be the worst after all the shit I’ve given him over the years. Fake hitting on his girl, ditching him at the scene of a crime, tattling on him every time he gets into trouble.
Yeah, his eyes are alight with all the possibilities for payback right now.
However, it’s Bailey who throws me under the bus. She has my head spinning like a top when from beside me she says, “Yeah, Beau-Beau likes to sit at my bar and watch me work all night.”
Rhett’s eyes glimmer even more with delight. I didn’t think it was possible, but here we are. He grins at Bailey, who wears a tentative smile and a light blush. The soft summer breeze moves her hair, stray strands whipping against the deep tan on her cheeks.
“That’s fucking adorable,” my brother says, disbelief seeping into his tone as he glances between us.
I reach for her hand without even thinking. And it’s not for show. Or not in the way I thought it would be. It’s not like I feel the need to convince my family I like Bailey—I already do like Bailey.
I want to show her off. I want to prove to her that life can be a little lighter than what she’s experienced. That not everyone looks at her and sees what she thinks they do.
I squeeze once, twice, and when she finally tilts her head my way, it’s with a saucy expression on her face. A look she’s comfortable giving me. Because I’m not sure what she expected. Everyone to freak out? Be mean? Call her trash and try to rescue me from her?
No, that’s not my family.
“God, look at you two. How did I miss this? Bailey’s been our server at The Railspur for the last couple of years now.” Rhett still can’t get over it.
Jasper takes a swig of his beer and regards me carefully. Not judgmentally, as if he’s trying to work things out. “Well, he has always jumped to her defense,” he says. “And he stood at her bar for your entire wedding reception.” I think that might be as much as I’ll get from him tonight. I can tell he’s suspicious.