Jealousy hits me hard and fast. I have no right to it. I can’t rationalize it. All I know is I don’t want her sharing moments like this—quiet and unfiltered, safe and trusting—with some other jackass.
I want to be the only jackass who gets this version of her.
“I’ve never had a threesome, Bailey,” I grit out as I push to stand, needing to put some space between us before I do something stupid.
Her gaze follows, brown eyes staring up at me like I’m the moon in the night sky. “Why not?”
Bailey, sitting at my feet, full attention turned my way, is doing nothing to stop my hard-on from making an appearance.
“Not a big fan of sharing something once I decide it’s mine.”
Her lips part.
And fuck. I should stop, but the side of me that sees danger and runs straight toward it has made an appearance tonight.
So I reach out and run my palm over her silky hair, cupping her head. “I’ll start leaving the back door unlocked for when you decide you want to find out if I’m a prude or not.”
Her eyes widen, and I can’t help but imagine this is how she’d look as I slid my dick into her pretty mouth.
I was the one who told her we wouldn’t have sex, and it’s taken only a few days for me to be fighting off the thought of it. After a quick shake to clear my head, I turn away. Hand burning, feet tingling, dick rock fucking hard.
“What if I just come in for the air conditioning?” Her voice is smooth, surer than it has any right to be after what I just said to her.
I laugh, but it lacks humor. There’s an edge to it.
A promise.
I don’t bother looking back at her when I say, “Sure, Bailey. Call it whatever you want.”
13
Bailey
Beau: I can pick you up.
Bailey: No, it’s fine. I’ll take a cab. You’re working.
Beau: You don’t need to spend your money on a cab.
Bailey: I actually don’t need your permission, sergeant.
Beau: I’m not a sergeant.
Bailey: Captain?
Beau: Not that either.
Bailey: … Sir?
Beau: Watch it, Bailey.
Bailey: If it’s all the same to you, I’ll be taking a cab. Thank you for your help, sir.
Being engaged to Beau Eaton was supposed to be helpful. Except I’m pretty sure it’s my own special brand of torture.
I’ll start leaving the back door unlocked for when you decide you want to find out if I’m a prude or not is the one-liner that had me rushing back to my trailer to pull out my box of vibrators.
I didn’t even bother pretending one of them was Jensen Ackles.
Every single one is now Beau Eaton.
Despite my lack of sleep, I had to wake up early to clean the bar this morning. Beau drove me there in relative silence while I clutched my travel mug with both hands. I figured keeping my fingers latched on would prevent me from crawling across the center console and mauling a man who is only going along with this charade to be nice.
Or because he’s bored.
Or something.
I hitched a taxi back out to the ranch when I finished, and now I’m sprawled in a fold-out chair next to my trailer. An iced coffee in hand. A sun beam on my face.
I’m trying not to stress about my tires. Or my money. Or if making myself come while thinking about my fake fiancé was a bad idea.
I want to check out and just—
Tires grind against the gravel road leading to Beau’s house. I don’t bother opening my eyes, even when they hum onto the paved driveway on the other side of the house. Regardless of any external influences, I don’t budge, safe and protected by my trailer. The one thing I still have that’s mine.
I know Beau is gonna come here, guns blazing about me saving my money. I hear heavy footfalls, and my lips tip up as I imagine him towering over me like he did last night.
But the voice that interrupts my peaceful moment isn’t his. “You seen Beau?”
I startle and shoot straight up to see Cade Eaton, Beau’s oldest brother, with his hands on his hips, looking really bitchy.
“No,” I breathe, one hand slung over my chest because he surprised me and I’m trying to catch my breath.
Cade glances between the house and me. “Why are you sitting over here when there’s all that patio furniture up on the deck?”
I shrug, trying to play it off. “Lacks a certain charm, don’t you think?”
The man nods at that. “Gotta say, I’ll agree with you there. House looks like it belongs in the city.”
I stare at the house, all straight lines and modern shapes.