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.
Bailey: Can we not do the babe thing?
Beau: Why not?
Bailey: It’s just so unoriginal.
Beau: So, not only do I have to be your fake fiancé, but I also have to come up with an original nickname?
Bailey: Correct. It’s a new requirement for our deal.
Beau: You drive a hard bargain, Jansen. How many carats on the diamond, fancy-pants?
Bailey: Lol. Four? Five? So big I can barely lift my hand.
Beau: Wow. My girl is high-maintenance. Got it. See you tonight, snookums.
Bailey: Yeah, no. That’s not it either.
Bailey has her back to the bar, typing something on the touchscreen computer. Which is why she doesn’t notice me sliding onto my regular stool. The one at the end of the bar that puts my back to the wall and gives me a view of the room—and the door.
A way out.
“How goes it, Sweet Cheeks?” Might as well rip the Band-Aid right off.
She freezes in place and Gary’s head whips my way.
“The fuck did you just say to her?” Gary’s jaw is practically on the floor.
I grin. Yep. This already feels good. I can do this. A show. A mission.
“We’re trying out new nicknames.”
She turns slowly, and the menacing expression on her face indicates she’s going to kill me.
“Why on earth?” The older man sounds genuinely flabbergasted.
“Did Bailey not tell you the exciting news?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gary’s brows wrinkle together, but my gaze stays fixed on Bailey. The imaginary nukes she’s firing at me do nothing but make me grin back at her. It strikes me that while Bailey is sharp-witted and funnier than I expected, she doesn’t know how to have fun. She works too hard. It’s like being playful is a privilege never extended to her.
I plan to change that while I have her.
My smile widens to the mega-watt version that has gotten me out of trouble many a time. “We got engaged over the weekend.”
“You what?”
Bless Gary. He’s totally giving off protective dad vibes now. Makes me feel like an even bigger asshole for the things I said to him that night—even though I’ve made amends.
“Yeah. We’ve been kind of … ” Bailey trails off, eyes wide as saucers. Like she’s just realized she has to speak about this arrangement aloud. In front of people. “Seeing each other.”
Gary’s head pivots back and forth between the two of us. Bailey staring at me. Me, smirking back at her, feeling more like myself than I have in a very long time.
It’s the thrum of adrenaline in my veins, the camaraderie of being in on something. Having a purpose—a purpose that goes beyond working cows on the family ranch day in and day out.
“That’s fast, boy. What are your intentions? She’s a lot younger than you. Nicer. A hell of a lot prettier. What are you up to?”
I turn to Gary now, appreciating that he has Bailey’s back. It’s about time someone did.
“You’re not wrong. She’s all of those things. But she’s also … ” My eyes slip back to her. She looks fucking terrified. “Brought me back to life. Can’t imagine my days without her.”
It’s not a lie. In fact, every word is true. I don’t only spend four nights a week sitting here like a loyal guard dog because I hate the idea of her working alone.
I’m not quite that noble.
But I can’t bring myself to hold her gaze after I’ve said it.
“Shit.” He scrubs at his wiry gray stubble. “Guess I should have known by the way you’re always watching her like you’re imagining her with her clothes off. Was gonna tell you to tone down the gawking this week, to be honest.”
Well, fuck.
I fall back on my training to keep my face blank, but Bailey coughs like she’s got something stuck in her throat. I blink in her direction to see her pretty heart-shaped face painted with both humor and shock.