Chapter 11

11

Beau

"Please, please?" Georgia whines to Autumn. "Beau thinks he's too sophisticated to drink hot chocolate. Boring!"

"Leave her alone." I shake my head at my twin sister. Why is she being so annoying? Oh right, she had wine at dinner and it always makes her a little giddy. Everyone was excited about Callan and Celeste's news so I can't blame her, really. I move the stem of her glass away subtly, replacing it with my water while she's busy snaring Autumn over into her place so she can fire up her new machine. She's right, I don't drink hot chocolate, but I'll gladly be in on anything that means I get to spend more time with Autumn.

She's wearing jeans, a white fitted bodysuit with a light pink faux-leather jacket and little ankle boots. I swear my heart stopped beating when I saw her. And that whole hip swaying thing outside earlier with the hula hoops…

"You don't have to beg me to come test out your new contraption," Autumn laughs. "I love a good hot chocolate, day or night."

Her cheeks are a little rosy herself from the wine, it's adorable. Plus there was the champagne toast for the new Bassett baby announcement. If she and my sister keep drinking, they're going to be a tad over tipsy in no time at all. "Maybe a strong coffee might be better, sis," I mutter.

We go to leave the table and I need to make an excuse to tag along with them. I don't want to appear like a loser, but my sister and I often hang out and she's the only one who knows about my art studio.

"Goodnight Mom, Dad." I pull them both into a hug and Dad messes up my hair.

"See you in the morning, honey," Mom says.

"Goodnight everyone," I call across the room to the rest of the family left milling around.

"Goodnight," the others chime back.

I head off toward my side of the house. My shoulders slump a little when I see Georgia and Autumn arm in arm heading to her place. Not even a goodnight?

I shove my hands in my pockets, disappointment flooding through me when I hear, "Beau-ster?"

I turn at the sound of Autumn's voice. "Get over here, you big doo-doo head." Okay, she's definitely been drinking. Not wasted, but definitely tipsy. And it's adorable. Even if I am apparently a doo-doo head.

"I'm kinda tired." I don't mean it, but I feel the sudden spark of enthusiasm in my eyes might be off putting to her.

"Since when?" Georgia snorts, giving me a sarcastic smile.

I silence her with a stern look in my eyes and then smile at Autumn.

"Yeah, come on, B-bop. I need someone to stuff me with marshmallows."

B-bop?

Christ.

And fuck me if my mind didn't do overtime thinking about stuffing her with something else other than marshmallows. My chub's been tapering between hard and harder all damn night.

I walk toward them. "I think you two need something stronger than hot chocolate. No more wine."

"Yes sir!" Autumn salutes and Georgia snorts with laughter.

"Hey, you can't tell us what to do." Georgia tugs Autumn to her side. "Can he, A?"

Autumn shakes her head. "No, but he is pretty cute when he's all growly."

My heart beats faster in my chest.

"Ewww." Georgia pretends to barf. "Do you need glasses?"

"You realize we are twins? So regardless of our gender, we do look related."

"Urgh, I hope I don't look like him !"

"Did she have the Pinot Grigio?" Hudson's voice suddenly booms from behind, his eyes finding my sister. "She always gets like this on that second glass."

Georgia rolls her eyes. "Nice of you to notice, GP. Come and have a hot chocolate with us, Beau is being a big old Grandma. That is if you're not gonna give us a lecture as well?" She doesn't wait for him to answer before they turn and march off.

Hudson and I share a look and I shake my head. "Women."

"Especially those with Bassett in the title."

"Thank God they're not driving."

"The only place they're gonna be drivin' is us crazy."

"Don't leave me alone with them," I beg while we both walk toward Georgia's door.

He slaps me on the back. "You don't need protection from little old Georgia-Blue, surely?"

"They'll gang up on me when they're both on the Pinot Grigio."

"You're gonna have to suck it up."

"I'll pay you to deal with my drunken sister." I swipe a hand over my face. We all know how real Georgia likes to get. And since she suspects I like Autumn, I've no doubt she will blurt something out to embarrass me.

"I'd consider it but I have to be up early in the morning."

"Aww, is someone a big party pooper?" Georgia laughs, turning her head toward us. "Then again, it is way past your bedtime, old man ."

Hudson narrows his eyes. I hear a rumble in his chest. "Goodnight, Blue Belle. I'll remember you called me an old man when you need something from me in the not-too-distant future."

She pokes her tongue out as Hudson's eyebrows rise in surprise. "Goodnight, old wise one. I'll be sure to speed dial you when my luck runs out."

"Look forward to it."

I look between them and notice my sister looks away first, her cheeks flushing.

Hudson gives me a chin lift. "Later, Beau."

"See ya," I say, stepping over the threshold, following the girls inside.

"He's so grouchy," Georgia complains.

"You just called him old twice, and a party pooper."

"So, Autumn thinks you're a doo-doo head."

I take a long, drawn out exhale. I've no words forming in response to that.

"I was just joking." I enter Georgia's little kitchen and see the full-blown sight of Autumn's ass in the air as she hunts around in the cupboard.

Holy Jesus have mercy.

Her jeans are stretched around her derrière and it is a mighty fine sight. Once more, my dick kicks in my jeans telling me he wants to play.

Georgia yawns, then goes and curls up on the couch. So much for hot chocolate making.

"Hey!" Autumn calls, but Georgia's eyes are already closed.

"She can't be trusted," I laugh. "The machine's on the counter there, but don't ask me how to work the thing."

"Don't you fix high-end computers and bugs and stuff?" she throws in, her back still to me.

I chuckle. "I have been known to dismantle a hard-drive or two in my time, and bugs I'm not so good with. This app that I'm developing with Fletcher, for example, is giving me the shits."

She turns to look at me over her shoulder. I freeze on the spot. The look she's giving me… It's naughty. Devious. Like a temptress. And I've no idea what she's going to say.

"Does it hurt to have a brain that works that good?"

"Very funny. I'm not really that smart. I just know how to do certain things well."

Her eyes roam down my body for a second and I swallow hard. "I'll bet you do." I'm sure I hear her mutter as she turns back around.

"What are you looking for?" I finally manage. I still fail to keep my eyes off her ass. It's so fucking perfect.

"The mugs."

I walk toward her, reaching over the top of her head to the cupboard with the clear door. She turns her head on the side and fuck me if she doesn't inhale rather deliberately… Why would she? "What cologne did you switch to?"

Huh?

I open the cupboard door and reach in for two cups, trying to act natural. "Uh, it's a new Dior fragrance."

"Mmmm."

I frown. "Mmmm good, or mmmm bad?"

"Mmmm good."

My dick is rock hard. She steps back a little, her ass touching my body as she brushes against my dick accidentally. Oh, no.

I place the cups down, still behind her and fuck me if I don't inhale the scent of her coconut shampoo.

"Glad I switched then," I say.

"It should be illegal for my best friend to smell that good."

"How much Pinot Grigio did you have to drink?" I laugh trying to keep it light.

She shrugs. Her ass is still hovering dangerously close to my hard on. I want nothing more than to hold her.

My arms are tingling to wrap around her. Brush up against her and make her feel good.

All of a sudden, Georgia's loud snore makes us both jump. We both burst out laughing at the same time. I take a step back.

"Oh, I forgot how bad your sister snores when she's been drinking," Autumn laughs.

"Tell me about it. She sounds like a deflating foghorn."

Autumn fiddles around with the device on the counter as I walk toward the fridge to fetch the milk. "Half and half?"

"That works." She turns to look at me. "Sure you don't want some? How about just the milk?"

I grin. "Hot milk? Aww, I haven't had that since my mom used to put me to bed."

"Well, I'm putting you to bed tonight, Beauster."

I try not to gape at her words as she slaps a hand over her mouth. "Oh, God. That sounded dirty, didn't it?"

My dick doesn't think so. "A little, but we're all friends here."

She giggles, leaving the counter for a second to find the hot chocolate from the pantry. Wagging a finger at me she says, "This is all your fault."

I think I like tipsy Autumn. She's funny and endearing. "What's my fault exactly?"

"You fixed my roof."

"And that's a problem?"

"No, of course not… I meant, it's a problem that ever since that day I haven't been able to look at my gutters the same way."

I like where this is going. She's opening up. "And what way is that?"

She dumps two teaspoons of chocolate powder into the machine and adds milk. I've no idea what the heck she's doing. "I just never took you to be… well… ripped."

I blink a couple of times. "Ripped?"

"You keep repeating everything I say."

That's because I'm having a freaking coronary with everything that comes out of her mouth right now. "I work out. Glad you think I'm decent."

She snorts, then presses her hand to her forehead. "Beau, I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine," I chuckle. "Really. What man wouldn't want a woman like you sayin' they're ripped? I'm sure it has nothing to do with whatever you had to drink tonight." I mutter the last part.

She pokes a finger into my chest. I glance down at it, unable to suppress the slight groan that leaves my throat. She is so fucking close to me. "I'm not a drinker." She wobbles slightly. "But I admit, maybe I had a guzzle too many. You on the other hand… You never do anything wrong, do you Beauster?" She smiles up at me, like the sun shines out of my ass.

"I wouldn't say that."

"I kept asking my friend Carrie, why can't I find the right guy? Someone who's kind, and funny, and appreciates me for who I am, and do you know what she said?"

I wait with bated breath, only able to shake my head as her finger presses into my pec.

"She said maybe your Prince Charming is right in front of you!"

My eyebrows raise in surprise. I think I like Carrie a whole lot more in the last thirty seconds. "She did, huh?"

Autumn nods. "And when I told her about my stupid family and their dumb ass rules, she came up with a plan. Do you want to hear it?" Her giggle has me unable to suppress my grin.

"Of course I want to hear it. As long as it doesn't involve me having to do away with any of your potential suitors. I might know some shady people, but not enough to bury a body or anything."

She sputters with laughter. "Beau! Stop it, my sides are hurting." She puts the mug under the contraption and presses a button.

"So, Carrie?" I prompt. "What was her plan?"

"Oh! Get this! When I told her about my pathetic day at the bank and being flat broke and the only way out of it was to marry one of my Grandma's hand-picked-dial-a-husbands, she suggested we get married!" She doubles over laughing. "As in, you and me! Can you believe it?"

I stare at her dumbfounded while she laughs like it's the most hilarious thing she's ever heard. Meanwhile, my heart thuds in my chest and my cock grows even harder imagining Autumn as my wife. My wife. Wifey. Oh, fuck. New fantasy unlocked.

"I'm speechless."

She slaps me on the chest lightly. "I know! And then she went on to point out all the great things about you — which I already knew, of course. And how much my parents and Grandma liked you. Isn't she a hoot?"

I'm still staring. "I guess…"

"You guess? Beau! You'd be my husband…"

Husband? Oh, no. I've reached euphoria just like that.

"And you'd be my wife. All your money problems would be solved." The words come out without any humor.

She sobers slightly. "Yeah, and I told her I could never marry anyone for money. No way. When I get married, it'll be because I'm in love with that person, you know? Marriage is a sacred thing. It's no laughing matter."

"But we could get it annulled." The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

She stops in her tracks and turns to look at me. "Don't be crazy, Beau. It was a joke."

I shrug. "It would solve all your financial problems as well as satisfy your family short-term, and keep my parents off my back for a while." It's like I'm discussing the weather, or the color of orange juice. I don't know how I keep my tone normal. "It would solve all of our problems when you think about it."

Her eyes bug wide. "You can't be serious."

I give her a lopsided grin, folding my arms over my chest. "Am I that abhorrent?"

"Abhorrent?" she balks. "No! Beau! That's not what I meant."

Seeing the distress on her face I quickly add, "I'm kidding. I'm a solid seven, I get it. But put it this way; you know I don't lie, cheat or do drama. And I stay in a lot, so you wouldn't have to worry about where I was or what I was doing."

"You've lost your mind!"

"If I have, then so has Carrie."

She bites her lip and I want to reach out and tug it away so I can kiss her.

Is it wrong to deceive her like this? To offer to marry her, pretending we're just friends when really I'm feeling things much stronger than friendship? It's not like it would be real. We wouldn't really be man and wife.

"I just… I don't think you've thought this through," she stammers.

I give her a chin lift. "Okay. Then let's hear it; give me one good reason why this is a bad idea. If it's convincing enough, we'll forget about it."

Her lips part, her eyes dipping to my mouth as I stand and wait for the woman of my dreams to really fuck up my life.