Chapter 17

17

Beau

Autumn's wearing sweats and it sets my blood on fire even more than it does her fancy skirt suits. Her hair is in a high ponytail and she has no makeup on. She's never been more beautiful. I try not to stare and shove my hands into my jeans to keep them occupied so I don't touch her. Not that I'd touch her, even if I want to. Badly.

I've never itched to touch any woman, until Autumn Davenport. Now the frustration works its way down to the head I'm clearly thinking with.

We may have been acting that way outside the cafe, but that was then. We're in private now. In private I have to act like none of this affects me and that she isn't really my wife. Not yet, anyway.

"It feels like a lifetime since I was here getting drenched in mud and leaves from your gutters," I say, though I've no idea why. Fletch is right, I do suck at this. I'm not a ladies man and I never will be. Gray and Gabe are both smooth as silk when it comes to women — or they were until they found their leading ladies. Brook's always been aloof, not quite a ladies man, but they've always had a sweet spot for him, until Eden.

But me? Nope, not even close.

It's just Autumn. Be cool.

Except I can't be cool. Not with her looking all adorable and good enough to eat. I suppress a groan. I do not need to be thinking about eating her for dessert. That won't help my growing chub.

"How time flies, huh?"

It's awkward, and I don't want it to be. I want it to be like old times, but I fear it never will be again.

I run a hand through my hair for what feels like the millionth time. "So, you've no doubt been racking that pretty head of yours making a list of all the reasons why this is a bad idea, right?"

When I catch her eyebrows raised in surprise, I know it's true. "Not exactly."

I arch a brow. "Care to elaborate?"

"I think we should eat first. I can't make rash decisions on an empty stomach."

I grin. "Sounds good." I reach down and scoop up Bruiser who's wandered over to me. "Hey, little guy."

"Every time you do that, I expect him to scratch your eyes out."

I rub my face against his as he purrs. "Why would he do that? He loves me, plus I need to start tryin' to get along with him since we're gonna be living together in the next few weeks."

I think that thought didn't cross her mind until now because she bites down on that lip and frowns. "Right."

I take a deep breath. "Like I said at the cafe, we can abandon the idea. You don't have to feel forced to do anything, okay?"

She smiles, walking past me toward the kitchen. "I know. I've been thinking about it a lot this afternoon."

I lean against her gleaming white quartz kitchen island with hints of sparkle, folding my arms across my chest. "And? What did you come up with?" I let the silence hang between us as she lifts the pizza boxes.

"I got satay chicken and a vegetarian, which would you like?" She totally avoids the question, and her radio silence has me a little on edge.

"I don't care, surprise me."

She looks up, her lips pursing ever so slightly. "Okay."

I grin as she turns her back to put the plate in the microwave. "So which outweighs the other? Pros or cons?"

I know she's delaying talking to me, but she can't avoid it forever. "Beau." I already don't like the sounds of this. She turns. "Do we honestly want to do this? I mean, when you find the woman you really want to marry, this will be kinda… I don't know, tainted somehow."

I want to bark a laugh. I want to tell her that this feels far from tainted. It feels a little more right than it should, but I can't say that.

"Well, it would be for you too, what's good for the goose and all of that."

"Be serious, Beau. This is a big deal."

"So is getting all the stuff you want and defying your family. Admit it, a part of you can't wait to tell them they can go shove it."

"My Grandma might change the rules."

"Not when I tell her I'm your new husband. She'll approve, you know she will. They think I'm heir to a fortune, and the Bassett name is respected in the south. They'll be mad at first that we didn't tell them, but we can just say we'll have a big wedding later once everything has calmed down at work." Yep, I have it all planned out. "Make a big song and dance about how wedding season is booked out and we just didn't have time."

She eyes me as I try not to laugh. "Because we didn't want to live in sin?"

I roll my lips. "Uh, huh. I mean, I've still gotta face the wrath of your father and your brother. Not to mention facing your mom. Normally, the traditional thing to do would be to ask permission to marry their only daughter."

"If you ask permission beforehand, my dad may say no, that'll be worse."

"Exactly. So while that does make me uncomfortable to not have his permission, we have to think about how we negate their disapproval."

"I don't care what they think." Her lips part like she's said something she shouldn't.

I don't know why that resonates deep inside of me, but it does. It almost alerts a primal side in me that I wasn't sure existed before her. Now it's there, glaring at me in the face calling me an idiot for not realizing sooner.

"You say that now, but that's just your defense mechanism. I mean, I care about what my parents say too, but we need to look at the bigger picture; your family has ridiculous rules. We're just working around those rules."

The microwave beeps and she retrieves my plate from the microwave sliding it over to me on the counter, then places hers inside. "I'm just having a hard time with all of this." Her tone drops and she sounds sad and that plays havoc on my conscience. "With being untruthful."

I nod. That's only natural. She's not the type of person to break the law or do anything bad. Hell, I'd bet she's never even had so much as a parking ticket.

Then I think about Fletcher's words: It's so hot that she's older than you.

I can't stop thinking about it.

It is hot.

She's fucking perfect, if I'm being honest, and now I'm stuck between being the friend that marries her so she can get her inheritance, and the friend who's fallen head over heels.

"I get it, and I think it sounds worse than it is on paper."

She reaches for a notebook next to me. It's then I see a very lengthy list in her neat handwriting. She really was working this out. I'm impressed. "Speaking of which. Here's my list."

I look down as she slides the list in front of me. On one hand, I love how she's being forward and not keeping things from me. In the other, I want her to read them out so I can dissect each and every con.

"Just promise you won't laugh," she says, leaning down onto her elbows. "I was trying to be really constructive."

My eyes move to meet hers. "I won't laugh. Unless it's really funny, then I'll probably laugh my ass off."

She reaches out to try to snatch the notebook, but I'm too fast. I hold it up above my head and she quickly gives up. "Fine. But just remember I already feel bad about doing this to you."

"You're not doing anything to me," I tell her. "I wouldn't have offered and as nuts as this may be, it ticks every box for both of us. The downside is you have to live with me for a little while."

"You'd have to clear out the spare room if I come there." She's frowning again, working out all the ways she can back out. "Weren't you using it for your art studio?"

"No, it's okay, I haven't really set it up properly anyway. I have most of my art supplies out in the garage anyway, I don't get to sketch much anymore." Just pictures of you and your cat because I can't stop thinking about you. Jesus Christ, does this make me some kind of creeper?

"So now I really am taking over your art studio?" She folds her arms over her chest. "Great. Now I feel really bad."

"Don't be silly. I'd rather you use it, plus, since I have more space in the garage, I can always move the easels out there temporarily." Okay, I'm lying a little bit about the space, but whatever.

She looks doubtful as she nods at the list. "So are you going to put me out of my misery and read my list?"

I clear my throat as I lay the note back on the countertop, starting at the cons I begin to read:

Cons

We could ruin a friendship

What if I annoy you / you annoy me?

It's a legal binding document

We'd have to be affectionate in public (and make it believable) — how do you feel about that?

We'd be lying to everyone we know

What if we get found out?

What if my grandma changes her mind?

My brother won't be happy

My parents will be very unhappy I didn't tell them

We'dhave to pretend to plan a big wedding, even if we don't go through with it

Expense (rings, marriage certificate, wedding clothes)

We'd both eventually be ‘divorced'

I can't even put the right gas in my car, how can I be someone's wife?

It seems like I get a lot, but you only get your parents off your back, is it a raw deal?

There's only one bathroom in your house

"That's quite a substantial list," I mutter.

"Yes." She turns back to the microwave to retrieve her plate and takes a small bite as I cast my eyes back down to the pros. "I didn't want to miss anything. Laying it all out on the line, Beauster."

"I kinda think you got everything." I palm the back of my neck, glad I read the cons first.

Then I start to read the pros:

Pros

I get my inheritance/my house gets fixed/I get to move forward in my business

You get your parents off your back and a trophy wife (I'm kidding!)

We get to hang out all the time

I can cook (benefit to you)

You can fix stuff (benefit to me)

You like my cat and he likes you

We get along already — no surprises (unless you're secretly a slob?)

I'm tidy and I could leave all my stuff at my house and just bring the stuff I really need

We could co-exist together easily and make people believe we're really in love

I could watch you sketch

You could still do your thing / I could still do mine

We could play doubles on your plinky plonk

I eye her. "Plinky plonk?" I leave out the part about people believing we're really in love. It creates a pain in my chest that won't go away.

"Your gaming machine."

I laugh. "Is that what it's called?"

She rolls her eyes as I reach for a slice of my pizza that's already cooled and take a big bite. "Well, that would be me being a supportive wife." She sounds like she's trying to convince herself. "And I could learn to do some of the things you like."

I almost choke on my food. Jesus. Every time she says that word… Wife.

"You know most wives probably aren't too intent on learning how to game, so it's fine, you really don't?—"

She squares her shoulders. "I want to."

"Okay then." I level her with my gaze. "Does that mean I have to learn something you like, and be a supportive husband?" I try not to draw out the last word, but fuck me if I can't help it.

She taps her chin. "I don't know if I can see you knitting."

I grin. "Knitting?"

"Isn't that what old ladies do?"

I scoff. "Old?"

"I'm thirty-three, Beau, practically an old maid."

"Fletch thinks it's hot that you're older than me."

Her eyebrows raise. "You told Fletch?"

Oops.

"Uh, no. Your name came up when we were talkin' about blind dates."

"Did it now?"

The small smilethat tugs at her lips tells me she doesn't exactly believe me. "I didn't say anything about this, though. Let's face it, Carrie is gonna put two and two together. She's not dumb."

"So we should tell her?"

"I mean, I don't want anyone knowing what's really going on, but how healthy is it if neither of us have anyone to talk to about it?"

She levels me with her gaze this time. "Do you need to vent about me already?"

"Not at the moment I don't, but we're not married yet." I duck when she lobs a balled up napkin at my head. "I'm kidding!"

"Wise-guy."

"Eat your food." I nod to her pizza.

"Bossy."

"I hate to see a good pizza go to waste."

"Would you like some more?"

I shovel the last piece into my mouth. "I can get it."

I move off the stool as she tentatively takes a bite. I never noticed how dainty she is with her food. Is everything about her totally perfect?

"So, you have no objections to the pros and cons? Queries? Hesitations?"

"Well, for one you'd never annoy me, and if I annoy you then you have to tell me. Mold me, if you will. We won't ruin our friendship because we'll be open and honest with each other." Apart from the fact I think I already love you. "I do like your cat, and he likes me. We have a bromance goin' on, I might even make a place for him in my gaming room. He can be a cool cat."

She giggles. "A cool cat?"

"Yep, and I don't sketch much these days, but when I do, you're welcome to watch on one condition."

"Yes, husband dearest ?"

I grit my teeth. Fuuuuuck. "You get to show me how to take better pictures. I always seem to have a thumbprint at one corner, or it's out of focus, or the light is off and you can't see the subject…"

"I can do that."

I come up behind her as she turns. "So we have a deal? We're really gonna do this?"

She takes a slow intake of breath, her chest rising slightly. "Yes, we're gonna do this. First I have to text my parents and subtly mention we're dating, you know, before we rip the band-aid off."

I feel the thrum of my heart in my chest hearing her words, beating in rapid succession. "Good plan. I'll start with tellin' my sister I'm interested in you. By ten o'clock tomorrow morning the whole of Stoney Creek will know we're dating."

She stares up at me. "Any regrets?"

I shake my head. "None. I better start looking for a suit."

Her eyes go wide as she puts her hand over her mouth and gasps.

I frown. "Are you okay?"

She shakes her head then says, "I have less than two weeks to find a wedding dress!"