Chapter 8

8

Autumn

I'm getting ready for the Sunday roast, well aware that I'm taking a little bit of extra time with my hair and makeup tonight. Not that I don't usually, but I want to look good at the Bassett family dinner. If I'm being honest with myself, I want to look good for Beau.

I can't stop thinking about him covered in mud at my house. And the conversation at the farm. He makes everything better just by being himself. Again, he's proved what a sweetheart he is and how considerate he was to come and help me out. The boys wouldn't take any money for it, so I ended up getting pizzas before they left which was the least I could do.

Beau's scent seems to be permeating my senses. Even all this time later. it's freaking everywhere. He smells so damn good that I need to find out what cologne that is. It must be newish because I don't remember him wearing it before. All I know is that it makes me weak at the knees.

I'm trying to piece together when I first started noticing Beau differently. More recently? Yes. But also at the auction months ago; he looked so cute up on stage panicking for his life. If I remember accurately, I didn't want anyone else getting a date with him. And not just because we arranged it.

All of a sudden Beau being strong and stable, loyal and smart — not to mention sexy as hell — invades every waking moment.

I pause in the mirror and take a long, hard look at myself as I smooth my hair out. Why am I thinking like this? Beau isn't interested in me in that way. We're buddies, we always have been. Okay, he was flirting a little, but he's always kinda done that from time to time.

Not like this. Never like this.

He's busy creating his new app with Fletcher, gaming, and working a million hours in the distillery. I've also noticed he hasn't dated in a while. Beau has never been the kind of guy who just goes to a bar and picks a girl up. That's not his style.

I'm also trying to understand these reactions inside me ranging from excitement and heat to confusion and doubt. He's been such a great friend to me over the years. If anything happened — and that's a big if because I still think this is one-sided — I would never want it to ruin our friendship. And it would. How many people stay friends after they bang? Not many. The dynamics always change.

My cell starts vibrating on the countertop as I'm doing my eye makeup. It's Carrie, and it might just be perfect timing to ask my bestie for some advice. I swipe to answer and put her on speaker.

"Hey Caz."

"Hi babe, what are you doing?"

"I'm just getting ready for the roast over at the Bassett's for dinner."

"Ah, I'll bet you've got your Sunday best on." She can't help herself.

I giggle looking down to my skinny jeans and white V-neck shirt which hugs my body. I have a faux-leather, light pink jacket to slide over the top with my black ankle boots. "I'm pretty casual as far as a family dinner goes."

"I bet. How did the roof thing go? That's why I was calling. You seemed pretty stressed."

"It was unbelievable. Beau, Hudson and Brooklyn came over and did some repairs and cleaned my gutters. It should be fine for a while until I can afford the total roof replacement. I was so embarrassed about the gutters though. I didn't know they needed to be cleaned every season!"

She laughs. "Wow, so Beau really got his hands dirty, huh?"

"Yeah. They've saved my hide, let me tell you. They all worked for hours. That's after pulling an all-day shift at the distillery. I bought them pizza, I feel so lame."

"Sorry Tom is out of town on a job, otherwise he would have gladly come to help."

Tom is a local builder, an extremely busy one at that, but I know he would have helped out if he was able to.

"It's okay, I totally understand."

"And you know, Beau wouldn't have offered if he didn't mean it." Then her tone changes. "Speaking of hide…"

"Is your mind always on the hot sauce?"

"Sometimes it's on the pepperoni as well."

I laugh as I smudge my bronze eyeshadow a little. I don't want to go full on smoky eyes, but I'll curl my lashes and add generous coats of mascara.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask you something."

"About the pepperoni?"

I sputter. "No! About Beau. Can you be serious for half a second?"

"Fine. I can even try for a full second. Shoot."

"Well, I've been having these… kinda… uh… thoughts lately."

"Thoughts?"

"Yeah. About Beau."

"Of an inappropriate nature?" Oh, God, she sounds like my Sunday school teacher.

"Define inappropriate?"

She doesn't even pause. "Do you want to fuck him?"

"Carrie!"

She laughs on the other end. "You asked!"

"I didn't mean go straight to the pepperoni! I just meant I've been seeing him in a different light lately."

"Hallelujah."

I pause my smudging on the other eye. "What?"

"You and Beau would be so cute together. I'd say it's about time. Bang him, you'll feel so much better."

Oh, God, just the very thought… "I don't know about together together, but ever since the auction I've been noticing him in ways I haven't before, and not just his hot body."

"Do tell."

"I don't know. He's just so sweet and I feel really comfortable with him. He's given me some great advice since my breakup and he's been a really great support. Not only that, he's big and handsome, and smells great. We hugged the other day at the distillery and I'm sure I felt him… uh… well… He was… hard ."

"Oh, sweet baby Jesus."

"Right?"

"So he's into you, and you're into him. This isn't a hard one to figure out. Do you like him more than a friend?"

"Yeah, I mean, maybe."

"I think that's the best news ever." I can hear the smile in her voice. "I mean, you two get along so well. It's a wonder you haven't shacked up way before now. Beau's a sweetheart, no doubt about it. Sexy as sin too and when he wears those reading glasses… Swoon."

"Tell me about it," I sigh.

"You groan like this is a bad thing?"

"Well it's just a little confusing. I don't know where it's all stemming from. I mean, I can't stop thinking about him, Carrie."

"Well, maybe you need to gauge it and make the moves?"

My eyes widen, and not just because I'm applying mascara. "Make the moves?"

"Well, if you think he's cute, why not?"

"Umm, lots of reasons, Caz. For one, he might not feel the same." Though we did share a moment there, not only when he chased me to the barn, and then fixing my roof, but when he held Bruiser and said those words that sounded filthy and then I saw his abs. I'm deprived. That's what it is. I saw him bare chested and now I'm ga-ga for it.

She laughs now, quite loudly. "Umm, are you dreaming that he might not feel the same way?"

"Well, I don't really know if I'm his type. I mean, would it be weird because we've been friends a long time?"

"I don't see why. I mean, there is that fine line between friendship and being something more, so I get that. But I don't see how you two couldn't take it to the next level."

"We're very different people."

"So what? Opposites attract anyway, don't they? At least, that's what we've been led to believe since the beginning of time."

"I'd never want to ruin the friendship."

"It might just enhance it, especially if you get him flat on his back!"

"I wasn't exactly thinking like that!" Or maybe I am. No, I definitely am.

"Think about it. You heard Eden; Brook is hung like a horse. I'm sure Beau would be no exception, all the Bassetts are strapping men. I mean sure, he's a little on the geeky side, but he works out and I think under the clothes he'd have a hot body."

"I can confirm that. When we were at my house he got mud all over him from the gutter and he ripped his tank off."

"I wish I'd made popcorn. So what happened?"

"Nothing." I sigh. "I just gawked like a horny teenager and then remembered my manners and went to get him a towel." Flames burn my cheeks when I remember the details. I mean, I couldn't keep my eyes in my head.

She laughs. "I can practically hear your brain overthinking it. Just jump him already."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Oh, I do, and you're older than him. I've just decided I'm going to live vicariously through you from now on. You owe it to yourself. Maybe you could lay a hint or two and see how he reacts."

"I guess." I chew on my lip. "I mean, I wasn't thinking of acting on it. I'm just trying to navigate these feelings."

She scoffs. "Why wait? You want to take his hot little tooshie off the market before someone else does. I'd be navigating it sooner rather than later."

I reach for my pink blush and swipe it over my cheeks while I contemplate this ‘navigating' business.

Is she completely crazy? Then again, I brought it up, so clearly I'm entertaining the idea.

Then I think about the night of the auction and how many women were bidding for him. "Are you saying that because Amber Jenkins ended up snaffling the sheriff at the auction?"

She laughs. "Yes and no. I think it's pretty cute you two had that deal at the auction, admit you secretly liked it."

I can't deny that, can I? "It was a bit of fun, yes."

"And Dolly's posse were going for the kill."

"Oh, tell me about it. Teresa snagged Owen up at the last second. But I think Eden and Brook stole the show. How sickeningly cute are they, by the way?"

"Oh, don't even go there. Just think, if things worked out with you and Beau, you and E could almost be related… OMG!" she wails.

I glance down at the phone as I dab on some colored lip balm. Not that I can see her. "What! Carrie? Are you okay?"

"I just had a thought." Uh, oh. If her gasp is anything to go by, this is gonna be good. "It's crazy and wild, but it could solve all your problems!"

"Have you just won the lottery or something? I heard the fifty million lottery jackpot never went off."

"No, even better. You and Beau could get hitched!"

I sputter at her words and grab my cell, taking it off speaker and holding it to my ear. "What did you say?" Maybe I'm getting hard of hearing.

"Just hear me out," she reasons.

I walk out of the bathroom into my cozy bedroom and sit on the edge of my white comforter with a soft lace trim.

"You and Beau get along famously; he's a great friend, loyal, yadda-yadda. We now know he can fix shit and do handyman jobs. Plus, he's hot as fuck, and smart too. Bonus; he has a great job and his parents already love you. And the cherry on top is you'd get to share his bed any time you wanted!"

"Marry Beau Bassett?" I squeak.

"Now you're talking my language, Aut. I mean, come on, it makes sense! You get to call Beau your husband and ride that cowboy home day and night. Plus, you get your inheritance too. I'm a genius."

I swallow hard as I take in her words.

Marry Beau Bassett so I can get my inheritance? Is she insane?

"… Surely Granny couldn't say no to that. He's from a good family and they have a faultless reputation. She'd get her wish of seeing you hitched, and you get the rest of your pesos, plus Beau on the side."

I contemplate this again for a moment. For some unfathomable reason it's taking a while for the words to sink in. "Have you gone completely crazy?"

"It's genius when you think about it. There are more pluses than not. Think about it. Beau would marry you in a heartbeat. I wouldn't discount the idea that Beau doesn't have a little crush on you himself."

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw the way he kept his eyes on you at the auction. And whenever he sees you, his face lights up."

"It's just a besties thing." I wave it off. I mean, she is right in what she's saying. He did keep staring at me at the auction, and he looked so sexy just the other day on my roof…

My hot geeky cowboy.

I want to slap myself. Seriously. This has to stop.

There's just no way…

"Bestie shmestie! What guy wouldn't want to be with you? You are a fox, sweetie."

"Well thanks, Caz. But Michael didn't seem to think so."

"Screw him. He was a douche. Beau is different to the rest, you've said it yourself. Think about it because I think I'm really onto something here. You can thank me later."

"You might be the one consoling me when it all goes pear shaped, too."

"Ooh, thinking about it already?"

"I am not!" I protest. But the cogs in my brain are turning. There's no doubt about it.

"You're going over there now, so gauge it at least. Put the feelers out. I might just put in a word for you if you're not careful!"

"Don't you dare."

"Mark my words, if you wait, you wind up with nothing. Trust me, it took a lot of duds before I found Tom."

"It sure is getting harder and harder these days."

Carrie works at the local bank as a teller and her love life had been about as good as mine until she met Tom on a blind date.

"Maybe yours has been in front of you this whole time," she goes on. "Okay once you've wrestled with the idea a little, you'll see how perfect it is. I care about you and I want to see you happy. Plus, I think Beau would make a great hubby."

"My grandmother wouldn't go for it. She's pretty set in her ways and we all know how she loves her rules." What am I even saying? I'm not marrying Beau Bassett!

"I think at this point she would. I mean, you're not getting any younger, sweetie."

"Hey!"

She ignores me. "There's only one way to find out…"

I feel the burn on my cheeks once more. This won't do.

Hubby.

"Well, thanks for putting all of that nonsense in my head right before I have to see Beau."

"Nonsense? You'll be thanking me in your wedding speech. Plus, you'll also get to see if those rumors about the Bassett Brothers being well hung are really true."

I shake my head. "I have to go. Thanks for the pep talk."

"Anytime. Break a leg!" Her laughter cuts off as we hang up and I sit back, resting on my hands for a moment, contemplating her words.

Autumn Bassett?

There's no way. Not even to solve my financial woes. Aside from the fact Beau would be horrified, I couldn't go through with anything like that for money. But I have to admit, the idea of being legally bound to a man like Beau stirs something within me.

Maybe Carrie is right and I need to at least see how he feels. Explore the flirting thing and figure out if Beau just feels sorry for me, or is there something between us?

But married? That's insanity.

No matter what Carrie says it's completely ridiculous and I'm going to pretend she never spoke the words.