Page 43 of Beau & Autumn

“Minor details. If it got you all the things you wanted and your family off your back, I will marry you, Autumn Leaf. You don’t even have to sleep with me.”

I don’t know how long passes before I really digest that last comment. He says it like sleeping with him would be a chore. As if! He’s a bonafide hottie hiding behind his geeky glasses, hoodies and fail-proof manners. I silently give his parents a round of applause because they really did raise a fine human being.

“Like, we’d live together, obviously, but we could have separate rooms,” he goes on.

“So you’d have your own space still, we’d just have to act married to everyone else when we go out, like for show.”

For show?

My heart drums so loudly I’m sure they can hear it in Alabama. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, maybe think about it when you’re less… Uh… In the morning, I mean, when it’s light… And you’re feeling more like yourself.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m not drunk, Beau!”

“Okay, I didn’t mean you were drunk.”

“You’re not abhorrent,” I whisper. “You’re amazing, Beau. But this is crazy, plus imagine how mad our parents would be when they find out what we did.”

He shrugs. “They wouldn’t find out we’re pretending. We’d just make up a story and say we rushed into it, and for the sake of our friendship we’re going to get an annulment and remain amicable.”

Why does it sound like he’s thought this through. “So you’d do all of that just to help me out?”

“Sure. We’re friends, right?”

Just friends?

Clearly I was wrong. The flirting and the easy banter was just Beau being Beau. Not because he likes me. He’s doing this to help me, probably because he feels sorry for me. Wait… Does he feel sorry for me?

“I’m not a charity case,” I blurt out. Straight away, I regret it.

Beau wipes a hand down his face. “I know that. I didn’t mean that you were. I just saw how distressed you were at the creek the other day, and I want to help. This is one way that I could do that; like I said, we both win. My parents get off my back, you get what you want and you can purchase all the equipment you need for the business, plus fix your house as well as securing your financial freedom…”

“But wouldn’t it be a lie?”

“You’re overthinking it. Your family are the ones with these stupid rules, you’re just working your way around them. No harm, no foul. Don’t worry about my parents, I’ll deal with them.”

“If it ever got out…”

“It wouldn’t. It would be between us. Nobody would know, then our secret would be safe.”

I take a breath. “I don’t know. I need to think about this.”

He nods. “I’m just sayin’. If you want a way out, I’m in.”

My lips part. “Are you sure you want to be my husband, Beau?”

His eyes bore into mine and I feel weak in the knees. I blame Pinot Grigio for all of this. “I wouldn’t be mind be married to you.”

I think back to his earlier words. And you’d be my wife…

His voice sounds so gruff, so possessive, so freaking hot that my mouth feels like the Sahara desert and I can’t form words.

The machine makes a sputtering sound, making me jump as I turn to see the mug full and the spray nozzle hissing. I clear my throat. “Wife.” I thought I whispered it, but when I glance back at Beau, I can see that I didn’t.

“It has a ring to it, doesn’t it?”

I shake my head. “Beau, you’re really serious, aren't you?”

---