Page 42 of Beau & Autumn

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.

12

Autumn

I stare at Beau. Okay, I get I had a few wines, but did he have his drink spiked?

Marriage?

For real?

He’s lost his damn mind.

My mouth parts but no words come out. “I… I…”

“You… you?” He smirks.

Geez, since when did he have such pretty eyes? How have I never noticed them before? And his lips… so full for a man and so damned kissable. I like that scruff he’s sporting, it's sexy… No! He’s my friend. My best friend. Boundaries! I turn away. “You’re not funny.”

I hear the edge to his voice. “What do you mean?”

“You’re trying to get me to admit something and then you’re going to say, ‘Aha! Loser! Gotcha!’ And then Peter Funt’s going to jump out of nowhere and say, ‘Candid Camera!’ And I’ll look like an idiot.”

“I’d never call you a loser, and no, I don’t have Peter Funt hiding in Georgia’s apartment.” I peek around as he continues. “I don’t think so anyway. So come on, give me one good reason.”

I blink. “Uh, well, for one we’re friends.”

He makes a loud noise which resembles a buzzer. “Nope. Try again!”

“Okay. Well, it’s a lie.”

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