Page 39 of Backed By You
Heat creeps up my neck. “What’s that?”
“My brother doesn’t look at people the way he was just looking at you.” Lily takes a sip of her drink, eyes twinkling.
“Oh mygod.” Cassidy gasps, covering her mouth. “This explains why Butch was saying Beau’s been even more broody than usual today.”
I stand quickly and head for the woodpile to throw a few more pieces in the fire pit. “I don’t know what you’re getting at, but it’s not like that. He’s my landlord and, like you said, he’s an asshole.”Lies, lies, lies.
“I used to think Butch was an asshole once,” Cassidy says wistfully. “Now we’re married and I needed a c-section just to birth his big ass baby.”
The women laugh and continue their night unbothered.
Meanwhile, I can’t help wondering what Beau wanted to tell me before he was interrupted. And what time he’ll be back tonight. The thought of seeing him again sends a flutter through my stomach. Whatever this is between us, it’s becoming something I can’t ignore.
Fourteen.
Beau
It’sjustafteronein the morning when I catch a ride from Tanner back to my property.
To Callie.
I smell like Cuban cigars and whiskey, but overall, it was a good night. I’m not drunk—I don’t think—and I certainly wasn’t going to be driving myself home after the shots the guys were doling out an hour ago.
I stumble up the steps of her greenhouse of a front porch and dig in my pocket for my keys. It takes me a good three minutes to find them—in my front pocket, of course—and I realize Imaybe a bit tipsier than I thought.
The lock clicks quietly as I turn the key. I ease the door open, trying to keep the hinges from squeaking. The cabin is dark except for a small night light in the kitchen that casts just enoughglow for me to see where I’m going. I slip off my boots by the door, leaving them beside Callie’s sneakers.
Something about seeing our shoes side by side makes my chest tighten.
Must be the whiskey…
I need to piss like a racehorse after all those drinks, which means navigating through her bedroom to the bathroom. Great planning on my part to build a cabin with one bathroom only accessible through the bedroom. At the time, it made perfect sense—given this was meant to bemycabin when home.
Now, it’s an exercise in stealth.
The door to her bedroom is cracked open. I push it gently, wincing at the soft creak it makes. Moonlight streams through the window, illuminating her form under the covers. Hulk is stretched out on his dog bed, dragged to the end of Callie’s bed. His eyes gleam in the darkness, tracking my movement.
He doesn’t bark or growl at me, though.Progress.
Callie is curled on her side, one arm tucked under her pillow, the other draped across where I should be. Her shoulder-length, honey-blonde hair is fanned out across the pillow. Her lips slightly parted. I stop for a moment, watching her breathe.
When did this woman start to matter so much to me?
I try to tiptoe across the worn hardwood floor, but a board creaks loudly under my weight.Fuck. She stirs, turning over slightly. I freeze, but she doesn’t wake fully. Taking my chance, I slip into the bathroom as quietly as possible.
After using the bathroom and splashing some cold water on my face, I emerge to find her blinking sleepily in my direction.
“Beau?” Her voice is husky with sleep. “What time is it?”
“Late,” I whisper. “Go back to sleep.”
She props herself up on one elbow, hair falling over her shoulder. “You’re home.”
Something about the way she says ‘home’ makes my stomach flip. I swallow hard, wishing I’d brushed my teeth before coming out. “Yeah, I’m home.”
“Did you have fun?” She’s more awake now, eyes adjusting to the darkness.
“It was all right.” I shrug, standing a few feet away from the bed. “The guys were in rare form tonight.”
