Page 26 of Rough Daddy
"Thank you," I manage, shaking his hand and trying not to cry because they all feel so… genuine.
Colt, the sheriff, stands to the side of the Buick as Beau disappears under the hood again, holding a phone, eyes scanning. He doesn’t talk much but he watches everything. All four of these Boone boys hit the genetic jackpot, that’s all I have to say. Although there’s something extra about Beau... He’s old enough maybe to be my father, but man, all my daddy issues have centered themselves right on top of my clit and are doing a hell of a tap dance.
"She knows her way around an engine, too," Beau says, and the pride in his voice makes my stomach flutter. He talks about me like I'm something precious he wants to show off. "Next time you have a transmission problem, ask her."
When we came in, I couldn’t help but pause at the two cars on ramps. I blurted something dumb about the Buick’s V6, outing myself as the nerd I am. Beau must’ve filed it away, the same way he seems to file away everything I say.
"I'm book smart, as they say," I deflect, heat crawling up my neck. "Little practical experience. I could probably talk you through advanced robotics, but I've never actually touched a soldering iron."
"No shit? Beauty, brains, and modesty." Cade raises his eyebrows, turning my way. “You sure you’ve met my brother Beau? Have you hit your head recently? Taken magic mushrooms?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Beau snaps, lifting his head so fast he bangs it against the edge of the open car hood. “And stop looking at her.”
Cade and Jack both snort.
“I’m gonna get some coffee.” Cade hides his smile behind his hand, walking away.
“Leave a fifty next to the coffee maker,” Beau grunts, but Cade answers with a middle finger behind his back.
“She’s way above your pay grade, brother, but congrats,” Jack says, then turns my way. “And my sympathies. My wife will explain it all to you. The Boone boys know what they want and don’t take no for an answer. We also are known to be bossy.”
Heat crawls up my neck.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Then again.
I ignore it.
"So, you thinking about sticking around?" Jack asks, settling onto a stool with the easy confidence of someone who's always belonged somewhere. "Been awhile since we last had a new sister to spoil."
The question catches me off guard.
Am I sticking around?Is he saying I would be a new sister-in-law?
Jesus, Wildfire is wilder than I thought. I barely know Beau Boone, and his brother thinks we’re already destined to walk down the aisle.
When I got here, I was running from everything I'd ever known. Now I'm standing in a garage in the middle of nowhere, wearing clothes that smell like motor oil, and feeling more myself than I have in years.
"Maybe," I admit. "It's peaceful here."
Another buzz from my pocket. That's three in quick succession. I have three bars here in town, I could call…
I glance at the texts, seeing Ethan’s name, and my heart starts to thunder. I can’t face it, can’t face all the bullshit with my parents and the social media. Even for Ethan, I can’t do it. The spinning feeling starts again inside my head.
Just one more night, I promise myself as I flick the switch, putting it on silent.
One more night, Ethan, then I’ll find a way to deal with our real life. I promise.
"Peaceful's one word for it," Colt says dryly. "City people might consider it boring."
"Hey." Beau's head snaps up, and there's steel in his voice. "She said it was peaceful. Shut the fuck up."
The protective edge in his voice makes my pulse skip. Like he's genuinely worried I might leave. Like keeping me here matters to him.
Cade comes back into the work area, blowing on a mug of coffee, grinning. "She doesn’t look too city to me. Besides, look at him, already gone full Daddy Bear on us."
"Damn right, I am," Beau says without shame, and the brothers all laugh like this is exactly what they expected.
If only you knew,I think, remembering the months of online harassment, the death threats, the leaked photos and cruel memes. I survived a public execution. A small-town garage full of sexy men that look like they’ve eaten steroids for breakfast since they were toddlers feels like paradise.
