Page 58 of Summer Tease
“BB. Beau Boy. Remember?”
“Hmm,” he says, slinging his arm on the top of the seat behind me and looking over his shoulder to reverse. It brings our faces close, eliciting a flashback of the kiss that never happened—and never will happen.
“Hmmwhat?” I prod. He sounds like he doesn’t believe me or something.
“That’s just not what I heard,” he says, like it’s a matter of opinion.
“And whatdidyou hear?”
“I very distinctly heard you call mebaby.”
“Have mercy.” I look up at the heavens. “Aren’t cops required to pass some sort of hearing test?”
“My hearing is great. Twenty-twenty.”
“That’s…not how it works.”
“You get what I mean. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with my hearing.”
“Except for hearing what you want to hear instead of what’s actually been said.”
He shrugs as we pull onto our street, lifting his chin as the wind blows through that perfectly sun-kissed brown hair. “I respect your opinion.Baby.”
“My opin—” I stop myself. It’s no use arguing with this man.In the words of Mrs. Bennet fromPride & Prejudice, he delights in vexing me. The world hath never seen a tease like unto Beau Palmer.
He passes his driveway and pulls up to the curb in front of my house.
I glance at the birdfeeder, content to see it in its place. I consider bringing it up but decide against it. There’s something kind of fun about this unspoken battle.
“Can I walk you to your door?” Beau asks.
“No,” I say flatly, kissing Xena on top of the head.
Beau lowers his head like he’s hoping for the same thing, and I give him a rough noogie, then climb out.
“I’ve got some paperwork to fill out at the office tomorrow,” he says as I walk toward the door. “Plus whatever pops up over the course of the day. Want to tag along?”
I scoff lightly. If he expects me to follow him around while he drives me nuts like this, he’s got another think coming.
“What time?” I hear myself ask.
My first acton waking the next morning isn’t to text Eugene to ask for an update. It’s not to check my email in case there’s a message from work. It’s not even to go to the bathroom.
I hurry downstairs, unlock the front door, and step outside in all my mussed-hair-and-bleary-eyed glory. My gaze finds the birdfeeder right away. Back in Palmer territory.
I mutter threats under my morning breath, my mouth drawn up in a reluctant smile as I head back inside and shut the door. I might be brave enough to venture on the porch thirty seconds after waking up, but when I move that feeder, I’ll do it looking a bit more put together. This island has seen enough of me in my pajamas in the last twelve hours.
I shower and put on my button-up shirt and slacks for the first time in days as a text from Beau comes in.
Beau
Good morning, GG. I’m heading to the office in a few minutes. Care to join me?
I start typing that I’ll be out in five, hesitate, then erase it.
Gemma
I’ll catch up with you. Not quite ready yet.
