Page 32 of Hopeless
She turns slowly, and the menacing expression on her face indicates she’s going to kill me.
“Why on earth?” The older man sounds genuinely flabbergasted.
“Did Bailey not tell you the exciting news?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gary’s brows wrinkle together, but my gaze stays fixed on Bailey. The imaginary nukes she’s firing at me do nothing but make me grin back at her. It strikes me that while Bailey is sharp-witted and funnier than I expected, she doesn’t know how to have fun. She works too hard. It’s like being playful is a privilege never extended to her.
I plan to change that while I have her.
My smile widens to the mega-watt version that has gotten me out of trouble many a time. “We got engaged over the weekend.”
“Youwhat?”
Bless Gary. He’s totally giving off protective dad vibes now. Makes me feel like an even bigger asshole for the things I said to him that night—even though I’ve made amends.
“Yeah. We’ve been kind of … ” Bailey trails off, eyes wide as saucers. Like she’s just realized she has to speak about this arrangement aloud. In front of people. “Seeing each other.”
Gary’s head pivots back and forth between the two of us. Bailey staring at me. Me, smirking back at her, feeling more like myself than I have in a very long time.
It’s the thrum of adrenaline in my veins, the camaraderie of being in on something. Having a purpose—a purpose that goes beyond working cows on the family ranch day in and day out.
“That’s fast, boy. What are your intentions? She’s a lot younger than you. Nicer. A hell of a lot prettier. What are you up to?”
I turn to Gary now, appreciating that he has Bailey’s back. It’s about time someone did.
“You’re not wrong. She’s all of those things. But she’s also … ” My eyes slip back to her. She looks fucking terrified. “Brought me back to life. Can’t imagine my days without her.”
It’s not a lie. In fact, every word is true. I don’tonlyspend four nights a week sitting here like a loyal guard dog because I hate the idea of her working alone.
I’m not quite that noble.
But I can’t bring myself to hold her gaze after I’ve said it.
“Shit.” He scrubs at his wiry gray stubble. “Guess I should have known by the way you’re always watching her like you’re imagining her with her clothes off. Was gonna tell you to tone down the gawking this week, to be honest.”
Well, fuck.
I fall back on my training to keep my face blank, but Bailey coughs like she’s got something stuck in her throat. I blink in her direction to see her pretty heart-shaped face painted with both humor and shock.
Once she’s composed herself, she says softly, “Gary, please. Beau is a tier one operator. He would never be so obvious.”
She sends me a sly wink at the end of her sentence. A dry laugh lurches from me. Sarcastic Bailey never fails to knock me off my feet. And it would appear I’m never living that one down.
“Yeah. My years spent in the special forces impress most people. Bailey though? Bailey just makes fun of me for it.”
“You could use someone who is a little less impressed with you,” Gary grumbles with a light slur as he takes another drink.
My fingers rap against the top of the bar. “Wow. You’re on a roll today.”
The man shoots his eyes to the ceiling before they land on my hand and shift to Bailey’s. “Hang on. Please tell me you didn’t propose to her without a ring. Doubt you need her daddy’s permission, but I’ll kick your ass if you didn’t buy a ring for her.”
Bailey’s lips twitch, and she props her hands on her hips, looking all smug. She’s enjoying watching Gary give me the gears.
Joke’s on her, though.
I may not have proposed with a ring, but one quick trip into the city fixed that.
“I proposed with one, but Bailey told me the diamond wasn’t big enough and to take it back.”
