Page 44 of Hopeless
My hands freeze on the seat buckle, and I turn to stare at Beau.
The man who moved my trailer and helped me reorganize everything inside.
The man who stayed with me all night when I was scared, who walked through dirty water when I needed him. Who is way older, way more experienced. And who asked me if I waswetlike we were just having a casual conversation.
The man who is my new fiancé and is about to introduce me to his family. Hisnicefamily who loves him and wants the best for him.
“Practice what?”
“Well, I don’t know. You’re looking at me like I terrify you.”
I scoff. “You don’t terrify me.”
“Why do you have that deer-in-the-headlights expression all the time, then? You could barely get through telling Gary. You gonna flinch when I touch you? Kiss you?”
“Why would you touch and kiss me at a family dinner?”
“Because we’re engaged?”
I shake my head rapidly. “No. Just tell them we’re not into PDA.”
Beau glares at me. “We’re going to have to convince them a little bit. This is going to blindside them.”
I’m about to reach for the door handle to get the hell out of here, away from the super soldier who is turning this into some sort of top-secret mission shit, but I stop in my tracks.
“Hang on a second.” I turn back to face his chiseled jaw and stupid face. “Have you not told themat all?”
His expression is impassive. “No. I decided it would be best to just rip the Band-Aid off. They’re less likely to give me the third degree if you’re there. Which is why we need to sell it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?Thisis your plan? How many years in the special forces … andthisis your plan?”
He blows out a breath and leans his head against the rest behind him. “Listen, what I want out of this deal is for them to leave me alone. You can use me to get a job, and I can use you to get them off my back. Maybe we’re both wrong and this whole thing doesn’t make a difference at all. Just act natural.”
“This makes me nervous. How am I supposed to act natural?” Because while I’ve come to feel comfortable around Beau, that feeling doesn’t extend to big family get-togethers.
The man beside me goes from agitated to lighthearted as he reaches out and pulls my hand up to his mouth. He kisses my palm so naturally that I almost forget we’re faking this relationship.
“Don’t be nervous, sugar,” he murmurs against my skin, with a coy glance out of the corner of his eye. Because we both know abbreviating that nickname doesn’t make it any better. “We’ve already slept together. This should be a breeze.” He chuckles, and it vibrates through the bones in my hand. Lips and stubble brush against my skin, and I bite down on the shiver that racks my body, tugging my hand back and rubbing at it like I’ve been burned.
“Okay! Fine. Let’s go,” I reply brightly, hopping from the truck with a bounce in my step that’s not a match for the dread growing inside me.
I barely spare Beau a glance. He overwhelms me. Looking at him will do nothing to quell the way my heart is racing in my chest.
I can feel him beside me, strong and tall, hovering just at my shoulder like a bodyguard.
He links his fingers through mine and casually opens the front door.
The show begins.
When we walk onto the back porch, everyone freezes. Conversation comes to a screeching halt. Eyes volley between me and Beau, then drop and stall on our linked hands.
To say I know everyone here would be a stretch. I’ve served drinks to most of them, or I’ve heardaboutthem in the roundabout way you do as a bartender in a small town.
That is to say, I’ve overheard gossip here and there.
Harvey Eaton, the family patriarch, breaks the silence as he relaxes in an Adirondack chair on the wooden deck, beer in hand. “Bailey Jansen, how lovely to see you.” He stands up to greet me. “Beau didn’t mention you were going to be joining us. But there are so few true surprises left in life, you know? This is a nice one.” He winks at me, eyes twinkling with mirth.
My cheeks flame and I drop my eyes to my sandals. The pale-yellow sundress seems ridiculous on me now, as though I’m trying to fool everyone into thinking I’m the type of girl Beau would bring home.
