Page 70 of Always Bayou

“So why’d she ask me?” Paul asked.

Beau made a point of looking the other man up and down. “Felt sorry for you?”

Paul stepped forward and reached for Becca’s hand. “Hilarious. Now mydateand I are going to—”

Beau’s hand clamped around Paul’s forearm before he could touch Becca. “I don’t think so.”

Paul jerked his arm back and glared at Beau. Then he looked at Becca. “Well?”

“Well, what?” she asked.

Beau almost laughed. Becca clearly wasn’t used to men fighting over her. Which was crazy. Becca should have men falling over themselves just to buy her a drink.

Paul sighed as if she was being slow. “Him or me. I don’t appreciate you not telling me you were involved with someone, but if there’s an issue between you two, I’m happy to have someone show him the door and continue our date.”

Beau lifted a brow. Paul would have him thrown out? Well, if he really was here harassing Becca, he could respect that.

“But if you want to be with him, then I’ll back off,” Paul finished. “This is our first date. I like you. But I’m not going to get in the middle of something.”

“Well…” Becca said slowly, looking up at Beau.

She was enjoying having two men vie for her attention. She deserved that.

Maybe he should let this go on for a little bit.

She looked fabulous and if it would make her smile and feel confident and sassy to have two—or more—men lining up to twirl her around and compliment her and look at her like she was the most gorgeous thing they’d ever seen, then maybe he needed to let it happen.

Though he sure as fuck would be in that line.

“You want to dance with him, sweetheart?” Beau asked her, meeting her gaze directly. “Fine by me. But I’m not goin’ anywhere. I know who’s unzipping this dress tonight and who’s buyin’ you coffee in the mornin’.” He put extra Louisiana-boy-drawl in his voice.

Her eyes widened.

He was playing a role, he reminded himself.Theywere playing roles. For the purpose of good-naturedly torturing their friends.

“I just…” She shook her head and cleared her throat.

Beau let himself enjoy affecting her a bit, though. He wasn’t unzipping this dress tonight. But no other man would be either.

She turned to Paul. “Do you want to dance—justdance—with me?”

Paul looked from her to Beau and back. “I would really like to dance with you, yes,” he answered.

Yeah, Paul liked her.

Beau let go of her and immediately wanted to pull her back. But he took a deep breath as Paul took her hand and tugged her close.

Beau made himself turn and head to the bar. He ordered a drink and leaned onto the bar to nurse it, forcing himself to act nonchalant and cool about everything. But his eyes were on Becca the entire time.

She was smiling as the song she and Paul were dancing to ended. Yeah, Savannah had oversold the “clingy-creepy” thing.

Another man, who had been hovering on the edge of the dance floor watching them, stepped out and spoke to her. Becca nodded and Paul moved to one of the tables nearby as the new guy started dancing with her.

Beau kept his eyes on them, but he realized he wasn’t upset about Savannah’s exaggeration or about being here.

And that was the whole problem, wasn’t it? Hewantedto be with Becca. He wanted to be her plus-one. He wanted to be the one making her smile as she danced. He wanted to be the one stroking his hands up and down her back. He wanted to be the one she told about her issues with her dad and Toby. He wanted to be the one she looked up at with bright, hopeful eyes when she realized that he was firmly on her side and would support the same efforts and causes that she believed in.

Thathad made his heart squeeze as hard as seeing her in that dress.

---