Page 90 of One to Watch

The rest of the men fumbled in their pockets, too, and Bea was puzzled when she saw what they’d come up with: tubes of ChapStick.

“What the …?”

“You think you’re the only one who can kiss cheeks and be all gallant?” Sam asked as they all slicked on their ChapStick. “We can be gallant, Bea.”

“I can see that.” Bea couldn’t help laughing, even as tears leaked out of her eyes.

Then Wyatt stood—he offered Bea his hand and helped her to her feet—and the other men stood as well.

“Bea,” Wyatt asked, “will you stay with me another week? I know this week has been exotic and all, but I think you’re going to be pretty awed by my family’s wheat fields.”

Bea smiled. “Yes, I’ll stay.” Wyatt kissed her cheek. He stepped aside, and Sam approached her.

“Bea, my bea-tific bea-uty,” Sam started.

“You’re going to win me over with wordplay?”

“Absolutely, I am, because you’re the Bea’s knees.” He grinned, and Bea laughed. “Bea, I love spending time with you, and I want you to meet my family. Will you stay with me another week?”

Bea nodded. “Yes, Sam.” Another kiss. Sam moved to make room for Luc.

“Bea, this week for us was special. But I know there is better yet to come.”

He took her hand and brought it to his lips—he kissed one finger, just as she had when he’d given her that perfect taste of saffron. She couldn’t help but glance at Asher as Luc did this—she saw his jaw was set, his face hard. But there was nothing she could do about that now.

“Bea, you will stay with me another week?”

“I will.” Luc kissed her cheek too.

And then there was just Asher—his lips tight, his posture rigid. Bea tensed up, wondering if they were about to rehash his jealousy of Luc. But as it turned out, he was upset about something else entirely.

“Do you doubt me?” he said. The room went quiet, and the tension level rose considerably.

“I don’t want to,” Bea said truthfully.

“Do you believe I would bring cameras into my home and let you meet my children if I wasn’t serious about this—about you?”

“No.” Bea’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I know you wouldn’t.”

“I hate that men like Jefferson want to hurt you. Bea, I was so angry down there. But I will never give you a reason to believe him. I want you to meet my family. I want you, period. Stay with me, Bea. Okay? Stay.”

Bea couldn’t find words, but she nodded, and Asher wrapped her in a hug and kissed her on the cheek. In his arms, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to forget for just a moment about the other men in the room, the cameras watching them, and all her doubts.

——Forwarded Message——

FROM: Jefferson Derting

TO: MoroccanAir Baggage Retrieval Service

SUBJECT: RE: RE: RE: Lost baggage

Hello. After several emails and one two-hour phone call, I am STILL WAITING to hear what happened to my baggage. I flew back to the U.S. five days ago, and you people don’t seem to have any idea what happened to my stuff. I was on TELEVISION for a month, so ALL MY CLOTHES were in that bag, in addition to a VERY EXPENSIVE VINTAGE BESPOKE BEARD MAINTENANCE KIT which I purchased AT AUCTION. Can you help me or not? I don’t want to have to Yelp about this, so get back to me, comprende?

——Forwarded Message——

FROM: MoroccanAir Baggage Retrieval Service

TO: Jefferson Derting