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“I don’t know. I guess I just wouldn’t have thought it would be your kind of thing.”
“Why not?”
“Because you guys have such a close-knit family. I guess I just assumed you’d want to keep everything in the family, but you do have a lot of land.” I could tell from the expression on his face that he didn’t like what I was saying.
“Yeah. We have a lot of land. But what’s that got to do with anything?” He leaned down and looked into my eyes. “You don’t happen to work for the corporation that we’ve—”
“Seriously, Beau?” I cut him off this time. “Do you really think I work for any company that’s interested in buying this land? You know that I’m Lucy’s best friend, and I came here from New York.”
“Fine, fine, fine. Maybe you’re not. Maybe this isn’t a long con.”
“It’s no con, dude.” I stood up and made to get out of the hot tub.
“Where are you going?” he said.
“The water’s not very hot, and I think I’m going to get a shower. I want to get ready for our ride.”
“What ride?”
“You just told me that you’re going to teach me how to ride.”
“I said after dinner.”
“Okay. So I’ll get ready for after dinner, then.”
“You are a strange one, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know. I think you’re the strange one.”
“Could be.” He shrugged. “Could be.” He looked me up and down, his eyes twinkling. “So.” He licked his lips.
“Yes?” I answered him, wondering if he was going to pull me into his arms and kiss me. It would be a bad idea, of course, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be tempted if the situation arose.
“Are you okay?” His voice interrupted my crazy thoughts.
I felt my face grow warm. “Yeah. Why do you ask that?”
“You looked like you were a million miles away.”
“No, I was just thinking about what sort of job I’m going to apply for when I get back home.”
“Okay then,” he said. “Well, I’ll let you think about that. I’m going to go into the kitchen and get myself a snack.”
“Is your mom going to like that?”
“She’s not the boss of me,” he said with a laugh. We both knew full well that his mom was the boss of everyone in the family. “You want anything?” he asked.
“No, I’m okay. I’ll see you at dinner.”
He nodded and walked away.
I wrapped myself in a towel and gazed at the sky, wondering what I’d gotten myself into. What was this whole thing between us? We weren’t exactly flirting, but we were more than just being friendly. There was an underlying tension between us that I hadn’t felt with a man in a long time. And I liked it. I enjoyed the banter. I enjoyed being around him. I wanted to touch him. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted so many things, and yet it seemed like such dangerous territory. He was the last person I should be flirting with. The very last person.
I knew Lucy would understand. But I also knew that it could complicate things for our whole dynamic. If he and I hooked up or had a fling and then fell out, what would that mean for the future? Would Lucy have to choose a side? If it came down to it, I was sure that he would win. Not because she liked him more, but because he was in Montana, and I’d be in New York. She’d be around him constantly. How could I ask her to choose her best friend over her husband’s brother?
No, I’d have to keep my distance. Be sweet but firm. And no flirting, no matter how badly I wanted to.
Chapter Thirty-Two
