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“Really?” Austin said with a smirk. “What would you say then?”
“I’d say that I’m pretty. That I’m average. That I’m okay.”
Amelia laugh. “Oh my, dear, no. You’re gorgeous. You have to know that.”
“Thank you,” I said softly. I never really considered myself gorgeous. I mean, I knew I wasn’t unattractive. But when you lived in New York City and you were surrounded by models and actresses and socialites, you never really felt like you were good enough, especially if you were just a regular person. And that’s just who I was. Regular.
Beau walked over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I reiterate what my mother said, Lucy. You’re beautiful. And any man would be very lucky to have you.”
“I’m guessing you’re not going to be that man,” Austin muttered.
“Excuse me?” Beau turned to his brother. “What is your problem, Austin? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning or something?”
“Or something,” Austin said and shook his head. “Look, I’m not actually hungry. I think I’m going to go get ready. I need to go to the lodge later, and I think I’m going to do some hunting and some fishing. Bye, guys.” And with that, he left the kitchen. I looked at Beau and then at Amelia. Amelia was muttering something under her breath and I couldn’t quite tell what she was saying. Beau just shook his head.
“Don’t mind my brother. He’s moody. In fact, most of my brothers are moody. You’ll get used to it.”
“It’s okay. I have friends that are moody too.” I tried to laugh it off, but I couldn’t help but wonder if Austin was going to act like this the entire time I was here. And if things did work out with Beau, would Austin tell his brother about the kisses? Would Austin try and stop the wedding?
That would be my absolute worst nightmare. If somehow Beau did propose to me and we went to a church. And then the priest asked if there was anyone that had any reason for us not to be married. And then Austin spoke up and told everyone in his entire family that we kissed. Not once, not twice, but three times. Shame flooded my body, not just because we kissed but because I wanted to do it again … and again. What was wrong with me?
“Oh, I think I’m going to go and shower now. Okay?”
I hurried back to my bedroom. I opened the door and flung myself on the bed. This was such a mess. I’d never expected anything like this to happen.
If I hadn’t left the address at home and if I hadn’t gone to the bar, then none of this would’ve happened. I never would have met Austin. I never would’ve kissed him in the bar. I never would have lied. He never would have judged me. I would have just come directly to the ranch and been introduced to Beau and everything would have been as it should have been. It wouldn’t be complicated like this. It would have been okay.
There was a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” I called out.
“It’s me. Austin.”
“What do you want?”
“Can I come in?”
“No.”
“Do you really want me to shout so everyone in the house could hear what I have to say?”
“No.” I jumped off of the bed quickly and ran to the door and opened it. “What do you want, Austin?”
“Let me come inside.”
“No, you can’t.”
“I can.”
“Austin, why are you doing this?”
“Lucy, why are you doing this?”
“Fine. Come in.” I looked over his shoulder to make sure that no one was watching us. I let him come in and then I closed the door behind him. I folded my arms across my chest and frowned. “What do you want Austin?”
“I wanted to say good morning properly.”
“We said good morning in the kitchen.”
