Chapter 14
MAE
I stared at my laptop screen, the words all running together and blurry.
Giving up, I closed it and looked out my parents’ front window just as Beck pulled up.
Watching him stride up the walkway, as I’d done a million times growing up, it was clear something had…
shifted between us. Or maybe just me. But there was an awareness that had never been there, or maybe had lurked beneath the surface, which was undeniable.
Yesterday at the bar the air had been thick with tension.
Not a bad kind of tension, like waking up on the day of a dentist appointment.
More like the seconds before you reached the top of a roller coaster hill, knowing the next few moments would be exciting and fun, but also a little scary too.
He wore a hat this morning, always a good look on him. I smiled when Beck adjusted the rim, something he usually did when he was nervous. Not that Beck got nervous all that much. He was one of the most laid-back guys in the world, maybe with the exception of Parker. Sometimes, too much so.
But man, he looked good in a hat.
The front door opened.
“That anxious to see me again, huh?”
“Obviously not.”
“Then why you waiting at the window with bated breath?”
“You’re impossible.”
We headed into the kitchen. It was small but functional, and we’d spent many days in here studying, swapping notes and being fed by my parents.
“Mom and Dad think they found a place,” I said as Beck opened the cupboard and grabbed a coffee cup. I turned away before I bored a hole in the back of his jeans. Beck had always filled them out well, but the last thing I needed was him catching me staring at his ass.
“Whereabouts?”
“Well,” I said, sitting and wrapping my hands around my own still-warm mug.
“They’re a little north of where they originally started looking in a town called Delray Beach.
They fell in love with the downtown, though I guess it’s a little pricier so their dream of oceanfront might not be possible.
They have an appointment with the realtor tomorrow to look at a few places. ”
“Good for them. They deserve it.”
I agreed, pushing the box in the center of the kitchen table toward him. “You have to try one of these. There’s a bakery in Kitchi Falls known for their cinnamon buns, and they’re amazing.”
“High praise from the master pastry chef. How can I say no?”
He took one out of the box, and I watched as Beck bit into it, staring at his lips. Blinking, I turned away, opening my laptop.
“Holy shit, you weren’t kidding. These would be worth a day trip.”
“Right?”
“Speaking of Kitchi Falls, let’s see the tattoo.” Beck was out of his seat and walking around the table toward me. I shifted so he could lift my shirt, pretending it was no big deal. This was Beck. He’d seen me plenty of times in a bathing suit.
“It’s probably easier to lift it up.”
He squatted down behind me, smelling distinctly… Beck.
As he lifted up my t-shirt, I wondered if he would touch it. Imagined him tracing the ink with his fingers.
“Oh, wow, Mae, that looks incredible. Hasn’t started to peel yet. Nice lines.”
“You like it?”
“Love it.”
“You can pull my bra strap down to see it better.” What the hell was I thinking?
Beck did exactly that. Deep breaths.
“He did a really nice job. I may have to pay this guy a visit.”
Letting my bra strap go, Beck released my shirt too. Finally, I could breathe again as he stood up and made his way back around the table.
We needed some sanity here. Normalness. “Okay, so I’ve been doing a bit of research, and we’ll need a temporary food permit from Lakeshore Haven’s health department—already emailed the form.
We’ll need to finalize a menu by tomorrow to get the ingredient orders in, and figure out what we can prep ahead versus what needs to be cooked fresh.
Also, we’ll need signage, a printed menu, and something that makes the booth stand out. Oh—and do we even have a tent?”
“Whoa, didn’t even finish my breakfast.”
I gave him a “be serious” look.
“We do have a tent. Remember your dad sprung for that custom pop-up one for the Cedar Falls Brew Bash? The one with the logo and those ridiculous side panels that zip shut like we’re running a secret speakeasy?”
“Oh, yeah, you sent me a picture. I was—” Nope, not going to get nostalgic. Mathieu wasn’t worth pulling on even one heartstring for. “In France.”
“Right. It’s in the storage room behind the walk-in. I saw it last week when I was digging for the holiday lights.”
“Holiday lights? In May?”
Beck popped a second cinnamon bun in his mouth. “Mmm, these are good.” He licked icing from his bottom lip. I bet he was really good with that tongue.
Yeah, Mae, because of all his experience. You’d do well to remember that.
“Had the idea of a Christmas in July and wanted to take stock.”
He pulled the box toward him. “Only one left.” Because of his regular workouts with the guys, Beck had no worries about his physique. “Want it?”
I shook my head.
That smile of his was dangerous. Always had been.
I cleared my throat.
“I sent Pia a text, asking who she uses for their signage. I’m hoping to just get it to someone without having to design ourselves. Will probably have to pay a rush fee.”
“That’s not a problem,” he said, washing a third bun down with coffee. “Thanks for taking care of that. I can check with Pia later too. Either way, we’ll need the menu sooner rather than later.”
“I have some thoughts on that too.” I opened my laptop. “Take a look?”
Beck grabbed the back of his chair and slid in half beside me and half behind me.
“Did you change colognes?”
His expression could only be described as suggestive. “You noticed.”
“Only because you’ve been wearing the same one since sixth grade.”
“Not true.” He pretended to look injured. “Seventh, maybe.”
Laughing, I navigated to the screen with a sample menu and was about to share my ideas when he stopped me.
“Like it?”
I turned my head from the computer to him, wondering if I should be honest or give him the kind of smart ass remark he’d give me.
“Yeah,” I said, choosing honesty.
Our eyes met for the briefest of seconds before I chickened out, afraid to hold his gaze, and turned my attention back to the laptop.
“What do you think?”
He scooted forward.
“That you did a lot of work while I slept in this morning.”
“It’s fun. I like planning events like this. Doesn’t feel like work.”
I tried not to notice the fact that he was leaning forward to see my laptop screen and only inches away from my face.
This is Beck. Get a grip.
“Definitely the pub burger since that’s our specialty. And I like the idea of loaded fries, especially the way Rick seasons them, but I don’t think they’ll be memorable enough. What about the bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers instead?”
He was right. “Good idea.”
“And what the hell is tarte tatin?”
“It’s sort of a caramelized upside-down apple tart, served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”
I picked up my coffee mug to distract myself from Beck’s nearness.
“Nice. Though I’m partial to whipped cream myself. Especially when it’s strategically applied.”
I choked, nearly spitting out my coffee.
“You okay? Need the Heimlich?”
Now I was choking and laughing at the same time and couldn’t catch my breath.
He picked up my phone from the table and pretended to talk on it. “Need an ambulance right away. My friend is suffering from an innuendo-induced choking fit.”
“Beck,” I managed. “Stop.”
“Yeah, a whipped cream one. Tragic. But honestly, not the worst way to go.”
My stomach actually began to hurt, I was laughing so hard, actually imagining an ambulance pulling up to my house.
Beck put the phone down and sat back in his chair, obviously pleased with himself for inciting me to laugh so hard.
“Should I keep going?”
“Please,” I begged him. “No.”
Catching my breath, I shook my head and gave Beck my best “you’re a nut” glare.
“All joking aside, it sounds delicious. I was wondering when I’d get to benefit from this fancy French pastry training you’ve gotten.”
“I made you éclairs when I was back last year, remember? You licked the filling off the spoon before they even cooled.”
“I do. But now you’re an école Len?tre graduate. Whole new ballgame.”
“Tell me about it. I thought I was coming around to home plate, but I feel like I’m back on first base.” He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “Forget I said anything about bases. Bad analogy.”
Beck’s grin told me he was indeed going to make another sexual innuendo. One of those for the morning was plenty, thank you very much.
“You’ll get there, Mae. It’s not a strikeout, just a curve ball. I have no doubt you’ll be rounding third base to home, even if it looks a little different than you expected, before long.”
I never knew what to say when he pulled out his serious side. Beck was more thoughtful than most people realized.
“Thank you,” I said simply.
“Besides, what other choice do you have? With a tattoo that says ‘fearless’ on your back?”
“True. Seriously though, you should check out Lucas’s shop. If you do, we have to hit the bar there too. You’d love the vibe. Maybe the guys would want to come? I could totally see Parker line dancing.”
“Sounds good to me. It’s a date.” He laughed. “I mean, not an actual date.”
I was playing with fire, bound to get burned. But since my life was already a dumpster fire…
“Obviously. Can you imagine?”
“You and me?” He shrugged. “Is that so crazy?”
My mouth dropped. “Um, yeah.”
Beck crossed his arms. “Because?”
As if we hadn’t been through this a hundred times before.
“Because”—I ticked the reasons off my fingers—“one, you’re a one-night-stand guy, and I’m a relationship girl. At least, I was. Especially at this stage of my life. Two, we are best friends. Something we don’t want to ruin. And three, I am no longer dating anyone. Ever. Too much pain.”
He watched me, but said nothing.
I waited.
“Are you done?” he asked finally.
“I suppose.”
“One,” he started, sardonically. “People change. Two, friendship isn’t a bad place to start from. And three…” Beck’s impish grin told me the next one would be a doozy.
“Au contraire, mon amour. With me, there’s only pleasure.”