Chapter 26
MAE
I hadn’t taken two steps inside before Pia and Delaney swooped down on me.
“Hurry up.” Delaney grabbed my hand. “He’s still up in the shower.”
As she pulled me into the living room of the house side of the inn, I couldn’t see the kitchen but I could hear male voices. Apparently not Beck’s, though.
“He probably got stuck at the bar. When I left—”
“Girl,” Pia interrupted me. “We only have a few minutes. Start. Talking.”
Our kiss wasn’t a big secret, apparently.
Not that I expected it would be. If I didn’t want the guys to know something, I had to explicitly tell Beck not to mention it to them.
Otherwise, pretty much anything I said was fair game, especially with Mason and Parker.
But even Cole, although he wasn’t in Cedar Falls, stayed in the loop with his bosom buddies.
“As you know, we kissed.”
Delaney rolled her eyes dramatically.
Yesterday when I’d texted them to ask if they wanted to go to Grado Valley on Thursday night, I was forewarned that they already knew.
I wouldn’t be surprised if tonight was either to get the scoop or Beck’s doing.
Once he put his mind to something, there was usually no holding back.
Which didn’t bode well for us keeping things in the friendzone.
They exchanged a glance, waiting.
“Please tell me that’s not your whole story?”
When I grew up, I wanted to be someone like Delaney. Fearless to say whatever was on her mind. “You crack me up. So.” I peered down the hallway. No Beck yet. “It just sort of happened this weekend at the B&B. We had adjoining rooms,” I added.
“Beck was convinced you didn’t see him as anything more than a friend. He said as much when you came back,” Pia said. “I warned him not to complicate things and stay away.”
“Honestly”—I couldn’t fault Beck—“he did. The kiss was… both of us. He was right, but it wasn’t because I never thought Beck was awesome.
I mean, he’s one of my best friends for a reason.
He’s funny, and smart, and obviously hot.
But that was always the problem. He knows it.
And the hordes of women he’s been with do too. ”
“So what changed?” Delaney asked.
Good question.
“I… I don’t know,” I said honestly. “In some ways, nothing. Which is why I put the brakes on it the next day. Beck says I’m different, but—”
“Party’s in the kitchen, ladies.”
Caught. Beck’s grin told me he knew exactly why we were huddled in the living room.
“Just got here,” I said.
“Uh huh.” Everything about him was suggestive. His tone. His stance. The way he looked at me was the exact opposite of “friend.”
“Shoo,” Pia said, waving him away. “We’ll be right in.”
Which, of course, sealed the deal. He 100 percent knew we were talking about him.
“For what it’s worth,” Delaney said, “I get the sense from Parker that it’s true. You really are in a whole different category than anyone else.”
Pia nodded. “Not that we’re trying to convince you of anything. The idea of Beck being in an actual relationship…” She made a wincing face. “But there’s a first for everything.”
“I also have to figure out my own life too,” I admitted. “But we can talk more Thursday. I’m so glad you’re both coming.”
“I got someone to cover the shop in the afternoon Thursday. And we don’t open until eleven, so Friday shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Works for me,” I said. “Let’s go in there before they get suspicious.”
“Oh,” Pia said as we walked. “That’s a done deal. Beck knows we’re talking about him.”
As we walked into the kitchen, I saw a plethora of leftovers in tin food trays on the island. How things could change so quickly. Not long ago, it was a taco bar. And my man troubles were named Mathieu, not Beck. Talk about complicated.
“Wine is already opened,” Delaney said, a flurry of activity commencing as everyone grabbed drinks and plates.
“Red?” Beck asked me, grabbing a glass.
“Yeah, red,” Delaney answered for me when I paused, my thoughts a jumbled mess. “Goes better with the meal.”
Laughing, I accepted the glass from Beck as everyone chatted and dug in.
Pia and Mason talked about the wedding, and how far Heritage Hill had come now that they were doing events.
Parker updated them on the final stages of the renovation which we’d set to be finished by summer, which led to a discussion about his and Delaney’s house.
One thing we didn’t discuss? Me and Beck.
Thankfully.
But that didn’t stop him from not so subtly reminding me things weren’t 100 percent normal between us.
At one point, Beck caught me watching him eat from across the island and winked at me.
At another, when I tried to refill my wine, he took the glass from me, his fingers brushing mine, and did it for me.
Every look, every touch, made one thing clear. We might be in the friendzone, but now that the cat was out of the bag, so to speak, there was a chemistry between us that I couldn’t believe I’d missed.
Or maybe I hadn’t.
Thinking back on me and Beck, as I’d done since Saturday night, a lot of things made more sense now.
I could even admit, at times, to a slight twinge of jealousy at a few of Beck’s stories, ones of second dates and hints he might actually be taking a woman he was with seriously.
But inevitably, he would push her away, solidifying his “playboy” persona.
One that would never jive with a ticking internal clock of womanhood.
I’d always wanted children, a family, and dating someone like Beck? Never a consideration.
Until now.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Beck noticed.
“Just taking it all in,” I said. “You guys really do have a good thing going here, you know that?”
“We have a good thing going,” Beck clarified. “You’re a part of us too now, Mae. Like it or not, you’re stuck.”
“What’s not to like?”
“Exactly,” Parker agreed. “Especially now that Mason’s less moody, thanks to his wife.” He looked at her glass. “How’s the iced tea?”
“Zip it.” Pia took a sip. “Delicious. Almost as good as a glass of vino.”
Mason snorted, earning a look from his wife.
“So word on the street is that we’re celebrating tonight,” Parker said, looking at Beck.
“You didn’t mention a celebration.” I twisted my wine glass back and forth between my fingers.
“I wanted to surprise you,” he said. “All of you.”
So even Parker didn’t know what this was about. Interesting.
“Lemme guess, you’re quitting O’Malley’s and buying that food truck you always wanted?”
Beck’s expression made me laugh. “I never once talked about wanting a food truck.”
“Nah.” Parker stood behind Delaney, kissing her on the head. “He’s going to propose a group marriage. Unfortunately, I’m not into that kind of thing. Sorry to disappoint you.”
Everyone laughed.
“Ladies? Any guesses?”
By the way Beck was looking at me—expectantly, as if excited—I had one. And I couldn’t be more thrilled.
“You’re buying the bar?”
His grin deepened. “Bingo.”
Something fluttered in my chest, impossible to ignore. Excitement. Elation. Hope, maybe?
“That’s fantastic.” Pia, the closest to him, hugged Beck. After a round of handshakes and congratulations, I finally made my way over to him. Hugging Beck felt both as natural as can be, but also, at the same time, strange and exciting.
“You sure you want this?” he whispered in my ear.
“Absolutely.” I let go, before wanting to. “I am so happy. My parents don’t know?”
I’d talked to my mother an hour ago, and she didn’t say anything about it.
“Not yet. I’ll call your dad tomorrow. But don’t say anything yet. I want to tell him.”
“No problem,” I said, about to go back across the island to my seat when Beck reached across and grabbed my wine, bringing it to me. Subtle, but also I was onto him. I gave him a look that told him as much.
“About time.” Parker sat on the stool I’d just vacated. With the smell of leftover chicken parmigiana, mixed with a vanilla coconut candle, the kitchen smelled like warmth, and love.
“That he stopped holding his dick-beater in his hands,” Mason quipped, “and is making something of his life? Damn straight.”
“Fuck off,” Beck tossed back.
Pia, Delaney and I shook our collective heads. When these guys got together, which was almost every day, they really were like a side-show comedy act. Guys could be incredibly immature, and frankly, dumb, sometimes. But there was an easy camaraderie among them too that was almost admirable.
Or, if nothing else, entertaining.
“Having fun?” Beck asked.
“I am.”
“Surprised?”
“Honestly? No. I was more surprised you hedged on it for so long. You’re a natural and are going to kill it as the new owner. I’m more excited than anything. For you, for my parents…”
“Glad to hear it.” Beck raised his chin. “It’s a very… mature, responsible decision. Wouldn’t you say?”
As the others conversed around us, Beck and I dropped back from the island to lean against the kitchen counter.
“Ahhh, so you had an ulterior motive?”
“Not really. I just needed to be kicked in the ass a bit.”
I smiled and took a sip of wine.
“Speaking of asses,” he said, leaning into my ear and whispering, “yours is looking exceptionally fine tonight.”
I nearly spit out the wine, which would have been a disaster since I was wearing a white sundress.
“Can you not wait until my mouth is full to say things like that?”
He watched me, but remained quiet.
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting until after you take a sip, so I can talk.”
“Oh my God, you’re impossible. Another option is just not to say anything like that. Just a thought.”
I did take a sip then, and as promised, Beck waited until I swallowed. And then he leaned into me one more time.
“One, the thought of your mouth filled with something, and I’m not talking about the wine, is the stuff of dreams. Mine in particular. Two, keeping it PG, now that the secret’s out, is not a viable option, Mae.”
I waited for the rest, my traitorous body responding to every word.
“And three?”
“And three?”
Beck’s grin turned lethal.
“And three… you should probably stay the night. Since you’re drinking wine and all.”
“Beck—”
“Don’t worry, Mae. I meant in the guest room.”
A beat.
“Unless you ask nicely.”