20. Lucas
Chapter 20
Lucas
D espite my guilt, I couldn’t say no to a morning of fooling around under the big Texas sky with Beau. Now that his family knew, it seemed a waste not to. We tethered up the horses and went down by the creek. What started as some light splashing turned into skinny dipping, which of course became fucking in the tall grass with nothing but the wind and sun on our backs. By the time we actually made it back to the house, it was starting to get late in the afternoon. However, Beau said that was perfect.
“Even though the key to smoking is low heat and a long cook time, I don’t want to leave it in too long. But since the competition is in the morning, I’ll need to cook it overnight to make sure it’s ready for the judges.”
I nodded, as if I understood anything he was saying. Working at a food company had taught me almost nothing about actual food or cooking. But I trusted Beau to know what he was talking about. Anything he said got memorized and stored in my brain for later when I could finally write everything down.
God… I couldn’t believe I was still going through with that insane plan. But I couldn’t let Logan down. He and I both understood what wa s at stake. We needed our jobs. And if one of the biggest companies in New York fired us for not doing our jobs, no matter how shady, we’d never work in that town again. If I lost that apartment, I’d have nowhere to go. At least Logan could go home to Sagebrush. But I had nothing.
Conflicting thoughts were flying through my mind as I helped Beau load the smoker with wood and get it going. He glanced at me several times, always shooting me one of those sweet smiles of his. It made my heart melt each and every time. But there was also a pang of guilt that followed quickly behind. By the time the fire was going, Beau was pulling out an extra-large brisket, one he’d been prepping for a couple of days. He told me all about the preparation process and the dry rub to make the meat extra tender. However, it wasn’t until he had it wrapped up and in the smoker that he finally turned to me.
“What’s goin’ on with you today?” he asked, tipping his hat up as he cocked his head to the side. “You look like you’ve got somethin’ on your mind.”
I swallowed hard, trying to push down the lump in my throat. Beau's piercing blue eyes were fixed on me, concern etched across his handsome features. I wanted to tell him everything - about Logan, about the company, about the real reason I was here. But I couldn't bring myself to shatter this perfect moment, to risk losing the warmth of his gaze.
“It's nothin',” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just nervous about the competition tomorrow, I guess.”
Beau's expression softened, and he stepped closer, placing a calloused hand on my cheek. The touch sent shivers down my spine.
“You ain’t gotta lie to me darlin’,” he drawled, his voice low and reassuring. “I’m gonna win the competition. Somethin’ else has been botherin’ you though.”
I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes and savoring the heat of his hand against my cheek. I wanted to tell him everything, to lay it all out for him and just get it all over with.
“It… It’s just that… well, after this competition is over… I have to go hom e.” They were some of the hardest words I’d ever said, my heart nearly breaking from the effort. “My flight is the morning after. That means… well, we don’t have much time left.”
Beau just stood there, holding me and trying to lend his support in his own quiet way.
“I’ve thought about quitting my job,” I said with a shuddering laugh. “But I can’t do that. If I lose that apartment, I’ll have nowhere to go.”
“Your family wouldn’t take you in?” he asked, his blue eyes searching mine. “You can always count on family, right?”
Bitter laughter escaped my throat. “I haven’t been welcome in that house in years. They’d sooner toss me out in the snow.” I glanced up at him, shaking my head. “I don’t have a family or a home like you do Beau. There’s nothing back there waiting for me. I’m… I’m on my own.”
His brows furrowed in concern. “Well, then I guess you’ll just have to come live here.”
My heart leaped in my chest, anxiety and excitement pulsing through my system. “I… I can’t do that, Beau! You hardly know me! Besides, you’ve got a full house already and I don’t want to get in the way or cause you any duress. I know you don’t want to come out to everyone in town just yet and I’ve already messed up everything at home for you and?—”
Beau held up a hand, cutting me off before I could rattle on any further. “Lucas,” he said softly. “I’d be more than happy to have you here. And I’d walk through town every single day with you if it only meant I could hold your hand.” Both hands came to my cheeks, pulling his forehead against mine as he spoke. His cowboy hat tipped up, resting against my hair. “I know we haven’t known each other long… but I know… I know I…”
He paused, clenching his eyes closed as if he were holding back tears.
“Don’t…” I whispered, holding him tight. “Please don’t…”
His eyes shot back open, the piercing blue going straight down to my soul. “I love you, Lucas Greene,” he said, his voice proud and strong. “And I’d rather love you than care what anyone thinks in this whole wide world. If you can live with all this rust and Texas dust, then I’d be more than happy to have you here at my side.”
I choked back a sob, wanting to return his words so badly but knowing if I did that, I’d never be able to leave.
“Beau…” I sobbed. “I…”
“Just think about it,” he said, kissing me softly. “Even if you go home, just know that I’ll always have a place for you here.” There was a tone of melancholy in his voice that cut me deeper than I expected. “I know Sagebrush ain’t much and I’m just a simple rancher. But if you ever get tired of the big city life, just know you’ve got a place here under this endless sky with me.”
I probably would’ve broken down right there and started sobbing if I didn’t hear the crunch of footsteps coming around the corner. However, I didn’t have enough time to pull away from Beau before they came around the back of the house. We both looked up, expecting to see Jack, Frank, or Mabel. Instead, I found a tall, beautiful woman dressed in a checkered sundress and high heels staring at us with what I could only describe as pure shock in her eyes.
“Amber May…” Beau said, clearing his throat as he stepped away from me. “H-Hi there.”
“Hi there yourself,” she said, her eyes narrowing as she focused in on me. “I just came by to check on you before the competition. Care to introduce me to your…” She looked me up and down. “Friend?”
I felt my heart racing as Beau cleared his throat again, his cheeks flushing a deep red. “Uh, Amber May, this here is Lucas. He's... he's visitin' from New York City.”
Amber May's perfectly plucked eyebrows arched even higher. “New York City? My, my. What brings a city slicker like you all the way out to our little slice of heaven?”
Before I could stammer out a response, Beau stepped slightly in front of me, as if shielding me from her piercing gaze. “He's here to learn about the ranch, get a taste of the country life. Lucas, this is Amber May Johnson. We, uh... we went to high school together.”
“Oh, we did more than just go to high school together, didn't we, Beau?” Amber May's saccharine voice dripping with possessiveness. “As I recall, we nearly got married.”
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. I felt my stomach drop as I glanced between Beau and Amber May, trying to process the situation. He’d mentioned her before, that everyone wanted to see them together. From what I could tell, it seemed like Amber May hadn’t given up on that yet.
“That was a long time ago, Amber May,” Beau said quietly, his jaw clenched. “Things change.”
Amber May's eyes narrowed, flicking between us. “Oh, I can see that they do,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “I never thought I'd see the day when Beau Turner was cozying up to some… outsider.”
I felt my face flush hot with embarrassment and anger. Before I could say anything, Beau stepped forward, his broad shoulders tensed.
“That's enough,” he said firmly. “Lucas is my guest, and I won't have you speakin’ to him like that.”
Amber May's eyes widened in surprise at Beau's forceful tone. She took a step back, smoothing her dress. “Well, I never,” she huffed. “I just came by to wish you luck tomorrow, but I can see I'm not welcome here.”
She turned on her heel, ready to storm off, but paused and looked back over her shoulder. “You know, Beau, folks around here have been wonderin' why you've been keepin' to yourself lately. I guess now we know.” Her gaze lingered on me, cold and calculating. “I hope you know what you're doing. Because if this town finds out what you did to our barbecue champion… well… I can’t imagine they’ll be too forgivin’.”
With that, she marched away, her heels clicking angrily on the gravel driveway. Beau and I stood in stunned silence for a moment, the weight of what had just happened settling over us.
“I'm sorry,” Beau sighed. “Ignore her. She’s not accustomed to not gettin’ what she wants.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” another voice said.
For the second time, another pair of footsteps came around the other side of the house, a cowboy hat and blue eyes meeting us both. It was Jack, Beau’s father, and he was wearing a grin like a Cheshire cat.
“That Amber May is somethin’ else,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Guess you dodged a bullet there, huh Beau?”
“P-Pa…” Beau stuttered. “I… uh… We were just…”
Jack held up his hands. “Don’t have a fit now,” he laughed. “You’re stutterin’ like a donkey chewin’ on an electric fence.”
Beau clamped his mouth shut, but he still shifted nervously. He wanted to move toward me to find comfort, but with his father standing right in front of us, he was too scared to show that kind of need, especially with another man. However, Jack seemed completely unbothered. Instead, he walked up, placing a hand each on our shoulders.
“Listen boys,” he said, still smiling. “I’ve had a little chat with Mabel.”
Beau tensed so hard I thought he might pass out.
“And I wanted to let you know that I’m twenty dollars richer now.”
“W-What?” Beau asked, furrowing his brows. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we had a bet ya see,” Jack explained. “Mabel said you’d end up with Amber May. But I… well, I figured you’d end up with a fella. Not sure who of course, but a fella nonetheless.” His grin widened. “And I just got done collecting my dues.”
Beau’s jaw fell open. “You… You what?”
Jack ignored him and turned his attention to me. “And no matter what that heifer Amber May says, you didn’t turn Beau. He’s just how he is. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.”
“Do… Do you mean that, Pa?”
Jack turned back to Beau, still smiling. “Of course I do. You’re my son. I don’t care who you love, just as long as you’re happy. Besides, your mother was the most perfect woman in the entire world, so I know she didn’t make any mistakes makin’ you.” Jack’s smile faded slightly as tears formed at the corners of his eyes. “I know, if she were still here, she’d say the same thing. She wanted so bad to watch you grow up and become a man. And now that you have, I know she’d be more proud of you than anyone else in the entire world.”
Beau didn’t hesitate as he pulled his father into a tight hug. I watched the pair of them holding one another, bonding in this moment that seemed far too special and intimate for me to be present for. But when they finally pulled apart, Jack wiped his eyes and laughed, glancing back at me.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “I get a bit emotional sometimes.”
“I don’t mind,” I replied, feeling a bit jealous if I was being honest. “I wish my father was more like you.”
He nodded knowingly. “Well, I suspect I’ve got enough room for two sons in my life if you wanna stick around.” He patted my shoulder. “But for now, I think it’s time for supper. Mabel’s already put down a plate for you both.”
As Jack led us back toward the house, Beau reached out and took my hand, squeezing it gently. He peeked out from under the brim of his hat, smiling at me like a man set free at last. I was so happy for him and grateful that he had such a wonderful family.
And yet, I felt worse than I ever had in my life. For the first time in years, I was surrounded by goodness and love… and I was going to betray them all.