Chapter 7 Beau
beau
Getting off in front of a camera was all fine and dandy until you had to do admin work.
It was possibly the worst part of the job.
Answering emails in a professional manner instead of just saying bitch, per my last email, was the second worst part.
Don’t ask me why I always saved everything for one day, but I did.
If I did this every day, I would be in a shitty mood twenty-four-seven.
Fuck admin days.
To further procrastinate, I sent Iris a text to make sure she was ok.
It had been twenty minutes since I had texted her, not that I had been counting, but still no response and now I was a little nervous.
I didn’t get bad vibes from her husband, but who knew?
He could be a Ted Bundy type, charming, good looking, and a complete wacko.
My phone rang and I jumped at the opportunity at taking a break, a tad disappointed when it wasn’t Iris.
“Hola, Amor,” I said, getting up from the couch.
“Hola,” Valencia purred. “How are you doing?”
“I’m doing good, how about you, mama?” I grabbed a mug to make tea.
“I’m wondering if you’re finally ready to tell me what the hell is going on, Beau?” Valencia sighed.
I leaned against the counter wishing I hadn’t answered the phone. Valencia had given me plenty of time to talk to her, but I couldn’t. It surprised me that she had given me this long to come clean on my own; I still wasn’t ready.
“Look, I know something has been up since before New Years. I know you don’t have to tell me everything since we are technically casual friends in the business,” she said softly.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not worried. Beau, you moved to Sterling Ridge, but you hate small towns.
You need comfort, a bougie mall and something bigger than a local grocery store.
Beau, you would have a Korean spa day every month with one of those body scrubs that are way too invasive, but leave you so, so fucking soft. ”
Oh god. I miss a good scrub down. Everything she was saying was true, but I didn’t know what to say.
“Girl you know you are my besties. I needed a break, Val,” I said, hating myself. “I just… I’m just struggling with where my life is going and I thought maybe it might be easier here.”
It wasn’t a complete lie, but it was not the complete truth, I just didn’t know what to do.
Telling her and worrying her would not do anything productive except make her hover and she didn’t need to do that.
I had removed myself from the situation.
I should be fine, and once things had settled down, I could go back to my old life and things would be ok.
“You don’t lie to your bestie Beau, why do I feel like that’s not the whole story? Are you running from an abusive ex or something?”
“Oh god, no, Val,” I said quickly. “No, no ex. I’m just running from me.”
And some fucking psycho.
Another deep sigh made me feel even more guilty. “If you say so, love. I’m always here if you need me, no matter what. So, when you're ready to share with me, no judgement, I promise.”
“Valencia.” My voice cracked wanting to tell her everything.
“It’s ok, just take care of yourself,” she said. “Oh, I went by for your mail, and you had a package.”
“Don’t open it,” I said immediately. “Just throw it away.”
“What? You want me to throw away your package from Gucci?” She sounded appalled.
“Oh no,” I attempted to chuckled even though my heart was racing. “I was kidding. I have been getting some weird PR packages.”
I shut my mouth for fear of saying something else and telling her about my stalker.
“Oh, don’t get me started on weird PR packages,” she said, thankfully missing my hysteria.
“I know, thank God mechanical bull riding is profitable. The men and women aren’t so bad,” I said wistfully. “I won’t have to do too many brand deals out here.”
“Any hot cowboys catch your eye or some innocent small-town girl ready for a bad boy?” she asked, intrigued.
I relaxed, thankful for the subject change.
“Jude’s sister, Iris, is gorgeous but get this, she’s married and no one knows,” I said, putting my kettle on for tea, trying to distract myself.
“What?! No way!” Valencia shouted. “Sweet Iris? What do you mean, no one knows?”
I could hear rustling, and I was imagining her getting comfortable on the sofa.
“Apparently she married him to save her family farm,” I said, grabbing a tea bag. “Except he’s an ass but, Val, this man is fine as hell, rugged, bad boy vibes and he rode the bull with me last night. Dios mio, I could imagine fucking him on that damn thing.”
“You rode on the bull with a married man?” she shrieked. “Beau!”
“I… I didn’t know he was married,” I stuttered. “I didn’t find out until Iris found him flirting with me.”
“Beau, are you breaking up a marriage?” Valencia chuckled.
“Val, Iris said she hadn’t seen him since October, but he needed something from her so he’s staying around,” I said, wondering if I should check in on her. “I didn’t get a bad feeling from him except he seemed pretty—”
“Beau, do you have a crush on Iris?”
“Uh, I mean she’s gorgeous, but she’s married,” I said quickly.
“Uh huh, like that's ever stopped you before,” she said.
“That was one time and I didn’t know she was married until after we slept together,” I defended myself.
“Well, I think you should give Iris a good time,” she said, the amusement in her voice was mocking me. “I mean it's not like her marriage is real and maybe…her husband might like to join in.”
I choked on my spit at the outlandish suggestion. Valencia cackled as I fought for my life attempting to breathe again.
“Val, maybe not everyone wants a threesome.” I cleared my throat.
“Pssst, everyone should, it's amazing,” she said.
I chuckled. “Yes, Ms. I date two hockey players.”
“I just want everyone to experience it once,” she sighed.
“Well, it's in the air here in Sterling Ridge and in that family, so who knows, maybe Iris might have her own trio.” I blew on my tea.
My phone pinged, my heart leapt as I checked for the text I had been waiting for. It was Iris.
“Hey, I gotta go. I love you, bye!”
“Beau, you better call—”
I ended the call feeling a tad guilty. Once I found out Iris was ok, I would text her back and apologize.
Iris: Fine, just working the ranch.
Me: The ranch? I didn’t realize you worked there too.
Iris: It’s good therapy and it gets me out of the house.
Iris on a horse was more appealing than it should be. Did she wear chaps? Was that a thing? Oh god.
Me: You sure you’re doing, ok?
I didn’t get a response right away. My stomach churned with worry as I thought maybe I had pushed too hard.
Iris: I’m fine, DAD.
I didn’t have a daddy kink, but for Iris, I think I could learn. I had Vincent Barros' number and he definitely had a daddy kink energy. Being the owner of the kink club in Denver, I’m sure he could give me a few lessons. How hard could it be?
Me: Have you eaten?
Iris: I was joking about you being my dad.
Me: Trust me, Iris. You’d know if I was being your Daddy.
Iris: BEAU, NO.
I laughed, picturing her shocked expression.
Me: Let me bring you some lunch. I’ve been worried since yesterday, let me see you so I know you are ok.
Another long pause left me staring at my phone like a desperate fool. I took the time to place an order for burgers. If she didn’t want to see me, I could have burgers for dinner or maybe for lunch tomorrow.
Iris: Meet me at the barn. Take main street, turn on the first street to the left after you pass the market. At the fork, go right. Park at the cabin. If you get lost, call me.
Me: See you in twenty minutes.
I chugged the rest of my tea, looking down at my casual attire, thinking it might be better to change before I went out on the ranch. Grabbing my worn jeans, I slipped on a henley, stuffed my phone in my pocket and left before I thought better of it.
Mae’s diner had the best food I had ever tasted. It was comfort food that wrapped you in a blanket from the inside out. The menu had all your comfort staples with a few curveballs thrown in, but their pies were amazing. If I didn’t watch myself, I was going to lose my boyish figure.
After picking up the food, I drove down the main road, passing the market, putting my blinker on when I noticed a familiar person walking down the shops. Nash walked with purpose, a sexy scowl marring his face. Damn, this man was too fine.
The light turned green way too soon, not letting me admire him for more than a few seconds. It was probably a good thing. I almost honked at him and that was a bad idea.
I drove down the dirt road, taking a right at the fork in the road, parking at the cabin like Iris told me to.
Nerves danced in my chest as I grabbed the food, walking around the cabin.
The view was stunning. A beautiful big red and brown barn was not too far from the cabin.
Right behind it were endless pastures with a picturesque view of the mountains.
It was hard not to fall in love with this small town when everywhere you looked there were amazing views, like the one coming right at me.
Iris Malone looked like my cowgirl wet dream, if I had ever had any.
She wore a plaid button-down that looked ready to pop open with how her boobs were moving.
She wore jeans with boots over them, and a fucking worn, brown cowboy hat.
Her hair was in braids on either side of her and I just about swallowed my tongue with how delectable she looked.
She gave me a brilliant smile and I might have taken a moment too long to return it, my brain had short circuited from the vision before me.
If someone had asked what my type was before today, I would have said I did not have a type, but Iris proved me wrong.
Iris was definitely my type, and my mind raced with ways I could get her out of those jeans.
“Beau? You, ok?”
“Excuse me? What?” I shook my head, realizing I was looking up at her right in front of the barn.