Chapter Three #2
It instantly brightens my mood as I try to smother my giggles. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you, but thanks for the laugh. I needed it."
"Glad to be of service. Come here." Laura scoots over on the porch swing, patting the seat beside her. "What's got you wandering the property tonight?"
I flop down dramatically and let out a long exhale that’s had me in a chokehold since I raced away from the guys.
"That bad, huh? Wait here. I'll be right back."
Before I can question her, Laura is on her feet and heading inside. I can hear her rummaging in the kitchen.
She comes out a few minutes later carrying a tray with beers, a bottle of tequila, wine, and glasses.
"Pick your poison."
Grabbing the tequila, I pour two shots.
Laura passes over the salt and a lemon wedge that I didn't see hiding behind the booze. "Is one of those for me, or are they both for you?"
"Both for me, but you're joining in the next round."
Laura nods with a slight grimace as I expertly shoot both shots of tequila. I pour two more before passing one her way. We tap our glasses and shoot the booze back.
"Ugh, bloody hell. I don't know how you love this swill so much."
“‘Bloody hell.’ Your British is showing again, Laur.” I cackle. "Me either, but tequila and I go together like a peanut butter and pickle sandwich."
Laura fake gags at the mention of one of my favorite treats. What can I say, I know what's good.
"So …" she hedges.
"Thatcher just sprung on me that he invited Beau Calhoun to come hang out at our spot tonight. I reacted poorly and took to the woods so those goons wouldn’t follow me."
"I'm sorry he did that to you, lovey, but you were bound to meet him at some point. What better place to get it out of the way than on your farm? Nobody tells Jo DuVall what to do, especially on her land."
"Hmm, I didn't think of it like that." I snatch a beer and gulp down half of it as annoyance at my nosy cousin floods me. "Shit, I bet that's why Thatcher invited him tonight."
"Could be. So, what are you going to do about it?"
Peeling the label off the bottle as I avoid eye contact with Laura, I say, "I guess I'm going to finally meet him tonight." Even though I want to puke up all the alcohol I’ve consumed in an attempt to assuage the wave of emotions I’ve been riding since Beau was brought up.
"That wasn't very convincing. My Jo isn't a coward and would face this challenge head-on." Laura, always willing to call me out on my bullshit, quirks her brow at me.
"Your Jo also wouldn't have a massive crush on someone who would be detrimental to her staying alive and free. Not everyone will be as accepting as you were when you caught me tossing body pieces into my pigs’ pens." I level her with a flat look as if to challenge her to refute me.
"Oh!"
I don't shock Laura often, but admitting I like—or could like—Beau is huge for me. Even bigger than the nerve-wracking talk Laura and I had after she stumbled on me disposing of good ole Pete the Prick.
"Yep." I pop the P for emphasis.
"That explains your reaction a little better. That's a tough one. What are you going to do?" Laura asks softly.
"Would you be willing to go back with me? It's just Sol, Thatcher, and I guess Beau."
"Umm ..." Laura shrugs.
Banging and muttered swearing sound from inside.
How could I have forgotten her piggy prince was shacking up with her?
"Fine. I get why you don't want to go, but I think you're right. I'm not a coward. I'm going to go back and act as if nothing happened, as if Beau isn't the sexiest beef cake I've seen in maybe ever. But first, shots!" I pour each of us another shot.
Laura takes it, even though I know she hates it. When I try to give her another one, she refuses.
Eh, her loss is my gain. I take the shots and relax back in the swing while the tequila does its job.
"Laur, where did you—" Taylor bangs out the door but freezes when he sees me still sitting there. "Sorry, thought you were gone since it was a lot quieter out here."
"Likely story, Piggy."
"Jo …" Laura sighs, her exasperation with me shining through, letting me know I've overstayed my welcome.
Hopping up, I startle Laura. "Alright, I need to go before I lose my nerve.
" And my buzz. I tug her hand, pulling her up with me.
I can't help the promise that spills from my lips loud enough for Taylor to hear.
"Remember, he does anything to upset you, let me know and I'll come running. " I glare at Taylor over her shoulder.
"I'll be fine, but thanks, babe."
I hop off the porch and blow Laura a kiss before heading into the woods.
The walk back to the hangout is a lot more enjoyable now that I have tequila flowing through my veins. I'm sufficiently drunk by the time I make it to the boys. Their conversation halts as their eyes turn my way.
Dasha's Austin comes over the Bluetooth speaker Sol brought with him.
"Oh, I fucking love this song.” Closing my eyes, I let the music flow through me and carry me away. This is an easy-enough line dance, so even in my drunken state, I'm killing it. The song ends and moves into Chase Matthew's Love You Again, and I can't stop my hips from swaying side to side.
A spicy, woodsy smell surrounds me as my back bumps into something solid.
"Hi, Joey girl. I haven't had the pleasure to properly meet you yet, but I'd love this dance if you'll let me."
Beau Calhoun is behind me, his low husky voice speaking quietly in my ear. His breath teases my skin, and I already want more. I can't help but melt into him as I nod my consent.
His arms wrap around my waist as he starts moving us to the music. I'm shocked by how well he keeps rhythm and how willingly I let him guide me.
"I've been dying for this introduction and am much obliged to meet you." Beau spins me around before pulling my body flush to his. A giggle escapes me as he gracefully moves us into a two-step, keeping our hips glued together.
"Oh, I'm sure the pleasure is all yours." I send a saucy wink Beau's way.
His head tips back as a booming laugh spills from his lips.
"It sure is." Beau smiles devilishly, then spins me out and pulls me back in.
My legs clench together. I'm startled with how easily he can move me around, but I'm not mad about it.
He does a few more fancy moves before dramatically dipping me. Applause, and hoots and hollers, break me from my little bubble.
"Hot damn, Calhoun. It's a good thing you've never busted those moves out at Pour Decisions . You'd never get a chance to drink a beer. Every woman in town would be nagging you to take them for a spin on the dance floor," Sol teases from his seat by the fire.
"They can nag all they want. The only way I'm dancing is if I've got a partner I know can keep up and I want to dance with." He winks at me.
I flush. Needing to get my shit under control, I pull out of his grasp and go to snag a beer out of the cooler. Dancing helped sober me up some, but I’m not ready to lose my liquid courage.
"So, Jo-Jo, where’d you disappear to earlier? You seemed a hell of a lot more relaxed, if not a bit tipsy, when you got back." Thatch tries to put on his big-brother hat, but his shit-eating grin bursts through.
"Laura’s. She busted out her tequila.”
“Did she now? How many shots did you make her take with you before she tapped out?”
“Umm, two, maybe three. I swear." I hold three fingers up as if I'm doing the scout's honor salute, which we all know is a crock of shit.
"So, more like five or six?" Thatch teases from across the fire.
Beau moves his chair closer and plops down beside me, so close his leg brushes mine. Goosebumps race across my skin. He’s so close. His scent is overpowering me to the point that I can barely concentrate.
"How is it I've been in town for a year but this is the first chance I'm getting to meet you, Miss Jo?" Beau asks softly, pulling my attention from my friends.
"I'm a busy woman with a healthy distrust of police officers. Growing up, the cops were the last ones you called if you needed help, which means I got real good at being able to handle my business." I shrug as I try to keep the smile off my face.
"That just means I gotta work harder to change your distrust and show you that you don’t have to handle things by yourself anymore."
"You could try, but it's probably a waste of your breath."
"How about we agree to disagree on that for now."
"Sure, whatever you say, Officer," I purr as I chug the rest of my beer, never breaking eye contact.
His jade eyes flare, reflecting the fire we're sitting beside. It takes every ounce of my will power not to lean in and kiss him.
"The guys told me the B&B is your brainchild and that your family has run this farm for generations. Is this what you've always wanted to do, or are you here out of family obligation?"
"I think every good Southern woman experiences the sense of family obligation hanging over her head at some point, but for the most part, I've always wanted to be here. I went away to college for a semester, but I couldn't get home fast enough.
"What about you, Beau Calhoun? Why become a police officer when you could be living the lavish life right now?"
"Did your research on me, huh?" Beau grins, matching dimples popping on his cheeks.
Well, fuck me sideways. I'm so damn screwed. I knew he had dimples, but getting hit with them full force has my ovaries weeping and offering up their first unborn.
"Nah, those two"—I nod towards the guys who are talking animatedly on the other side of the fire—"gossip as much as the old hens in town. You're the new bro in their little boys’ club. They're just as excited to have a new friend as every single woman under forty-five is to have new eye candy."
Beau laughs again. It makes me wonder if he always laughs this freely or if he's as buzzed as I am.
"I hate to break up a good time, but I think it's time we head home." Thatcher walks over to the rain barrel that we leave out here to douse the fire when we're done each night.
We fall into the routine of packing up anything we brought out, leaving the place clean and hopefully preventing any animals from coming around. Once the fire dims, we start walking down the path that leads back towards my house.
Beau is only a step behind me.
"Where did you park?" I ask.
"I'm by Thatcher's truck in front of a stunning farmhouse."
"That's my house. Might as well tag along with us, unless you can make it back in the dark by yourself," I tease. It's just too hard not to.
"Nah, I think I'll stick with you."
"Smart move, big guy. Let's go."
We fall into a comfortable silence as we make our way down the worn path to my house. Beau slides his hand in mine at some point, but I couldn't pull away if I tried. When we turn the bend and see my front porch, anxiety floods my system.
Should I invite him in?
What the fuck am I thinking? Of course I can't invite a fucking cop into my house, no matter how sexy and delicious he smells.
Beau takes the decision out of my hands when he walks over to his truck. "Thanks for letting me crash your hangout tonight. I appreciate it. It's hard to unwind at Pour Decisions when everyone knows you're a cop." Beau steps closer.
His hand reaching out to rest on my hip has me fighting every urge to show him how much he’s affecting me.
"No problem. It was fun and nice having someone who could keep up with me on the dance floor. Except I'm pretty sure you danced me off the floor." I close the gap further, which brings us toe to toe. My hand lands on the center of his chest.
"Nah, you did just fine keeping up. So, you gonna make me wait another year before I get to see your pretty smile?"
Damn, Beau Calhoun is a smooth talker. Pretty words don't mean much, but his sound sincere.
"I'm not sure. I'm very busy, and I don't know if I have time for anything more than friendship."
"Five hours ago, if you asked me what I wanted, I'd probably have said the same thing. But something about you pulls me in, Joey girl, and I don't know that I'll be able to keep away even if I try."
Somehow, Beau has moved me. I’m now pressed against his truck, his hands resting beside my head on the window. Our lips are only a breath apart as his hips pin me in place.
I’m not sure who moves first, but the next thing I know, my lips are on Beau's and he's sliding his tongue in my mouth. The kiss is hot and messy, filled with desire and lust that are driving me wild.
I wrap my leg around his, pulling him closer to me.
Feeling his hard length press into my center, I moan as he deepens the kiss. If he keeps this up, I'll be coming embarrassingly fast.
I'm just sliding my hand under his shirt when he pulls his mouth from mine and puts space between us.
"Jolene …" Beau groans as he rests his forehead on mine, his eyes sliding closed. "You need to get your sweet ass in that house right now before I take things somewhere we aren't ready to go yet."
"Mmm, you might not think we're there, but I know it would be a damn good time."
"Oh, there's no doubt in my mind about that. Now, scoot." Beau dips his head, nipping my lip, before he pushes me towards my house. He leans back against his truck, making sure I get inside safely.
I stand by the door as I watch his taillights drive down the lane.
Fuck me. Playing with Beau Calhoun is like playing with fire, but this is one fire I wouldn't mind chancing a burn for.