Which meant Amelia might have no idea she was a target.
If these guys wanted to make a statement no one could ignore, the Fourth of July cookout would be the perfect place to do it.My friends wouldn’t be the only ones in danger—Beau’s entire community could be caught in the line of fire.
He gripped the edge of the counter.Biceps tense.Gigi let out a sharp yip, likely feeling the energy in the cabin change.The bear vibe had been cranked up to maximum volume.I shifted on my barstool to quell the pulsing between my thighs.
A muscle in Beau’s jaw ticked.“Put together a plan.”He held his hand up and shook his head.“I’m not saying it’s a go.I’m saying it’s a possibility.But there’s no way I can keep this from Barrett and Bellamy.Not only will they be at the cookout, but there’s too much at stake.”
There was a confident growl in his voice that made me believe he’d fight for this.
“Thank you,” I said.“I have to admit, I’m excited to meet everyone.”
“This isn’t a social call,” he rumbled.
“Of course not.But we have to act cool.Make everyone think that it’s completely normal.”My mouth dropped.“What will you tell them about your mysterious lady friend?The truth will blow our cover.”
His eyes widened.Otherwise, he did his best not to react.I wasn’t the only actor in this cabin.
“Is that part of the plan you want me to come up with?”I teased.
“No,” he said quickly.“We can tell them we’re dating.”
I shouldn’t have liked that solution as much as I did.“We’ll have to work on our cover story.”
He nodded.“Can’t have anyone questioning us.”
“How do you propose we do that?”
My empty plate sat in front of me, and I had a feeling if I didn’t move, all the dinner dishes would wind up on the floor when one of us swept them off the island to crawl across it… It would probably be me, but the image of Beau on his hands and knees, feral and wanting nothing more than to claim me… I picked up the plate and brought it over to the sink.
“Not sure yet,” he said as I turned on the water.“Maybe we can figure it out while we watch a movie.”
My heart beat double time.“I like that idea.”
“Leave the dishes for now.”
“You cooked.I should clean.Pick out a movie.It won’t take me long.”
Beau brought over the rest of the dishes.I was glad he didn’t fight me on this, because I needed a minute to think.He wanted me to pretend I was his girlfriend in front of his friends and the local pack—which just happened to include my coworker.
How far would we go?This would be my most challenging role yet.
Of course, if I pulled this off, no one but Amelia would know it was me.The disguise was the least of my worries.A dark wig and smoky eye should be enough to do the trick.It was the girlfriend part.That meant we’d be holding hands and sharing knowing glances when we told the completely made-up story of how we met.We were in a tiny town in the middle of Sawtooth Forest and the likelihood of him meeting a partner that no one had ever seen before…seemed unlikely.My backstory would take some work.
Beau sat in the middle of the couch, with the remote in one hand and Gigi’s head on his thigh.I cautiously perched on the available cushion.It would have been really easy to melt against his warm body.
“Have you seen this one?”He motioned toward the TV with the remote.
It was a new action adventure flick starring an actor I worked with in the past.
“Not yet.Let’s do it.”
He nodded and pressed play, relaxing against the cushion.I mimicked the motion, careful to keep some distance.Gigi rose, standing on Beau’s thigh, and came over to me.Her face was barely an inch from mine.
“Hey girl, settle in and watch the movie.”He reached over and grabbed her off my lap, an impressive feat because she was a muscular pup.“Only one of us gets to flirt with Kayla tonight.”
I was thankful for the little bit of distance between us so he wouldn’t feel my heart thump.It was like I was a teenager on my first date all over again.I needed a distraction.I grabbed the blanket beside me and spread it out over my lap.But then it was weird if I didn’t offer him some.
He took it and settled into the feature.He was warm and strong beside me, and this was so wholesome, in stark contrast to getting myself off in the shower just hours before.
