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You seem surprised.
She shrugged. Most big time celebs that I know don t go anywhere without at least a couple of
tag-a-longs.
I guess I m not like most big time celebs.
Her eyes were on him, so dark and stormy, he could feel the frost from across the table.
Did you order your bike from Logan because of me?
No.
She arched an eyebrow, and pushed her plate away. I don t believe you.
Your ego is pretty impressive.
For a second she said nothing, but he noticed the barest hint of a smile. It was tiny a lift in the
corner of her mouth but damn, it made Beau feel good to know he d been the one to put it there.
Tell me something I don t know, she said cheekily.
Okay. I will.
She looked up in surprise.
It was crunch time and Beau knew he was running out of it. He needed to snag her now. Dangle
the bait and get the hell out so she could digest. Betty was the kind of woman who reacted quickly,
and usually adversely, because she didn t take the time to think things through.
As much as she wanted people to believe she was made of steel with nothing remotely human
about her, the truth of it was the girl ran on emotion.
I ve seen your audition, the one you made for Bentley.
If she was surprised, she didn t show it. The steel mask was back as she stared at him. Really. I
would have thought Bentley would have destroyed it right after he walked in on us fucking.
Beau shifted in his chair. He sure as hell didn t like the direction this conversation was going,
but more than that, he didn t like Betty s crass words. There was so much about that night that was
wrong, and a hell of a lot that he d never been able to forget. The entire evening may have started out
as a way for him to prove a point that she didn t belong on set, that she wasn t an actress but Beau
hadn t been prepared for the spark between them. And as much as she would never believe him, he
hadn t intended to get her into his bed.
He was pretty pissed, she continued, eyes never wavering.
I suppose he had a reason to be, Beau answered carefully. You guys were involved.
Pissed was an understatement. Bentley had made the entire shoot a living hell for Beau. And it
was the main reason he d tested the waters and started to direct small projects himself. He hated not
having control, and he sure as hell was done working with arrogant assholes.
Betty exhaled and tossed her napkin on the plate. She opened her mouth as if to say something
and then closed it again. Several tense seconds passed and when she finally did speak, her voice was
barely above a whisper.
Bentley was pissed because he d been trying to get into my pants for months. Contrary to what
everyone believed, including you, I wasn t sleeping with him. That movie was important to me. It was
my shot at something good and different and& well, like always I managed to screw things up.
I m sorry, Beau said carefully.
Betty s eyes flashed. Sorry for what? For screwing me over? Or for literally screwing me?
I m sorry for all of it. At the time I just thought
I know what you thought. I know what everyone else thought, from Bentley to the other actors,
to the goddamn caterers on the set. Her cheeks flushed and her chest heaved. I know what everyone
still thinks about me. I m used to it. Doesn t bother me at all.
Except he knew that it did, and suddenly Beau wanted to do whatever he could to make things
right. She needed this project as much as he wanted her for it. And he was going to stop at nothing to
get her onboard.
I want you for this movie, Betty. I don t have a second or third choice. There is no one else.
Not after I saw that audition tape. He leaned forward. You re it. So I want you to read the script,
which is on the table in your foyer. I want you to read it, learn it. I want you to be that character
because we re making this movie.
That s not going to happen. There went that chin again.
Beau tossed his napkin onto his plate and got to his feet. He shoved his hands into his pockets,
took in the flush that filled her cheeks. Her eyes glistened oh they were still dark and stormy and
pissed off but they were alive.
He had her.
It will, he said, before he turned around.
It must be exhausting, she snapped. Carrying around that massive fucking ego.
He paused near the door and glanced over his shoulder. Betty was now standing. His eyes rested
on the purpling bruise that ran along her jaw before he lifted his eyes to hers. To say he was surprised
at the zing that ran through him would be an understatement.
Suddenly he was fighting the urge to march across the room and shut her mouth up with the
boldest, hardest kiss he could muster. The thought alone was enough to get his blood flowing and he
flexed his hands, a muscle working along the side of his jaw as he took a moment and collected
himself.
I ll be back in time for the tournament on Saturday. Read the script Betty and we ll talk then.
He headed out of the Barker home, his long legs eating up the distance to his bike in no time.
Beau settled onto the machine and twenty minutes later he was cruising along the Interstate.
His taillights glowed red in the gathering dusk as he sped toward the Canadian border. Damn, he
was looking forward to spending a few days relaxing with his brother, Tucker. Getting out on the
water and cruising Lake Muskoka. It had been too long.
The funny thing was? He was already looking forward to coming back.
Chapter Eleven
WHAT S THIS?
Great.
Betty glanced up at her sister Bobbi and scowled.
It was Wednesday afternoon and Betty had just finished a shift at The Grill where she d had to
listen to the entire Ladies Ball League committee go on and on about Beau Simon appearing in the
mixed tournament.
They d come in for lunch, ten ladies, who were obviously rabid Beau Simon fans.
Oh my God, he s so hot.
I want to have his babies.
Can that man s eyes get any bluer?
And his hair! I just want to run my fingers through all that long blond hair.
And her favorite?
Do you think he ll play shirtless?
Betty had thought her shift would never end, and had practically run from the place when it was
over at two. Now she just wanted to relax. She d grabbed a bottle of water and had thrown herself
into one of the chairs on the porch. You know, so she could, enjoy the quiet.
Be alone.
She glared at Bobbi.
Relax.
Apparently her scowl did nothing to deter her sister because Bobbi plunked her butt into the
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