Accidental Tryst (Charleston #1)(27)

When I get done he slumps back against the high-backed bench seat. "And I thought my life just took a turn for the weird and wonderful. You have me beat."

I rub my hand over my jaw. "I wouldn't say that. So do you have a girlfriend? Are you even close to doing what he wants?"

"Getting married? Hell, no. I haven't ever gone past a tenth date to my knowledge."

"Ten. That's not bad. I draw a line at three. Four if we haven't . . . you know." I feel terrible saying that out loud. But it's the truth. I date women so I can have sex. I don't do relationships and commitments.

There's no judgement on Beau's face. "I should rein it back to four. Getting all the way to ten gets you in all sorts of trouble. Lots of women around here are looking to trap a Montgomery. Though," he looks up at the stained-glass window and crosses himself, "thankfully, I've been careful."

I give a mock shudder. "So how's your mom doing, by the way?" Beau's parents split up the same summer my mother managed to make herself persona non grata with the Montgomery family again.

Beau smiles. "Fine. Remarried. Lives out near Summerville."

"Good, that's good. Send her my regards, will you? She was always kind to me."

The waitress brings our drinks, and I order the soup and salad of the day. Something with goat cheese, but I'm too distracted by our recent meeting to pay much attention to the menu.

"Are you okay with not being involved with Montgomery Homes & Facilities?" I decide to cut to the chase with Beau. "I mean I thought I got a read that you were happy with the way it played out. Until today, obviously," I add.

"I never wanted to be involved, no. Of course, I would have done it for the family. But I think it's in the best hands now."

"What about your father? Uncle Robert? He looked ready to commit murder. Do I need to be worried?"

Beau looks at me seriously. "He's pretty upset. But to be honest, I think it's more about what people might think of him being passed over, that he might lose his social standing or at worst not be able to maintain his lifestyle." He lifts a shoulder and then drops it. "It's not about any sense of ambition. I doubt he could name half the operations we own. He’ll still be a good source of information for you though."

I nod. "And Isabel? Was she more interested in the day to day?"

"I don't know, to tell you the truth. But I think it's more of the same feelings my father is having." He raises his hands to his mouth and widens his eyes. "What will the people at the club say?" he mimics.

"Ah."

"So what about you?" Beau asks. "I must admit, I didn't see that coming. It's like Grandfather is forcing us all back together in a way he was never able to when he was alive. So are you going to do it? Do you want to? Yesterday you weren't sure."

"I don't think I have a choice. My ego wouldn't let me walk even if my head tells me to run the other way. I have to hand it to the guy, he sure was a creative thinker."

"That's putting it mildly."

"So?" I grin and volley straight back to him. "Who are you going to marry in order to get your inheritance?"

The waitress comes back to top off our iced tea at that exact moment. She pauses mid pour and steps back looking Beau up and down. "Well honey, I'm available if you're stuck," she says with a wink.

Beau's skin color deepens about fifteen shades as he glares at me, and I crack up laughing. "Uh, thanks," he mumbles, not quite looking at her.

"He'll keep you in mind," I tell her.

"See that he does. Your food will be right out."

"Thanks."

We both watch her walk away.

"She's cute," I say. "You could do worse."

"Probably. What in the hell was Grandfather thinking putting that stipulation on me? Why not you?"

"Me? Never. Anyway, I hardly got off scot-free." I grimace. "It just so happens I'm about to sell my company in New York. I wasn't sure what I was going to work on next, but it sure as shit didn't involve anything to do with the Montgomerys. No offense. I'm sure Grandfather knew if he added in a marriage stipulation to that bombshell, I'd walk."

"Well, I for one am glad. It'll be good to have you back here more." Beau brushes his hair off his forehead. "You can help me narrow down my prospect list."

Emmy pops into my head.

"Sure," I say. Emmy is single. Nice. Beautiful. Funny.

I open my mouth then immediately close it.

"You okay?" Beau asks, looking concerned by whatever he sees on my expression.

"Yeah." I sigh. "No. I don't know. Nothing. I'm fine."

There's an awkward pause. I look up at the ceiling.

"Today sure was a lot to take in," Beau says, relieving me of clarifying my comment.

Our food arrives, saving me from adding anything else. I pull out Emmy's phone, take a picture and start to text it to her. I stop myself and put my phone away. Beau is grinning at me.

"Shut up," I say.

He raises his eyebrows. "Didn't say a word."





14





Emmy