Conceal (The Barker Triplets 3)

She nodded.

Shit. He hadn’t played ball since last summer when he and some of the guys had gotten together after the all-star game and messed around. His knee was good for recreational, so the thought interested the hell out of him.

Wait. Mixed?

“Are we talking men and women?”

Again, with the chin. She faced him, hands now on her hips and Jesus Christ, that top…

“Well, mixed usually means more than one type. What? You don’t think girls can play with the boys? You do know about my sister right? Billie would have played in the NHL if she’d been born with a dick, and in fact played overseas in a Men’s league. She’s an amazing hockey player and well…” Cheeks now bright red, Betty stumbled a bit over her words. “I’m just saying.”

Beau should have been surprised at Betty’s ardent defense of her sister, but he wasn’t. He was starting to think that the relationship between the Barker girls was extremely complicated.

That maybe they didn’t even understand the complexities of it all.

“I know all about your sister and that’s not what I meant.” He took a second. “Are you playing?”

“Excuse me?”

“Are you playing in the tournament?”

An idea popped into his head and her eyes narrowed as a slow grin crossed his face.

“Apparently. My outrageous reputation and the fact that I was on the cover of SI means something, so yes, I’m playing. Not that I like baseball. Or hockey for that matter. But the tournament is to help raise funds for this little boy and it’s for a good cause, and…”

“Wow.”

“Wow, what?”

“Betty Jo Barker does have a heart somewhere in there.”

She made a face and he listened as Betty rambled on about the whys and reasons for the tournament. He wasn’t about to tell her she didn’t need to go on and on about it. She had him. Or rather, she had him once she accepted his counter offer. In the meantime, he liked watching her talk. Her eyes came alive and her mouth…well, that mouth alone was something to behold.

“So?” she finished breathlessly. Her hands were loose at her sides and her foot was done tapping. It was as if a cork had just burst and she wasn’t wound so freaking tight.

A car drove by, horns honking and girls screaming his name and he knew their quiet time was about to be disrupted. Beau needed to be quick about this.

“I’ll do it,” he said. “On one condition.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask what that condition will be.”

He waved at another car that honked as it slowed to a crawl, causing the car behind it to squeal to a stop.

“I want you to read something.” He saw her confusion. “A script.”

“You want me to read a script.” She paused. He saw the flair of interest, quickly followed by mistrust. He couldn’t blame her. It’s not as if her last movie experience was anything great.

“It’s mine. My script. My movie. And I want you for the lead.”

Betty didn’t say a word. Her features were schooled into an expressionless mask. But he had her. Damn straight, but had her.

“I’ll drop it by later.”

Before she could refuse, Beau walked over to his bike, strapped on his helmet, and settled onto his motorcycle. He nodded to her as he rode out of the parking lot, acknowledging the girls giggling on the sidewalk.

He rode up Main Street, his mood light, his mega-watt smile grinning from ear to ear. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day and for the first time since he’d arrived in New Waterford, Beau Simon had Betty Jo Barker right where he wanted her.

Chapter Nine