Conceal (The Barker Triplets 3)

Beau’s head snapped up, his cellphone in his palm. “You’re the only one I wanted.”

“But he didn’t want me.” Okay, she could have done without the whine, but still, Mason Gerard?

“You can’t blame him, Betty. You’re not an actress. Not in the traditional sense and he’s old school. Hell, I couldn’t even get him to look at the audition tape, but don’t worry. This is my baby and if he wants me in the film, then he’ll go along with it or I’ll find another distributor to partner with.”

His words stung and the thought of Mason Gerard made her nauseous.

Suddenly, all the doubt-weasels she’d worked so hard to banish were back. Sitting on her shoulder. Filling her gut with panic.

“I didn’t say I’d do it.”

The words popped out of Betty’s mouth before she could stop them.

That brought Beau up cold. “Are you kidding?” His words were hard, and they fell like stones. Something shifted in his eyes and Betty licked her bottom lip, suddenly really, really nervous.

Here she was, on the cusp of blowing it again.

“I’m not playing games, Betty. Where are we going with this?”

Dammit. What the hell had she gotten herself into?

“I just mean,” she dragged a huge gulp of air into her lungs as Beau moved closer. “I don’t know if I can work with you. Not after what happened between you and me…” Oh God, she was backpedalling like a newbie. “That night…you and I. It can’t happen again and,” she thrust her chin in the air, trying for some bravado. “I’m not sure if you can…I’m not sure you get that.”

She wasn’t sure if Beau was trying not to laugh, or if he just found her idiotic ramblings amusing. But there was a killer smile lurking around his mouth and dancing in those baby blues.

Kill. Me. Now.

God, she was babbling like an idiot. Not making sense. Not making anything close to sense.

She swallowed and watched him closely wishing he’d move the hell away from her. He was tall, hot as hell, and that pulsing had moved to between her legs. It was a steady throb—a distraction she didn’t need.

“So,” Beau said, a dangerous tone in his voice. “Let me get this straight. You want the role, but you’re hesitant to take it because you don’t think I can resist your…charms.”

She folded her arms across her chest and tried to stay calm. Why couldn’t she have just told the truth for once?

Just laid it on the line.

Yes I want the role. End of story.

Why did she make everything into a drama?

And Good Lord, why in hell were her nipples saluting the man as if they wanted him to rip her top off and…

Sweat beaded along her top lip.

“Well, I’m not sure,” she managed weakly.

Beau leaned close. So close that she could count the number of eyelashes that swept down as his mouth hovered a whisper away from hers.

She was frozen in place, breath hitched in her throat, pulsing still going on down there and yet…all she could think about was how good he smelled.

And how long those damn lashes were.

Traitor body. Where the hell was all her righteous Beau Simon hate? She needed it.

He exhaled slowly, his warm breath fanning across her face.

She needed that hate right now.