Conceal (The Barker Triplets 3)

It was hard to believe she was their mother.

Beau flicked wet hair off his face and glanced at Jack.

“Hello boys. I see you’ve decided to go for a midnight swim? Did y’all forget your swim trunks?”

“Mom,” they said in unison.

Eden DuRocher-Simon stepped closer to the edge, her arms laden with large beach towels. “You better get out before you catch cold, you hear?” The soft southern drawl that rolled beneath her words warmed him and Beau climbed out behind Tucker and Jack. He accepted a towel and a hug from his mother.

“We had no idea you were coming,” he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Well darlin’, that’s because you never bothered to answer the phone or call me back.”

“I’m sorry,” Beau said, feeling like an ass. “I’ve had a lot going on and…” His voice trailed off because it was bullshit and his mother knew it.

“We’ll discuss it later,” she said, turning to Jack and Tucker. “Now, which one of you belongs to that woman sleeping in my bed?”

Beau couldn’t help but grin. He pointed to his brother. “Well, that would be Jack’s lady.”

“Really,” Eden slipped her arm through her oldest son’s as she led him back to the cottage. “She was a little rude when I woke her up and told her she was in the wrong bedroom.”

“Sorry, Mom,” Jack said smoothly.

“And what happened to that nice girl you were dating in the spring, Jack? She was real nice.”

Tucker leaned in close to Beau and whispered. “Now that one had real boobs. Big ones. Real soft.”

“Jesus, Tucker. Did you take a swipe at them when Jack wasn’t looking?”

Tucker snorted. “No, but Teague was home for a few weeks in March and he did.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I never kid about shit like that.”

Beau laughed and followed his brother up the dock toward the lake house.

They were almost to the stairs when Tucker paused and glanced over his shoulder. The lightness from moments ago was gone, and the grin on Beau’s face faded.

“I fell in love with Marley that second day and that’s no lie. It might sound crazy to you but it’s the stone cold truth. When you meet the real deal, you just know.” He thumped his chest, hard. “You feel it here and,” he touched his head, “you know it here. It’s like nothing made sense before that moment. Nothing else mattered. She looked up and smiled at me and I was gone.”

Beau nodded, but remained silent.

“The trick is realizing it when it happens. The challenge is nailing it down.” Tucker shook his head, his expression beseeching. “If you love this girl Beau, you need to tell her. You need to nail that shit down because if you don’t…if you let her fall away because you think it can’t be real if it’s so new, or because you’re worried what Mom or Jack thinks…you’re an idiot”

“You know I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.”

“Good,” Tucker replied. “Because if she’s your shot at forever, don’t let her slip away. I lost my forever and I would pay any price to get her back. I’d sell my soul to the goddamn devil if it meant I could spend one more day with Marley. Life’s too short, brother, and none of us knows what’s around the corner. None of us knows when it all goes to shit.”

Tucker turned, disappeared up the steps, shoulders slumped, and Beau hated that tragedy had made his brother so goddamn smart.

Chapter Twenty-nine

A WEEK PASSED and life settled back into somewhat of a normal routine for Betty Jo. Oh there were still the odd paparazzi in town, hoping for a Betty/Beau reunion, but for the most part, they were harmless.

She couldn’t really count the dumbass who’d thought it would be a good idea to hide in the back garden—turned out the man was allergic to bees—and Gramps had to rush him to emergency after his face swelled up like a blowfish.

He left town the next day without a scoop, still swollen but with a new respect for beekeepers.