Conceal (The Barker Triplets 3)

Beau had always been a summer guy. Maybe growing up off the coast of Florida had something to do with it, but man, he loved the water. He had several boats he planned on putting to good use as soon as he joined his brother up north.

There was nothing more relaxing than a boat, a cooler full of cold beer, a fishing rod, and the open water.

Billie Jo tucked a long piece of hair behind her ear and motioned to the main house several yards away. “Logan makes one heck of a mean breakfast so if you want coffee and the best eggs around, you’re more than welcome to join us.”

He liked her and smiled, his grin widening as she blushed. She was kind of irresistible. Logan Forest was a lucky son-of-a-bitch.

“Sounds good.” He paused. “How’s your father?”

Shadows fell into her eyes, so like Betty’s, and yet there were subtle differences. This triplet seemed to be warm and open whereas Betty…wasn’t. He’d met the other sister last night as well, Bobbi, and her boyfriend Shane.

Bobbi was intense, but again, in an entirely different way from Betty. It was funny. The girls were triplets. Identical triplets which didn’t happen that often—more often than not triplets were fraternal—and though they looked alike, he could already spot the differences.

“Dad’s good this morning. I went over to the house an hour ago just to make sure. He’s already up, puttering in his garden as if nothing happened last night.” Her eyes were sad. “It’s tough you know? He used to be so…different and now...” She sighed. “He’s so hard on Betty sometimes.”

That got Beau’s attention but he didn’t press it. It really was none of his business.

“I’ll just grab a shirt?”

She nodded. “Okay, I’ll wait and see if I can do something about the folks gathered at the end of the driveway.”

Beau peered around her and looked toward the road. He spied a few souls milling about, but nothing like he was used to. This he could handle.

“Don’t bother. I’ll pose for a few pictures and sign a few autographs and they’ll go away.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll meet you up at the house.”

She took a step back and paused, kicking at the ground with her toe

. “You’re not really what I expected you know.”

Beau smiled. “I get that a lot.”

She bit her lip and he cocked his head to the side. He got the feeling something else was on her mind. “Was there anything else?”

“Can I be blunt?”

Were the Barkers anything but? “Sure.”

“Logan tried to tell me that you’re sticking around New Waterford for a few days because you’re scouting locations for a movie.”

“And?”

“I don’t believe him.”

“You don’t.”

She shook her head. “Nope. Logan is the worst liar I’ve ever met. He can’t look me in the eye and starts scratching the back of his neck.” She shrugged. “It’s a dead giveaway.”

Beau had to give it to her. Billie Jo was smart. He’d told Logan the real reason he was sticking around—his need to convince Betty to read his script. Beau wanted it kept on the down low and Forest had been the one to suggest he was scouting locations if anyone asked.

Beau smiled, a mega-watt deal that melted most women into puddles at his feet. He leaned against the doorframe. “So, darlin’, what are you trying to say?”

She stared at him with a direct, clear gaze that made him a little bit uncomfortable. Seemed as if Betty wasn’t the only Barker unaffected by his charm.

“I don’t know what it is exactly that you want with Betty, but she’s not in a real good place right now.”