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Cute. You guys trading nicknames now?
Beau closed his tackle box and shrugged. Seriously. You don t even know her.
No, Tucker said. I ve never met her in person. And I know that half of that shit they play on
TMZ and print in those rags isn t true. But I also know that where there s smoke there s always a
spark. She s a mess, Beau. Bad news.
She s not a mess. The words slipped out before he even thought them and Tucker paused,
falling back onto his seat near the bow.
She s not a mess, Beau repeated. She s human. She s made mistakes. We all have.
He blew out a long breath and glanced away, confused by the way he felt. He wasn t on a
mission to save, Betty. Not really. But he sure as hell wanted to help her. He owed it to her for what
he d done.
That s all this was. Nothing more.
So why did he feel as if he was on the cusp of something much larger? Beau Simon was thirty-
three years old and he d never been in this place before. A place where a woman he barely knew had
somehow become part of his everyday thought process. She d been the last thing on his mind when
he d gone to bed the night before alone and the first thing he d thought of when he d woken up this
morning. He d sported a raging hard-on, a bad attitude, and a headful of images of Betty. Naked.
Twisted beneath him.
If he was going to work with her, Beau was going to have to get this shit under control. All those
fantasies those memories of her long legs, that hair, that mouth and the way they d rocked into
each other as if the world was ending. That passion wasn t for him to examine or remember.
It was in the past and for this movie to work for him to get her on board and make it work
that s where all of that stuff had to stay.
Okay. Tucker was pulling up the anchor. Let s get the hell out of here.
Beau whipped his head around, a grin on his face. Yeah? You coming to New Waterford with
me?
Sure. Someone s got to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life.
A frown crossed Beau s face. Really. And what would that be? He might be willing to give
Tucker a bit of leeway most days hell, the guy had had his heart ripped out, but there was only so
far Beau was willing to let him go when it came to his personal life.
Tucker chuckled and suddenly the darkness in his eyes evaporated, if only a little. I ll let you
know when I figure it out, brother.
* * *
The Simon boys packed up and were ready to hit the road in less than two hours. Sylvia, the
local lady who looked after their cottage, came in as they were leaving, with groceries and cleaning
supplies. Jack and his girl were due up in a few days and she came weekly with the staples.
She wished them a safe trip and then they were off.
It was a perfect day to be out on a bike. The wind was non-existent, the sun warm and the open
road incredibly appealing. Beau opened his throttle and it didn t take long for him to disappear into
his bike.
He had to give it to Forest. The guy had built him something special. It was all shiny chrome and
black leather understated and not too flashy with an engine that growled and a ride that gripped
the road.
The sound was like an electric pulse that beat inside him, and around 90 miles an hour, the
scenery became nothing but moving flashes of color. It was quiet and loud at the same time. Peaceful
but exhilarating.
It was hard to describe, and only another biking enthusiast would understand. By the time they
reached the outskirts of New Waterford, the sun was high in the sky and it was early afternoon.
Beau and Tucker rolled down Main Street in a leisurely fashion, while overhead banners waved
in the breeze, announcing the Celebrity Ball tournament. A group of girls near the Dairy Queen turned
and watched as they sped by, a few of them thrusting their hips out and waving provocatively.
Beau grinned and nodded as he motioned to Tucker to turn into The Grill. He d called Logan
Forest before they had left the Muskokas, just to make sure he could stay in the loft, and Forest had
told him he d be at The Grill right about now for a nice, cold beer.
The brothers parked their bikes near the outdoor patio and Beau stripped off his long sleeved
shirt, garnering a whistle from the waitress working outside. Beau and Tucker both turned around and
the woman s mouth hung wide open.
Hey, darlin , you make sure to order us up a jug of cold draft, will ya? Beau said warmly.
Her eyes nearly popped out of her head and she began to nod as her face flushed a deep shade of
red. Yes, sir. I mean, sure& are you& are you sitting in my section? Good lord are you sitting in my
section? That ended on a squeak and Tucker rolled his shoulders, his white T-shirt damp, as he
grinned at Beau and then back at the woman. She was on the plus side of forty, but definitely looked
after herself.
If you don t mind, Beau answered.
No, she said quickly. Not at all. Sir Simon. I mean, Beau Simon. I ll ah& I ll bring you out a
jug right away.
Thanks. And sweetie? If Logan Forest is inside, you wanna ask him to join us?
She scooted over and swung open the gate to let them onto the patio without going inside first. It
was hot, so there weren t a lot of customers out there, but the few that were a family of four and a
few couples scattered about eyed him with interest and a few grabbed cell phones.
Tucker nodded to a table in the corner, one that offered shade from the pagoda above, and Beau
followed his brother over, making sure his back was to the patrons.
This looks good, Tucker said as he slid into the chair and glanced around. Our backs are
covered and we can keep an eye out on the teen invasion back there. Plus if we have to make a run for
it, the bikes are close.
Relax, Tuck. It s not LA.
You say that now.
The door from inside The Grill swung open and Beau nodded at Logan Forest as he strode
through, carrying a mug of beer. He was followed by Shane Gallagher, and the two men slid into the
seats across from them, quick introductions following suit.
How s the bike? Logan asked.
Runs like a charm. Beau settled back into his chair. The design is perfect. Thanks for that.
Good to hear, Logan replied. Shane here, worked on it and his touch is legendary.
So, you boys playing in this celebrity tournament? Beau asked.
Damn right, Shane answered with a grin. Our hockey team has entered.
The door slammed open again and they all glanced over.
Shit, Logan muttered. This isn t gonna be good.
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