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I step back, breaking contact. “It won’t take me long to get ready. We can probably leave in ten minutes.”

“So, you’re not one of those diva types that takes two hours to get ready to go out?”

“Not typically,” I reply, suddenly self-conscious, wondering if he wishes I was that type of girl. But it’s too late now. I need coffee, and it’s a messy bun, mascara, and lip gloss kind of day.

I eye him up and down, appreciating the view because… gray sweatpants. And Beau in gray sweatpants is a sight to behold.

“But you might want to change first.”

“Obviously, I’m not gonna walk down the street with my shirt off,” he scoffs.

“It’s not your shirt I’m worried about. It’s your pants,” I tease, turning to walk away.

“What’s wrong with my pants?” He reaches for my arm, pulling me back into the kitchen.

“Well, for one, it’s probably going to reach mid-nineties before lunch.”

“It was freezing in here, thanks to your possessed air conditioner.”

I ignore that comment. Because he’s not wrong.

“Two—gray sweatpants.”

“What about gray sweatpants?” he asks with a knowing smirk, placing one hand on the counter on either side of me, boxing me in.

“You know,” I insist, raising my eyebrows suggestively.

“No, actually, I don’t.” Beau shakes his head. “Why don’t you enlighten me?”

“Graaaayyyyyy sweatpants.” I draw out the word, motioning toward his crotch with my eyes.

And now the joke is on me because he is obviously enjoying this close proximity as much as I am.

“Slut shaming me, Sunny?”

“No, just trying to protect you.” I roll my eyes at him.

“From what? Oh, wait, I see.” He releases his grip on one side to tap his temple with two fingers. “You worried you won’t be able to keep your hands to yourself?”

“Nope, not me. We don’t need you getting the single ladies of Magnolia Grove all hot and bothered.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter because”—he returns his hand and leans down close, whispering in my ear—“I’m not a single man. I’m your fiancé, remember? And just so happens I love these pants. But since it’s obviously making you jealous, I’ll go change, Sunny.”

“I’m not jealous.” I glare at him as he moves back and walks backward out of the room.

“You’ve inspired me. I think I’m going to start a list of my own. My Sunny list. Item number one: gray sweatpants—Sunny’s eyes only. Check.”

I grip the counter behind me with both hands, taking a deep, steadying breath. The sun is barely up. I haven’t even had caffeine yet, and the day has already brought in a tsunami of emotions ranging from turned on to embarrassed and angry to amused. It’s going take more than a cup of coffee to remedy this situation.

Chapter 13

Lucy

The sweltering heat of mid-July wraps around us like a heavy blanket as Beau and I stroll through the sun-drenched streets of Magnolia Grove. People are out and about, going about their day, but today, their curious glances linger a little longer on us. It’s the first time in over four years that anyone’s seen me with a man, and it’s hard not to feel like the whole town is watching.

Henry never visited, which should have been the first red flag, but like everything else, I made an excuse. I chalked it up to the fact that he was too busy working to make a pit stop in my hometown. Now that I think about it, all the signs were there. He never visited, he never asked to meet my family, he didn’t pick a date, nothing. And if those signs weren’t enough, the FedExing of the ring should have been. But nope! I was so stuck in my little world of delusion that I failed to see Henry for what he was… a travel companion who sucked in bed.

You know who doesn’t suck in bed… Mr. Penthouse.