Page 40 of Under Pressure

“She’s always gone before you get here. For the last four months, it’s been the same. That’s the only reason I told her that I couldn’t be with her grandson because I was already interested in someone. Because if there was someone else involved, surely she wasn’t going to continue pushing me onto her grandson. It would be cruel to continue bringing him up when I’m already spoken for.”

My head clears a bit, and then my voice comes out rough, biting. “You’re dating someone?”

“No. I’m not, but she thinks I am.”

“Be straight with me, Quinn. Tell me what’s going on before I blow a gasket.”

“Iamdating someone.You. As far as Ruthie is aware, we’re in a very new, very all-consuming relationship.”

15

I don’t knowwhat I was expecting.

But it sure as fuck wasn’t for Beck to start laughing.

And not just confused giggling, either. Full-on belly-grabbing, head-thrown-back laughing that would have drawn every eye in the coffee shop if we weren’t alone.

My bewilderment is obvious as I watch him react, drawn right to the dimples sunken deep into his stubbled cheeks. I fist my hands in my lap and ignore the angry warmth crawling up my chest. He’s actuallylaughingat me. Like this is some unbelievable joke that I’ve just come up with on the spot.

His laugh sounds rough, but not from lack of use. I’d bet he laughs often. He does when he’s here.

And why am I thinking about that right now? He’s making fun of me! Kind of. It sure feels like it. The last thing I should be doing is swooning over how the light glimmers in his eyes?—

No.

“You’re being serious?”

There’s no laughing now.

Suddenly, it’s completely silent again.

Beck scoots his chair closer to the table and inspects me, clearly having thought I was pulling a fucking prank. Thethought makes my stomach churn with anxiety. It’s possible I misread him—though . . . is it really?

“Yes. And you laughing at the idea is actually pissing me off. Do you think it’s that unbelievable?” I snap.

“Fuck no,” he starts, brows drawing together. “No, Quinny. It’s not unbelievable to me. Not when I thought I’d made my intentions here pretty clear.”

The warmth trickles higher up my body to taint my throat. “Okay.”

“I’m serious. I just wasn’t expecting that. You’ve also madeyourresponse to my intentions clear, and this is the opposite of that. So, break it down for me. Help me understand,” he encourages softly.

“I panicked. I know Ruthie, and she wasn’t going to give up on her idea until I’d been scooped up in her grandson’s arms and whisked down the aisle. This was the best thing I could keep up with, and I know I should have run it by you first, but I didn’t have the chance. There wasn’t anyone else that I thought of at the time.”

His head tilts, a smirk tainting his previously innocent expression. “I’m flattered, baby. Truly. And not at all mad. Pinky swear.”

He holds his pinky out for me, but I bat it away with the back of my sweaty hand. A low, growly chuckle follows the movement, and I yank my fingers out of his vicinity before he can grab them or do some other flirty thing that I know is going to have me turning beet red.

Settling back in his chair, he taps a beat on the tabletop. “What do you need from me?”

“Huh?”

“You heard me. This is already in motion, gorgeous. So, how do you want to proceed?”

“I haven’t gotten that far,” I grumble.

“It’s a good thing I’m here, then. We can sit together and talk about it all night.”

Huffing an exhale, I roll my eyes. “I doubt it’ll take that long.”