EXCERPT 1)
A little adrenaline set in when I thought of my underwear getting tossed around for every soul to see—Beau and Mason would be there any minute. I started stuffing garbage bags as fast as I could move in my bedroom, shuddering at how wrinkled and smashed my pretty lingerie would all be.

“Raven?” Beau called from the front door.

“Yep,” I shouted. “Be out in a sec…”

My hands moved faster but my slinky collection of undergarments kept slipping from my fingers and landing on the carpet.

“Hey,” Beau said from the door, while I frantically shoved a teddy and garter belt set into the bag. “Good news. I bribed Chuck and AJ into helping out…”

“That’s great. I owe you big time for this.”

He walked closer. I glanced over my shoulder, hunching forward to hide my naughty bag.

Beau crouched over and picked up a red lace G-string. “Dropped this,” he croaked. He bit the knuckle of his other hand.

I snatched it away from him, my ears burning. “Give me a damn minute. And scrub that out of your head.”

He punched his chest and stumbled backward. “Never.”

EXCERPT 2)
In the morning, I found another note from Beau.

I’m worried about you up in that bedroom by yourself. You should come sleep with me where it’s safer. Anytime. I would gladly lose sleep.

Ordered door cams to put in. Let’s get them installed this weekend.

I thought about you all night. You know I’ve always liked you, right? Probably why I teased you so much when we were kids. Are you ready to admit that you’ve always liked me too? Beau

Gasping, I crinkled the note up in my fist—then flattened it out and pressed it against my chest. Bent over the kitchen counter, I focused on taking deep breaths, laughing at myself a little while my eyes stung.

Crap. Why am I reacting like this? I stood up straight and set the note down, determined to get my coffee and be rational.

My problem was that it had been too long. I shook my head. Well, and also Beau’s wide shoulders and muscled arms. I tapped myself on the forehead.

Before leaving for a long day I was determined to spend entirely out of the house, I wrote Beau a note.

Don’t worry about me and stop flirting! We can’t start something. You’re getting auctioned off for charity in three weeks and I need your pretty face to bring in lots of donations.

Should I remind you of SOME of the pranks you played on me that I’m still holding a grudge over? You salted my cookies, put vinegar in my apple juice, frozen cereal in my bowl, stuffed my shoes, made packing peanuts fall on my head, and filled my hand sanitizer bottle with clear glue. Those times you stole my towel and clothes while we were swimming so that I had to chase you around, in my bikini, in front of practically the entire high school!

I’m getting mad just thinking about it.

So, no, I’m not going to your barbecue. I’ll be over in Portland on a date.