Page 30 of Say You'll Stay

Beau frowns. “Bring something? This isn’t a potluck.”

Beckett shakes his head. “Just bring a good attitude and a willingness to drink too much, and you’ll be fine.”

I chuckle and worry, but lie to cover that up. “Sounds like fun.”

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14

ELSIE

By Saturday, I’m nervous. I’ve googled the hell out of clambakes, and I’m still unprepared. When looking for what people wear to them, it’s a lot of preppy clothes, and while I have no doubt that’s what Beau will wear, Beckett throws me for a loop in that department. He is clearly far more salt of the Earth than Beau, so clambake attire could go in any number of directions. I settle on khakis and a baby blue sweater that almost matches my eyes. It’s comfortable and practical, like most of my wardrobe.

Once that’s settled, I have the task of finding the MacMillan family home, which turns out to be a massive beach mansion. I see where Beau got his taste for the traditional.

Ten thousand square feet, at least. Ivy grows up the walls of the art déco mansion, flanked by ornamental trees and bushes. Prim, proper, and everything I expected of Beau MacMillan. So how the hell did Beckett come out of this place?

I park next to the other cars near the front and walk along a stone path toward the front door. If I hadn’t seen his Aston Martin there, I’d think I was in the wrong place. But I doubt anyone else has a, “Mine,” vanity license plate on a dark green Aston in Somerset Harbor.

To my surprise, he pops out of the front door. Even more surprising are his clothes. His blue plaid button down and navy pants are more casual than I thought he had in him. The boat shoes are a nice touch. “Good afternoon, Elsie. Everyone is already at the beach. If you’ll follow me...”

“Uh, sure.”

We walk along the front of the mansion where flowers spring near the stone walkway that leads to a pool area. He asks, “You found the place okay?”

“Yes, thanks. You have a big family? All the cars over there—

“Not sure if you’d call it big. Do you? Have a big family, I mean?”

“Not really.” Not really something I’m prepared to talk about. “The design is coming along nicely. I brought my tablet—"

He chuckles. “Elsie, this isn’t a business meeting. I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to keep the work talk at work.”

“Oh. Okay.” Then what the hell will we talk about? How much I want to see him naked? We walk past the pool area—which is extensive and gorgeous—to a path through a wooded spot. I can see dunes through the trees just ahead.

“It doesn’t have to be all work, all the time. You know what they say about Jack.”

Frowning, I ask, “Who is Jack?”

“That dull boy who only works all the time.” He smirks.

“Huh?”

“All work and no play makes Jack...”

I snort my laugh through my nose and giggle at myself. “That was embarrassing. On multiple levels.”

He laughs. “It’s okay. I’m just trying to get you to lighten up. You seem tense.”

“I am way outside of my element at the moment, to be honest. Walter doesn’t usually have me socialize with our clients.”

“Is that what this is? You’re just socializing with a client?”

My stomach knots. He doesn’t mean this is some kind of date, does he? “Uh, well, considering I was invited when you were in the middle of yelling at me, I’m not sure what else I’d call it.”

Beau stops in his tracks and sighs. “That’s fair. But in fairness to me, you were yelling right back.”

“I didn’t yell.”

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