Chapter Twenty-Five
Dean
Iwas sitting on the couch with Cole as he gushed over his new friend-slash-pen pal when the sound of the door unlocking pulled my attention away from him.
Beau walked inside the apartment holding a bouquet of red roses, white alstroemeria, and miniature pink carnations mixed with assorted greenery wrapped together in clear cellophane.
He smiled at me as a blush crept up his neck and cheeks.
Was that... No. Had Beau bought that for me? That was impossible, wasn’t it?
“Hey, Dad.” Cole hardly looked up from his phone. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
I could hardly look away from Beau as he walked toward me, his blue eyes full of happiness. My breath caught in my throat as I climbed to my feet, and he held out the flowers.
“I wasn’t sure if this was something you would like. I hope I didn’t overstep, Dean.”
“No one has ever bought me flowers before,” I whispered. Tears burned my eyes as I stared at the bouquet in his hand.
Cole’s head shot up. “Holy shit.”
“Language,” Beau warned. “And these are for you.” He pulled a bag of Hershey Kisses from his jacket pocket.
Cole grinned. “Sweet! Thanks, Dad!” He grabbed the bag. “I think I’ll leave you two alone before it’s too gross in here.” He jumped up and hurried out of the room with his candy.
“Pink? Is this too much for you? You’re just staring at me like I just grew a second head. I can give it to my sister if—”
I grabbed them out of his hand. “No!” I exclaimed, crushing them to my chest. “They’re mine. Thank you.” And they smelled amazing.
“You’re welcome.” Beau gave me another shy smile. “I’ll be honest, it was Jackson’s idea. He wanted to get something for Maverick and suggested I do the same for you.”
I still had my nose stuffed in the flowers. “It was a good idea. No one has ever done something this nice for me before.”
“I probably have a vase for you to put them in.” Beau started to move toward the kitchen, but I reached for his arm to stop him. “Thank you,” I said again.
He nodded. “It’s the least I could do, Pink, after being such an asshole and ignoring you before.”
He leaned down to brush his lips over mine, and when I opened my mouth, his tongue slipped inside.
Beau wrapped an arm around my waist to pull me closer, our tongues tangled together, and I couldn’t stop the low moan that escapade my throat.
When we pulled apart, he pressed his forehead against mine and stared at me, his pupils blown wide.
“I don’t know what we’re doing, but I do know that I like you.”
“I like you, too,” I assured him. I liked him way too much, and I was scared of what was going to happen when Beau decided he was done with me and moved on.
Beau chuckled. “Good to know.” He dragged his thumb over my bottom lip. “We have to leave again on Friday for some away games.”
“Which sucks.” I closed my eyes and breathed in the sweet scent of the flowers. “I have to go back to California with the band. We have a short tour that we don’t want to go on to promote our next album. Maverick is already dreading it, and honestly, so am I.”
Beau tilted my head up. “And then what?”
“I have no plans after that. Normally, I would just go back home.”
“Will you come back to Boston for the summer and spend it with me?”
My eyes popped open. “Is that what you want?”
In that moment, I wished I could read his mind. See into his brain so I could get the answer before it slipped from his lips. What if Beau said no? What if he didn’t want to see me again after Friday?
“Dean.” Beau popped a brow. “I think you know that I want to see you again.”
He kissed me again, catching me off guard.
He kissed me until I could hardly breathe, until my knees went weak, and I thought I would pass out.
Why was everything different with Beau? Better with him?
Why did I want to see him smile and hear him laugh?
Why did I want everything with him when I didn’t want it with anyone before?
A loud cough had us pulling apart. “If you two are done...” Both of Cole’s brows were high on his forehead. “I’m a growing boy, and I am famished.”
“I got you that candy.” Beau tucked me against his side while I desperately wanted to bury my face against his chest. Listen to the sound of his heartbeat.
Cole snorted. “That’s not actual food, Dad. How about some pizza?”
“Fine, fine, whatever you want.” Beau waved his free hand at him. “Is that good with you?” he asked me.
I nodded. “Sounds good.”
THE NEXT COUPLE OF days flew by, and before I knew, Beau was getting ready to head off for his road trip.
Saying goodbye to him again was harder than I expected.
We had looked at our itineraries and found out we would be able to meet up once, and that would be in California for one night.
It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.
It would help Maverick, too, to be able to see Jackson.
Right now, we were snuggling in his bed, wrapped around one another with our legs tangled together as Beau carded his fingers through my hair, his lips pressed to my ear.
“I never thought I would feel this way about someone again, Pink,” Beau murmured. “You’re a surprise I never saw coming.”
My nose prickled as tears burned my eyes. “You mean that?”
“With all my heart,” he promised.
I pulled back so I could see his face. Beau was gorgeous.
Which was something I never thought I would say about a man.
His raven-black hair, sky-blue eyes, and cupid bow lips.
Until him, I had never wanted to be with a guy before.
Maybe I had always been a little bi-curious, but Beau had brought all of it out that night he’d flirted with me.
“I could say the exact same thing.” I let out a loud laugh when he tickled my ribs.
“I think...” Beau nuzzled into my neck. “That when my season is over, and you’re back here again, I might want to come out. With you. If you’re okay with that.”
Fear prickled at the inside of my brain before I pushed it away. Killian had come out and so had Maverick. I had nothing to fear. Our fans hadn’t cared and fuck them if they did.
“I am more than okay with that.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to pressure you into doing something that might make you uncomfortable.” Beau kissed my jaw. “If you’re not ready, or you don’t want to come out, you don’t have to.”
I shook my head. “What I want is to be with you.”
“I’ll need to speak with my agent first,” he told me.
I snorted. “And I’ll need to speak with my PR woman. Killian didn’t exactly handle it the way he should have, so hopefully Lou won’t get pissed. At least Mav told her before he posted on social media.”
“Are you excited about the tour?” Beau tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
I flopped onto my back. “Not really. It doesn’t feel like Mav and Killian really want to do it anymore.
Blake’s a bit of an enigma with the way he keeps everything inside.
I think after this, we might take a break or stop all together.
I thought after the last tour we might break up. Kill and Mav fought all the time.”
“And if that happens?” Beau snuggled against me, putting his head on my chest. He dragged a finger over my tattoos, tracing the ink. “Do you think you might go solo?”
“No. I don’t want that. The four of us are a team. I couldn’t do it without Killian, Maverick, and Blake. I need them.” I looked down just as Beau looked up at me. “Maybe it’s time for us to stop being a band. Maybe we’ve done everything we can.”
Beau leaned up to kiss me. “Or you could still record music. Mulligan is a fantastic band. You guys put on a great show. Maybe the touring is taking its toll on you.”
“Mmm.” I wanted him to do that again. Drop his heavy body against mine and have his way with me. “When I get back.” I cupped his head in my hands. “I want you to fuck me.”
A deep growl vibrated inside Beau’s chest. “Pink.”
“Don’t say no. We’ve talked about this. It’s what I want. Please?” I whispered.
Beau’s eyes flashed with heat and desire. “Then how can I say no to you?”
“You can’t,” I teased, and he kissed me again. “You promise you won’t disappear on me again?”
I hated to sound so needy and desperate, but it had hurt when he’d done that. And it made me feel like a complete asshole, because I had done that to so many girls in the past.
Beau sat up. “I shouldn’t have done that to you.” He grabbed my hands. “It was wrong, and I swear I won’t do it again. Pink baby, you don’t deserve someone who treats you like that. The fact that you’re willing to give me a second chance... I don’t deserve you.”
I climbed onto my knees and kissed him before he could say anything else. “You deserve everything, Beau. You’ve kept your heart under lock and key since you lost your wife. It all makes sense. Just don’t hide from me.”
“I won’t,” he promised.