3. Anna
Anna
E very muscle in her body ached and spasmed by the time Beau parked in front of Blackwater Automotive. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest even after the roaring of the engine died. Vibrations continued to surge through her body long after the silence engulfed them.
That wasn’t the kind of excitement she expected on her wedding day. It wasn’t even on her bucket list.
When Beau stuck his hand out to the side, she slowly peeled herself away from his back and placed her hand in his. Her arms and legs shook as she carefully crawled off the bike.
Beau stood in front of her by the time she removed the big helmet from her head. Wisps of her hair flew in front of her face.
He reached for the helmet, and she handed it over. Without something to hold onto, her hands shook even more.
Beau pulled her clutch out of the side bag, and she took it from him. He jerked his head toward the garage. “Let’s get you inside.”
The cold breeze stung her cheeks, but his jacket and sweatpants covered the rest of her body. She followed him through a side entrance, and warmth greeted her as soon as she stepped into the building.
She spent plenty of time at Beau’s garage. All of their friends did. It was a central hangout since Beau and Gage worked there, Asa and his son fixed up old cars, and Olivia made sure her brother and his employees always had good food to eat.
Beau led her to the break room and pulled a seat out at the table on his way to the refrigerator. “You hungry?”
Anna settled into the seat, and her shoulders rounded forward. The ache in her middle had subsided, overridden by the adrenaline rush of riding Beau’s motorcycle. “I don’t think I could eat.”
“Ginger ale?” he asked.
“That would be great.” The rolling in her stomach had started to ease, but a ginger ale would help a little too.
Dean cheated on her. The blow still hadn’t fully registered. She wasn’t getting married today. The future she’d planned disappeared into a cloud of smoke .
Oh, and she’d commandeered a ride from Beau. On his motorcycle! She’d never even considered getting on the back of a bike before, but today, she’d been all too eager to jump on to escape the disaster waiting inside that church.
Beau passed her a can and rested against the counter, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His pale-blue collared shirt only reminded her that they’d both planned to be at the wedding today.
“You need anything else?” he asked, looking down at his boots.
She placed the cold can on the table and wrapped her arms around herself, unwilling to give up the jacket he’d let her borrow. “I think I’m okay. Thanks for helping me get out of there.”
Beau didn’t say anything, which was exactly what she expected. He’d probably used up his allotted words for the day going back-and-forth with her about the escape.
The phone in her small clutch vibrated, and she reached for it.
A photo of Olivia with her arms wrapped around Anna’s neck smiled at her from the screen. “Do you mind if I answer this? It’s your sister.”
Beau pushed away from the counter and walked right out of the room. He’d probably been itching to get away since the moment he saw her running out of that church.
He’d caught her. It was a cruel parallel but a stark contrast from her first encounter with Dean. She had pretended to trip in front of him to get his attention, and he’d almost let her hit the ground—only catching her at the last second.
The relief in that moment when she realized Beau hadn’t let her fall on the stairs still lingered, helping her keep her chin up. Beau had saved her more than once today, but he probably wouldn’t see it that way.
Anna answered the call. “Hello.”
“Anna, are you okay? Thank goodness you answered. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I had to get out of there. I’m so sorry I?—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you’re okay. I’ve taken care of everything here, including your mom.”
“Oh no.” Catherine would be absolutely livid.
“I’m not saying she won’t let you have it when she sees you though. She’s furious. I hope you didn’t go home.”
“No. Beau took me to his garage.”
Anna traced a finger over a line on the wooden table. She liked hanging out at the garage, but this wasn’t how she’d expected to spend her wedding day.
“Thank goodness. Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes. Just sit tight.”
“Thanks, Liv. I don’t know what I’d do without you. ”
“You’ll never have to find out. I’ll see you in a minute.”
Anna cradled the phone in her hands, but it immediately started vibrating again. Her mother’s photo filled the screen. Catherine’s headshot from the law firm's website.
Her blonde hair that matched Anna’s hung in her usual wavy curls over her shoulders, and she wore a black suit. Her smile was friendly enough, but it wasn’t an expression she used around Anna often. Smiles were reserved for clients and influential friends.
Anna stared at the phone, but her fingers wouldn’t budge to answer it. When the vibrating ended, it started right back up again.
A sinkhole opened in her chest, and everything collapsed into it. She’d trusted Dean, but she’d done it blindly. She’d wanted love, but she’d been taught a lesson instead.
A tear tickled her cheek, and she wiped it away before standing. She couldn’t sit here any longer.
Anna inhaled a deep breath, and the smell of grease and exhaust fumes filled her nose. For some reason, the familiar scent chased away the tension she’d been holding in her shoulders.
She was still wearing Beau’s jacket. And his pants. A small chuckle crept up her throat as she looked at the ridiculous outfit. She had the skirt of her dress tucked into Beau’s sweats! The image was enough to send her into a laughing fit.
“What’s wrong?” Beau barged into the break room, stopping by her side in a second.
Anna wiped at the tears on her cheeks as she gasped for breath. “Nothing. I was just laughing at myself.” She held her arms out at her sides. “I look ridiculous!”
Beau’s gaze moved from her head to her feet and back up again. The intensity in his stare as he looked her over sent a tingling down her spine.
“You look fine. You don’t have to impress anyone here. Do you want me to call Olivia and tell her to bring you some clothes?”
Anna shook her head. She needed to forget about Beau’s stare as much as she needed to focus on their conversation. “No. I’ll figure out how to get clothes later. My mom will harass anyone who shows up there, and I’m not ready to face her yet.”
Beau shrugged one shoulder. “Suit yourself.”
Anna tugged the jacket off her shoulders. “You can have your clothes back now.”
Beau held up a hand. “Keep them on until you get something else.”
“I’m wearing a dress. I’m fully clothed.”
“You might get cold,” he said, dry and matter-of-factly.
She positioned the jacket over her shoulders. “I’ll leave this on, but I’m taking the pants off. ”
Beau didn’t try to change her mind again. He walked straight over to the coffee pot and started gathering the things needed to brew a pot.
She clumsily removed the pants and hung them over the back of a chair. The jerky movements and lack of balance didn’t feel right. It was usually easy to be graceful.
Not today, apparently.
Her phone buzzed again, and she left it bumping over the table. Talking to anyone right now would only end in tears.
“Should I turn it off?” she asked.
Beau propped an arm against the counter by the coffeemaker. “If you want to.”
Turning off her phone wasn’t something she ever did. She had clients, friends, and family, and she liked being available to them all the time.
Well, some of them. Her mom’s calls tended to summon red splotches on her chest and neck.
Did she want to turn it off? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that. Wasn’t it rude to ignore the mess she’d have to clean up today?
The screech of a metal door opening jerked Anna’s attention from the phone, and the clicking of heels sounded down the hallway.
“Sounds like reinforcements are here,” Beau said as he slipped out of the room without waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.