9. Anna
Anna
A nna laid the spoon beside the few remaining bits of chocolate happiness and sighed. “That was the best medicine.”
“Now I need to go back to the gym,” Beau said, closing the container.
Anna rolled her eyes as she leaned back in the cool water. “I think you can afford to skip this one.”
She’d seen more of Beau’s well-defined muscles in the last three hours than ever before. The fitted T-shirt he wore pulled tight across his shoulders and around his arms, guaranteeing she noticed.
Aside from his physique, it was the silent worry in his eyes that captivated her attention. He’d jumped into action when she didn’t feel well and brought her everything she needed.
“You don’t have to sit in here with me,” she said as she stretched out in the spacious tub .
He leaned against the wall, propping his thick arm on his knee. “I’d better keep my eye on you. I’d hate for you to pass out in the tub and drown.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “I’m feeling one hundred percent better. I got too hot. That’s all.”
“Can’t chance it. Olivia would kill me if I didn’t make sure you were okay.”
What did it say that his kindness made her chest swell with a warm happiness? Even if he was just looking out for her because he wanted to make his sister happy, that was an honorable reason, and she admired his devotion.
What did she really know about Beau? He was her best friend’s brother. He worked hard. He owned a business that he built from scratch. He cared about his family and would do anything for them. He went to church weekly and worshiped God instead of merely claiming to like Dean did.
And he was handsome. There was absolutely no denying it. His dark hair swept to one side, and he kept his beard short and neat.
He looked up at her, and their gazes met. His eyes were a light copper with flecks of gold. Had she ever made eye contact with him before today? Surely, she would have remembered the beautiful uniqueness of his eyes.
Anna crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly aware of the tiny swimsuit she was wearing. She’d packed it assuming she’d be on her honeymoon, then it hadn’t been an issue when she sat in the hot tub alone.
Now, it was difficult to forget how Beau had tossed the towel to the side and carried her tightly against him into the bathroom.
She sat forward, using her arms to cover as much of her front as possible. “I think I’m ready to get out of here.”
Beau got to his feet and grabbed a towel. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.
She stood slowly as the water slid off her bare skin. “I’m fine.”
He handed her the towel and stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Anna hugged the towel to her chest. Beau had been so sweet to her all day. His behavior was completely at odds with the stern, silent man she thought she knew. She’d always respected him, but she didn’t really know him.
Amazingly, she hadn’t thought of Dean and the wedding much since dinner. Turning off her phone had done wonders for her mood.
She owed a thanks to Beau for that. If he hadn’t said something, she would have let the calls, messages, and emails overrun her night.
After taking her time drying off and brushing through her tangled hair, she stepped out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped around her.
Beau sat at the table with his phone to his ear .
“Yeah, I think she’s fine now. Thanks for your help.”
Beau turned to her and let his gaze roam from her head to her toes and back up again.
He was checking on her, not checking her out. If that was all it was, why did her skin burn in the wake of his gaze?
“I’ll call you later.” Beau rested his phone on the table and stood. “You okay?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I’m fine.” She needed half a dozen deep breaths to steady her racing heart, but she was fine.
Beau pointed toward the bathroom. “Is there another towel in there? The couch is soaking wet.”
Anna pressed a hand to her cheek. “Oh no. I’m sorry. I got out of the hot tub in a hurry and didn’t dry off well.”
“It’s fine. I’ll let the cushions dry and pull out the bed.”
Anna’s nose scrunched. “Sorry. It’s probably not a pull-out bed.”
Beau’s shoulders sank. “What? Why not?”
“Those aren’t standard in higher end rooms.”
Beau’s eyes closed, and he took a deep breath. “Right. It’s fine. I’ll just call and see if they can bring me a cot.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to sleep on an uncomfortable cot. The bed is king size. You can sleep on one side, and I’ll sleep on the other. We don’t have to even get close to each other.”
Beau’s attention shifted to her towel before quickly jerking back up again. “You should get dressed. It’s cold out here.”
She still had on her skimpy bikini, but Beau couldn’t tell with the towel wrapped around her. Suddenly, the room wasn’t cool anymore. Her face grew warm as she tightened the towel around her.
“Right. I’ll go do that.” She slipped into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
What was she doing? Parading around in front of Beau wearing little to nothing? She’d never been particularly shy about her body, but she tended to favor modest clothing. The little bit she wore now was the opposite of modest, and she’d been pressed up against Beau’s chest tonight.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Beau was a friend. He was the brother of her friend.
But he was being nice, and she was noticing him, and her thoughts were getting all twisted. Not to mention her body’s unwelcome reactions whenever he was around.
She could blame it on the stress of the day, right? She’d found out about her fiancé’s affair on their wedding day. That was plenty of cause for momentary lapse in judgment.
Shaking her head and pushing wayward feelings to the side, Anna dressed in a silky pink tank top and shorts set. Everything else she’d brought to wear to bed was wildly inappropriate for a night spent with Beau in the same room.
Running her fingers through her hair, she stepped out of the bedroom. Beau had covered the couch in a few towels and stood by the window with his arms crossed over his broad chest, looking out at the snowy darkness. The expression he wore said he was tired until he turned to her.
He brushed a hand through his hair. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. You look tired,” she said low as the late hour wrapped around her like a heavy cloak.
He jerked his thumb to the couch. “Still wet. I think I’ll wait for it to dry a little more and just sleep on it.”
“That’s ridiculous. Let’s just go to bed. I’m exhausted, and so are you.”
Beau rubbed a hand down his face and around the back of his neck. He did look tired, and she’d never seen the slow, sleepy side of him.
“Fine, but you can’t tell Olivia about this. She’d think too much.”
Anna chuckled. Olivia was funny and honest to a fault, so she’d probably draw all kinds of wild conclusions if she found out Anna was sleeping in the same bed as Beau. “My lips are sealed.”
He stepped beside her, stopping only a few inches away, and pointed his finger at her. “Mine are too. Don’t get any ideas about taking advantage of me in the night.”
She pressed her lips together to hold back the chuckle, but it bubbled out of her anyway. “Okay. I’ll be a good girl.”
Beau’s eyes widened, and he dropped his hand. “Actually, I think I should sleep on the couch.”
Anna rolled her eyes and pointed toward the bedroom. “Get in there. We’re adults, and we can keep our hands to ourselves,” she bossed.
He took his sweet, precious time eyeing the couch before making up his mind and marching past her into the bedroom.
Everything would be fine. They would sleep on opposite sides of the massive bed with plenty of free space for Jesus between them.
After all, this was Beau, and if he’d proven anything to her today, it was that he was one of the good ones—an important fact she hadn’t noticed before he agreed to put his life aside for a week to come on her honeymoon with her.