27. Beau
Beau
T he rage room might have been a bad idea.
Anna definitely had no problems jumping right into something complicated with him while she had more complicated things going on at home, but Beau was still a little wary. Was he taking advantage of her? Was she looking for something to replace the hurtful things she’d gone through?
On the one hand, he wanted her to be bold enough to know what she wanted and ask for it. On the other hand, he wasn’t the jump into things blindly kinda guy, and starting something with Anna could either be amazing or end in a cloud of smoke.
Either way, there were zero tears after that, so he was calling it a win. They’d sat side by side on the couch last night and watched a movie he couldn’t remember a single thing about before they separated for bed. He should get an award for his self-control.
The next day, she told him she wanted to do something “fun,” which gave him little to nothing to go on since they had very different ideas of fun.
In the end, they’d settled on a hike to Freedom Falls. The guy at the tourist stand in town said the views were not to be missed, and the trail was fine for beginners.
Anna skipped ahead as they entered the trailhead, looking back with a heart-stopping smile.
“Come on!” she said, bouncing over to his side to pull him along by the hand.
“What’s the rush?”
She wrapped her arms around one of his and plastered herself to his side. Her happiness did weird things to his insides. “I want to see the waterfalls.”
What was wrong with him? They were as close as possible, and he still wanted to be closer. They’d kissed only once—well, twice counting the restaurant—but now that he’d tasted her lips it was all he wanted.
He kept up with her brisk pace as they headed toward the falls. The trail was well-maintained, and they passed about a dozen people as they walked. Anna stayed close to him but pointed at anything remotely interesting with the same level of excitement as a kid exploring a new world .
Did he enjoy every minute of it? Absolutely.
When they reached the falls, Anna was giddy. She bounced up and down like he’d only seen Tigger do in Winnie the Pooh cartoons.
“Look how gorgeous! Can you believe this is just out here in the middle of the woods?”
Beau pressed his lips together as Anna went on and on about the waterfall.
“Don’t you think it’s great?” she asked.
“Oh yeah. It’s nice,” he offered. Reaching for her, he pulled her in and kissed her slowly, taking his time as she melted against him.
When he pulled away, she sighed. Even that tiny noise had every nerve ending in his body firing.
“I like seeing you happy. I would have hiked all this way just for that.”
Anna’s jaw dropped open. “Beau Lawrence, you are a secret romantic. I can’t believe you’ve been hiding this from me!”
Had he ever smiled this much? He was living in an alternate reality where smiling was as natural as breathing and Anna was looking at him like she wanted him to kiss her again.
Anna’s phone rang, and she pulled it out of her pocket. “It’s Liv. I have to show her the falls.”
Anna answered and switched to a video call. Holding up her phone, she flipped to the back camera on her phone. “Liv! Look at this place!”
“Oh wow. That’s gorgeous! Where are you? ”
“We hiked out to Freedom Falls. Totally worth the blisters I’m going to have later.”
“You didn’t say your feet were hurting,” Beau said.
“Is that my brother? Is he being good?”
“He’s being very good. He took me to a rage room last night, and I got to smash things! For fun!”
“Why didn’t I think of that?” Liv asked.
Beau’s phone rang, and he answered the call from Dawson.
“Hello.”
“How’s it going?” Dawson asked.
“Fine.”
Dawson lowered his voice. “Give me the details. Olivia says you like Anna.”
“I’m not talking about this.”
“Oh, is it because she’s right there? Blink once if you think she’s the best thing since Dr Pepper.”
“I don’t even like Dr Pepper,” Beau said.
“Pretend you’re me for just a minute.”
“I will never pretend I’m the guy married to my sister.”
“Hmm. Good point. Just tell me if you like her.”
“Why does it matter?”
Anna was holding up her phone, showing off the view. She was the best thing that had entered his life in a long time. Probably ever.
“Because Liv is ridiculously excited about this, and I’m kinda committed to her happiness. ”
Beau let out a deep exhale. “It’s like that over here too.”
“Woo-hoo!” Dawson shouted.
“But don’t print it in the newspaper. This is really new, and given the state of things when we left Blackwater, I don’t think this new development is going to be easy for her.”
“Got it. Cross my heart and hope to fly.”
Being friends with Dawson was exhausting.
“Oop. Gotta go. Liv is off the phone, and she wants to talk about you and Anna. Have fun, and make good choices.”
Beau hung up the phone just as Anna was walking back toward him. She held up her phone between them.
“Any chance I can convince you to take a selfie with me by the falls?”
Beau raised a brow. “A selfie?”
“Please,” she begged.
Good grief. Why was it impossible to say no to her? “Fine, but this doesn’t get posted anywhere on the internet.”
Anna bounced on her toes. “Promise.”
Beau took the phone from her just as she pressed her body against his side. With one arm around her and one holding out the phone, he took the first selfie of his life.
D inner at the Liberty Grille was out, considering they didn’t want to be recognized after the fake proposal. They ran into Joanna in the lodge after their hike, and she suggested the restaurant on a nearby mountain.
Anna radiated joy the entire time. Her smile never fell, and she even silenced her phone a few times without wavering.
When Anna asked about his biggest fear on the elevator ride up to their room, even he was laughing.
“Just tell me. I promise to keep your secret,” she begged with her arms wrapped snugly around his right one.
“I can’t. You’ll laugh at me.”
“I’m already laughing!” she pointed out.
“Nope.”
“Please.” The single word was drawn out and sultry.
Oh no. She couldn’t be this close and using that voice on him right before they locked themselves in a room alone for the next twelve hours.
Yeah, he had to do something. Sharing a room with a friend was different from sharing a room with a woman he was not only attracted to but also falling for.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened.
“Come on. I promise I won’t tell.”
Maybe his irrational fear would come in handy. She’d be completely unattracted to him after finding out.
“It’s pigs.”
“What?”
“Pigs. I hate pigs.”
Anna stopped and stared at him. “Pigs?”
“Yep. Pigs.”
She covered her mouth a second before the laughter burst from her. She doubled over, cackling like a hyena.
“I told you it was embarrassing,” Beau said as he turned and headed for the room.
“No. It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m sorry I laughed.”
She was running after him now. Still laughing.
As soon as he reached the room, she wedged herself between his chest and the door.
“I’m sorry. I think it’s cute.”
“Cute,” Beau huffed, grabbing the key card from his pocket.
“I mean, you’re not cute. You’re handsome. And sweet.” She slid her hands up his chest. “And manly. Not cute.”
Beau lowered his chin, brushing the side of his nose against hers. “You’re cute.” he pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “And smart.” Another kiss. “And strong.”
Anna wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him down until his lips crashed against hers. Pinning her against the door, he forced the kiss to a slower tempo while Anna tried her very best to stoke the flames.
She needed to know he was interested, but she would also need to understand why he had to leave.
At the brink of his control, he broke the kiss and opened the door. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Her brows pinched together, creating a tiny crease. “Where are you going?”
“I need to get my own room. I can’t stay here with you.”
Anna’s eyes widened, and she wrapped her arms around herself. “Oh. Yeah. That makes sense.”
He lifted her chin with a finger until she was looking up at him again. “It’s not because I don’t like you. It’s because I do. Too much. And while you can rest assured I would never take advantage of you, I don’t want there to be any doubts.”
“Right. I mean…” She let out a short, nervous chuckle. “I guess it’s kind of out in the open that that’s one reason why Dean cheated. Because I wouldn’t have sex before we were married.”
Beau pressed his eyes closed. “Dean is stupid. Trust me, you and I are on the same page. You won’t ever have to worry about that with me. Okay?”
Anna nodded. “Okay.”
“I just think a little space would be good for us tonight.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Does that sound good to you? ”
“Actually, it’s probably the best thing you could have said.”
Too bad the woman working at the front desk didn’t think it was so great.
He’d tried his best to negotiate himself into a new room for twenty minutes, but she must have been serious when she claimed they didn’t have any rooms available.
She’d gotten a little snappy with him toward the end of the conversation.
Returning to the room he shared with Anna defeated and tired, he knocked on the door.
A few seconds later, Anna appeared wearing the new pajamas she’d bought at the lodge gift shop. They were blue and white with the words “I’d rather be in Freedom” across the front of the shirt.
“Why are you knocking? You have a key.”
“Unfortunately, it’s the only key I have. There aren’t any rooms available.”
Anna opened the door and waved him in. “Come on. We can handle this.”
“I think we need to make a rule,” Beau said as he toed off his shoes.
“No kissing in the room?” Anna asked.
“That’s the one. Glad we’re on the same page.”
Anna clasped her hands behind her back and grinned up at him. “Is it bad that I want to kiss you right now because that was so sweet and thoughtful of you? ”
Beau plugged his ears with his fingers. “Stop. No talking about kissing.”
Anna laughed before heading to the bed and slipping beneath the covers. “I’m going to bed so I won’t bother you anymore.”
“What time do you want to head out in the morning?” Beau asked as he grabbed a T-shirt and sweats to change into.
Anna sighed. “I’m not in a rush to get back home, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“You’re not going home alone, Anna. Between me, Olivia, Lyric, Hadley, and Bella, you have an army to protect you. I dare anyone to say a cross word to you.”
“I appreciate that, but even my friends have their own problems. It’s not right for me to ask them to fight my battles too,” she whispered.
“You’re not a problem. They’re your friends, and that means they care about you.”
“I know they do. I’m sure I’m just being dramatic about going home.” Anna flipped onto her side and bundled the blankets around her shoulders. “Do you want to leave at seven?”
She’d just changed the subject, but should they really drag out a conversation made up of what-ifs?
“Seven is fine.”
“Good night, Beau. Thank you for coming on this trip with me. I’ve had the best time.”
Beau thought back over the last week. He’d be lying if he claimed it was anything less than the best week of his life. They’d carved out a tiny slice of life together and found something good in the middle of a storm.
“Me too. Good night.”
He could handle Dean, but her ex wasn’t the only one Anna was afraid to face. If things between them were going to last more than a week, they’d have to face her mother.