34. Anna
Anna
A nna pulled a blush sweater dress from the pile on the bed and hung it in the closet of Dawson and Olivia’s guest room. The clothes were the only things left to put away after two days of moving everything Anna owned from her parents’ guest house.
It hadn’t even been her home in name, but all the work she’d put into making the small cottage into the place she loved was a wash now. She’d stayed close to her parents at their request, but looking back, they’d actually ordered her to stay. She’d just agreed without protest.
How different would her life be now if she’d moved away when she wanted to the way her brother Drake had? She’d tried to please them, and she’d ended up failing anyway. She’d stuck around so they could push her away when she refused to bend to their will.
Olivia shuffled into the room carrying a mound of Anna’s clothes draped over her arms. “Good grief. Are you sure these had to come?”
Anna rushed to take them from her friend. “Sorry. They just arrived, and I have to take photos before I can donate them.”
Olivia propped her hands on her hips and huffed out a breath. “Have I told you lately that you have a strange job?”
“Which one? Both are a little weird.”
“The one where businesses send you free clothes and you take photos of yourself wearing them, post them on the internet, and get paid to do it.”
“Oh, I thought you were talking about the one where I argue with adults and try to convince strangers to pay my clients money.”
“That is weird too. Although I am super proud of you for being brave enough to stand up to strangers, even if it took you long enough to stand up to your mother.”
Anna sighed. “It’s easy to be confident when I have evidence to back me up. I don’t have any of that when Mom comes at me in a rage.”
Olivia slid her arm around Anna and squeezed. “You do now. From what I heard, you put your foot down. I just wish I’d been there to see it. ”
“Thanks for letting me stay here. I promise I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I find a new place.”
Liv plopped on the bed beside the piles of clothes. “Take your time. I have no complaints about having my bestie stay with me all the time.”
“Yeah, but you and Dawson just got married. You need space and privacy.”
Dawson and Olivia decided to tie the knot in a private ceremony and have a reception party in the spring before Wolf Creek Ranch opened for the season. With Olivia’s possible infertility, they didn’t want to wait to try for a family.
“It’s not like our rooms share a wall. We’re on the other side of the house, and I don’t expect you to show up at my bedroom asking for a glass of water.”
Anna chuckled. “You’re right. I’ll stay on my side.”
Olivia grabbed the next few pieces of clothing and handed them to Anna. “You know, Beau is welcome here too.”
Beau. She barely went ten seconds without thinking about him.
The way he supported her. The way he’d assured her he would be by her side.
The way he’d worked hard to help her get moved into Olivia’s place on short notice.
He was a man of few words, but actions told her more about him than anything he could say.
“Thanks for that. I hate that I’ve already taken up so much of his time since we got back. I didn’t expect to have to move on such short notice.”
“Can I tell you something?” Olivia asked.
“The fact that you’re asking is a little scary. Since when do you think before you speak?”
Liv rolled her eyes and handed over another dress. “Ha-ha. You’re so funny. In that case, I’ll just say it. I think you and Beau have something really special.”
Anna’s heart rate picked up speed as if she were running a marathon instead of hanging up clothes. She smiled, then quickly squashed it. “I think so too, but I’m terrified.”
“Why?”
“Because I always think with my heart and don’t always use my head. What if I’m so excited that I mess it up again?”
Olivia held up a finger. “Hold up. The fiasco with he-who-shall-not-be-named was not your fault. I’ll agree that you were a little stubborn and had some pretty strong blinders on, but I admire your strength in the aftermath.
You did the right thing walking away from him and standing up to your mom. ”
“I’m glad I did it too, but it’s hard to know which way is up when my world is turning upside down. It all happened so quickly.”
Olivia reached for Anna’s hand. “But I’m right here, and I’ll keep you on the right path. I love you, girl, and I know you’re going to be better off after the dust settles. I just want you to know that Beau is going to stand by you too. He’s good for you, and you’re good for him.”
Anna let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Beau doesn’t need me. He’s got it all figured out.”
“He needs you, and he wants you. You’re going to be so good for him.”
“I’m glad you think that. Sometimes I feel like this whole thing is one-sided.”
Olivia’s mouth turned up in a mischievous grin as she pulled her phone from her pocket. “Look at this.”
She turned her phone around to show Anna the screen. It was a photo of her friends as they unpacked yesterday. The bedroom was filled with boxes. Bella sat on the bed handing books to Anna from an open box. Dawson and Beau stood in the corner of the room next to the dresser.
“Why are you showing me this?” Anna asked.
“Look at Beau.”
Beau’s arms were crossed over his chest, and Dawson was clearly talking to him. “Yeah.”
“He’s staring at you like you’re the only woman in the world.”
Anna took a better look at the photo. He was looking at her, and his features were softer than usual. His brows weren’t pinched together. He wasn’t frowning at whatever silly joke Dawson was probably making. He wasn’t even listening to whatever his friend was telling him.
Liv was right. Many men had looked at Anna before, but the looks were usually followed by a cat call or a creepy wink.
As far as she knew, no one had ever looked at her the way Beau did. Sure, the photo captured a small moment in time, but was it wrong to hope Olivia was right?
Anna handed the phone back to Olivia. “Please don’t get my hopes up.”
“I’m doing no such thing. I’m telling you it’s okay to be scared, but don’t let the fear keep you from seeing the one thing you’ve always wanted.”
Anna pinched her lips between her teeth and nodded. She’d always trusted Olivia but never more than now.
Grabbing her phone back, Olivia glanced at the screen. “Let’s get these put up. I don’t want to be late for the Christmas party.”
Christmas party? Shoot. Anna had forgotten all about the casual Christmas party at Travis and Bella’s house. “Let’s just hang these up, and I’ll sort through them later. I need a shower. What am I going to wear?”
Olivia’s eyes widened as she glanced at the full closet and the piles of clothes on the bed. “You’re kidding, right? That was a joke. ”
Anna squinted. “Not really. I want to wear something Beau would like.”
Olivia patted Anna on the shoulder and walked toward the door. “Wear something warm and comfortable. I heard there will be a bonfire. Whatever you decide to wear, I guarantee Beau will like it.”
It took more time than expected to get ready. She’d misplaced her favorite curling wand, and the shoes that matched her green sweater dress were nowhere to be found.
Oddly enough, getting ready at Olivia’s house wasn’t so bad. There were plenty of cabinets and drawers in the bathroom, and the shower had the perfect water pressure. She would miss the towel warmer and built-in heater at her old place, but those were luxuries she could live without.
A text from Beau came in just as Anna slipped into the passenger seat of Olivia’s car.
Beau: Are you on your way?
Anna: Leaving now.
The short text from him awakened a bubbling joy in her chest. Beau had never been much of a talker, but he didn’t skimp on the check-ins when they were apart.
Olivia let out a long, dramatic sigh. “Is that Beau? I’m not going to lie. I’m jealous.”
“Of what?” Anna asked. “Dawson is practically attached to your hip. ”
“But he’s working tonight.”
“Sorry, but I’ve been the third wheel for too long. It’s my turn to get the guy.”
Olivia shoved Anna’s shoulder and squealed. “Do you hear yourself? It’s your turn! I’m so excited for you!”
Okay, so she was excited for herself too. After the roller coaster of the last two weeks, it was starting to sink in that the changes might have all been for the good. If God was working in her life, she’d trust His plan.
The moon was barely a sliver in the dark sky when they pulled into Silver Falls Ranch. Travis and Bella’s cabin was small, but they were excited to host their friends for a casual Christmas get-together.
This was Bella’s moment, not Anna’s. After all her friend had gone through since her accident and the awful run-in with her ex, they really should be throwing a huge party to celebrate.
Travis had been just what Bella needed after her accident, and Anna had been the first one to remind her friend that men like Travis were few and far between.
Anna had been struggling with her own relationship at the time, and seeing Travis’s kindness to Bella should have been Anna’s wake-up call. She and Dean had done nothing but fight for months.
Oh, but she could see it all clearly now. Beau was everything that Dean wasn’t. Beau treated her like a woman, not a toy.
“Are you sure we didn’t need to bring anything?” Anna asked.
“Positive. No presents, and the guys are taking care of dinner.”
Firelight led the way through the trees to Travis and Bella’s cabin. Trees sheltered the clearing as Olivia’s lights shone on the cars and trucks parked on the sides of the path.
Anna spotted Beau instantly. He stood with Gage in front of a grill just past the fire pit. By the time Olivia pulled into a parking spot, Beau was already making his way toward them.
Anna stepped out of the car and pulled her jacket tighter around her. The snow had melted to almost nothing in the open areas, but a few mounds of dirty white lingered beneath the dense trees.
Beau was only a few feet away, but she didn’t wait for him to reach her. Breaking into a sprint, she rushed into his arms, burying her face in the collar of his coat.
She could barely breathe, but everything was perfect.
The lingering worry that whatever they’d started in Freedom would fade when they returned to Blackwater melted away.
Beau was the same no matter where they were.
He was beside her. His strong arms wrapped around her, protecting her when she didn’t feel strong enough to protect herself.
She was falling again—falling for Beau Lawrence—and, once again, he was there to catch her.