38. Beau
Beau
E very alarm in Beau’s head went off in unison when he saw Brittany. He’d been on high alert for weeks, but Anna had gone to great lengths to assure him Brittany was a friend.
Friends were supportive. Friends were there when you needed them. Friends did not travel across the country twice and show up unannounced.
Anna kept a firm grip on Beau’s arm as she greeted Brittany. “Hey. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
That was one way to put it. Anna had a lot more tact than Beau.
Brittany kept her gaze locked on Anna as she pushed the bridge of her glasses up her slender nose. “You haven’t answered my messages.”
Her monotone words were so matter-of-fact, but her reason for traveling so far to find Anna didn’t add up. If she was outraged enough by Anna’s lack of replies to travel this far, where was her emotion? There wasn’t a frown line or wrinkle on her face.
Anna rested a hand on her chest and gave Brittany her full attention. “I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy the last few days.”
Brittany only stared. “Okay.”
That was it? Okay?
Nope. Not gonna work for Beau.
He reached for Anna’s hand just as she gestured for a table their friends had claimed.
“Do you want to sit and talk?”
Brittany gave a single nod, and Anna moved toward the booth. Beau’s hand kept a firm grip on Anna’s while he watched Brittany.
She was the last person anyone would expect to be a threat with her thin build and big-framed glasses, but Beau wouldn’t underestimate her or anyone else when Anna’s safety was at stake.
A hand rested on Beau’s shoulder, and Lauren appeared at his side.
“Let me,” Lauren whispered.
Beau glanced at Anna and Brittany before turning back to Lauren. She could take his place at the table, but he wasn’t leaving Anna’s side.
Lauren jerked her head toward the nearby bar where a few of their friends watched intently.
He had zero problems leaving Anna to girl-talk with her friends. Leaving her with someone he didn’t trust was a whole different story.
“Trust me,” Lauren said before sliding into the chair across the table from Brittany. A friendly smile lit up her features, and Anna made introductions.
His chest rose and fell in deep waves. He could stand five feet away. He could give Anna space and trust that she and Lauren knew what they were doing.
What kind of help could he provide anyway? None when the game was being played with words instead of fists.
Dawson welcomed Beau to a different table where the Harding family waited to hear Asher and Hunter play. “Hey, man. Who’s that?”
Beau leaned over the table without sitting and rested his palms flat on the wooden surface. “Her name is Brittany. Anna knows her from her online stuff, but she lives somewhere in California.”
“That’s cool. I didn’t know Anna was expecting someone. Is she planning to stay at our place? We don’t have any more beds, but there’s a couch available.”
Beau glanced at the table where the women talked. “Anna didn’t know she was coming.”
Camille leaned in, jumping into the conversation. “Is that the girl who showed up in Freedom when you were there?”
Dawson’s head jerked from Camille, to Beau, and back to Camille. “Time out. She showed up in Colorado too? Unexpected?”
“Yep. It’s as weird as it sounds,” Beau said.
The women at the table seemed calm enough. Anna smiled and leaned one elbow on the table. If her alarm bells were going off right now, she was hiding it well. His feet wanted to do the walking for him and march right over to Brittany and lay down some boundaries.
But Anna was thriving in her new independence. How much would it set her back if he barged in and took charge?
Camille watched as Anna and Lauren talked with Brittany. “I’m going to trust that Lauren is using everything she learned in those psychology classes right now.”
Just as quickly as she’d come, Brittany stood and walked out without looking back. She didn’t storm out angry. She just…left.
Beau met Anna and Lauren halfway between the two tables. “What did she say?”
Anna reached for his hand immediately, and he welcomed the connection. Hopefully, he was just overreacting about a long-distance friend.
“The last time I talked to her, I told her I quit my job at Mom and Dad’s law firm, but I haven’t replied to her messages since.”
“You’ve been busy. Changing jobs is a lot of work,” Camille said .
“Who is she? Tell me everything,” Lauren demanded.
Anna looked at Beau, and all of her casual calm from a moment ago was gone.
“I met her online through the fashion vlog, and we’ve been friends for a few years.
She lives in California, and since I’m afraid to get on an airplane, I figured we wouldn’t ever meet in person.
Then she showed up in Freedom when Beau and I were there. ”
“Out of the blue?” Lauren asked.
“Right. She was waiting at a bakery just assuming I would stop by because I had told her about how much I liked it when Beau and I went earlier in the week.”
Lauren’s eyes widened. “And she showed up in Blackwater unannounced too?”
Anna nodded. “She seems awkward in person, but she’s very relaxed when we talk online, even in video chats.”
Yeah, hearing about the ways Brittany had crossed lines only confirmed his reasons for sitting on high alert. “Where did she go?”
“I invited her to stay and hang out with us, but she said she was tired from traveling. She’s staying at the Kellerman Hotel in town.”
Camille shook her head. “Sounds like she’s obsessed with you. Has she ever asked you for anything? Money? Products?”
“No. Actually, I’ve helped her make connections in the industry because she’s an aspiring designer.” Anna glanced toward the crowd where Brittany had disappeared. “I can’t figure it out. She’s usually so casual, but tonight she seemed guarded.”
“What is she looking for?” Lauren asked. “She came all the way here, but she didn’t hug you, and she only talked for about three minutes before she left.”
Beau listened while the women worked through the conversation with Brittany. Was he missing something?
Camille rested a hand on Anna’s shoulder. “I know she’s your friend, but I would feel a lot better if we looked into her. It seems very sweet and thoughtful that she came all this way to check on you, but something is off.”
Anna’s chin fell with a sigh. “I know. It’s just…she’s never done anything like this. She has always been so kind and friendly. These few meetings don’t show who she truly is.”
Camille’s hand rested on Anna’s shoulder. “I believe you, but I think we’d all feel better with just a little more information on our side.”
Olivia bounced up between Anna and Lauren, draping her arms around both women. “Sup, ladies?”
Beau pointed a finger at his chest. “Not a lady.”
Olivia shrugged. “You’re over here girl-talking like one. What’s with all the whispering? ”
Asher stepped to the microphone and strummed his guitar. The crowd went wild with hoots and cheers. “Anybody ready to get the party started?”
Dawson grabbed Olivia’s hand from Anna’s shoulder and pulled her toward the dance floor. “Dance now. Talk later.”
Lauren turned as Asher started singing and couples made their way to the open area. “He’s right. Let’s worry about Brittany later. Go dance with your man.”
Anna turned a wide smile toward Beau. Shoot. He should have known he couldn’t come here with Anna without being pressured to dance.
After making a show of a huge sigh, Beau slid a hand around Anna’s waist, pulling her in until her chin rested on his chest as she looked up at him.
“Just once?” she pleaded.
A deep hum rumbled up his chest at her sweet request. “You think I could ever say no to you?”
Anna hightailed it to the dance floor without missing a beat, dragging Beau behind her through the horde of people. When she’d settled on a spot, she turned toward him, fanning her blonde hair out around her.
Remembering the intimate dance instructor’s directions to explore his partner’s body, Beau slowly ran his hands from Anna’s waist up her back. Her warm vanilla scent had his mouth watering .
“Easy, tiger. There are small children here,” she whispered in glee.
“They have to leave at nine,” he reminded her. “They might serve food, but this is a bar.”
She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck, sending a shiver down his spine. “Do you remember the last time we danced?” she asked.
His lips brushed against the shell of her ear as he whispered, “Lucky charms.”
The laugh was expected, but the sound was more than he could handle. He finally understood what the Grinch felt when his heart grew two sizes.
He loved Anna Harris, but it was never enough. Every time he saw her—spoke to her—he fell harder. It was as if love were a free fall from an airplane, but the ground was nowhere in sight.
When her giggles faded, he whispered, “I love you.”
She leaned in closer. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
The song ended, and Lauren released the cowboy she’d been dancing with to lean close to Anna. “Hey, I forgot to ask how the house hunt is going. Find anything yet?”
“Not yet. In the chaos of changing jobs, I kind of put my search on hold. Though, I’m sure Dawson and Liv are ready to kick me to the curb.”
“Not true!” Olivia shouted from where she remained snugly in Dawson’s arms, ready for the next dance.
“Want me to call a real estate agent and get you set up for a meeting?” Beau asked. “I have a whole lot more time than you right now.”
“Says the guy running a business,” Anna countered.
Beau pressed a kiss to her jaw. “Let me help you. Please.”
Anna hummed. “That would actually be very helpful. I love how you always look out for me.”
“Can’t think about much else,” Beau admitted.
“I have one tiny favor to ask,” she said, pinching her finger and thumb together.
“Anything,” Beau drawled. If she asked him to jump off a cliff at this point, he’d probably do it.
“Will you go with me?” she softly asked.
Beau rested his forehead against hers. With his eyes closed, he could imagine they were the only people in the world. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”