Page 99 of Forsaken Oath

Since the bookstore last weekend, Beau and I have found every opportunity to be together, even if it’s just for a stolen hour here and there. I was out on a recon job for a day and a half, and even though I was tempted to have him meet me somewhere, I’m trying my best to keep my work with Seven Pines separate from my relationship with Beau.

Surprisingly, we haven’t talked a lot about our jobs. When we do sneak in time together, we’ve been a littlepreoccupied. Namely, him trying to see how many times he can make me come, and me just trying to stay tethered to this earth when he succeeds.

Every. Single. Time.

I’ve never been more exhausted or happy in my entire life. It’s a weird combination, but I’m not mad at it.

When Beau first invited Vivie and me to Sunday dinner with his family, I thought we were moving way too fast. We’ve only been together a few weeks, and meeting the parents feels like a huge step. But he assured me Sunday dinners are a casual, weekly tradition.

Still, as we approach the front door, vivid purple irises and pink peonies swaying gently on either side of the stone path, my stomach flutters with nerves.

Vivie’s head tilts up, her gaze wide as she takes it all in. “This is their house?” she whispers, her voice a mix of awe and disbelief. “It looks likeGilmore Girlsor something.”

“Yeah.” I squeeze her hand, feeling a bit of the same wonder myself. “Wait. How do you knowGilmore Girls?”

“Margot watches it a lot,” she says with a shrug, like that explains everything.

I’ve never done this, never met a boyfriend’s parents, never sat at a big family dinner like this.

Is Beau even myboyfriend?

Boyfriend feels like such a small word to slap on Beau, though. The man makes me feel things I don’t have words for yet, but boyfriend? It doesn’t feel big enough.

He made his declaration in the bookstore pretty clear, so maybe I’ll just follow his lead and call himmine.

My heart flutters a little at the thought. I don’t know if anything has ever been mine before.

“You okay?” Beau murmurs, reaching for my hand.

“Yeah,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”

He presses a quick kiss to the top of my head, his warmth a steady anchor against my rising anxiety. “It’s just Sunday dinner. Don’t worry, baby, I’ve got you.”

The front door swings open before we can knock, and an older man stands in the doorway, his smile warm and welcoming.

“Dad,” Beau greets. He leans in to accept his father’s embrace without letting go of my hand.

His hair is similar, but not quite the same burnished dark blond as Beau’s. Gray streaks along his temples and deep laugh lines around his eyes, like he’s spent a lot of his life laughing.

That thought alone makes me feel warm. I steal a glance at Beau, wondering not for the first time what makes him so easy-going. Though now that I’ve seen his dad, maybe it’s not such a mystery.

“Good to see you, son,” his dad says, patting Beau’s back. “Why don’t you introduce me to tonight’s guests?”

Beau tugs on our joined hands, pulling me a half-step closer to him. “This is Eloise and her sister, Vivie.”

“Pleasure to meet you both,” his dad says, extending his hand. “I’m Lucas.”

I untangle my hand from Vivie’s and clasp Lucas’s outstretched one, but Beau doesn’t let go of my other hand. His grip remains firm and reassuring, a silent support I didn’t even realize I needed until this moment.

“It’s wonderful to meet you too,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t betray the nervousness fluttering in my stomach. “You have a beautiful garden.”

He grins, sending Beau a sneaky wink. “Thank you, Eloise. It’s my wife’s pride and joy. She spends too many days out here playin’ in the dirt. Wait until you see the backyard. Beau helped her build out a greenhouse.”

My brows lift as I look at him. Delight shimmers across my breastbone when I spot the pink flush to his cheeks.

“Who knew you were so handy, hm?” I tease, enjoying the glimpse of this side of him far too much.

He shrugs it off. “It was nothing.”

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