Page 102 of Love on the Run

She nuzzled closer to him. “I can’t believe you said that. No one would believe me if I told them you were a secret romantic.”

“If you tell, I’ll plead the fifth.”

She looked up at him with the most gorgeous eyes he’d ever seen. She was so beautiful it hurt. “I would never tell. And thank you for coming.”

“All you have to do is call,” he reminded her. It was true. He had five vehicles waiting at the garage, but nothing could have stopped him from seeing her tonight.

Her eyes glistened, and she blinked rapidly before whispering, “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

His hand rose on its own and brushed over her cheek. He was still living in some dream where he got to touch her now. A humming vibration shot through his arm from the fingertips that trailed over her skin. She leaned into his touch, and the tingling only grew stronger.

But the tightness in her jaw and brow said something wasn’t right, and he couldn’t shake the unease. “What’s got you upset?”

Anna sighed and took a step back, running her hands through her long blonde hair. “Mom. It’s no surprise that she’s still angry about the wedding.” Throwing her hands out to her sides, Anna huffed. “She wants me to go back to Dean!”

The blow hit Beau in the chest. He had no illusions that Dean was anything but an idiot, but what if Anna listened to her mom? What if she took the easy way out and went back to her ex because it was a sure thing?

Anna had always been looking for something, and she’d sacrificed a lot to make squares fit into circles when it came to Dean. Was that still what she wanted?

“I mean, she thought we would just set another date and make it happen. I don’t get it,” Anna said as she marched toward the living room.

Beau swallowed, trying and failing to be patient long enough for Anna to explain. “And what do you want?”

She stopped her pacing in front of the couch, and her shoulders sank. “I’m finished with Dean. Misty can have him for all I care. I’m never going back to him.”

Oh good. Beau’s lungs still worked. Their paralysis for the last fifteen seconds must have been a glitch. “What did you tell your mom?”

“What I just told you. It’s not happening. Then she gave me one week to patch things up with Dean and reschedule the wedding.”

“Or what?” Beau’s eyes widened. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Tell me about it.” Anna fell onto the couch, her perfectly styled hair billowed out around her. “She didn’t hear a word I said.”

Beau took the seat beside her, trying his best not to scare her off. “What can I do to help?”

Anna turned to him with a tired smile before letting her eyes drift closed. “Nothing. This is all I need.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it.

“Anna,” he whispered.

When she opened her eyes, the tension was nearly gone.

The heavy footfalls on the porch came a mere second before the front door opened, and Catherine Harris barged in.

Beau sat up quickly. He’d been so focused on Anna that he hadn’t heard her mother coming.

He’d seen Catherine Harris before, but they’d never been officially introduced. Actually, she’d given him plenty of glares over the years.

She could throw dirty looks all day long. Nothing was going to make him cower to this woman.

“Mom.” Anna jumped to her feet. “What are you doing here?”

Catherine let out a maniacal laugh. “Are you kidding me? I own this place,” she seethed, pressing a manicured fingernail to her chest. “The question is, what is he doing here?” She turned her finger to Beau.

“This is Beau Lawrence,” Anna said, moving to his side. “I invited him over for dinner.” Her chin was held high, and her voice didn’t shake.

“Do you think I’m an idiot?” Catherine asked, glaring at Anna. “I know you were with him last week. I know he went on what should have been your honeymoon.”

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