Page 111 of Love on the Run

She traced her fingernails over the back of his neck, playing in the short hairs at the nape as if it didn’t light a fire that raced down his spine. “I’m a little nervous, but I think you’ll like it. Well, you may be proud of me, but I’m not really sure if it’s going to be a good thing or a really tough thing.”

Nothing about her vague explanation gave him the slightest hint at what she meant, but one thing stood out that he couldn’t ignore.

She took a deep breath and tucked her chin to her chest. The shadows fell on her face in all the wrong places, so he lifted her chin with a finger.

“I’m always proud of you.” He didn’t whisper this time, and he wouldn’t leave room for misunderstanding.

Her smile was back, and he kissed her slowly, careful to let her know with each movement exactly how much he adored her.

The shed door burst open, letting in a flood of light. Anna broke the kiss and took a step back as Jacob peeked his head through the doorway.

“Um, Mom said to let you know that we’re going to cut the cake and sing happy birthday now so Aunt Olivia can leave for work.”

“We’ll be right there,” Anna said, not moving to follow Jacob as he closed the door.

When they were alone again, Anna patted Beau’s chest. “I need to go anyway. I don’t have long to make my move.”

Beau grabbed her hand in a show of solidarity. “Do you need me to do anything?”

“Not this time. It’s something I have to do on my own.”

Man, it was good to see her taking control of her own life. She’d come so far in such a short time. “You’re amazing. You know that?”

She pressed a soft fingertip to hislips. “I don’t know how this is going to go yet. Save your excitement for later.”

Sliding his hand around her wrist, he removed her finger from his lips, then pressed the palm of her hand against his chest. “When can I know about the surprise?”

“Hopefully, we can talk about it later tonight.”

Beau jerked his head toward the door. “Then let’s go.”

Anna lifted onto her toes to press a quick kiss to his neck just above his pounding pulse before darting out of the shed.

What was happening to him? He wasn’t a stranger to taking risks, but Anna was the most dangerous thing he’d ever loved. Cars could break him, speed could kill him, but Anna would consume him.

Chapter 36

Anna

The emails were relentless. Anna dealt with dozens of messages on a daily basis, but this onslaught would be a part of her life for a while. You don’t shake things up without having backlash to deal with.

Christmas tended to be a slow time at the firm. Many attorneys and judges took weeks off in December only to pick back up with a renewed force after the new year.

Her parents had never fit that mold. Every Christmas growing up had been a rat race at the office, and Anna couldn’t remember a year when her parents hadn’t brought her with them to the office after opening presents on Christmas morning.

A ding alerted her to a message on a different app, and she flipped over to read it. Theemails weren’t going away, and they’d be waiting for her tomorrow and the next day too.

Brittany: What did Cynthia DeSilvio send you?

Anna glanced at the clock. Five minutes until her meeting. She had some time to decompress.

Things with Brittany had been easy and comfortable since the trip, and Anna’s previous unease about her friend had almost vanished. She could chalk up the awkwardness of their meeting to nerves.

Anna: It’s gorgeous. A periwinkle skirt with cerulean ribbon detail. It’s light and flowy, and will be a hit this summer.

Brittany: I have to see it. Video chat tonight?

Anna: I can’t tonight. I’m shaking up my life today, so I’ll be busy.

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