Page 116 of Love on the Run

Evan ran straight up to Anna and Lauren and wrapped both of them in a hug around their legs. “I didn’t know you’d be here!” the six-year-old boy shouted.

Lauren ruffled his hair. “I just saw you Sunday morning. That was only two sleeps ago.”

“I know, but I missed you.” Evan released them and looked around. “Where is the food?”

“You just ate!” Camille said, leading Taylor by the hand toward the nearest table. “I swear he’s a bottomless pit.”

“Wait until they’re both teenagers,” Anna said.

Camille bit her lips between her teeth and leaned closer to Anna and Lauren. “There might be three teenage boys running around the house one day.”

Anna gasped. “Are you serious?”

Lauren grabbed Camille’s shoulder. “You’re joking!”

Camille shrugged, but a playful smile lingered on her lips. “Well, there might be two boys and a girl. We’re not sure yet.”

“Congratulations!” Anna and Lauren shouted in unison.

“We have so much to celebrate tonight,” Lauren said. “Anna’s new job, Camille’s growing family, and my expensive diploma.”

Bella stepped up beside the women and elbowed her way into the huddle. “Did someone say celebration? If nothing else, we should celebrate Anna’s new freedom.”

Bella had lived with Anna for a little while over the summer, and their friendship had only grown since then. Bella had needed a place to stay and friends in a strange new place, but Anna had gained a friend during the rockiest time in her relationship with Dean and her mom. How would she have handled those tough times if God hadn’t given her a roommate to lean on?

Now, Anna knew freedom in more ways than one. She’d found hope and healing in the town of Freedom, and she’d brought home a new boldness that was changing her life for the better every day.

Lauren held up a plastic cup filled with water. “Amen!”

Beau’s warm hand rested on the smallof Anna’s back, and she leaned into him as he appeared at her side. “Can we join you ladies?”

Travis nudged his way into the group with a playful smile. “Yeah. Beau is the object of someone’s affections.”

Beau huffed and rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to make it into a big deal.”

“It’s just funny.” Travis jerked his head toward the bar. “That waitress over there can’t leave Beau alone. She just asked him if he’d meet her after they closed tonight. Or should I say in the morning?”

Heat crept up Anna’s neck. Dean had never seen the harm in flirting with other women and even made sure Anna knew women wanted him, but Beau had made every effort to assure her that she was the only woman he was interested in. Still, her body’s instinctual reaction was unavoidable.

Beau leaned in to whisper in Anna’s ear. “I let her know I am happily taken.”

Anna lifted her chin and gave him a tense grin. She really believed him, but her immediate reaction wasn’t fading quickly.

Beau brushed the side of his nose against hers and pulled her closer, pressing her whole body against his as he whispered, “I love you.”

Well, that was one way to make her body forget to be jealous. The tension from mere seconds ago melted away as he pressed his lips to hers.

The relief swept over her like a tidal wave. Beauwas fixing parts of her he didn’t even break. Between his love, God’s guiding hand, and her friends’ encouragement, Anna could make it through any storms life could throw at her.

The short kiss was all she needed to reset her fluctuating emotions. A peace settled over her as she blinked in the bright lights. “Thanks for that.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Beau said before flashing her a wink.

Anna’s stomach was still doing somersaults when she caught sight of movement behind Beau. Her grip tightened on his arm as Brittany Diaz stepped into view.

Chapter 38

Beau

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